What is a good IQ score?

There is no single cutoff. On this scale, about 68% of people score between 85 and 115, so anything above 115 is above average, and scores of 130 or higher are often described as gifted. Whether a score counts as “good” depends on what it is used for and how it was obtained.

What percentile is an average IQ?

An average IQ of 100 sits at percentile rank 50: about half of the reference population scores below it and half above it.

Is an online IQ score the same as a clinical IQ test?

No. Clinical tests are administered one-to-one by trained psychologists under controlled conditions. Online tests like ours can give a useful, consistent estimate, but they are not diagnostic instruments.

IQ score meanings

An IQ score on its own says very little. What makes it meaningful is where it sits on the scale: scores are usually expressed on a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.

This page explains how to read an IQ score and links to a dedicated page for each score from 50 to 160, with its percentile rank, how rare it is, and the range it falls into.

Want your own score and percentile? Take the free 40-question test.

Take the IQ test How IQ percentiles work

Percentile ranks by IQ score

IQ score	Percentile rank (0–100)	Range
50	0.04	significantly below average
55	0.13	significantly below average
60	0.38	significantly below average
65	0.98	significantly below average
70	2.28	below average
75	4.78	below average
80	9.12	low average
85	15.87	low average
90	25.25	average
95	36.94	average
100	50	average
105	63.06	average
110	74.75	high average
115	84.13	high average
120	90.88	above average
125	95.22	above average
130	97.72	well above average
135	99.02	well above average
140	99.62	exceptionally high
145	99.87	exceptionally high
150	99.96	exceptionally high
155	99.99	exceptionally high
160	>99.99	exceptionally high

How to read an IQ score

Percentile rank describes your position relative to the reference population. A rank of 84 means about 84% of people score lower and about 16% score higher. It is not the percentage of questions answered correctly.

IQ scores are usually grouped into ranges, from significantly below average to exceptionally high. The exact boundaries differ slightly between tests, but the ranges used on this site follow the common classification for the mean-100, standard-deviation-15 scale.

A single result is always an estimate made under specific conditions. It is useful context — but not a fixed, clinical measurement of ability.

IQ percentile calculator How IQ percentiles work

Frequently asked questions

What is a good IQ score?: There is no single cutoff. On this scale, about 68% of people score between 85 and 115, so anything above 115 is above average, and scores of 130 or higher are often described as gifted. Whether a score counts as “good” depends on what it is used for and how it was obtained.
What percentile is an average IQ?: An average IQ of 100 sits at percentile rank 50: about half of the reference population scores below it and half above it.
Is an online IQ score the same as a clinical IQ test?: No. Clinical tests are administered one-to-one by trained psychologists under controlled conditions. Online tests like ours can give a useful, consistent estimate, but they are not diagnostic instruments.