Is an IQ of 85 a good score?

An IQ of 85 sits in the low average range, with about 15.87% of a normal population scoring below it. Whether that counts as good depends on what the score is used for — and no single online result should be treated as a definitive measure of ability.

How rare is an IQ of 85?

In a normal distribution, about 1 in 6.3 people score IQ 85 or lower.

What percentile is an IQ of 85?

15.87% of the reference population scores below IQ 85. That is its percentile rank — a position on a scale from 0 to 100, not the share of questions answered correctly.

IQ 85: meaning, percentile and rarity

An IQ of 85 sits in the low average range on the standard scale (mean 100, standard deviation 15). 15.87% of the reference population scores below this level, and 84.13% scores above it.

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Percentile rank: 15.87% of people score below IQ 85, and 84.13% score above it.
Rarity: About 1 in 6.3 people score IQ 85 or lower.
Distance from the mean: 15 points below the mean of 100 — about 1 standard deviations.

15.87% of people score below IQ 85, and 84.13% score above it.

What range does IQ 85 fall into?

An IQ of 85 sits in the low average range.

This band covers the lower part of the average region. It is very common, and results here are still close to the center of the scale rather than at its edges.

How rare is IQ 85?

About 1 in 6.3 people score IQ 85 or lower.

Frequently asked questions

Is an IQ of 85 a good score?: An IQ of 85 sits in the low average range, with about 15.87% of a normal population scoring below it. Whether that counts as good depends on what the score is used for — and no single online result should be treated as a definitive measure of ability.
How rare is an IQ of 85?: In a normal distribution, about 1 in 6.3 people score IQ 85 or lower.
What percentile is an IQ of 85?: 15.87% of the reference population scores below IQ 85. That is its percentile rank — a position on a scale from 0 to 100, not the share of questions answered correctly.

This page describes the theoretical normal distribution (mean 100, standard deviation 15) for educational purposes. It is not a clinical assessment or a diagnosis.