A practical guide to common ranges
For a scale with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, these bands provide general orientation. They are not diagnostic categories.
- 130 and above: approximately the top 2%
- 120–129: approximately the 91st–97th percentiles
- 110–119: approximately the 75th–90th percentiles
- 90–109: broad middle range
- 80–89: approximately the 9th–24th percentiles
- 70–79: approximately the 2nd–8th percentiles
- Below 70: approximately the lowest 2%
Why labels differ
Publishers and institutions use different terms and cutoffs. A result at a boundary is not meaningfully different from one a point away, and confidence intervals often cross more than one band.
High or low results should not be interpreted from the total alone. A professional considers adaptive functioning, development, education, and language when relevant.
Read the profile, not only the number
Two people with the same overall score may have different strengths. One might excel in verbal reasoning while another performs best on visual patterns. A composite can hide these differences.
Use an online score as a snapshot under particular conditions, not a permanent label.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
What is considered a high IQ?
On many scales, 120 or above is well above average and 130 or above is around the top 2%, but terminology varies.
Are IQ range boundaries exact?
No. Measurement error and differing classification systems make boundaries approximate.