IQ Charts & Scoring

IQ Score Chart: Full Range, Classifications & Percentiles (2026)

A single IQ number doesn't mean much on its own. This IQ score chart lines up every range against its classification, its percentile position, and the share of the population that lands there — so you can see exactly where a score sits and what it actually represents.

Already have a number in mind? Take our free IQ test online for an instant result, then come back to this chart to see what it means.

The IQ Score Chart

This table uses the standard Wechsler-style scale — a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15 — which is the basis for the WAIS-IV, WISC-V, and most modern IQ tests.

IQ Range	Classification	Percentile	Share of Population
145+	Genius / Extremely Gifted	99.9th and up	~0.1%
130 – 144	Very Superior (Gifted)	98th – 99.9th	~2.1%
120 – 129	Superior	91st – 98th	~6.4%
110 – 119	High Average	75th – 91st	~16.1%
90 – 109	Average	25th – 75th	~50.0%
80 – 89	Low Average	9th – 25th	~16.1%
70 – 79	Borderline	2nd – 9th	~6.4%
Below 70	Extremely Low	Below 2nd	~2.2%

Figures are rounded and based on the normal (bell curve) distribution. For an exact lookup at every score from 40 to 180 — including rarity expressed as "1 in X" — see our full IQ Percentiles and Rarity Chart.

What Each Band on the Chart Means

90–109: Average

Half of all people fall in this band. It's the widest classification on the chart and covers most of the population, not a narrow slice.

110–119: High Average

One step above the centre of the curve. Read more in our 115 IQ breakdown or the 109 IQ meaning page.

120–129: Superior

Roughly the top 9% of scorers. See what this band looks like in practice on our 120 IQ and 125 IQ pages.

130–144: Very Superior (Gifted)

This is also the general range used for high-IQ society admission. Compare it against the Mensa minimum IQ requirement, or check a specific score on our 130 IQ, 135 IQ, or 140 IQ pages.

145 and above: Genius Level

Statistically rare — about 1 in 741 people. Full detail on our 145 IQ page and our highest IQ possible guide.

Below 90: Low Average & Below

Still a common part of the distribution. Context matters here more than the number itself — see what counts as a good IQ score.

How the Chart Maps to the Bell Curve

Every IQ score chart is really just a labelled version of the normal distribution. Scores cluster tightly around 100 and thin out fast toward both ends:

68% of people score between 85 and 115 (within 1 standard deviation).
95% of people score between 70 and 130 (within 2 standard deviations).
99.7% of people score between 55 and 145 (within 3 standard deviations).

For a visual, interactive version of this curve, see our dedicated IQ Bell Curve page.

IQ Score Chart by Test: Why the Same Percentile Can Show a Different Number

Not every test uses the same standard deviation, so the same percentile rank can come out as a different raw score depending on which test you took.

Percentile	Wechsler / SB5 (SD 15)	Older Stanford-Binet (SD 16)	Cattell III B (SD 24)
50th	100	100	100
84th	115	116	124
91st	120	121	132
~98th	130	132	148
99.6th	140	143	164
99.87th	145	148	172

This is why a decades-old report reading "148" and a new Wechsler-style report reading "130" can describe the same statistical rarity. Learn more about the scales themselves on our IQ scale guide, Wechsler IQ test page, or Stanford-Binet IQ test page.

Treat a Score as a Band, Not a Fixed Point

A single test sitting carries measurement error. Most modern IQ tests report a standard error of measurement of roughly 2–3 points per composite score, which widens to about ±5 points at a 95% confidence interval. In practical terms, a reported IQ of 120 is better read as "somewhere around 115–125" rather than an exact, unmovable figure. Mood, sleep, practice effects, and test conditions on the day can all nudge a result within that band.

IQ Score Chart: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good score on the IQ score chart?

Anything from 90 to 109 is classified as Average, and scores of 110 and above are generally considered above average. See our full breakdown on what is a good IQ score.

What percentile is an IQ of 130 on the chart?

An IQ of 130 sits at roughly the 98th percentile on the standard SD-15 scale, placing it in the Very Superior band.

Is 100 an average IQ score?

Yes. 100 is defined as the mean of the norm sample on virtually every modern IQ scale and sits exactly at the 50th percentile.

What is the highest classification on an IQ score chart?

On the standard Wechsler-style chart, the top band is Very Superior, starting at 130. Scores of 145 and above are sometimes labelled "genius level," though this isn't an official clinical term.

Why do IQ charts show different numbers for the same percentile?

Because tests use different standard deviations. Wechsler and Stanford-Binet 5 use SD 15, older Stanford-Binet editions used SD 16, and the Cattell III B used SD 24 — so a top-2% result can appear as 130, 132, or 148 depending on the scale.