What Is a Good IQ Score?
Last updated: June 1, 2025
What Is a Good IQ Score?Last updated: June 1, 2025
What is a good IQ score?
A score of 100 is exactly average — it sits at the 50th percentile by design. Scores between 90 and 110 are considered "average" and are achieved by roughly half the population. A score above 120 is generally regarded as "superior," while anything above 130 places you in the top 2% and is classified as "very superior" or "gifted." Whether a score is "good" depends on context: 115 is high for most purposes but average for a competitive academic institution.
IQ Classification Table
The following ranges are adapted from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV), the most widely used IQ test in clinical practice.
| IQ Range | Classification | Approximate Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 130+ | Very Superior | Top 2% |
| 120–129 | Superior | Top 9% |
| 110–119 | High Average | Top 25% |
| 90–109 | Average | 25th–75th percentile |
| 80–89 | Low Average | Bottom 25% |
| 70–79 | Borderline | Bottom 9% |
| Below 70 | Extremely Low | Bottom 2% |
What does an IQ of 100 mean?
An IQ of 100 means you scored exactly at the population average for your age group. IQ tests are designed and regularly re-normed so that 100 always represents the midpoint — a process called "standardization." Scoring 100 does not mean you answered 100% of questions correctly; it means your raw score places you at the median.
What IQ score is needed for Mensa?
Mensa accepts candidates who score in the top 2% on any approved IQ test — which corresponds to roughly 130+ on a Wechsler scale or 148+ on some other instruments. Each test has its own scoring system, so the exact number varies by the test used. Mensa does not require a specific score on one particular instrument.
Does a high IQ guarantee success?
A high IQ is a meaningful predictor of academic and professional outcomes, but it does not guarantee success. Research consistently shows that conscientiousness, social skills (EQ), motivation, and opportunity are equally or more important in determining life outcomes. IQ is best understood as a measure of certain cognitive abilities, not overall human potential.
How does IQ change with age?
Raw cognitive scores peak in early adulthood (typically mid-20s) and then gradually decline, but standardized IQ scores are always relative to your age group. This means a 60-year-old is compared to other 60-year-olds, not to 25-year-olds — so your IQ score remains stable across your lifetime even as your raw processing speed changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 120 a good IQ score?
Yes. A score of 120 falls in the "Superior" range, placing you in approximately the top 9% of the population. It is associated with success in demanding academic and professional environments.
What is the average IQ in the United States?
The average IQ in the US is defined as 100 by the normative design of IQ tests. However, cross-national comparisons show variation; the US tends to score between 97–100 on internationally normed studies.
Can IQ be improved?
Cognitive skills can be developed through education, practice, and healthy lifestyle habits. However, substantial, lasting gains in general IQ are difficult to achieve through training alone. See our article on brain training: does it work? for a detailed look at the evidence.
Try the Free IQ-Style Test
Curious about your score? Take our free IQ-style test — 25 questions, instant result, no email required. Remember: online tests like ours are entertainment estimates, not clinical measurements.