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IQ score interpretation

IQ score chart: ranges, percentiles and meaning

Most modern IQ tests use an average score of 100 and a standard deviation near 15. This chart helps translate a score into a broad range and percentile context.

View IQ ranges IQ percentile table
IQ score chart and interpretation

IQ score ranges

Use these ranges as a plain-language guide. A real report should include the test name, norms, confidence interval, and subtest profile.

IQ range Meaning How to read it Example
40-69 Below average IQ range Scores in this range are usually interpreted cautiously and should be reviewed with the full test profile. IQ 70
70-79 Low IQ range This range is below the population average and may indicate that support is useful in demanding cognitive tasks. IQ 75
80-89 Low average IQ range A low average result is close to the broader average band, but below the center of the distribution. IQ 85
90-109 Average IQ range Most people score near this range because many IQ tests are normed around an average score of 100. IQ 100
110-119 High average IQ range This range is above the population average and often reflects stronger performance on the tested tasks. IQ 115
120-129 Superior IQ range Scores in this range are substantially above average, though interpretation still depends on the test and context. IQ 125
130-160 Very high IQ range Very high scores are uncommon and should be interpreted through a standardized assessment, not a single online result. IQ 130

What is an average IQ score?

On many standardized IQ tests, the average score is 100. Scores around 90 to 109 are usually treated as the broad average range.

A score is meaningful only when it is compared with the test norms. That is why the same raw number of correct answers can lead to different IQ scores for different ages or test forms.

Percentiles help translate the score into a population comparison. For example, the 50th percentile is the middle of the norm group.

Popular IQ score pages

IQ 70 Low IQ range Approx. percentile: 2.3%
IQ 85 Low average IQ range Approx. percentile: 15.9%
IQ 100 Average IQ range Approx. percentile: 50%
IQ 115 High average IQ range Approx. percentile: 84.1%
IQ 130 Very high IQ range Approx. percentile: 97.7%
IQ 145 Very high IQ range Approx. percentile: 99.9%

IQ score FAQ

IQ 100 is the center of many IQ scales. It means the result is close to the average of the norm group used by that test.

Scores above 115 are often above average, while scores around 130 and higher are uncommon. Exact labels depend on the test manual.

Online tests can be useful for practice and general orientation, but professional interpretation requires standardized testing conditions and a validated assessment.

Many modern IQ scales use a standard deviation of 15. That means scores are commonly interpreted by their distance from the average score of 100.

On many tests, IQ 90 is within the broad average range. It is below the exact center of the scale, but still close to typical performance.

IQ 120 is usually above average on common IQ scales. The exact label depends on the test manual and the confidence interval around the score.

Some programs use scores around 130 as one possible giftedness marker, but real eligibility often includes achievement, creativity, motivation, and professional evaluation.

Scores can change because of development, education, health, sleep, stress, test familiarity, and measurement error. One result should not be treated as permanent.

A confidence interval shows that a score is an estimate, not a perfectly exact number. It helps readers avoid overinterpreting small score differences.
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Use the BrainApps IQ test as a quick way to practice cognitive tasks and get a structured result. Treat online scores as screening information, not a clinical diagnosis.

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