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Quick answer: A “good” IQ is above 100 (the population average). Scores 110–119 are “high average”, 120–129 are “superior”, and 130+ is “gifted” — reached by roughly 2% of people. Context matters more than the single number.
How the IQ Scale Works
Modern IQ tests use a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. This means the middle 68% of people score between 85 and 115, and 95% score between 70 and 130. Scores are ranked by percentile — how many people you outperform. See exact percentiles with the IQ percentile calculator.
IQ Score Ranges Explained
| Score | Classification | Percentile | How rare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145+ | Genius / Near-genius | 99.9th | 1 in 1,000 |
| 130–144 | Gifted / Highly gifted | 98th–99.9th | ~1 in 50 to 1 in 1,000 |
| 120–129 | Superior | 91st–97th | ~1 in 11 |
| 110–119 | High average | 75th–90th | ~1 in 4 |
| 90–109 | Average | 25th–74th | Half the population |
| 80–89 | Low average | 9th–24th | ~1 in 6 |
| Below 70 | Extremely low | Under 2nd | ~1 in 50 or rarer |
What Counts as a “Good” IQ?
By any statistical definition, “good” starts at 100 — you’re in the top half of the population. But context matters:
- For most jobs: 100–115 is more than enough. Effort, discipline, and social skills often matter more.
- For technical fields (engineering, medicine, research): typical scores cluster 110–130.
- For Mensa membership: 130+ (top 2%). See our Mensa IQ test.
- For children: same scale applies, but children’s IQ scores are less stable and shouldn’t be over-interpreted. Try our IQ test for kids.
Does a High IQ Guarantee Success?
No. Research consistently shows IQ predicts about 25% of variance in job performance — meaningful but not deterministic. Emotional intelligence, grit, opportunity, and health matter equally. Terman’s landmark long-term study of gifted children found that above about 120 IQ, additional points had diminishing returns for life outcomes.
How Do I Find Out My IQ?
Take a validated test that gives instant results. The free IQ test hub lists all seven versions on iqtest.training with different lengths and styles. Each shows your score, percentile, and classification without sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
Is 120 a good IQ score?
Yes. An IQ of 120 sits in the “superior” range — higher than about 91% of people. Scores of 110–119 are above average and 120–129 are superior, so 120 is a genuinely strong result.
What is considered a genius IQ?
There is no official cut-off, but scores of 140 and above are usually called “genius” or “near-genius” — only about 1 person in 250 scores that high. The gifted range (top 2%) starts at 130.
Is a 100 IQ good?
An IQ of 100 is exactly average, because 100 is the midpoint of the scale by design. About half of all people score above it and half below, so 100 is perfectly normal — not a low score.
What is the average IQ score?
The average IQ is 100 on every standard test, and roughly two-thirds of people score between 85 and 115. See our full breakdown of average IQ by country.