What is a good IQ score?
On this model, 100 is the standardized average—the 50th percentile by construction. Scores around 115 sit near one standard deviation above the mean. Whether a number is “good” depends on the test, the question being asked, and the confidence interval on the score report. It is not a measure of a person’s worth.
For landmark pages, start with IQ 100, IQ 115, is 120 IQ good, IQ 130, or IQ 150. The average at each tested age is about 100 because modern IQ is age-normed—not because children are assigned adult-equivalent scores.
IQ scale and common chart labels
Charts often print words such as average, high average, or gifted. Those words come from particular tests and editions. They are not a universal classification of people.
| Range | Approx. percentile | Label you may see | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 70 | Below ~2nd | Often discussed in clinical contexts | A number by itself is not a diagnosis or eligibility decision. |
| 70–84 | ~2nd–14th | Below the model average on some charts | Publisher labels vary by test edition and age norms. |
| 85–114 | ~16th–82nd | Broad middle of an SD-15 scale | Most modeled scores fall in this band around the mean of 100. |
| 115–129 | ~84th–97th | Above average on some charts | One standard deviation above the mean is 115 on this model. |
| 130+ | ~98th and above | Gifted or very superior on some tests | Cutoffs and program rules are not universal across instruments. |
What IQ is considered genius?
There is no universal genius IQ cutoff. Some popular charts start informal “genius” talk near 140; pop culture often repeats 160, including the disputed Einstein claim. Those words are test-specific labels, not a ranking of people.
| Phrase | Where it shows up | On this model |
|---|---|---|
| Very superior / gifted | Some Wechsler-style charts and program rules | Often near 130 (~98th percentile) |
| Mensa-style eligibility | About the 98th percentile on an accepted test | Near 130 on SD-15; the society’s rules, not this site’s |
| Informal “genius” | Popular charts and listicles | Sometimes 140; not a publisher’s universal cutoff |
| Pop-culture 160 | Einstein stories and viral posts | 160 is a modeled rarity, not a verified personal score |
Questions this chart answers
- What is a good IQ score?
- On this model, 100 is the standardized average—the 50th percentile. Scores near 115 are about one standard deviation above the mean. Whether a number is “good” depends on the test, the decision being made, and the confidence interval on the score report. It is not a measure of a person’s worth.
- What is an IQ scale?
- An IQ scale is a standardized score system. Many modern tests are centered on 100 with a standard deviation of 15. Other instruments use different standard deviations, so the same printed number is not interchangeable across tests.
- What is an IQ chart?
- An IQ chart plots scores against a normal-model curve or a table of ranges and labels. Labels such as average or gifted come from particular tests and editions. They are not a universal classification of people.
- What IQ is considered genius?
- There is no universal genius cutoff. Some popular charts start informal “genius” talk near 140; pop culture often repeats 160. Those words are test-specific labels, not a ranking of people.
- What is genius IQ?
- Genius is not a single IQ number. On this model, 140 is about the 99.6th percentile and 160 is a famous unsupported public claim, including the Einstein 160 story.
- What IQ is genius?
- It depends which chart you are reading. Mensa-style 98th-percentile rules sit near 130 on SD-15. Informal genius lists are not the same as a publisher’s classification.
- What is a genius IQ level?
- Treat “genius IQ level” as a search phrase, not a diagnosis. Read the percentile, the test edition, and the confidence interval before repeating a cutoff.