What IQ score is considered above average?

On most modern IQ tests, scores between 115 and 129 are considered "above average." Scores of 130 and above are typically labeled as "very superior" or "gifted," depending on the test.

What is a high IQ score?

IQ scores of 130 and above are commonly referred to as high or very superior. Some high-IQ societies use a cutoff around 130–132, depending on the test and percentile.

IQ score guide

What Is a Good IQ Score?

Q: Is 100 a good IQ score?

Yes. An IQ of 100 is considered exactly average. The standard IQ scale is built so that 100 is the midpoint of the population, and most people score between 85 and 115.

IQ tests use a standardized scale where 100 is average. A “good” IQ score depends on what you’re comparing against—school, work, or high-level problem-solving.

Most people score between 85–115

Rough guide, not a diagnosis

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IQ Score Ranges at a Glance

Most modern IQ tests (like WAIS, WISC, Stanford-Binet and many online tests) are designed so the average score is 100, with a standard deviation of 15. That means:

IQ Range	Typical Label	How common?
Below 70	Far below average	About 2% of people
70–84	Below average	About 14% of people
85–115	Average / typical range “normal”	About 68% of people
116–129	Above average	About 14% of people
130+	Very high / gifted	About 2% of people

Labels differ slightly from test to test, but the pattern is the same: a big cluster around 100, and fewer people as you move further away from the middle.

So… what counts as a “good” IQ score?

It depends on your goal:

School and everyday life: 90–110 is usually more than enough.
Academically demanding fields: many people score in the 110–125 range.
High-IQ societies: often require around 130+ on approved tests.

For most people, any score in the 85–115 range is perfectly normal and compatible with a successful, interesting life.

IQ is just one piece of the picture

A number on a test can’t measure motivation, creativity, emotional intelligence, grit, kindness, or life experience. Those often matter more than IQ after a certain point.

Think of IQ as a rough snapshot of how you solve certain kinds of problems under time pressure—not a final verdict on what you can or can’t do.

What your score can help you understand

Knowing your IQ score can:

Show how you compare to the general population
Highlight strengths in logic, pattern-finding or verbal reasoning
Help explain why some tasks feel easy and others feel exhausting

It’s most useful when you treat it as data—then choose how to grow from there.

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Short FAQ

Is 100 a good IQ score?

Yes. 100 is the statistical average. Anything roughly between 85 and 115 is considered a normal, healthy IQ.

Is 120–130 a good IQ score?

Those scores are above average and often associated with strong academic or reasoning abilities—but they don’t guarantee success by themselves.

Can I improve my IQ?

You can improve skills measured by IQ tests (like working memory and pattern recognition) with practice, sleep, and learning. Your exact score may move a little, but the bigger wins come from building habits, not chasing a number.