2025 Guide · IQ Percentiles & Rankings

IQ Percentile Explained – Where Does My IQ Rank?

Curious what your IQ score means in terms of percentiles and ranking?

This guide explains IQ percentiles in plain language so you can see where you stand without the confusion.

Get My IQ Percentile (Quick Test) → See My Full IQ Ranking

What Is an IQ Percentile?

When you finish an IQ test, you might see two pieces of information:

  • An IQ score (for example: 98, 111, 124, 136)
  • An IQ percentile (for example: “73rd percentile”)

The score tells you your position on an IQ scale. The percentile tells you where you rank compared to a large group of people who took a similar test.

In simple terms:

  • 50th percentile – you scored around the middle of the group.
  • 70th percentile – you did better than about 70 out of 100 people.
  • 90th percentile – you did better than about 90 out of 100 people.

IQ Percentile & IQ Score – How They Connect

Most modern IQ tests are designed so that the average score is around 100. Scores spread out on both sides of that middle point. The table below shows a rough connection between IQ ranges and percentiles.

IQ Range Approx. Percentile Range How Many People You Rank Above
Below 85 Below ~16th percentile Below about 16 out of 100
85–99 ~16th–50th percentile About 16–50 out of 100
100–114 ~50th–82nd percentile About 50–82 out of 100
115–129 ~82nd–97th percentile About 82–97 out of 100
130+ ~97th percentile and above About 97 or more out of 100

When you look at your IQ result from a site like TrueIQTest.com, you can use a chart like this to answer the question: “Where does my IQ rank compared to others?”

Examples: Turning IQ Scores into Percentile Rankings

Here are a few simplified examples to make the idea of IQ percentile easier to see:

  • IQ 100: Around the 50th percentile. You’re near the exact middle of the group.
  • IQ 110: Roughly around the 75th percentile. You scored higher than about 3 out of 4 people.
  • IQ 120: Roughly around the 90th percentile. You scored higher than about 9 out of 10 people.
  • IQ 130: Roughly around the 97th percentile. You scored higher than about 97 out of 100 people.
“Where does my IQ rank?” “What IQ percentile am I?” “Is my IQ above average?”

These are exactly the kinds of questions IQ percentile is meant to answer in a simple, visual way.

What Does My IQ Percentile Say About Me?

It’s easy to get excited (or worried) when you see your percentile. A high percentile can feel like winning, and a low percentile can sting. But percentiles are still just a way of comparing test performance. They do not:

  • Measure your worth as a person
  • Predict your happiness, relationships, or character
  • Capture creativity, kindness, or resilience

What they do show is how you handled one particular kind of reasoning task on one particular day.

If Your IQ Percentile Seems “Low”

A lower percentile may mean that the format of the test felt hard for you. It might be:

  • You were tired, stressed, or distracted
  • You haven’t practiced puzzles of that type
  • Your strengths lie in areas the test doesn’t measure

You can still learn, improve, and build a successful life no matter what percentile you start from.

If Your IQ Percentile Seems “High”

A high percentile means you handled those puzzles very well compared to most people. That’s encouraging, but it isn’t a guarantee of success. You still need:

  • Good habits and discipline
  • Healthy relationships and communication skills
  • Direction and purpose beyond “being smart”

It’s better to treat your percentile as a tool you can use, not a trophy you cling to.

How to Use IQ Percentiles in a Healthy Way

Once you know your IQ percentile, you can use it to understand your learning style instead of boxing yourself in.

  • Notice where things feel easy for you. That’s where you might accelerate quickly.
  • Notice where things feel slow. That’s where extra support or different techniques may help.
  • Set goals based on actions, not numbers. “I’ll read 10 pages a day” is better than “I need a higher percentile.”

Don’t Know Your Percentile Yet?

If you’re just reading about IQ percentiles and don’t have a score yet, you can take a structured online test, then return to this page and see where your result fits.

Can My IQ Percentile Change Over Time?

Your underlying style of reasoning is fairly stable, but your percentile can move a bit over time because:

  • You gain experience with similar puzzles and patterns
  • You improve your focus, sleep, and test environment
  • You learn better strategies for tackling hard questions

That’s why it’s best to think of your percentile as a range rather than a fixed, permanent label.

FAQ – IQ Percentiles & Rankings

Is IQ percentile more important than my IQ score?

They describe the same performance in different ways. The percentile is often easier to understand because it directly answers “where do I rank compared to others?” The score is more technical, but both point to the same place.

Can two people have the same IQ but different percentiles?

On the same test, an IQ score usually maps to a specific percentile. Across different tests or different reference groups, the mapping can shift slightly, which is why charts are always approximate.

Does my IQ percentile decide my future?

No. It tells you how you did on one type of reasoning task, compared to others. Long-term outcomes depend heavily on effort, habits, social skills, health, opportunities, and choices, not just where you rank on a curve.

What if I’m not happy with my percentile?

It’s normal to have strong feelings about rankings. It can help to focus on specific skills you want to improve, rather than trying to chase a different number. You can still grow, learn, and succeed from any starting point.