What is a good IQ? What is a good IQ score?

IQ General
1

I know 100 is supposedly average, but what actually counts as a “good” IQ score? Is there a clear cutoff or does it depend on context?

Is 110 good, or do you need 115+ to be considered above average? Does it matter for real-world success or is it just a number?

Are there different standards for different situations (school, work, etc.)?

I scored 118 on an online test (not sure how reliable) and I’m wondering if that’s actually meaningful or just slightly above the middle.

What do you all think - where’s the line between “average” and “good”?

Thanks! :brain:

2

110 is 75th percentile (top 25%), 115 is 84th percentile (top 16%), 118 is ~88th percentile (top 12%). “Good” is subjective but anything above 110 is definitively above average. For most academic and professional settings, 115+ is solid. That said, online tests are often inflated or unreliable - a professional test might give you a different score. But if 118 is accurate, that’s well above average.

3

@NickFR Honestly depends what you’re using it for. 110+ is fine for most careers and life situations. 120+ opens more doors academically. 130+ is where “gifted” programs start. But real-world success correlates more with work ethic, social skills, and opportunity than raw IQ. A 118 means you’re capable - what you do with it matters way more than the exact number.

4

With 100 being average, you could make an argument that any score of 100 or higher is “good.”

I think that what “good” is depends on the context, though. The minimum to join the US military varies over time, but it’s always between 80 and the low 90s. So, if that’s your goal, 90 or 95 can be good. But that same score isn’t good for a surgeon (a job that probably has a minimum IQ of about 120).

So, I don’t think there’s one line between “good” and “average” or “good” and “not good.” Rather, we should ask what’s good for this purpose or context.

6 Likes
What is IQ? What is an IQ? What is an IQ score?
5

Scores in your range open doors to a wide variety of challenging fields and mean you have the cognitive toolkit to pursue advanced education or specialized careers if you choose to. The exciting part is that 118 gives you flexibility. You’re well-equipped cognitively for most paths, so you can focus on finding what genuinely interests you rather than worrying about whether you have enough intelligence for your goals.

6

The whole idea of a “good" IQ score shows how we’ve turned this test into some kind of life scorecard. In the real world, nobody’s checking your IQ at job interviews or in relationships; they care about whether you can actually do things, communicate well, and solve practical problems. Stop worrying about these issues and focus on developing actual skills that matter for what you want to do with your life.