I’m trying to understand where different IQ scores fall on the spectrum. I know 100 is average, but I’m confused about what counts as “high” versus “very high” versus “genius level.”
Is 120 considered high or just above average? What about 130 - is that where “gifted” starts? And at what point does a score become truly exceptional?
I’ve seen different classifications online and they all seem to use different cutoffs. Just want to get a clear understanding of what these numbers actually mean.
120 = smart, but still in the broad “average” band
130 = the universal “gifted” threshold
145+ = truly rare / exceptional
160+ = the “genius” label most psychologists reserve
Might be helpful to also chat about what comes before 120, just to round out the picture. Here’s how the brackets usually fall on the same Wechsler/Stanford-Binet scale:
115–120: High average (84th–91st %ile) – strong, reliable learners; often top of class without effort.
100–115: Average (50th–84th %ile) – the broad middle where most day-to-day life happens.
85–100: Low average (16th–50th %ile) – solid functional skills; may need scaffolding in complex settings.
70–85: Borderline (2nd–16th %ile) – often qualifies for academic support; practical intelligence shines in real-world tasks.
<70: Intellectual disability (<2nd %ile) – typically needs ongoing accommodations.
Statistically, 145 marks the 99.6th percentile on most modern scales (SD 15), or roughly 1 in 261. Is the “truly exceptional” threshold for you more about rarity (e.g., 1 in 1,000+), functional impact, or something else entirely?
The terminology confusion comes from different systems. Wechsler (WAIS/WISC) classifications are:
90-109: Average
110-119: High Average
120-129: Superior
130+: Very Superior
Educational systems often use “gifted” for 130+, but some school districts identify at 120+ depending on their criteria. There’s no universal agreement on where “genius” begins - some say 140, others say 145, and historically it was sometimes used for 160+. The labels matter less than understanding the percentile rank.
@JuliaB Yes, 120 falls in the “Superior” range (120-129), which represents roughly the top 7-9% of the population. It’s definitely “high” by any reasonable standard, even if it doesn’t meet the typical “gifted” threshold of 130.
The obsession with these numbers is weird. I’ve met people with supposedly high IQs who couldn’t hold a conversation or lacked basic common sense. So yeah, 120 is above average and 130 is gifted according to the scale, but these labels are basically meaningless outside of academic psychology. Focus on what you can actually do and create rather than what some standardized test says about you.
IQ tests definitely don’t capture the full picture of someone’s capabilities, but there’s still some value in understanding these metrics, even if they’re limited. Though you’re absolutely right that they shouldn’t define someone’s worth or potential.
As Rob’s image shows, there is a smooth transition from the average IQ to the insanely high IQs of 140+. There’s no sharp break in the distribution where “average” scores transition to “high” scores. So anywhere you put the dividing line is going to be arbitrary.
That being said, most people would agree that “high” IQ probably starts somewhere between 110 and 120. The top 25% of the population scores at 110+, and the top 9% of the population scores 120+. So anyone in that range is definitely smarter than average, and much of the population would probably agree that they have a high IQ.
