IQ Score Chart: How Scores Are Typically Distributed
Traditional IQ scales are built so that most people land near the middle of the range, with progressively fewer people at the very low or very high ends. This page explains the general shape of that distribution and the labels commonly attached to different ranges — with an important caveat up front: these labels describe a statistical position, not a judgment of a person's worth or potential.
The general shape of the distribution
Traditional scales are centered on a score of 100. Roughly two-thirds of people are said to fall within one standard deviation of that center (commonly ±15 points on many scales), with the remaining share spread across the wider tails. The exact percentages depend on which specific test and norming sample is being discussed.
Commonly used score ranges
Different publishers use slightly different labels, but ranges are often grouped loosely as: well below average, below average, average, above average, and well above average, with the bulk of the population sitting in and around the average band. We intentionally avoid presenting a single "official" table here, since exact cutoffs vary by test publisher and edition.
Important caveats
A single score — especially from a free, un-normed online test like ours — should be read as a rough, illustrative estimate rather than a precise measurement. Real-world factors like sleep, stress, practice effects, and unfamiliarity with a question format can shift a result meaningfully. For a full explanation of how our own scoring works, see our testing methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What does a score of 100 mean?
On most traditional scales, 100 represents the statistical center of the distribution — not a "pass" or "fail" mark, just the middle of the curve.
Is a higher score always better?
A higher score reflects stronger performance on the specific tasks in that test, not a broader measure of a person's worth, creativity, or life outcomes.