IQ Percentile Calculator
Convert your IQ score to a percentile rank and understand where you stand in the population.
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Table of Contents
Understanding IQ Percentiles
IQ percentiles provide a powerful way to understand your cognitive abilities in relation to the general population. This comprehensive guide explains what percentiles mean, how they're calculated, and why they matter.
What Is an IQ Percentile?
An IQ percentile represents the percentage of people in the population who score equal to or below your IQ score. For example, if your IQ score is in the 90th percentile, it means you scored equal to or higher than 90% of people who have taken the test.
The higher your percentile, the rarer your IQ score is in the population.
The Bell Curve Distribution
IQ scores follow a normal distribution, represented by a bell-shaped curve. This distribution has several important characteristics:
- The mean (average) IQ score is set at 100
- The standard deviation is typically 15 points
- About 68% of people have IQ scores between 85 and 115 (within one standard deviation)
- About 95% of people have IQ scores between 70 and 130 (within two standard deviations)
- About 99.7% of people have IQ scores between 55 and 145 (within three standard deviations)
Notable IQ Percentile Benchmarks
| IQ Score | Percentile | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 50th | 1 in 2 people |
| 115 | 84th | 1 in 6.3 people |
| 130 | 98th | 1 in 50 people |
| 145 | 99.9th | 1 in 1,000 people |
| 160 | 99.997th | 1 in 30,000 people |
Why Percentiles Matter More Than Raw Scores
While raw IQ scores provide a standardized measure, percentiles offer several advantages:
- Percentiles are more intuitive to understand
- They clearly show where you stand relative to the general population
- They help interpret the significance of score differences
- They account for differences between various IQ tests and scoring systems
How Percentiles Relate to Real-World Outcomes
Research has shown correlations between IQ percentiles and various life outcomes:
- Higher percentiles often correlate with academic success
- IQ scores above the 90th percentile are common in cognitively demanding professions
- Different occupations tend to have different average IQ ranges
Important: IQ is just one measure of cognitive ability and doesn't capture the full spectrum of human intelligence, creativity, or potential for success.
How to Calculate
To calculate your IQ percentile, follow these steps:
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1Enter your IQ score
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2The calculator uses the normal distribution to find your percentile
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3View your percentile rank and interpretation
IQ Scale
Genius 140+
Top 0.1% of population
Exceptional intellectual ability
Examples: Einstein, Hawking
Superior 120-139
Top 9% of population
Very high intellectual ability
Strong problem-solving skills
Average 90-109
50% of population
Normal intellectual ability
Typical cognitive functioning
Score Interpretation
Understanding your IQ score and percentile:
- IQ scores follow a normal distribution
- Mean IQ is 100 with standard deviation of 15
- Percentile shows relative standing in population