What this calculator does
IQ scores are reported on a scale built around an average of 100, and psychologists group scores into named bands to describe roughly where a result sits relative to that average. This tool takes a score you already have and tells you which of the standard published bands it falls into, using the widely used Wechsler-scale ranges, from Very Superior at the top down to Extremely Low at the bottom.
This is a classification lookup, not a way to work out anyone’s IQ. An actual IQ score can only come from a properly administered, standardised test given by a qualified professional, under controlled conditions. Nothing here estimates, tests or measures intelligence; it only names the range a score you already hold falls within.
The formula
Compare the entered score against the fixed boundaries of each published band and report the one it falls into, along with the full range of the score-to-band mapping for context.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| IQ score | A standardised intelligence test result, scaled so the population average is set at 100. |
| Classification band | A named range of scores, such as Average or Superior, used to describe where a score sits relative to the population. |
| Standard deviation | On most modern IQ tests one standard deviation is 15 points, which is why the bands used here fall roughly 10 to 15 points apart. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| IQ score | The IQ score you want classified, as reported by an actual test. |
When to use it
Making sense of a test report
A psychologist’s report typically states a numeric score. This tool translates that number into the named band it falls into, which is often the language used in the accompanying discussion.
Reading published research or eligibility criteria
Some programs or studies reference score bands, such as requiring a score in the Superior range, rather than a bare number. Checking a known score against the bands clarifies which category it falls into.
General reference
Understanding how the named bands relate to the numeric scale is useful background when reading about IQ testing generally, without needing to look up or estimate a specific score.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
The standard IQ score classification bands
Every band on the standard scale, in order from highest to lowest.
| Score entered | Classification | Range for this band |
|---|---|---|
| 135 | Very Superior | 130 and above |
| 125 | Superior | 120 to 129 |
| 115 | High Average | 110 to 119 |
| 100 | Average | 90 to 109 |
| 85 | Low Average | 80 to 89 |
| 75 | Borderline | 70 to 79 |
| 60 | Extremely Low | Below 70 |
Questions
Can this calculator tell me my IQ?
No. It only classifies a score you already have into its published band. Working out an actual IQ score requires a real, standardised test administered by a qualified professional; there is no honest shortcut around that.
Why do the bands sit where they do?
Most modern IQ tests are scaled so the population average is 100 with a standard deviation of about 15 points. The named bands are built around multiples of that standard deviation, which is why Average spans 90 to 109 and the bands get narrower in name toward the extremes even though the point ranges are similar.
Is a score just outside my expected band a problem?
A single score sits within a margin of measurement error, and scores can shift somewhat between tests or on a different day. A score close to a band boundary is not meaningfully different from one just inside it. A qualified psychologist is the right person to interpret any individual result.
Do all test publishers use exactly these bands?
The broad shape is widely shared, but exact labels and cut-off points vary slightly between test publishers and editions. Treat the bands here as the commonly cited reference rather than the definitive wording of any one specific test.
For general statistical concepts like standard deviation that underlie how these bands are built, see the descriptive statistics calculator.