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What does IQ 100 mean?

IQ bell curve

Average 100 · SD 15

Drag any score to see if it’s above average, how rare it is, and whether “genius” actually applies.

Drag to explore

A model of the scale — not a test result.

In a room50 of 100Only about 50 people in that room score as high.IQ scale85–115Most modeled scores fall between 85 and 115.PresidentsBelow every reviewed presidential estimate.Historiometric estimates — not IQ tests.
Normal-model interpretation

What IQ 100 means

Score100Percentile50.00thStandard position0.00σ

100 is the standardized average.

It is the 50th percentile by construction—not 100 percent correct and not a measure of a person’s worth.

The calculator uses z = (score − 100) / 15 and the standard normal distribution. Publisher norms, ceilings, and confidence intervals can produce different official interpretations.

What is a good IQ score?

100 is average by design. 120 is clearly above average. Whether a number is “good” depends on the question you are asking — a test edition, a program cutoff, a curiosity — not a ranking of a person’s worth. See the IQ scale and chart.

What IQ is genius?

There is no official genius cutoff. Gifted and Mensa-style rules often sit near 130. Popular charts start saying “genius” around 140. 160 is a celebrity rumor, including the disputed Einstein claim. Read what IQ is considered genius.

Is a 12-year-old’s average 100?

Yes. Modern IQ tests are age-normed, so the average 12-year-old is about 100 compared with other 12-year-olds — not compared with adults. See average IQ by age.

Did Einstein score 160?

No public Einstein IQ test record exists. 160 is a repeated claim, not a verified score. Read the Einstein IQ evidence.

IQ bell curve on a mean-100, SD-15 normal model Theoretical normal-model chart. IQ 100 is marked on a mean-100, SD-15 curve. Not a test result. 557085100115130145 100
IQ bell curve: the normal-distribution chart of standardized scores (mean 100, SD 15), not the 1994 book. Download iq-bell-curve.svg.

FAQ

What is an IQ bell curve?
An IQ bell curve is a normal-distribution chart of standardized scores. This page uses mean 100 and standard deviation 15. It is not the 1994 book The Bell Curve.
Is this the book The Bell Curve?
No. This IQ bell curve is a statistical chart of IQ scores. It is not Herrnstein and Murray’s 1994 book.
How do I read percentiles on this IQ bell curve?
The percentile is 100 × Φ((score − 100) / 15), where Φ is the standard normal cumulative distribution. It is a theoretical conversion, not the percentile printed on a publisher’s score report.
Is the IQ bell curve an IQ test?
No. It does not administer a test, authenticate a reported score, or diagnose a condition. Use it to understand a number on one common scale.