IQ 120 to 129
Superior
Clearly above average, and the band where a lot of demanding academic and technical work lives. It is also the most common place for people who expected to score "gifted" to land instead — 129 and 130 are one point apart and read very differently, which says more about where we drew the line than about the two scores.
Every score from 120 to 129
Percentile is the share of people you would score above. Rarity is how many people it takes to find one at that score or higher. Scores with their own page are linked.
| IQ score | Percentile | Rarity | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 | 97th | 1 in 38 | Superior |
| 128 | 97th | 1 in 32 | Superior |
| 127 | 96th | 1 in 28 | Superior |
| 126 | 96th | 1 in 24 | Superior |
| 125 | 95th | 1 in 21 | Superior |
| 124 | 95th | 1 in 18 | Superior |
| 123 | 94th | 1 in 16 | Superior |
| 122 | 93rd | 1 in 14 | Superior |
| 121 | 92nd | 1 in 12 | Superior |
| 120 | 91st | 1 in 11 | Superior |
Table 1 · Percentile and rarity for every score from 120 to 129, on the standard scale (mean 100, SD 15).
Where 120–129 sits on the scale
This range is the superior band on the Wechsler classification convention.
| Score band | Classification |
|---|---|
| 145–160 | Highly gifted |
| 130–144 | Very superior · gifted |
| 120–129 | Superior · you are here |
| 110–119 | High average |
| 90–109 | Average |
| 80–89 | Low average |
| 70–79 | Borderline |
Table 2 · The classification bands used across this site.
What scores in this range mean
A 125 points to solid abstract reasoning and a good working memory for problems with several steps. It is the range where technical study and analytical work tend to feel manageable rather than uphill.
One honest caveat that applies at every score: IQ measures a specific slice of reasoning ability. It is a real and useful signal, but it does not capture creativity, discipline, emotional intelligence, or drive. Treat it as one data point, not a verdict.
Famous minds around 120–129
Names often placed in this range. Each carries an honesty label, because almost none of these numbers come from a real, verified test.
Nearby on the scale
Frequently asked questions
What percentile is an IQ of 120 to 129?
An IQ of 120 is about the 91st percentile and 129 is about the 97th percentile, on the standard scale (mean 100, SD 15).
How rare is a score in the 120–129 range?
Roughly 1 in 11 people reach 120, and about 1 in 38 reach 129.
What classification is 120 to 129?
Superior, on the Wechsler classification convention.
Can an online test place a score this precisely?
Not to the point. A sixteen-item screener gives a reliable band, not an exact number — which is why this page covers the whole 120–129 range rather than pretending each point is meaningfully different.