What does an IQ of 130 mean?
At the upper end on the reference scale, at approximately percentile 97.72.
- IQ score
- 130
- Percentile
- 97.72
- At or above
- 2.28%
Normal reference · mean 100 · SD 15. These are calculated values, not observed starp population ranks.
Where 130 sits on the IQ scale
A score of 130 is 30 points above the mean. Dividing by the standard deviation gives (130 − 100) ÷ 15 = 2. The normal cumulative distribution converts that standardized position into percentile 97.72.
This is at least two standard deviations above the mean. Only a small upper share of the model lies at or beyond this point. At this end of a scale, the test ceiling, norms and reported uncertainty deserve particular attention.
How common is a score of 130?
Approximately 2.28% of this model lies at or above 130—about 1 in 44. This is a cumulative share, not the chance of scoring exactly 130. A continuous model does not assign a positive probability to one exact value.
IQ 130 is a reference point 2 standard deviations from the mean. Equal IQ-point gaps do not create equal percentile gaps: the middle of the bell curve contains more area than its ends.
Compare nearby scores
Compare 125 and 130 or calculate 130 on another scale. A small difference between test results is not automatically a meaningful change.
How this relates to starp
starp's current scoring map does not produce exactly 130. Its neighboring results are 126 for 27 correct answers and 132 for 28 correct answers out of 30. This guide explains the conventional scale value 130; it does not invent an intermediate starp result.
See the scoring method and how raw scores differ from IQ estimates.
Questions about IQ 130
Is 130 a good IQ score?
130 is above the reference mean of 100. It is a higher score on that scale, but a number alone cannot establish a specific skill profile or predict success.
What percentile is an IQ of 130?
On a normal scale with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, 130 corresponds to approximately percentile 97.72. Around 2.28% of that model lies at or above it. Use an assessment's own norms for an actual reported rank.
Does an IQ of 130 mean 130% correct?
No. IQ is a scaled score. Percentage correct depends on the questions and scoring rules; percentile describes a relative position. These three quantities are not interchangeable.
Method: NIST's normal-distribution formula. Percentiles here are calculated reference values, not observed starp population ranks. About starp scoring.