What does an IQ of 142 mean?
At the upper end on the reference scale, at approximately percentile 99.74.
- IQ score
- 142
- Percentile
- 99.74
- At or above
- 0.26%
Normal reference · mean 100 · SD 15. These are calculated values, not observed starp population ranks.
Where 142 sits on the IQ scale
A score of 142 is 42 points above the mean. Dividing by the standard deviation gives (142 − 100) ÷ 15 = 2.8. The normal cumulative distribution converts that standardized position into percentile 99.74.
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 142?
Approximately 0.26% of this model lies at or above 142—about 1 in 391. This is a cumulative share, not the chance of scoring exactly 142. A continuous model does not assign a positive probability to one exact value.
Compared with IQ 130, the reference percentile is 2.02 percentage points higher. 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 137 and 142 or calculate 142 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 142. Its neighboring results are 138 for 29 correct answers and 144 for 30 correct answers out of 30. This guide explains the conventional scale value 142; it does not invent an intermediate starp result.
See the scoring method and how raw scores differ from IQ estimates.
Questions about IQ 142
Is 142 a good IQ score?
142 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 142?
On a normal scale with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, 142 corresponds to approximately percentile 99.74. Around 0.26% of that model lies at or above it. Use an assessment's own norms for an actual reported rank.
Does an IQ of 142 mean 142% 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.