What does an IQ of 149 mean?

At the upper end on the reference scale, at approximately percentile 99.9456.

IQ score
149
Percentile
99.9456
At or above
0.0544%
557085100115130145149
Normal reference · mean 100 · SD 15

Normal reference · mean 100 · SD 15. These are calculated values, not observed starp population ranks.

Where 149 sits on the IQ scale

A score of 149 is 49 points above the mean. Dividing by the standard deviation gives (149 − 100) ÷ 15 = 3.27. The normal cumulative distribution converts that standardized position into percentile 99.9456.

This is at least three standard deviations above the mean. The modeled upper tail is very small, so rounding and differences between scoring scales matter more. A precise-looking reference percentile does not make an extreme result from an unvalidated test precise.

How common is a score of 149?

Approximately 0.0544% of this model lies at or above 149—about 1 in 1,838. This is a cumulative share, not the chance of scoring exactly 149. A continuous model does not assign a positive probability to one exact value.

Compared with IQ 145, the reference percentile is 0.08 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

IQ scorePercentileAt or above
14499.830.17%
14999.94560.0544%
15499.98410.0159%

Compare 144 and 149 or calculate 149 on another scale. A small difference between test results is not automatically a meaningful change.

How this relates to starp

The current starp score range ends at 144. A score of 149 is covered here as a general scale reference, but it is not a result the current starp test can produce. Its normal-model percentile should not be presented as a starp ranking.

See the scoring method and how raw scores differ from IQ estimates.

Questions about IQ 149

Is 149 a good IQ score?

149 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 149?

On a normal scale with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, 149 corresponds to approximately percentile 99.9456. Around 0.0544% of that model lies at or above it. Use an assessment's own norms for an actual reported rank.

Does an IQ of 149 mean 149% 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.