What does an IQ of 77 mean?

Below the central range on the reference scale, at approximately percentile 6.26.

IQ score
77
Percentile
6.26
At or above
93.74%
55708510011513014577
Normal reference · mean 100 · SD 15

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

Where 77 sits on the IQ scale

A score of 77 is 23 points below the mean. Dividing by the standard deviation gives (77 − 100) ÷ 15 = -1.53. The normal cumulative distribution converts that standardized position into percentile 6.26.

This is below the central 85–115 interval of the reference scale. A single result does not provide a diagnosis or determine what someone can learn. The original report, testing conditions and purpose matter when interpreting it.

How common is a score of 77?

Approximately 6.26% of this model lies at or below 77—about 1 in 16. This is a cumulative share, not the chance of scoring exactly 77. A continuous model does not assign a positive probability to one exact value.

Compared with IQ 85, the reference percentile is 9.61 percentage points lower. 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
723.196.9%
776.2693.74%
8211.5188.49%

Compare 72 and 77 or calculate 77 on another scale. A small difference between test results is not automatically a meaningful change.

How this relates to starp

starp's current 30-question scoring map produces 77 from 17 correct answers (56.67% correct). That accuracy percentage is different from the normal-model percentile above. The scoring map was calibrated with 12,700 simulated assessments; it is not population norming.

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

Questions about IQ 77

Is 77 a good IQ score?

77 is below the reference mean of 100. It should be interpreted in the context of the test, rather than as a verdict on a person's abilities or future.

What percentile is an IQ of 77?

On a normal scale with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, 77 corresponds to approximately percentile 6.26. Around 93.74% of that model lies at or above it. Use an assessment's own norms for an actual reported rank.

Does an IQ of 77 mean 77% 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.