IQ 140: percentile, rarity and meaning

On a mean 100, SD 15 scale, IQ 140 is at percentile 99.62. About 0.38 percent score at or above it, or around 1 in 261. It falls in the Extremely High band.

IQ 140 in numbers

Percentileof people score at or below	99.62
Rarityat or above	1 in 261
Commonly used band130 and above	Extremely High

Band labels are the commonly used WISC-V ones, as listed by Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities: Understanding IQ Test Scores. Labels are conventions in common use; each test publisher words its own.

Where it sits on the curve

Shaded: the people who score above it (0.38%).

The same position on other scales

Same percentile on every row; the number changes because the scales use different standard deviations.

Scale	Score	Percentile
SD 15	140	99.62
SD 16	143	99.62
SD 24	164	99.62

Why online claims of IQ 140 need a norm sample

Online claims of IQ 140 are common, but a score needs a norm sample to show what it means. A norm sample lets a test compare a result with scores from a suitable group. Without that comparison, the number does not establish a person's standing on an IQ scale.

A test should explain who was included in its norm sample and how answers become scores. Our own free test is no exception: it reports correct answers and a level, never an IQ. The IQ percentile calculator can help explain the relative position of a result from a normed test.

How IQ 140 compares across scales

IQ 140 is 2.7 standard deviations above the mean on a mean 100, SD 15 scale. The same position is 143 on a scale with SD 16, or 164 on a scale with SD 24. The scores differ because the scales use different spreads.

These numbers compare statistical position across scales. They do not show that tests are equal in quality or that different test results have the same meaning. See how IQ scales work and why standard deviation matters for more context.

What band includes IQ 140

IQ 140 is in the Extremely High band, which covers 130 and above in commonly used WISC-V labels. The nonprofit Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities lists these labels; they are not the publisher's own table.

A band places scores in a broad range and does not describe every difference between people in that range. The full IQ score reference explains how to read other score pages.

Questions

What percentile is IQ 140?

On a mean 100, SD 15 scale, IQ 140 is at percentile 99.62. That means it is higher than 99.62 percent of scores in the comparison group used to set the scale. An online quiz without a norm sample cannot establish that position.

Is IQ 140 rare?

About 0.38 percent score at or above IQ 140 on this scale, or around 1 in 261. This describes how often the score occurs in the scale's reference group. It does not predict how someone will perform in every setting.

Does IQ 140 meet the Mensa requirement?

Mensa's requirement depends on the test and scale, and its page lists qualifying scores for specific scales. A result from an online quiz by itself does not establish eligibility. Read Mensa's IQ requirement for its stated criteria.