IQ 80: percentile and meaning

On a scale with a mean of 100 and SD 15, an IQ score of 80 is at or below 9.1 percent of scores. It marks the start of the commonly used Low Average band.

IQ 80 in numbers

Percentileof people score at or below	9.1
Rarityat or below	1 in 11
Commonly used band80 to 89	Low Average

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 at or below it (9.1%).

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	80	9.1
SD 16	79	9.1
SD 24	68	9.1

About 9.1 percent of people score at or below 80, roughly one in 11. On the Wechsler scale, 80 is 1.3 standard deviations below the mean.

The commonly used Low Average band runs from 80 to 89. The nonprofit that lists these labels describes a score range, not a judgment about a person. Compare nearby scores on the IQ scores reference page.

How do the percentiles for 80 and 85 differ?

An IQ score of 85 ranks higher in percentile terms than 80. Both percentiles compare a score with the share of scores at or below it, so a five-point difference changes the comparison group.

The IQ 85 page gives that score's percentile. These comparisons use the same mean-100, SD-15 scale.

How do scales and retests affect an 80?

On scales with a mean of 100, the same relative position as 80 is 79 with SD 16 and 68 with SD 24. These are conversions between scales, not new test results.

A retest may differ by a few points because performance and testing conditions can vary. The Wechsler publisher limits WAIS access to users with Qualification Level C.

Questions

Is an IQ of 80 below average?

Yes. It is below the mean of 100 on the scale described here and falls at the start of the commonly used Low Average band. That label summarizes a score range; it does not explain a person's strengths, needs, or circumstances.

Is 80 close to 85 in percentile terms?

The scores are five points apart, and their percentile positions differ. A percentile compares a score with scores in the test's norm group. Use the same scale when comparing results.

Can my IQ score change on a retest?

Yes. A few points either way can happen because a test does not capture performance identically each time. Consider the test and the conditions when interpreting a retest rather than reading too much into a small shift.