Borderline
Below average; may indicate a need for more support on novel reasoning tasks.
What this band represents
The borderline range sits between the clinically low band and the low-average range. Historically called 'borderline intellectual functioning', this group typically performs adequately on familiar, well-rehearsed tasks but struggles disproportionately with novel reasoning under time pressure. School performance often lands in the bottom quartile, and adults in this band may benefit from job roles that emphasize routine and procedure over open-ended problem solving.
Important context
Borderline scores on a 25-item online screener should be interpreted with caution. Test anxiety, fatigue, distraction, language barriers, and brief lapses of attention can all easily move a screening estimate by 10 IQ points. If a low score conflicts with everyday functioning — for example, if you hold down a complex job, manage a household, or earned a degree — the screener is almost certainly underestimating you.
A note of caution. Do not make life decisions based on a single online test result. Take a second screener, sleep on it, and if the question genuinely matters to you, get a clinical evaluation.
How this band sits in the population
- Score range: 70–79
- Percentile range: 2nd–8th percentile
- Population frequency: Roughly 6.7% of the population
- z-score range: z -2.00 to -1.40
Frequently asked questions about this band
- What is a "good" IQ score?
- How accurate are online IQ tests?
- Can IQ be improved with practice?
- Why did I get different scores on different IQ tests?