Very superior
Two standard deviations above the mean.
What this band represents
The very-superior band begins at two standard deviations above the mean and extends upward. This is the region historically described as 'gifted' in school placement contexts, and the qualifying band for high-IQ societies such as Mensa (which requires a score at or above the 98th percentile on an approved test). It includes roughly 1 in 50 adults — a substantial population, not the rare elite that some popular accounts imply.
Important context
On a 25-item screener, a result in this band almost always reflects strong fluid reasoning. However, the screener has a low ceiling: any score above about IQ 140 is more accurately described as 'above 140' than as a precise measurement. Clinical batteries with a higher ceiling (Stanford-Binet 5, WAIS-IV with extended norms) are required to discriminate further within the very-superior band. For most practical purposes, the differences within this band matter much less than the differences between any band and the next-lower one.
A note of caution. Online screeners can both over- and under-estimate at the tails. Treat a result in this band as a strong signal, not a precise number.
How this band sits in the population
- Score range: 130–200
- Percentile range: 98th percentile and above
- Population frequency: Roughly 2.3% of the population
- z-score range: z 2.00 to 6.67
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?