What does an IQ of 117 mean?
An IQ of 117 is above the population average but below the "superior" threshold — the High Average band (110–119). You scored higher than about 87% of people, an above-average result that tends to show up most in academic and analytical settings.
- Classification
- High Average
- Percentile
- 87th
- Scores higher than
- 87% of people
- Rarity
- about 1 in 8
- vs. average (100)
- +17 points
Key takeaways
- An IQ of 117 is classified as High Average (110–119).
- It is about the 87th percentile — higher than 87% of people.
- Roughly one in six people scores in the 110–119 range.
Looking for the in-depth guide for this range? See what an IQ of 118 means.
Is an IQ of 117 good?
Yes — an IQ of 117 is a clearly above-average result. You tend to pick up abstract ideas and spot patterns faster than most people, which is a real advantage in study and analytical work. As always, the score measures reasoning only; it doesn't capture drive, creativity, or the specific knowledge that turns ability into results.
How rare is an IQ of 117?
An IQ of 117 is moderately uncommon: about 13% of people score this high or higher, while 87% score lower. It's a comfortable edge over the average without being rare.
What an IQ of 117 looks like in practice
People in the high-average range often find formal learning a little easier and enjoy problems with structure. The gap over the population average is real but gentle — it usually shows as quicker uptake rather than a dramatic difference.
IQ 117 compared to nearby scores
No short test pins ability to a single point. An IQ of 117 is best read as the centre of a range — roughly 113 to 121 — rather than an exact value, and it is not meaningfully different from scores a few points either side. When you compare two people, overlapping ranges matter more than the point scores.
Where 117 sits on the IQ scale
| IQ Range | Classification | % of People | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤69 | Extremely Low | ~2.2% | Well below average. On clinical tests this range may warrant professional assessment. |
| 70–79 | Borderline | ~6.7% | Below average reasoning on this scale. |
| 80–89 | Low Average | ~16.1% | Slightly below the population average. |
| 90–109 | Average | ~50% | The middle of the distribution — where most people score. |
| 110–119 | High Average | ~16.1% | Above average reasoning ability. |
| 120–129 | Superior | ~6.7% | Notably above average — roughly the top 10%. |
| 130–144 | Gifted | ~2.1% | The conventional 'gifted' threshold (130) and above — top ~2%. Mensa qualifies here. |
| 145+ | Highly Gifted | ~0.1% | Exceptionally rare — the far right tail of the distribution. |
Frequently asked questions
Is an IQ of 117 good?+
Yes. An IQ of 117 is above average — ahead of about 87% of people — and reflects strong everyday reasoning, especially on academic and analytical tasks.
What percentile is an IQ of 117?+
An IQ of 117 is about the 87th percentile on the standard mean-100, SD-15 scale — meaning you score higher than roughly 87% of people.
How rare is an IQ of 117?+
A score of 117 is about 1 in 8, based on the normal distribution of IQ in the population.
Is an IQ of 117 considered high?+
Yes. An IQ of 117 is above the population average of 100, placing you ahead of most people on measured reasoning, though below the top few percent.
Related guides
Want to know your real IQ?
Take the free test and get your actual score, percentile, and full cognitive breakdown in about 12 minutes.
Start Free Test