What does an IQ of 142 mean?
An IQ of 142 is at or above 130 — the conventional "gifted" threshold and roughly the top 2% of the population. Scoring higher than about 100% of people, 142 is a genuinely high result, and it's around here that organisations like Mensa set their entry bar.
- Classification
- Gifted
- Percentile
- >99th
- Scores higher than
- 100% of people
- Rarity
- about 1 in 391
- vs. average (100)
- +42 points
Key takeaways
- An IQ of 142 is classified as Gifted (130+), the top ~2%.
- It is about the >99th percentile — higher than 100% of people.
- That's about 1 in 391.
Looking for the in-depth guide for this range? See what an IQ of 140 means.
Is an IQ of 142 good?
Yes — an IQ of 142 is a high score by any standard, at or above the gifted threshold of 130. Abstract reasoning at this level is a real asset for technical and research-heavy work. It's worth keeping perspective, though: "gifted" describes one measured ability, and outcomes still hinge on effort, environment, and what you choose to pursue.
How rare is an IQ of 142?
An IQ of 142 is rare: only about 0.3% of people score this high — about 1 in 391. In a random group of 1,000, roughly 3 would reach 142 or above.
What an IQ of 142 looks like in practice
People at the gifted level often handle highly abstract problems with ease and seek out intellectually demanding work. A high score opens doors but doesn't guarantee results — direction and discipline still do the heavy lifting.
IQ 142 compared to nearby scores
No short test pins ability to a single point. An IQ of 142 is best read as the centre of a range — roughly 138 to 146 — 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 142 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 142 good?+
Yes. An IQ of 142 is at or above the gifted threshold of 130 — roughly the top 2% of the population — and reflects exceptionally strong reasoning on this scale.
What percentile is an IQ of 142?+
An IQ of 142 is about the >99th percentile on the standard mean-100, SD-15 scale — meaning you score higher than roughly 100% of people.
How rare is an IQ of 142?+
A score of 142 is about 1 in 391, based on the normal distribution of IQ in the population.
Does an IQ of 142 qualify for Mensa?+
Yes — Mensa admits people who score at or above the 98th percentile, and an IQ of 142 clears that bar on the SD-15 scale. You still need to qualify on a Mensa-approved or supervised test, not an online estimate.
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