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 115 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.
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