It is in the average range, a little above the midpoint. On the standard IQ scale, 105 is at roughly the 63rd percentile, about 1 in 3 at or above.
An IQ of 105 sits in the average range, higher than about 63.06% of people on a mean-100, SD-15 scale. This is a theoretical model comparison, not an observed population ranking. Here is what that means, and what it does not.
Reference score
105
Percentile
63.06%
At or above
1 in 3
Reference scale
100 mean / 15 SD
Prepared by IQInsight · Calculation guide · Updated
105 is in the average range, a little above the midpoint.
A score of 105 is five points, or one third of a standard deviation, above the reference mean. The normal model places about 63.06% of values below it and 36.94% at or above it, roughly one in three. On common test classifications it falls within the average band of 90 to 109.
Compared with 100, 105 is about 13 percentile points higher; compared with 110 it is about 11.7 points lower. Differences of this size between two attempts often come from testing conditions, practice and the precision of the test rather than a change in ability.
How test manuals label 105.
Professional tests describe score ranges with standard labels. On the WAIS-IV, 105 falls in the average range; the newer WISC-V calls the same range average. The labels describe ranges on those specific tests and change at fixed boundaries, so a score a point or two from an edge is not meaningfully different from one just across it.
Descriptive classifications used by the WAIS-IV and WISC-V
Score range
WAIS-IV label
WISC-V label
130 and above
Very superior
Extremely high
120–129
Superior
Very high
110–119
High average
High average
90–109 (105)
Average
Average
80–89
Low average
Low average
70–79
Borderline
Very low
69 and below
Extremely low
Extremely low
How precise is one result?
Every test score contains some measurement error. Professionally normed tests report a confidence interval, a band of several points around the score, and two results a few points apart often overlap. IQInsight has not been calibrated against a representative population, so it cannot provide a reliable interval for its estimates.
How the percentile is calculated.
The reference uses a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. First convert the score to a z-score, then find the area below it on the standard normal curve.
Theoretical normal distribution. Mean 100, standard deviation 15. This does not measure your IQ or compare you with IQInsight users.
Put the number in perspective.
In a normal distribution with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, about 36.94% of scores fall at or above 105. That is approximately one in 3. The figure describes the reference model; it is not a count of people we have tested.
The quality of the test matters.
A number alone does not show how accurately it was measured. An established, professionally administered test has supporting evidence and defined interpretation rules. An online exercise without representative norms cannot establish the same conclusions.
Nearby scores on the same scale.
Theoretical percentiles, mean 100 and standard deviation 15
Treat 105 as a mid-range result. If two scores you have seen differ by a few points, consider the conditions and the precision of each test before reading anything into the gap.
A score alone cannot tell you how a person thinks through a problem. This published sample illustrates a reasoning method; it is not calibrated to a 105 IQ level and does not predict a score.
Double the current term, then add the next counting number, starting with +1: 3, 7, 16, 35, 74. What comes next?
A. 148
B. 149
C. 152
D. 153
Reveal the answer and reasoning
Answer: 153. The additions are +1, +2, +3 and +4. The next transition is 74×2+5=153.
Check an alternative: 148. Doubling 74 leaves out the addition.
Try this approach. Write both parts of every transition and advance the changing part.
This is one of our public sample questions. Seeing the solution may make a future attempt more familiar. Explore the sample report to see how answers are explained.
A few things you might be wondering.
Clear answers, before you begin.
Is 105 above average?+
Slightly, in the narrow statistical sense: it is above the 50th percentile. Test manuals still classify it as average, and five points above 100 is not a meaningful distinction for most practical purposes.
What percentile is an IQ of 105?+
On a scale with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, 105 is at roughly the 63rd percentile: about 36.94% of values are at or above it. Tests with a different standard deviation give a different percentile for the same number.
Is 105 a good IQ score?+
On a theoretical scale with mean 100 and standard deviation 15, 105 is in the average range, higher than about 63.06% of people on a mean-100, SD-15 scale. This is a theoretical model comparison, not an observed population ranking. Whether a particular test result supports that interpretation depends on the quality and standardization of that test.
How rare is an IQ of 105?+
Under that normal-distribution model, about 36.94% of values are at or above 105, approximately 1 in 3. This is a mathematical reference, not observed IQInsight user data.
Does this number describe all of my abilities?+
No. IQ scores do not describe every skill, interest, quality or circumstance. A score on an unstandardized online exercise is especially limited and should not be treated as a diagnosis or a prediction of personal success.
Can I compare scores from different tests?+
Only with care. Tests can differ in norms, scales, questions, administration and reliability. Similar-looking numbers are not necessarily equivalent measurements.
Can I get my result without paying?+
Yes. IQInsight provides your estimated score, theoretical percentile and four-area breakdown for free. The optional report explains the answers in more detail.
