An IQ score of 137 falls into the Gifted range on the standard intelligence scale (mean = 100, standard deviation = 15). This score is in the top 2–5% of the population — this is roughly the Mensa threshold range (IQ 130 on most scales).
What an IQ of 137 means
137 is at about the 99.3rd percentile, around 1 in 150 people. Very high scores in childhood tend to be a little lower when the same person is retested as an adult. Part of that is regression to the mean, and part is that tests for children and adults are normed separately and measure slightly different mixes of abilities. The ranking usually stays high, but the exact number moves. If you are comparing a childhood score with a recent online result, a difference of five to ten points is unremarkable.
Where does an IQ of 137 rank?
On a standardized IQ test, a score of 137 places you higher than approximately 99.3% of the population. Intelligence scores follow a normal distribution — most people cluster near 100, and scores taper off sharply toward both extremes.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| IQ score | 137 |
| Classification | Gifted |
| Percentile | 99.3% |
| Rarity (out of 1,000) | ~7 in 1,000 score this high or higher |
| Standard deviations from mean | 2.47 |
IQ 137 in numbers
- Roughly 1 in 147 people score 137 or higher.
- In a room of 100 randomly chosen adults, about 1 would score 137 or higher.
- That is 7 points above 130, the level most high-IQ societies use as their entry line.
- Another 3 points would move this score into the Highly Gifted band, which starts at 140.
- Even on professionally administered tests a single result has a margin of error of about five points either way, so a measured 137 is best read as somewhere between 132 and 142.
On our free IQ test
Of the 3,834 people who completed our free IQ test between April and October 2026, 25 scored exactly 137 and 4.0% scored higher. People who choose to take an online IQ test are not a random sample of the population (our average is 114.5), so this shows where a score sits among other test-takers, not among everyone. More in our 2026 data study.
Which IQ tests produce a score of 137?
A score of 137 can be produced by any standardized intelligence test that uses the mean = 100, SD = 15 scale. The most widely used tests include:
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) — clinical gold standard for adults.
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales — oldest continuously-used intelligence test.
- Mensa admissions test — used by the Mensa society for membership selection.
- Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) tests — most theoretically grounded modern framework.
- Our free IQ test — instant online estimate with the same scaling.
How to interpret an IQ score of 137
Scores of 130 and above are in the gifted range, which is commonly the threshold for Mensa International membership (on tests with SD = 15). People at this level often excel at abstract reasoning, pattern detection, and rapid learning in new domains. Note that Mensa uses 132 on the Cattell scale (SD = 24), so the threshold depends on which test was taken.
IQ 137 in Context
| IQ Range | Classification | Population % |
|---|---|---|
| Below 70 | Extremely Low | ~2.2% |
| 70–79 | Borderline | ~6.7% |
| 80–89 | Low Average | ~16.1% |
| 90–109 | Average | ~50% |
| 110–119 | High Average | ~16.1% |
| 120–129 | Superior | ~6.7% |
| 130+ | Gifted / Very Superior | ~2.2% |
Factors That Influence Your Score
Your IQ score reflects a combination of genetic potential and environmental influences including education, nutrition, health, and the testing conditions themselves. Factors like fatigue, anxiety, unfamiliarity with the test format, and even the time of day can all affect performance. A single test score should be viewed as an estimate, and scores can vary by several points between testing sessions.
Nearby scores
Compare the major IQ tests
Which test produces the most accurate score depends on what you're trying to measure. These head-to-head comparisons break down the differences:
- WAIS vs Stanford-Binet — the two clinical heavyweights compared.
- Mensa vs WAIS — entry-test speed vs full clinical assessment.
- Stanford-Binet vs Mensa — which one actually gets you into Mensa.
- CHC vs Wechsler — modern cognitive framework vs the classic.
- Raven vs Cattell — non-verbal alternatives for cross-cultural testing.
Further reading
- What is a good IQ score?
- What does your IQ score mean?
- Average IQ by age
- Mensa requirements
- IQ test types compared
Want to find out your IQ score?
Take a free, comprehensive cognitive assessment modeled on clinical IQ tests.
Take the Free IQ TestFrequently asked questions
Is IQ 137 considered good?
Yes — an IQ of 137 is well above average and falls in the gifted range. It's higher than approximately 99% of the population and typically exceeds the Mensa International admission threshold (130 on SD-15 tests).
Can an IQ of 137 change over time?
IQ scores are relatively stable in adulthood but can shift modestly with education, engagement, sleep, and health. Short-term factors like stress and fatigue can move a single test result by 5–10 points in either direction — which is why we recommend comparing results across multiple sessions rather than reading too much into any single score.
What percentile is IQ 137?
An IQ of 137 corresponds to the 99.3th percentile on the standard bell curve — meaning it is higher than about 99 out of every 100 people.