# What Percentage Has an IQ of 120? Top 9%, About 1 in 11

> On a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and an SD of 15, an IQ of 120 is roughly the top 9.1%, about 1 in 11 people, and a deviation score of 63.3. It is rarer than IQ 115 but far more common than IQ 130: a clearly above-average level.

- URL: https://brainrank.jp/en/blog/iq-120-percentage
- Published: 2026-07-11
- Updated: 2026-10-05
- Publisher: BrainRank Editorial Team (https://brainrank.jp)

An IQ of 120 is a frequently searched score — clearly above average, but short of the common gifted benchmark of 130. Here is how rare it actually is, along with the distribution logic behind the number.

## An IQ of 120 is in the top 9% or so

On a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, an IQ of 120 sits about +1.33 standard deviations above the mean. That corresponds to roughly the top 9%, or about 1 in 11 people. In a school class of around 35, that is roughly the top 3 students. You can see the full shape of the distribution in the [IQ distribution data](https://brainrank.jp/en/data/iq-distribution).

## Compared with IQ 115 and IQ 130

One step down, IQ 115 (+1 SD) is about the top 16%, roughly 1 in 6. One step up, [IQ 130](https://brainrank.jp/en/iq/130) (+2 SD) narrows sharply to the top 2.3%, about 1 in 44. IQ 120 sits right between the two, and converts to a deviation score of about 63. The conversion is explained in [how to convert between IQ and deviation scores](https://brainrank.jp/en/blog/iq-deviation-conversion).

## What kind of level is IQ 120?

Statistically, it is often described as a band commonly seen among university graduates and in intellectually demanding professions. But the link between IQ and academic or career outcomes is only a moderate correlation, and outcomes vary widely even within the same score band — a point we cover honestly in [the relationship between IQ and income](https://brainrank.jp/en/blog/iq-and-success).

## The number is only a relative position

An IQ of 120 indicates your relative position within your age group; it is not an absolute quantity of ability or a guarantee about the future. Scores can also shift by several points depending on the test and your condition on the day. You can see where each score falls in the [IQ reference table](https://brainrank.jp/en/iq).

## Find out where you stand

If you want to know which band you fall into, the [free IQ test](https://brainrank.jp/en/start) gives you a balanced estimate of your IQ, deviation score, and top percentile. Start by checking where you stand today.

## Frequently asked questions

### What percentile is an IQ of 120?

On a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and an SD of 15, roughly the top 9.1%.

### How rare is an IQ of 120?

Under the same model, about 1 in 11 people. In a class of 35, that is around 3 students in theory.

### What deviation score is an IQ of 120?

Converted to a deviation score with a mean of 50 and an SD of 10, about 63.3.

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Statistics and percentages are calculated from a normal distribution model with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. The tests on this site provide estimates for entertainment and self-understanding; they are not medical or clinical assessments, nor official intelligence tests.
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