What does an IQ of 138 mean?
Score, percentile, classification and what it means in practice
138 — Gifted · 99.4th %ile · 1 in 167
What's your IQ?
Take the Free IQ TestWhat does an IQ of 138 mean?
An IQ of 138 is considered gifted — placing you in the top 2% of the population and above the Mensa threshold (IQ 130). People at this level process information quickly, form complex connections, and often excel academically and professionally with comparatively little effort. Many gifted individuals are admitted to selective institutions and tend to outperform peers significantly.
IQ 138 in the Population
IQ 138 > 99.4%
Cognitive Profile at IQ 138
Careers & IQ 138
IQ predicts academic performance and learning speed. People with an IQ around 138 often work in:
Career success depends on many factors beyond IQ: personality, skills, motivation, and opportunity.
How is IQ 138 measured?
IQ tests measure cognitive abilities including logical reasoning, pattern recognition, spatial thinking, and working memory. Scores are normalized so that 100 is exactly average for the population, with a standard deviation of 15. A score of 138 places you 2.5 standard deviations above the mean.
Is IQ fixed?
IQ is relatively stable in adulthood but not completely fixed. It can change by 5–10 points across tests. Childhood scores are less stable and can shift significantly with educational interventions. Factors like sleep deprivation, stress, and illness temporarily suppress IQ performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an IQ of 138 good?
An IQ of 138 is gifted, placing you at the 99.4th percentile. You score higher than 99.4% of the population, which is exceptional.
What percentile is an IQ of 138?
An IQ of 138 corresponds to approximately the 99.4th percentile. This means you score higher than 99.4% of the general population on standardized IQ tests.
How rare is an IQ of 138?
An IQ of 138 occurs in approximately 1 in 167 of the population. IQ follows a normal distribution with mean 100 and standard deviation 15.
What jobs are associated with an IQ of 138?
Common careers for people with an IQ around 138 include: Software engineer, Physician, Attorney, Data scientist. Career success depends on many factors beyond IQ, including skills, motivation, and emotional intelligence.
Can an IQ of 138 be improved?
IQ scores can fluctuate by 5–10 points based on testing conditions, education, and health. Long-term improvements come from sustained cognitive engagement: reading, complex problem solving, quality sleep, and physical exercise all support cognitive performance.
Compare nearby IQ scores
Learn more
What's your IQ?
35 visual questions · Takes ~10 minutes · Free & anonymous · Instant score
Take the Free IQ Test