Low average
What an IQ of 85 means
A score of 85 places you above 15.9% of the population on the standard scale. Here is what that means in practice, the margin of error it carries, and how many people in our own sample scored there.
15.9%
Percentile
6
1 in N scores lower
74–96
Real interval (95%)
Where 85 falls on the curve
The marker shows the position and the band shows the margin of error. No test returns an exact point: an 85 strictly means “between 74 and 96 with 95% confidence”. That is why retaking the test another day and scoring a few points apart is not a contradiction — it is ordinary measurement noise.
Compared with neighbouring scores
Five IQ points sound like little and move the percentile far more than people expect. Here is how:
| IQ | Percentile | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | 4.8% | Borderline |
| 80 | 9.1% | Low average |
| 85 | 15.9% | Low average |
| 90 | 25.2% | Average |
| 95 | 36.9% | Average |
Frequently asked questions
Is an IQ of 85 good?+
“Good” depends on what for. Statistically, 85 places you above 15.9% of the population. But an IQ score on its own does not predict academic, professional or personal success: it explains part of performance, not the whole of it, and leaves out motivation, habits, context and opportunity.
How much can an 85 vary if I retake the test?+
With the usual margin of error, your true score would sit between 74 and 96 with 95% confidence. Differences of a few points between attempts are normal and do not mean you improved or declined.
Does this count as a diagnosis?+
No. A clinical assessment is a couple of hours with a qualified psychologist under controlled conditions. An online test gives a useful estimate for self-knowledge, not a verdict. If you need a diagnosis for medical, educational or legal reasons, no internet test will do.
So what do you score?
20 questions, about eight minutes, your result on screen. No sign-up.
Take the free test →Percentiles come from the standard normal distribution (mean 100, standard deviation 15). Sample figures are aggregates of tests completed on iqmetria. The test is orientative and does not replace a professional assessment.