A IQ of 147 is considered what
Executive summary
An IQ of 147 is clearly well above average and, by most contemporary scales, falls into the “gifted” or “highly gifted” range; older classification systems labeled scores above about 140 as “near‑genius” or “genius,” though modern authors and test publishers tend to prefer terms like “gifted” rather than the label genius [1] [2]. Exact percentile placement and the label assigned depend on the test, standard deviation used, and the publisher’s terminology, so 147 can be described as exceptionally high but is not a single, universally defined category [3] [4].
1. What the number means on the IQ curve: rare and well above average
IQ tests are scaled so 100 is the mean and most people cluster near that point; an IQ of 147 sits far out on the bell curve and is therefore rare compared with the general population [3] [2], with common percentile calculators and tables showing very high rarity for scores in the mid‑140s though exact percentiles depend on whether a 15‑ or 16‑point standard deviation is used by the test [4] [5].
2. Labels and terminology: “gifted” today, “genius” historically
Historical classification systems—such as Lewis Terman’s Stanford‑Binet labels—called scores above roughly 140 “near genius” or “genius,” but contemporary reporting and many test publishers avoid the term “genius,” preferring “gifted” or “highly gifted” instead, so a 147 would typically be placed in those modern categories rather than being announced as a definitive “genius” stamp [1] [2].
3. Percentiles and the differing calculators: no single agreed percentile
Some popular sources and calculators equate a mid‑140s score with top percentiles like the top 2% or better, but percentile estimates vary by the scale and assumptions of the tool used; therefore, different websites and percentile calculators produce slightly different rarity figures for 147, underscoring that percentile ranking hinges on which norming data and standard deviation the specific test uses [6] [4] [5].
4. Practical meaning: what this suggests about abilities and limits of interpretation
High IQ scores such as 147 are often associated with strong problem‑solving, reasoning, and learning potential on standardized cognitive tasks, and authors of popular pieces describe such scores as indicating “exceptional” or “highly gifted” abilities [6] [7]; however, IQ classifications are only one piece of human assessment and psychologists caution that labels should be used with the test publisher’s recommended terminology and in conjunction with other measures when making educational or clinical decisions [3] [2].
5. Conflicting popular takes and hype to watch for
Public and informal sources sometimes inflate the meaning of a single number—claiming life‑defining genius status or guaranteed success—and websites often produce catchy percentile claims (for example, “top 2%”) without clarifying which test or norms underlie that claim; authoritative sources emphasize that classification systems are partly arbitrary and change with test authors and professional guidelines, so sensational summaries should be treated skeptically [6] [3] [2].
6. How professionals actually use such scores
Psychologists and test publishers recommend using the specific test’s terminology and considering reliability and margin of error; while a 147 will routinely qualify someone for many high‑IQ societies or advanced educational placements depending on the test, professionals stress that IQ scores are not the sole predictor of life outcomes and should be integrated into broader assessments [3] [2].