IQ Score Guide / 124
Is 124 a Good IQ Score?
What an IQ of 124 means, where it ranks, and what it reveals about cognitive ability.
Where IQ 124 sits on the scale
An IQ of 124 is higher than 95% of people
In a room of 100 people, about 5 would score 124 or higher.
What an IQ of 124 means
An IQ of 124 is in about the top 5% of people, or 1 in 18. This is the range where a lot of graduates from strong universities and people in demanding, analytical jobs are found. Difficult material tends to feel manageable rather than overwhelming.
How people who score 124 actually do
We looked at the 121 people who have scored exactly 124 on the IQScore test. On average, their strongest area was spatial reasoning and their weakest was logical reasoning. Here is the typical breakdown by section.
Real data from 121 IQScore test-takers. Section figures are the average percentage answered correctly in each area. Updated July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is 124 a good IQ score?
Yes. An IQ of 124 is clearly above average. It sits 6 points below the Mensa cut-off of 130, but in much the same territory. Demanding, analytical work tends to come comfortably.
What percentile is an IQ of 124?
An IQ of 124 is at about the 95th percentile. In plain terms, you score higher than around 95 out of every 100 people. The average score is 100.
What jobs suit an IQ of 124?
This range lines up with a lot of graduate-level work: medicine, law, engineering, teaching and management. People here tend to do well in roles that involve analysis or leading others.
Can you improve an IQ of 124?
A little. Scores this high are strongly shaped by genetics, so big jumps are unlikely. Good sleep, regular exercise and a clear head on the day all help, but expect small gains rather than large ones.
Careers that commonly score in this range
Famous people near IQ 124
Reported or estimated figures from third-party sources, none are clinically verified.
George W. Bush
Estimated around 125, 1 point above 124
43rd US President, Yale and Harvard Business School graduate. Analysis of his 1206 SAT score (1964 scale) using the Frey-Detterman correlation estimates his IQ at approximately 120–125.
Colin Powell
Estimated around 130, 6 points above 124
Former US Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, CCNY graduate and career military officer. IQ widely cited at approximately 127–132 in published assessments of senior military and political leadership cognitive profiles.
Oprah Winfrey
Estimated around 125, 1 point above 124
Media executive, actress, and philanthropist, Tennessee State University graduate and one of the most successful self-made entrepreneurs in US history. Published profiles estimate her IQ at approximately 115–120, with particular strength in emotional and interpersonal intelligence.
From the IQScore blog
Further reading selected for this score range.
What Is a Good IQ Score? →
Where every score lands, and what counts as good, average, or gifted.
IQ Score Ranges Explained →
Every band from below average to genius, and what each one means.
IQ Score by Age →
How scores shift with age, and what stays fixed over a lifetime.
Fluid vs Crystallised Intelligence →
The two cognitive systems behind every IQ score.
Average IQ by Profession →
Where scores in this range cluster across careers.
How Much of IQ Is Genetic? →
What twin studies say about scores in the superior range.
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