IQ Score Guide / 126
Is 126 a Good IQ Score?
What an IQ of 126 means, where it ranks, and what it reveals about cognitive ability.
Where IQ 126 sits on the scale
An IQ of 126 is higher than 96% of people
In a room of 100 people, about 4 would score 126 or higher.
What an IQ of 126 means
An IQ of 126 is well above average, in roughly the top 4% of people. The Mensa cut-off is 130, so it is only 4 points below it. Scores at this level handle complex, analytical work comfortably.
How people who score 126 actually do
We looked at the 2,881 people who have scored exactly 126 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 2,881 IQScore test-takers. Section figures are the average percentage answered correctly in each area. Updated October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is 126 a good IQ score?
Yes. An IQ of 126 is clearly above average. It sits 4 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 126?
An IQ of 126 is at about the 96th percentile. In plain terms, you score higher than around 96 out of every 100 people. The average score is 100.
What jobs suit an IQ of 126?
Most demanding careers are well within reach. Doctors, lawyers, researchers, engineers and senior leaders often score in this range. Keep in mind that people vary widely within any job, so the score is a rough guide, not a rule.
Can you improve an IQ of 126?
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
Occupational averages from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. An average, not a requirement.
Famous people near IQ 126
Reported or estimated figures from third-party sources, none are clinically verified.
Bill Clinton
Estimated around 125, 1 point below 126
42nd US President, Oxford Rhodes Scholar, and Yale Law School graduate, IQ estimates range from 120 to 137 across published sources. Independent analyses using his SAT score place him at approximately 120–130.
Colin Powell
Estimated around 130, 4 points above 126
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.
Matt Damon
Estimated around 130, 4 points above 126
Oscar winner who wrote Good Will Hunting with Ben Affleck while studying English at Harvard, taking Best Original Screenplay at 27. He left Harvard short of the credits needed to graduate.
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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.