IQ Score Guide / 142
Is 142 a Good IQ Score?
What an IQ of 142 means, where it ranks, and what it reveals about cognitive ability.
Where IQ 142 sits on the scale
An IQ of 142 is higher than 100% of people
Fewer than 1 in 100 people score 142 or higher, closer to 1 in 333.
What an IQ of 142 means
An IQ of 142 is in roughly the top 1% of people, about 1 in 333. This is the level where strong reasoning starts to show up as original thinking, not just being quick at the work everyone else does. Scores like this are common in research, medicine and other demanding fields.
How people who score 142 actually do
We looked at the 3,028 people who have scored between 139 and 145 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 3,028 IQScore test-takers. Section figures are the average percentage answered correctly in each area. Updated October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is 142 a good IQ score?
Yes. An IQ of 142 is well above average and rare, scored by only about 1 in 333 people. It is above the Mensa cut-off of 130. Most people at this level find school and standard work easy rather than challenging.
What percentile is an IQ of 142?
An IQ of 142 is at about the 100th percentile. In plain terms, you score higher than around 100 out of every 100 people. The average score is 100.
What jobs suit an IQ of 142?
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 142?
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.
No occupation averages 142
The highest measured occupational average is 124, so no job sits at 142. These are the closest.
Famous people near IQ 142
Reported or estimated figures from third-party sources, none are clinically verified.
Natalie Portman
Estimated around 142
Oscar-winning actress, graduated from Harvard University with a degree in psychology and co-authored a peer-reviewed neuroscience paper. IQ estimated at approximately 140–145 by published biographical sources.
Madonna
Estimated around 140, 2 points below 142
One of the best-selling music artists of all time, IQ estimated at 140 in published biographical assessments, consistent with her documented strategic control over her own career for four decades.
Shakira
Estimated around 140, 2 points below 142
Colombian singer and global superstar, reportedly scored 140 on a formal IQ test, as cited in multiple biographical sources. She speaks five languages and studied philosophy alongside her music career.
Find out your actual IQ score
Free · 36 questions · Instant results · No sign-up
Take the Free IQ Test →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.
What IQ Score Is Needed for Mensa? →
The threshold, the test, and what membership actually means.
The Dark Side of High Intelligence →
What the research says about the less-discussed costs of scoring at this level.
How Much of IQ Is Genetic? →
Twin studies and what the heritability data actually shows.