IQ Score Guide / 143

Is 143 a Good IQ Score?

What an IQ of 143 means, where it ranks, and what it reveals about cognitive ability.

143
IQ Score
100th
Percentile
Very Superior
Classification
1 in 500
Rarity

Where IQ 143 sits on the scale

7085100115130

An IQ of 143 is higher than 100% of people

Fewer than 1 in 100 people score 143 or higher, closer to 1 in 500.

What an IQ of 143 means

An IQ of 143 is in roughly the top 1% of people, about 1 in 500. 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 143 actually do

We looked at the 256 people who have scored exactly 143 on the IQScore test. On average, their strongest area was spatial reasoning and their weakest was applied reasoning. Here is the typical breakdown by section.

spatial reasoning
99%
numerical reasoning
99%
logical reasoning
99%
applied reasoning
97%

Real data from 256 IQScore test-takers. Section figures are the average percentage answered correctly in each area. Updated October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is 143 a good IQ score?

Yes. An IQ of 143 is well above average and rare, scored by only about 1 in 500 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 143?

An IQ of 143 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 143?

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 143?

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 143

The highest measured occupational average is 124, so no job sits at 143. These are the closest.

Physician / SurgeonNLSY79 mean 123.7
Computer ProgrammerNLSY79 mean 116.2
Computer Systems AnalystNLSY79 mean 111.1

Famous people near IQ 143

Reported or estimated figures from third-party sources, none are clinically verified.

Alex Trebek

Estimated around 143

Hosted Jeopardy! for 37 seasons and more than 8,000 episodes, a Guinness world record for a game show host. He graduated from the University of Ottawa in philosophy.

Robin Williams

Estimated around 139, 4 points below 143

Actor and comedian, Oscar winner for Good Will Hunting, admitted to Juilliard's advanced programme in a class of about twenty chosen from thousands of applicants, alongside Christopher Reeve.

Emma Watson

Estimated around 138, 5 points below 143

Played Hermione Granger across eight Harry Potter films while still at school, then graduated from Brown University with a degree in English literature in 2014.

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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.

Nearby scores

138139140141142144145146147148