Is 93 a Good IQ Score?

What an IQ of 93 means, where it ranks, and what it tells you about cognitive ability.

93

IQ Score

32th

Percentile

Average

Classification

What an IQ of 93 means

An IQ of 93 sits at the 32th percentile, in the lower half of the Average band. 32% of people score at or below 93. The vast majority of everyday professional and social demands are met at this level without difficulty. Research is consistent: effort, character, and opportunity become the dominant factors in outcomes once IQ is in the average range.

IQ 93 in context

IQ 93 sits 7 points below the population mean of 100 and 8 points above the one-standard-deviation-below mark at IQ 85. It places at the 32th percentile — 68% of the population scores above IQ 93. Within the Average band, a score of IQ 93 places the 68% of the population that scores above as the relevant comparison group. Research on outcomes in this range consistently emphasises that non-cognitive factors — work ethic, social skill, and domain knowledge — are stronger predictors of career and life outcomes than the 7-point gap below the mean. Most practical professional demands are met comfortably at IQ 93.

Frequently asked questions

Is 93 a good IQ score?

It is below average — 7 points below the population mean. IQ 93 places you at the 32th percentile. Most everyday professional and practical demands are fully met at this level. Research consistently shows that conscientiousness and accumulated skill outweigh raw IQ for outcomes in this range.

What percentile is an IQ of 93?

The 32th percentile. That means 32% of the population scores at or below 93. 32% of people score at or below 93. The population mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

What careers are associated with an IQ of 93?

Most skilled occupations are accessible at IQ 93. Practical and commercial careers — trades, sales, operations, logistics, and service roles — are fully within reach. Conscientiousness and accumulated expertise are far stronger predictors of career outcomes at this level than raw IQ.

Can you improve an IQ of 93?

Yes. IQ is not fixed, especially before age 25. Scores in this range tend to respond more to environmental improvements than high-range scores do. Sleep quality, nutrition, working memory training, and structured learning all have documented positive effects. Gains of 5–15 points have been recorded with sustained effort.

Careers that commonly score in this range

Sales RepresentativeMost commercial sales roles fall within 90–110

Clerical / AdministrativeOffice support and coordination roles cluster here

Skilled TradespersonElectricians, plumbers, mechanics — practical intelligence emphasis

Retail ManagerStore and department management typical range

Notable people reportedly in this range

All figures are estimates or reported by third-party sources — none are clinically verified.

Elvis Presley

The King of Rock and Roll — reportedly scored 93 on an IQ test at Humes High School in Memphis, a figure cited in Peter Guralnick's authorised biography and corroborated by other published biographical accounts.

Mick Jagger

Rolling Stones frontman — attended the London School of Economics on a full grant before leaving to pursue music. Biographers estimate his IQ at approximately 90–96 based on academic performance records and early standardised testing.

From the IQScore blog

Further reading selected for this score range.

Can You Improve Your IQ? →

Honest breakdown of what actually moves the needle.

What Sleep Deprivation Does to Your IQ →

The fastest way to suppress cognitive performance, and how to reverse it.

Nutrition and Brain Performance →

Which dietary factors have the clearest evidence behind them.

Working Memory and Intelligence →

The most directly trainable component of measured IQ.