What Does an IQ of 88 Mean?

An IQ of 88 is in the “Low average” range. About 21.2% of people score lower and 78.8% score higher. It’s 0.8 standard deviations below the average of 100.

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Where an IQ of 88 sits on the bell curve (average 100, standard deviation 15)

IQ 88 in numbers

Classification
Low average
Scores lower than 88
21.2%
How rare
1 in 5 people score this low or lower
Distance from average
-0.8 standard deviations
Mensa level (top 2%)
No, Mensa usually needs about 130+

What the “Low average” range means

Scores from 80 to 89 are low average. About 16% of people score here. Most people in this range live fully independent lives, and practical skills often matter more than the number.

How does IQ 88 compare?

IQScores lowerClassification
787.1%Borderline
8312.9%Low average
8821.2%Low average
9332%Average
9844.7%Average

Frequently asked questions

Is an IQ of 88 good?

An IQ of 88 is below average, but online tests are only estimates. Tiredness or distraction can lower a score by several points.

What percentile is an IQ of 88?

An IQ of 88 is higher than about 21.2% of the population, and about 78.8% of people score higher.

How rare is an IQ of 88?

About 1 in 5 people score 88 or lower.