What does an IQ of 88 mean?
An IQ of 88 is classified as low average. On the standard scale (average 100), it is higher than roughly 21% of people — about 1 in 2 people score 88 or higher.
88
Low average
What this range means
Within the normal range. Roughly a quarter of people score here — it indicates solid everyday reasoning with room to sharpen pattern recognition.
IQ scores follow a bell curve centered on 100 with a standard deviation of 15, which is the convention used by widely known standardized tests. About 68% of people score between 85 and 115, and about 95% score between 70 and 130.
A few honest caveats
A single score is an estimate, not a verdict. Online tests — including ours — measure a narrow slice of reasoning under time pressure. Motivation, sleep, language and test familiarity all move the number. For self-reflection and fun it is genuinely useful; for any formal decision, only a professionally administered assessment counts.
Curious about your own score?
Take the free Quick IQ test — randomized questions, instant percentile, no signup.
Take the free IQ test