What is Mensa? Mensa International is the world’s oldest nonprofit high IQ society for people of extremely high intelligence. The umbrella group Mensa International is composed of numerous smaller Mensa chapters, each representing a single nation. Founded by Dr. Lancelot Ware and Roland Berrill in 1946, the organization is non-political and does not discriminate against candidates for membership on the basis of age, race, religion, or any other factor apart from the intelligence qualification.
The three purposes of Mensa, according to the organization’s constitution, are:
- Identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity
- Encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence
- Promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members
What are Mensa’s requirements for minimum IQ?
To be qualified as a Mensa member, you have to score in the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized intelligence test such as the Stanford-Binet test or the Cattell Culture Fair test (CFIT). What this means is that the Mensa IQ score range varies depending on the type of IQ test being used. For the two tests mentioned here, someone must score at least two standard deviations above the mean score of 100. The Stanford Binet test has a standard deviation of 16 and the Cattell Culture Fair test has a standard deviation of 24. This means that the Mensa IQ requirement for minimum score on the Stanford-Binet is 132, while the lowest qualifying Mensa score for the CFIT is 148.
An average Mensa IQ score has not been made publically available, so we can only know that the average is higher than these established minimum IQ scores.
American Mensa, often referred to as US Mensa, has its own qualification exam that doesn’t give a score equivalent to the scores used by the other Mensa chapters. Every qualifying intelligence test for Mensa must be taken in person; there are no online tests that the organization accepts.
How can people be admitted to Mensa?
Many people visit this site wondering how to become a member of Mensa. The answer is that to be admitted to Mensa, one must submit an intelligence test score. This can be done either by taking the Mensa admission test or by submitting an exam score on another test that meets the organization’s guidelines.
To obtain an exam score, one can begin by contacting the organization that administered the test. In the case of tests administered at school, one should contact the school and request a certified copy of the exam results. Mensa will accept a certified copy of a school exam as long as it includes the individual’s full name, birth date, and a clearly-defined IQ score or percentile.
In the case of a test administered by a psychiatrist or a psychologist, the test results submitted to Mensa should include a letter bearing the tester’s professional letterhead.
What does Mensa mean?
One of the first questions people have about Mensa is usually, “What does Mensa stand for?” Surprisingly, the word “Mensa” is the Latin word for “table”. It was chosen as the organization’s name to highlight the group’s “roundtable” nature as a discussion group where all the members could treat one another as equals and expect to have their voices heard equally. A table is used as part of the organization’s logo.
Where can I take a Mensa test?
To find out where to take the Mensa exam, contact the nearest Mensa chapter. Some national chapters allow for a pre-test that can be taken at home; contact the nearest national chapter for more details. If you live in a country that doesn’t have a national Mensa organization, you can contact Mensa International directly.
Follow this link to find your local Mensa chapter in the United States: https://www.us.mensa.org/join/testing/
What is the format of the Mensa test?
The exam is taken in person and proctored by a volunteer. There are two types of tests that can be taken. The standard Mensa test and the Culture Fair Test. The standard test contains a variety of questions to test logic and reasoning along with questions related to verbal intelligence, vocabulary and math skills. Each section of the standard Mensa test is timed. The Culture Fair test includes questions that are based on puzzles and patterns and is a language-free test outside of the instructions, which are in English. This test includes three sections with only one of them being timed. The Culture Fair test is often the preferred choice for non-native English speakers who may struggle with the timed sessions of the standard Mensa test.
You can only take one test during your session, but if you fail to qualify for Mensa on your first attempt, you can try once more with the other version of the test. You cannot make a second attempt at the same test. In order to qualify to join Mensa, you have to score in the 98th percentile on either of the two tests. The standard test session takes approximately two hours. The Culture Fair session takes between two and three hours.
In the U.S., prospective members must be at least 14 years old in order to take the American Mensa exam. However, those 14 and under are still welcome to submit the results of other qualifying exams to Mensa. The American Mensa exam can only be taken once unless the individual submits evidence of mitigating circumstances.
What is the Mensa workout?
The Mensa Workout is an online Mensa practice test. Results of the Mensa Workout can’t be used to qualify for membership in Mensa, but many people who intend to apply for Mensa take it either to practice for the Mensa exam or for the personal challenge.
How do you practice for the Mensa IQ test?
Sites like this one provide questions that are similar to many questions on the standard Mensa test. Our 50 question cognitive ability test provides a similar experience and similar types of questions to help you prepare.
Practice tests are also given to those that request them through Mensa. These can be taken at home to see where you place and know what to expect on the actual test. Their practice tests consist of 60 questions that have to be answered in 40 minutes.
Additional practice tests can also be found on the internet to help build memory, cognitive and problem-solving skills needed for the IQ tests.
Who are some famous Mensa members?
People are often surprised by the low or high intelligence of celebrities and athletes. Each year the Wonderlic test scores from the NFL combine are big news, and there are tens of thousands of searches each month for the IQ scores of famous people. While we recommend taking most of the information shared about a person’s IQ or Wonderlic scores with a grain of salt, there are some notable celebrities that have achieved Mensa membership.
- Geena Davis
- Quentin Tarantino
- Sharon Stone
- James Woods
- Kara Hayward
- Nolan Gould
- Ashley Rickards
- Leif Gantvoort
- Alan Rachins
More useful resources
If you’d like to reach the registered office of Mensa International Limited, use the contact information below:
Mensa’s registered office:
Slate Barn, Church Lane
Caythorpe, NG32 3EL, United Kingdom
Mensa International Chapters
Mensa has a global reach and there are national chapters across the globe. Direct links to some of the most popular national groups can be found below:
The Mensa Foundation is a group that awards hundreds of scholarships worth more than $100,000 to students each year. You can learn more about the available scholarships on their website.
For further information regarding MENSA and the tests required, visit www.us.Mensa.org.
FAQs
What is the qualifying score for Mensa? ›
A result on one test of 132 can be the same as a score of 148 on another test. Some intelligence tests don't use IQ scores at all. This is why Mensa keeps it simple with a cutoff of 98%: candidates who have achieved a score at or above the 98th percentile on a standard test of intelligence will qualify for Mensa.
What is Albert Einstein's IQ? ›Albert Einstein likely never took an IQ test but is estimated to have a 160 IQ—but even that can't stand up to these masterminds.
What is the average IQ Mensa? ›It is '130 (or two standard deviations above the norm) on at least one test accepted by Mensa'. Since it is quite easy to take multiple tests and get a score over 130 (for someone who is within a standard deviation of 130), you end up with the 'true' average IQ being much less than 130.
Is 120 a good IQ? ›An IQ score over 140 indicates that you're a genius or nearly a genius, while 120 - 140 is classed as "very superior intelligence". 110 - 119 is "superior intelligence", while 90 - 109 is "normal or average intelligence".
What is the lowest IQ to get into Mensa? ›The minimum accepted score on the Stanford–Binet is 132, while for the Cattell it is 148 and 130 in the Wechsler tests (WAIS, WISC). Most IQ tests are designed to yield a mean score of 100 with a standard deviation of 15; the 98th-percentile score under these conditions is 131, assuming a normal distribution.
What is Elon Musk's IQ? ›Elon's IQ is estimated to be around 155, while Albert Einstein's is 160. With such a slight margin, Musk is undoubtedly an incredibly smart person. Who is the smartest person on earth in 2022? Born in 1975 in Adelaide, Australia is a mathematician, Terence Tao with an IQ score of 230.
What is Bill Gates IQ? ›Bill Gates IQ is 151.45, despite the fact that he has never publicly disclosed it. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on his SATs in 1973, which converts to a score of 1590 out of 1600. With this IQ, Bill Gates is technically a genius because he is smarter than 99.96% of the population.
Does Ashton Kutcher have a high IQ? ›With an IQ 160, Kutcher is not only in a unique class of brilliant folks, but he is also one of the few actors in Hollywood with such a score, according to Hollywood.
What is the IQ of Alex Trebek? ›Alex Trebek IQ is 143, it means the incidence rate of Alex Trebek IQ is 2%, which indicates that only 1 in 1000 persons are fortunate enough to have this outstanding Alex Trebek IQ.
What is a good IQ score by age? ›| Age Range | Average IQ Score |
|---|---|
| 20 to 24-year-olds | 99 |
| 24 to 34-year-olds | 97 |
| 35 to 44-year-olds | 101 |
| 45 to 54-year-olds | 106 |
What is the highest Mensa score ever? ›
Eleven-year-old Yusuf Shah is being hailed as a genius after he made the highest possible score, 162, on a Mensa intelligence test. His performance beats those of physicists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, who were both estimated to have IQs around 160.
Does IQ change with age? ›An individual's IQ does not change with age. In other words: if you did an IQ test now and then another one in 10 years' time, your IQ score will probably be very similar. This is because IQ is always measured relative to other people your age.
What is Brad Pitt's IQ? ›| Name | Occupation | IQ |
|---|---|---|
| Brad Pitt | Hollywood actor | 126 |
| Abraham Lincoln | Politician | 148 |
| Andy Warhol | Artist | 86 |
| Jodie Foster | Actress | 132 |
Kim Kardashian IQ is estimated to be 190.
This IQ demonstrates that Kim is among the smartest people in the world. With a $1 billion net worth, Kim Kardashian is ranked 17th on the Forbes World Billionaires list.
Natalie portman: iq of 140 | MARCA English.
What IQ do you need for Harvard? ›“Average” in a selective prep school can be ~120. Average IQ at MIT or Harvard is closer to 130. Average SAT score is 1000 (M+V).
What is the average IQ in USA? ›IQ compared by countries
With an average IQ of 98 points, the USA ranks 29th in this ranking. With 108 points, the inhabitants of Hong Kong reach the highest intelligence quotas worldwide.
A score of 130 or higher signals a high IQ. Membership in Mensa, the High IQ society, includes people who score in the top 2 percent, which is usually 132 or higher.
What is Neil Tyson IQ? ›According to the current records, Neil deGrasse Tyson has an IQ of roughly 123, but he has not released any formal test results, so this is just a rough estimate.
What was Steve Jobs IQ? ›"Steve Jobs likely had an IQ roughly 160 or above”, according to the article "Steve Jobs Leveraged His Intelligence To More Effectively Create." It means Steve Jobs IQ is 160. Jobs was tested around the end of fourth grade, according to Walter Isaacson's book.
Who has 500 IQ? ›
| Marilyn vos Savant | |
|---|---|
| Born | Marilyn Mach August 11, 1946 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author columnist |
| Spouse | Robert Jarvik ( m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
Sharon Stone IQ was reported as IQ 154. The "Basic Instinct" star started college in her native Pennsylvania when she was just 16.
How smart is Snoop Dogg? ›Conversation. : FACTS: According to IMDB, Snoop Dogg's IQ score is 147, which is considered to be extremely high and that of a gifted genius.
Who has the highest IQ alive? ›| Christopher Langan | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 25, 1952 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Education | Reed College (dropped out) Montana State University–Bozeman (dropped out) |
| Occupation | Horse rancher |
| Known for | High IQ |
Kanye West IQ is 115 IQ, which is pretty high when compared to other celebrities. This places him in the top 98th percentile.
What was Kobe Bryant's IQ? ›Kobe Bryant IQ is 144, which implies he had an incredible IQ that allowed him to be incredibly bright on the court.
What is Beyonce's IQ? ›Beyonce IQ is estimated at 136 - an impressive score that places her in the top 2 percent of the population to own a high intelligence quotient.
What is Mayim Bialik's IQ? ›Mayim Bialik IQ as 163 is extremely high, for many people, this number is admirable. You'll realize this, though, once you learn that she was born into a Jewish family. It has been demonstrated that this intelligence is passed down through many generations rather than just occurring in one.
Who had an IQ of 400? ›Adragon De Mello: IQ 400
In 1988, when Adragon De Mello graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a degree in computational mathematics at the age of 11, he was the youngest college graduate in the United States (a record he no longer holds).
There is not a distinct answer to who has the highest IQ, but it is not Albert Einstein. Those with higher IQs in comparison with Einstein include William James Sidis, Leonardo Da Vinci and Marilyn vos Savant. Sidis was a child prodigy whose IQ was estimated to be anywhere between 200 to 300, says parade.com.
What is the average IQ for a 70 year old? ›
People between 65 and 69 years of age have an average IQ score of 114, which puts them in the superior intelligence or above-average end of the scale. But people between 70 and 74 years who are tested for IQ get an even higher average score of 119.
Is an IQ of 70 OK? ›...
Wechsler Intelligence Scales.
| IQ Range ("deviation IQ") | IQ Classification |
|---|---|
| 90–109 | Average |
| 80–89 | Low Average |
| 70–79 | Very Low |
| 69 and below | Extremely Low |
55 to 69: Mild mental disability. 70 to 84: Borderline mental disability. 85 to 114: Average intelligence. 115 to 129: Above average or bright.
What is Sheldon Cooper's IQ? ›He has a genius-level IQ of 187. (In The Big Bang Theory, it is said that his and Leonard's IQs add up to 360, and Leonard says his is 173. In Young Sheldon, his mother says that he has the same IQ as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, though neither is known to have taken an IQ test.)
Does Mensa have an age limit? ›We have members who range in age from 3 to 105 — kids can absolutely qualify and join. We invite gifted youth between 14 and 18 to take one of our supervised, standardized tests, and those under 14 are encouraged to submit evidence of past testing. Learn more about Gifted Youth Admission.
At what age is your brain the sharpest? ›They conclude that humans reach their cognitive peak around the age of 35 and begin to decline after the age of 45. And our cognitive abilities today exceed those of our ancestors. “Performance reveals a hump-shaped pattern over the life cycle,” report the authors in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
What increases IQ? ›Training your memory, executive control, and visuospatial reasoning can help to boost your intelligence levels. The best way to train these areas of your brain is to engage in thoughtful activities and games, learn new skills, and keep your brain active.
Is IQ a genetic trait? ›Researchers have previously shown that a person's IQ is highly influenced by genetic factors, and have even identified certain genes that play a role. They've also shown that performance in school has genetic factors. But it's been unclear whether the same genes that influence IQ also influence grades and test scores.
What is George Clooney's IQ? ›George Clooney IQ of 127 helps him to be in the top 14% of the world's population possessing a high intellectual quotient.
What is Angelina Jolie IQ? ›Angelina Jolie IQ - successful actress with IQ 120
Angelina Jolie has an IQ 120, making her one of the world's smartest individuals, accounting for around 14% of the world's population.
What is Oprah Winfrey's IQ? ›
Oprah left college in 1975 with one credit remaining in order to pursue her career, but she later finished the remaining coursework and earned her degree in 1987. Her intelligence, with Oprah Winfrey IQ score of 140, is evident in her eloquence and excellent public speaking ability.
What is the IQ of Sylvester Stallone? ›According to multiple sources, Sylvester Stallone IQ is claimed to be at 160, which places him in the 0.1% of the population who are geniuses or nearly geniuses. This figure demonstrates his superior capacity for logical reasoning, quick thinking, and quick reactions.
What is Taylor Swift's IQ? ›On the Wechsler scale (Standard deviation of 15), it's 140 IQ. On the Stanford-Binet scale (Standard deviation of 16), it's 144 IQ. On the Cattel scale (Standard deviation of 24), it's 165 IQ.
What is Nicki Minaj IQ? ›On the other hand, Nicki Minaj is quite intelligent as testament to her superior song writing skills. Not on par with Eminem but better than half the industry who either makes bad music or has ghost writers. Her IQ is approximately 115 which is slightly above average.
What is Meryl Streep's IQ? ›Meryl Streep's stated IQ is 143 IQ score, almost as high as the staggering amount of accolades she's received. We can't think of anything that Streep isn't frustratingly good at, and we hope it never changes.
What was Robin Williams IQ? ›Robin Williams IQ and his career
Robin Williams was a very gifted musician, actor, and comedian. He is thought to have had an IQ of 140. Robin Williams IQ score is impressive and demonstrates Robin's extraordinary intelligence.
Snoop Dogg has 147 IQ, which is regarded as extraordinarily high and indicative of a talented genius. This qualifies him as a genius with more accomplishments than most people will achieve in their lives. "I'm really brilliant," Snoop said when questioned about his IQ.
Does Mensa look good on a resume? ›“Bear in mind that Mensa isn't just a membership card: it's a club. Many Mensa members are also involved in leadership roles at the local and national level – and leadership experience is ALWAYS good on a resume.”
Is 115 a good IQ? ›85 to 114: Average intelligence. 115 to 129: Above average or bright. 130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted.
Does your IQ change with age? ›An individual's IQ does not change with age. In other words: if you did an IQ test now and then another one in 10 years' time, your IQ score will probably be very similar. This is because IQ is always measured relative to other people your age.
What is the IQ of Bill Gates? ›
Bill Gates IQ is 151.45, despite the fact that he has never publicly disclosed it. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on his SATs in 1973, which converts to a score of 1590 out of 1600. With this IQ, Bill Gates is technically a genius because he is smarter than 99.96% of the population.
Is the Mensa test difficult? ›The Mensa intelligence test is designed to be too difficult for the majority of people to pass. In fact, Mensa members make up less than 2% of the entire population.
How many times can you take the Mensa test? ›Individuals may take a test or test battery only once, unless American Mensa's Supervisory Psychologist provides an allowance for circumstantial reasons. If you've taken all available tests or test batteries and have not met the requirement to join, we encourage you to submit evidence of prior testing.
Does Mensa membership expire? ›Your access will expire the day after your membership expires with the country where you reside. If you renew your membership prior to expiration, please contact us with your new expiration date.