There’s a good chance you’ve already taken the test you need to qualify for this high-IQ society
You Might Already Qualify to Be a Member of Mensa—Here’s Why
Updated on Jul. 07, 2025
If you routinely crush logic puzzles, always know the answer to Final Jeopardy questions and feel like you just see patterns others miss, you might be wondering how you qualify for Mensa, the organization that’s been gathering some of the world’s sharpest minds for decades. To start, just one thing stands between you and an impressive bullet point on your LinkedIn profile: your score on a Mensa test.
So do you have what it takes to qualify for the genius label from Mensa? Keep reading to find out how your brainpower stacks up against the best.
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What is Mensa?
Mensa is a high-IQ society, founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill and Lancelot Ware. The name Mensa is Latin for table, reflecting the group’s founding principle: a roundtable society where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics and social background are irrelevant.
In addition to fostering a global community of bright minds, Mensa supports research related to intelligence, both internally and through collaborations with outside researchers.
Mensa International has more than 140,000 members in more than 100 countries around the world. And while Mensa members have ranged in age from 2 years old to over 100, most are between 20 and 60. Once you qualify, annual membership fees vary by country, but U.S. Mensans pay $79 per year.
And as they say, membership has its privileges. Mensans are offered a plethora of opportunities for social, cultural and intellectual interactions, including lectures, journals and special-interest groups. Discussions and debates occur at local, regional, national and international gatherings, and there’s even an app (Mensa Brain Training) to keep you mentally challenged in your spare time.
How do I qualify for Mensa?
What it really comes down to is doing well (like, really, really well) on an approved intelligence test. Since Mensa membership is open to people who have attained a score within the upper 2% of the general population, there are two ways to go about this. First, you could take the official Mensa test. The test must be administered in person, since online tests cannot be used for admission; contact your nearest Mensa office for details.
The second option is easier than you think: You may already qualify based on a test you’ve taken in the past. American Mensa accepts scores from about 200 different standardized intelligence tests, including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Stanford-Binet, the Cognitive Abilities Test and even college preparatory exams like the SAT (if taken before Jan. 31, 1994). If you’ve already taken one of these tests and hit the right percentile, all you need to do is submit proof (details are on the Mensa website). That said, even though Mensa has members of all age groups, many tests are not valid for geniuses under the age of 16.
How does IQ score play into it?
The term “IQ score” isn’t always clearly defined. In fact, it can get a little confusing because various intelligence tests have different scales. For example, a result of 132 on one test could be the same as a score of 148 on another. Furthermore, some intelligence tests don’t even use IQ scores. That’s why Mensa simplifies things with a universal rule: If your score is at or above the 98th percentile on an approved test, you qualify—regardless of the specific number.
How do I get proof of my previous test scores?
Contact the testing service or institution that administered your test and request an official report. There may be a fee, so ask in advance. Ask for a certified copy of your score, which includes your name, date of birth, the name of the test and your score (IQ or national percentile). Make sure the school seal is stamped on the report. If you’ve taken an “achievement” test, don’t waste your time—it won’t make the grade with Mensa.
What if it was a private test?
If you’ve taken a Mensa-accepted test privately with a qualified psychologist, the report needs to be sent on professional letterhead with the agency’s license or registration number. It must be signed and needs to include your personal details along with the name, date and full score of the test. A notarized or signature-guaranteed copy of the report will be accepted; non-verifiable copies may be rejected.
What if I’ve never been tested?
No problem. If you’ve never taken an intelligence test—or don’t have access to your scores—just reach out to your local Mensa chapter to sign up for a supervised Mensa test session in your area. In the U.S., the test fee is currently $60.
Nervous about jumping right in?
You can start with an at-home pre-test. It’s not an official qualifying test, but it will give you an idea of how you might perform. If your pre-test score is high enough, you’ll be invited to take a supervised test that does count. Just note that even if you ace the pre-test, it cannot be used to qualify for Mensa—nope, not even if you score at or above the 98th percentile.
Another fun option: Try the Mensa Workout, a 30-minute, 30-question quiz on the organization’s website. It’s not official either, but it is a great way to flex your brain and see if you’re Mensa material.
So why not take the test or learn if you already qualify? Sure, joining Mensa might be an ego boost, but it’s also a place where smart minds connect, ideas flow freely and intelligence is celebrated, not side-eyed.
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