To join Mensa you must score in the top 2% of the population, which is the 98th percentile, equal to about 130 on a standard SD-15 test like the Wechsler. The percentile is the real requirement; the exact number changes depending on which test's scale you use.
Mensa requires a score at or above the 98th percentile, the top 2% of the population. On an SD-15 test such as the WAIS that equals roughly 130, but the qualifying number differs on other scales. What matters is the percentile, not a single universal IQ number.
Different tests use different standard deviations, so the same 98th percentile lands on different numbers. A Wechsler (SD 15) gives 130, a Stanford-Binet (SD 16) gives about 132, and the Cattell scale (SD 24) gives about 148. All three represent the identical top-2% achievement despite the different figures.
Mensa accepts many recognized, supervised intelligence tests, plus its own supervised admission test. Common qualifying tests include the WAIS, Stanford-Binet, Cattell, and Raven's Progressive Matrices, among others. Online or unproctored tests, including this one, do not count for official admission.
You join by providing acceptable evidence of a top-2% score, either by taking Mensa's supervised test or submitting qualifying prior test results. Mensa reviews your documentation and, if it meets the 98th-percentile standard, offers membership. Each national Mensa group lists exactly which prior tests and scores it will accept.
No, online and self-administered tests are not accepted for Mensa membership. They are useful educational estimates and can hint at whether you are in range, but only a properly supervised, validated test counts. If your online estimate is near 130+, taking an official proctored test is the next step.
| Test / scale | SD | Qualifying score (98th pct) |
|---|---|---|
| Wechsler (WAIS / WISC) | 15 | 130 |
| Stanford-Binet | 16 | 132 |
| Cattell | 24 | 148 |