- Mensa requires a score at or above the 98th percentile, the top 2% of the population.
- Different tests use different standard deviations, so the same 98th percentile lands on different numbers.
- Mensa accepts many recognized, supervised intelligence tests, plus its own supervised admission test.
- You join by providing acceptable evidence of a top-2% score, either by taking Mensa's supervised test or submitting qualifying prior test results.
- No, online and self-administered tests are not accepted for Mensa membership.
What IQ do you need for Mensa?
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.
Why is the qualifying number different on each test?
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.
Which tests does Mensa accept?
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.
How do you join Mensa?
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.
Does a high score on an online test qualify me?
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.
Mensa Qualifying Scores by Test Scale (98th Percentile)
| Test / scale | SD | Qualifying score (98th pct) |
|---|---|---|
| Wechsler (WAIS / WISC) | 15 | 130 |
| Stanford-Binet | 16 | 132 |
| Cattell | 24 | 148 |
β People also ask
What Is a Good IQ Score?
An IQ of 100 is exactly average; 110-119 is above average, 120 and up puts you in the top 10% (a genuinely 'good' score), and 130+ is considered gifted. IQ is built on a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, so most people cluster near the middle.
What Is a Good IQ Score? βIQ Percentile Chart: What Percentile Is My IQ?
Your IQ percentile tells you the share of people you scored higher than: an IQ of 100 is the 50th percentile, 115 is about the 84th, 120 is roughly the top 10%, and 130 is roughly the top 2%. The table below maps every major IQ band to its classification, percentile, and share of the population.
IQ Percentile Chart: What Percentile Is My IQ? βAre Online IQ Tests Accurate?
A well-designed online IQ test gives a reliable estimate of your reasoning ability, but it is not a clinical diagnosis β only a proctored test like the WAIS or Stanford-Binet provides that. This test is built on Raven's Progressive Matrices and CHC theory, scored on the standard scale (mean 100, SD 15), with an internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha) of about 0.85-0.92.
Are Online IQ Tests Accurate? βCan You Increase Your IQ?
You can meaningfully sharpen reasoning skills, working memory, and test performance through training and education, but raising your underlying general intelligence (g) substantially and permanently is not well supported β core g is largely heritable. The honest answer is that some gains are real and some popular claims are overstated.
Can You Increase Your IQ? βGenius IQ Level: What Number Counts as Genius?
A 'genius' IQ traditionally starts at 140, while 130 and above is labeled 'very superior' on modern tests. Scores that high are extremely rare, and the famous IQ numbers you see for historical figures are almost always estimates, not measured results.
Genius IQ Level: What Number Counts as Genius? β