How to Join Mensa: The Top 2% Requirement and the Testing Process

Mensa is an international society for people whose intelligence quotient (IQ) places them in the top 2% of the population. If you have ever thought about joining, the first questions on your mind are probably how to join and what the requirement is. This article lays out Mensa's admission criteria and the typical testing process honestly and without exaggeration. Because the governing body, fees, and procedures differ from country to country, please check each country's official sources for specific costs and schedules.

Mensa's admission requirement is the "top 2%"

The condition for joining Mensa is scoring within the top 2% of the entire population on a standardized intelligence test. Since IQ is based on a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, the top 2% corresponds roughly to IQ 130 and above. That is about 1 in 50 people, and a defining feature is that it is a clear numerical standard.

One thing to keep in mind here is that what Mensa evaluates is only a part of the intelligence that tests can measure. IQ is merely an indicator of certain aspects of cognitive ability; it does not represent the whole of "being smart," which includes creativity, interpersonal skills, and domain knowledge. For where various scores fall, see the IQ reference table as well.

Two routes: accepted prior tests and supervised admission tests

There are broadly two ways to qualify for membership. One is to submit proof of a score from a previously taken, accepted standardized test (such as a commonly used intelligence assessment). Each country's Mensa publishes a list of acceptable tests, and if any of them shows you in the top 2%, it can be used for your application.

The other is to take a supervised (proctored) admission test administered by Mensa. You take it at a venue or in a designated setting under the supervision of a proctor, and if the result meets the requirement, you qualify for membership. Either route typically requires identity verification and certain prescribed procedures.

The typical process from application to membership

The general flow is: (1) check the official Mensa website for your country of residence, (2) choose between submitting proof from an accepted test or taking the admission test, (3) take the test or send your score proof, and (4) join if you pass the review and meet the requirement. Fees and annual dues vary by country and society, so be sure to confirm them through official sources.

If you want to get a sense of your own tendencies, one option is to get comfortable with the question formats through a casual online test, separate from the actual Mensa exam (note that such online tests are not Mensa's official certified exams and are strictly for practice and self-assessment). If you want to get used to recognizing shape and matrix patterns, tips for matrix reasoning can also help.

Summary: First, know where you stand

Joining Mensa has a clear requirement, the "top 2% (roughly IQ 130 and above)," and you can take it on through either an accepted test's proof or a supervised exam. Before seriously considering it, getting a rough sense of where you stand first makes it easier to plan your preparation. Try the free IQ test to casually check where you stand.