Mensa is an international high IQ society that only accepts members who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized intelligence test. This means that only the top 2% of the population qualifies for Mensa based on their IQ. So what is the lowest IQ score needed to get into Mensa?
What is Mensa?
Mensa was founded in 1946 in England by lawyer Roland Berrill and scientist Dr. Lance Ware. The organization was created to provide a forum for intellectual exchange between highly intelligent individuals. The name “Mensa” comes from the Latin word for “table” and was chosen to symbolize a round-table society where no one individual sits at the head.
Today, Mensa has over 134,000 members in more than 100 countries around the world. The organization’s mission is to “identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, encourage research into nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members.”
Mensa Member Requirements
To become a member of Mensa, an individual must demonstrate an IQ at or above the 98th percentile on a standardized, supervised intelligence test that has been properly normalized for age. Mensa accepts over 200 different standardized IQ and general cognitive ability tests.
The most commonly accepted tests used for Mensa admission include:
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
- Cattell Culture Fair Intelligence Test
- Raven’s Progressive Matrices
- Wonderlic Personnel Test
The minimum accepted score for the most common tests are:
| Test | Minimum Accepted Score |
|---|---|
| Stanford-Binet | 132 |
| WAIS-IV | 132 |
| Cattell III B | 148 |
| Ravens Advanced Matrices | 128 |
| Wonderlic | 127 |
It’s important to note that the minimum score needed for Mensa admission is based on percentile ranking, not the raw test scores. So if an IQ test is properly normalized, the minimum score to be in the top 2% can vary based on the reference group.
Lowest Possible IQ for Mensa
So what is the absolute lowest IQ score someone could get and still qualify for Mensa? The short answer is that there is no set lowest IQ for Mensa admission.
Technically, someone could score a 132 on the Stanford-Binet or WAIS tests and be admitted to Mensa. This IQ of 132 is considered “very superior intelligence” and is around the 98.1 percentile. However, the minimum score needed for the top 2% on any given test depends on how the test is normalized and could be a few points lower.
For example, on a perfectly normalized test with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, the minimum IQ to score at the 98th percentile or higher would be 130. But in reality, IQ test standardization varies and 130 is not an absolute cutoff.
Factors That Influence Lowest Mensa IQ
Several factors impact what is the lowest possible qualifying IQ score for Mensa membership:
- Test Standardization: The reference group used to normalize the IQ test matters. An IQ of 130 represents the 98th percentile compared to the general population, but may not qualify compared to a higher IQ reference group.
- Testing Error: All tests have a measurement error which means score variances of a few points are possible with retakes. So a true IQ of 130 could score slightly lower.
- Test Version: Different versions of the same exam can have slight scoring variations. For example, the Cattell III B minimum is 148 while the Cattell IIIB minimum is 146.
- Age: IQ test scoring accounts for age. So minimum scores are lower for younger versus older test takers.
In summary, while 130-132 is generally considered the lowest IQ range for admission into Mensa, there are many factors that could result in a lower qualifying score between 128-130 based on the test characteristics and reference group norms.
Bottom Line on Lowest Mensa IQ
While a small number of people may qualify for Mensa with IQs in the 128-130 range, most members score significantly higher. An analysis of a sample of Mensa members found the average IQ to be 148.
Less than 1% of the general population has an IQ score over 140. At 3 standard deviations above the mean, an IQ of 145 is around the 99.9th percentile. Though not a requirement, over 25% of Mensa members have IQ’s in this range of the top 0.1%.
So while the “lowest IQ for Mensa” is a somewhat flexible concept based on test norms, in reality the majority of members have IQs of 140+ placing them in the top percentiles for intelligence compared to the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have an IQ of 100 and be in Mensa?
No, an IQ of 100 is considered average intelligence and falls around the 50th percentile. Mensa requires members to have an IQ in at least the 98th percentile, so an IQ of 100 would not qualify.
What percentile is an IQ of 135?
An IQ of 135 is very high and falls approximately in the 99th percentile. This means that only around 1% of the population scores above an IQ of 135.
Who has the highest IQ ever recorded?
The person with the highest IQ ever recorded is Ainan Celeste Cawley with an IQ score between 263-349, according to the STAR IQ test. The 12-year-old scored the highest possible mark of 162 on the Stanford-Binet test.
Is a high IQ genetic?
Intelligence, as measured by IQ tests, is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. However, genetics appear to play a stronger role. Estimates indicate that 40-80% of individual differences in IQ scores can be attributed to genetics.
Conclusion
While a precise cutoff for the lowest Mensa IQ cannot be universally defined, most members score significantly higher than the minimum requirement. With average member scores around 148, Mensa represents a uniquely intelligent group, with most qualifying individuals possessing IQ’s in the top few percentiles.