Mensa is a not-for-profit society whose members qualify by having an IQ in the top 2% of the population. It was founded in 1946 and is the oldest, largest and arguably best known of all the high IQ societies with well over 100,000 members internationally.
Its purposes are to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, encourage research into the nature , characteristics and uses of intelligence, and to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members.
Mental and social stimulation
Mensa offers opportunities to meet people, exchange ideas and make new friends at your intellectual level. Quick minds are welcomed; instant communication and comprehension are the rule rather than the exception. The Mensa network is not limited to Australia, with International gathering in America, Europe and Asia.
Becoming a member
There are two ways to join Mensa:
01 By sitting for the Mensa Supervised Entrance Test (for candidates 14 and over), or
02 By presenting evidence of a qualifying score in an approved standard IQ test taken elsewhere.
Supervised testing
Supervised tests are held in the capital cities a number of times each year.
The Supervised Test incurs an administrative fee of $60 (standard) or $40 (concession). Fees must be paid in full, in advance. The session takes about an hour. It is necessay to bring a form of photo ID.
If you would like to book a place at a testing session, register on www.mensa.org.au as a Test Applicant and pay online. Then choose a test date and book your place. There is no charge for the test itself, once you have registered as an applicant.
If claiming concession status, you will need to provide proof, such as a photocopy of a pension card, student card or similar.
You will be contacted by the Proctor in your state with details of the date, time and location of the test.
Prior evidence
You can also qualify for membership by showing evidence of a qualifying score in one of the many standard IQ test we accept, administered by a psychologist. If you can produce evidence of a score at or above the 98th percentile in one of these tests we will assess that evidence and, if it is acceptable, offer you membership.
Our Psychologist’s Form which you will need for presentation of your prior evidence incurs an administrative fee of $40 (including GST). If you would like a Psychologist’s Form for you psychologist to complete, please register as a Prior Evidence Applicant and pay online.
The Psychologist’s Form must be completed by an accredited, practising psychologist in Australia (once registered with the appropriate state board) who certifies that he/she has administered a specific test to you on a specific date and that you have attained a specific score which is at or above the 98th percentile. Our own consulting psychologist will then ascertain that this test is one accepted by Mensa and that you have a qualifying result.
What does membership cost?
Full-rate annual subscription is $88.00 per annum. Juniors (under 18), students, pensioners and unemployed pay a concession rate of $44.00. A second member in the same household pays $30.00 (without seperate publications). All rates are inclusive of GST.
Further information
Go to www.mensa.org.au or contact info@mensa.org.au, or phone Mensa on 08 9274 5544.
