Mensa-style IQ test practice

How to qualify for Mensa

Mensa accepts people who score in the top 2% of the population — at or above the 98th percentile — on an approved, supervised intelligence test. On the usual SD 15 scale that is an IQ of about 130.

You can qualify by taking Mensa's own supervised admission test in your country, or in many countries by submitting a qualifying score from an approved professional test. Online tests are not accepted as evidence.

What the admission test looks like

The exact test depends on the country. Many use culture-fair, non-verbal questions — matrices and figure series — so that language and education matter as little as possible. Some also include verbal and numerical sections.

Time pressure is a big part of the difficulty: many people know how to solve the questions but can't finish.

How to prepare

• Learn the common rules for matrices: rotation, addition and subtraction of shapes, and distribution of three values.
• Practise figure series and odd-one-out until you spot the rule quickly.
• Take timed tests to get used to the pace, and review every mistake.
• Sleep well before the test — fatigue costs more points than any trick wins.

About this practice test

35 questions in 25 minutes, using only figures and patterns. It is scored like our other tests, so you get an estimated IQ and a percentile. If your range reaches 130, a supervised test may be worth trying.