What IQ do you need to join Mensa?

Why does Mensa use a percentile instead of a number?

Because the same performance turns into different numbers on different scales. Mensa Brasil, the Brazilian chapter, says so in its FAQ: there is no minimum IQ number, because the value can vary from one method to another, and the criterion is being in the top 2% of the population. Mensa International uses the same rule: an approved test, properly administered and supervised, with a score in the upper 2% of the general population.

The conversion is simple math on the normal curve. The 98th percentile sits 2.05 standard deviations above the mean:

That is why the same criterion appears as different numbers, depending on the scale of the test. The curve is explained in What each score means.

Does an online IQ test count for Mensa?

No. Mensa Brasil writes that online tests are not formally recognized and are not valid for Mensa, and that the test must be taken in person. Mensa International states that only Mensa-approved tests can be used for admission, and warns against websites that claim to offer a Mensa test.

This applies to any online test, including IQNorth's.

What is the Mensa Brasil admission test like?

According to the Mensa Brasil FAQ, read on November 5, 2026:

• The test is taken in person, in a group or individually, with the same content in both forms.
• It is designed not to depend on language or specific knowledge, and takes up to 60 minutes, depending on the test drawn that day.
• The group test is calibrated for people aged 17 to 63 with at least some college education; other routes to admission do not have this limit.
• The result is pass or fail, in about 10 to 60 days; the percentile can be given on request.
• Candidates who do not pass can try again after one year, up to three times.
• Registration has a fee, listed on the same page.

Mensa Brasil also accepts reports from some tests given by psychologists, such as the Wechsler scales, as listed on its admission page. Other national Mensa groups set their own procedures.

Is it worth taking an online test first?

It can satisfy curiosity, as long as you read the margin of error. A range of 118 to 136 includes values below and above the cutoff, and does not tell you whether you would pass. Mensa Brasil says no preparation is needed: just arrive rested.

See also: How can I find out my IQ?