Mensa is a not-for-profit society. 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
Mensa is a not-for-profit society. 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.
You’ll find all sorts of people in Mensa. But Mensans worldwide have one thing in common: they’re bright. Mensa is an international society with only one criterion for membership: a score on a standardized IQ test higher than that of 98 per cent of the general population. So no matter what you think or how you vote, why not consider joining us? We’re always on the lookout for new members to further enrich our diversity of abilities, interests and opinions.
If you enjoy brain-teasers, stimulating articles and lively exchanges of views, you’ll appreciate TableAus, our bi-monthly magazine, which incorporates the Mensa World Journal. If you like to discuss world problems or the latest in science and technology, you’re sure to find like-minded people at a Mensa event. Perhaps you just want to relax and exchange repartee with others who’ll get your jokes and add their own quips. Many find Mensa a welcome relief.
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 gatherings in America, Europe and Asia and a chance to meet fellow Mensans when you travel the world.
Mensa was founded in Oxford in 1946 by an eccentric, flamboyant Australian and a reserved Englishman. They had met by chance on a train. The Australian was Roland Berrill, a barrister educated in England. The Englishman was Lancelot Ware, at the time a mature student at Oxford, who was later to gain a string of qualifications in science and the law.Ware is credited with the idea of Mensa, but it was Berrill who "founded" the society in the usual sense, on 1 October 1946. Berrill supplied the start-up cash, wrote the idiosyncratic pamphlets and became Mensa'a first Secretary.
He died a few years later, having recruited in total around 400 people by self-administered IQ tests.Dr Lancelot Ware dropped out of Mensa for many years but later rejoined and was a member until his death in 2000, with the title "Fons et Origo" from his claim that the original idea was his.
In Australia, the organisation was started by a number of members of British Mensa who had moved to Australia. We date our founding to the appearance of 3 of those members on the ABC show "People 1964", in October of that year.
There are many intelligent reasons to join Mensa. Whether you actively attend Mensa meetings or simply relish the intellectual stimulation that membership promotes, you'll find the benefits of Mensa membership to be numerous indeed. There are two ways to acquire your position:
Supervised tests are held in the capital cities, a number of times each year. Click here to see the dates. In some circumstances, an individual testing session can be arranged outside of these regular dates. 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 necessary to bring a form of photo ID.
If you would like to book a place at a testing session, you must first register on this site as a Test Applicant and pay on-line. This option is also accessible from the Apply to join menu item on the left. Once you have registered and paid, you will be able to access the Test dates on our Calendar where you can select a test and book your place on it. 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. This should be sent to the office at office@mensa.org.au and the original card taken with you to the test.You will be contacted by the Proctor in your state with details of the date, time and location of the test.
You can qualify by showing evidence of a qualifying score in one of the many standard IQ tests we accept. If you can produce evidence of a score at or above the 98th percentile in one of these tests (also accessible from the Menu item on the left), 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 your psychologist to complete, please register as a Prior Evidence Applicant and pay online. This option is also accessible from the Apply to join menu item on the left.The Psychologist's Form must be completed by an accredited, practising psychologist in Australia (one 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
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form
