Mensa International facts for kids
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| Formation | 1 October 1946 |
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| Legal status | Limited non-profit organisation |
| Purpose | High-IQ society |
| Headquarters | Slate Barn, Church Lane, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Membership
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~150,000 |
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International Chairperson
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Robin Crawford |
Mensa International is the biggest and oldest club for people with very high IQs (intelligence quotients). It's a non-profit group, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. To join, you need to score in the top 2% on a special IQ test. Mensa has groups in many countries, all part of the main Mensa International organization. Its main office is in Caythorpe, England.
Contents
What Does "Mensa" Mean?
The word Mensa comes from Latin and means 'table'. This name was chosen to show that everyone in the group is equal, like people sitting around a round table. The idea is that smart people can come together and share ideas.
How Did Mensa Start?
The Beginning of Mensa
Mensa was started in 1946 in Oxford, England. An Australian lawyer named Roland Berrill and a British scientist named Lancelot Ware created it. They wanted to form a club for the smartest people. The only rule for joining was having a very high IQ.
Early Goals and Challenges
The founders wanted Mensa to be a place where people could connect, no matter their background. It was meant to be free from politics, race, or religion. However, the founders were a bit surprised by who joined. Berrill had hoped for an "aristocracy of the intellect," but many members came from everyday homes. Ware also felt that some members spent too much time on puzzles.
Mensa Grows in America
Thanks to the efforts of Margot Seitelman, American Mensa became the second large branch of the organization. This helped Mensa grow worldwide.
How Do You Join Mensa?
Understanding the Membership Test
To become a Mensa member, you need to score very high on certain IQ tests. You must be in the top 2% of people who take these tests. For example, on the Stanford–Binet test, you need a score of at least 132. On the Cattell test, it's 148, and on the Wechsler tests, it's 130. Most IQ tests are set up so that the average score is 100.
Taking the Mensa Test
In some countries, you can only take the Mensa test once. However, you might be able to use results from other approved IQ tests to apply. Mensa tests are also available in many countries around the world.
How Is Mensa Organized?
Mensa Around the World
Mensa International has about 150,000 members in over 90 countries. About 48 of these countries have their own Mensa groups. These national groups often publish magazines for their members. If you live in a country with a Mensa group, you join that group. If not, you can join Mensa International directly.
Largest Mensa Groups
The biggest national Mensa groups are:
- American Mensa, with over 50,000 members.
- Mensa Germany, with more than 18,000 members.
- British Mensa, with about 18,000 members in the UK and Ireland.
Larger national groups are divided into smaller local groups. For example, American Mensa has 134 local groups. Some have over 2,000 members, while others have fewer than 100.
Special Interest Groups
Members can also form special interest groups (SIGs). These groups are for people who share hobbies or interests. There are SIGs for many different things, from motorcycle clubs to business ideas. Some SIGs meet in person, while others are online, like email lists.
The Mensa Foundation
There's also a separate group called the Mensa Foundation. It publishes a journal called the Mensa Research Journal. This journal features articles about intelligence, written by both Mensa members and others.
What Kinds of Events Does Mensa Have?
Mensa holds many events for its members, from small local meetings to large international gatherings.
Annual Gatherings
Several countries host a big event called the Annual Gathering (AG). This event happens in a different city each year. It includes speakers, dances, workshops, games, and activities for children. The American AG usually takes place around the 4th of July.
Mensa Mind Games
Since 1990, American Mensa has held the Mensa Mind Games competition. In this event, five board games are chosen for the "Mensa Select" award. These games are recognized for being original, challenging, and well-designed.
European and Asia-Pacific Gatherings
In Europe, large international meetings called EMAG (European Mensa Annual Gathering) have been held since 2008. These events take place in different cities each year. The Asia-Pacific region also has its own annual gathering called AMAG.
Who Leads Mensa?
The main leaders of Mensa International include:
- International Chair: Robin Crawford
- International Director - Administration: Mel Jäger
- International Director - Development: Eivind Olsen
- International Treasurer: Jovana Kostic
- International Director - Smaller National Mensas: Sorana Burcusel
- American Mensa: Jon Gruebele
- British Isles Mensa: Ann Rootkin
- Mensa Germany: Peter Fröhler
Who Are Mensa Members?
Youngest Members
Mensa groups in all countries accept children under 18. Some groups offer special activities and newsletters for gifted children and their parents. Some of the youngest members ever joined Mensa at just two years old! For example, Kashe Quest is the youngest member of American Mensa.
In 2018, Mehul Garg became the youngest person in ten years to get the highest possible score of 162 on the Mensa IQ test.
Age Range of Members
American Mensa says its members range in age from 2 to 102. In 2014, British Mensa had a member who was 103 years old.
Member Demographics
As of 2023, American Mensa's members include people from different generations. About 8% are from the Silent Generation (born 1924–1942), 37% are Baby Boomers (born 1943–1960), and 30% are Gen-X (born 1961–1981). Millennials (born 1982–2000) make up 10%, and Generation Z (born 2001–2020) makes up 12%. Most American Mensa members are male (64%), while 32% are female.
See also
In Spanish: Mensa (organización) para niños
- List of notable Mensa members
- List of Mensa Select recipients
- IQ classification
- IQ Award
- Triple Nine Society
- Intertel
