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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mensa?

Mensa is for those who rejoice in the exercise of the mind. If you enjoy mental challenges and revel in the interplay of ideas, Mensa is an organization that will stretch your mind and expand your horizons. Mensa is an international society that has one - and only one - unique qualification for membership: you must score in the top 2% of the population on a standardized intelligence test. You can find more information at the American Mensa and Mensa International web sites.

What is Tucson Mensa?

Tucson Mensa is a local group of American Mensa Ltd. (AML). We belong to Far West Region 9, and our chapter number is 857. We're a rather small group at around 200 members. We normally schedule at least six to ten get-togethers a month. Our schedule of events can be found on our Calendar page.

What's in it for me?

Mensa membership has many benefits. There is a wide range of interesting people that you meet at Mensa activities and SIGs (Special Interest Group). Check out the SIG web page to see if any of these sub-groups interest you.

How do I join?

The only qualification for Mensa membership is a score in the top 2% of the general population on a supervised standardized intelligence test. That score can come from prior evidence (a test accepted by American Mensa) or from the Mensa Admission Tests.

Current dues for American Mensa are $52 (U.S.) a year. Life, multi-year and family plans are available.

There is a printable application form online at the American Mensa web site.

I want to take the test.  What do I do?

If you are in the Tucson Area, our Proctor Coordinator can schedule one for you. The proctored test costs $50. The tests are not valid for people under the age of 14, who can qualify through prior evidence. Mensa does offer a battery of culture-fair, non-language tests. For people in the US outside of Tucson, please see the American Mensa web site for contact information for a local group near you.

I don't want to spend the time/money on a proctored test unless I know that I stand a good chance of qualifying.  Is there a free "practice test" online?

Yes.  The Mensa Workout or the American Mensa Mind Challenge can give you a good idea of how you might fare on the proctored test.

On the Links page of our web site, there is a section called "Games, Tests, IQ Interest, Etc." which contains links to several other online "IQ tests" as well. Online tests are good only for personal reference though; you must take a proctored test to qualify for membership.

I saw a flier for "National Testing Day", but I couldn't make it to the scheduled test.  When is the next one?

No problem - "National Testing Day" is a special promotion, you are in no way limited to that day only. You can schedule a test in Tucson for a time and day that is convenient to you by contacting our Proctor Coordinator.

I've already taken an IQ test administered by someone other than Mensa, and I have an IQ of ___.  Is that high enough?

Mensa accepts test scores from many sources - chances are that you have already taken an intelligence test through school, work, military, etc. that is accepted by Mensa. Different tests are scored differently, however, which is why Mensa admission is based on scoring in the top 2% of the general population instead of a specific IQ "number." For more information, there is a "conversion chart" on the American Mensa web site which lists the "98th percentile" scores from the most common accepted intelligence tests.

To join using prior evidence, you need to submit original documentation or a notarized copy of the original, along with a onetime $25 processing fee. You can find a printable application form and more information on the American Mensa web site.

I've recently joined Mensa, but have not yet received a local newsletter. What do I do?

What normally happens is that when a new member joins, AML (American Mensa Ltd.) sends the info to the local group where that person lives, so they can be added to the local mailing list, etc. Depending on processing turnaround at AML and the timing in the local newsletter schedule, sometimes there can be a lag of a month or two in that process, which is why we are currently working to become a lot easier to find than we have been in the past. To avoid having to wait to join in the fun, if you live in the Tucson area, please let us know as soon as you receive your membership from AML.

I used to be a member, but have let my membership lapse.  What do I need to do to rejoin?

There is a web based form available for doing just that on American Mensa's Information page.  If you know your old membership number, you can also call them at 817-607-0060 x199 and pay with MasterCard or Visa to get signed up immediately. While waiting for your membership to be processed, please feel free to attend any of our local Mensa activities.

I was/am a member of ___ Mensa, and have just moved to the Tucson area.  What do I need to do to transfer my membership here and start getting the Tucson Mensun?

Is your membership in American Mensa still current? Then all you need to do is change your address with American Mensa. If your national membership has lapsed, Please refer to the previous answer. Also, since National can take up to a month or more to update an address change, be sure and let us know your Tucson address as soon as you move, so we can be sure that you get a newsletter asap.

I'd like to attend a few local get-togethers and meet some other members before joining/rejoining/transferring.

Please do so! The best way for you to get a feel for the group is to drop in on a few scheduled functions and get to know us. If you send us your mailing address, we can send you a current newsletter containing a complete activities schedule. We also maintain a schedule on the Calendar section of our web site, but that open-to-the-world version doesn't contain any addresses or phone numbers as per our privacy policy.

I live in ___.  Is there a local Mensa group in my area?

American Mensa maintains a list of local group contact info. Please note, however, that there may be groups of members that have not yet formed an "official" local group.  If you can't find one where you live, then ask American Mensa. For Mensa groups outside of the US, please see the Mensa International web site. http://mensa.org/


Tucson Mensa is a local group of American Mensa, which is in turn, a national group of Mensa International.

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