Mensa Testing

Nearly two-thirds of American Mensa members joined by submitting evidence of scores from their prior intelligence testing. We accept scores from approximately 150 different standardized intelligence tests, and often potential members have taken a test we accept without realizing they already qualify for membership. The fee to evaluate your prior scores is $49.00. For more information, please Click/Tap Prior Evidence

Mensa's Private Testing option is designed with your convenience in mind for a testing fee of $99.00. It's available for those individuals interested in joining Mensa who are age 14 or older and are comfortable with computer testing. Easily find and schedule a test session near you based on your availability; even better, you’ll receive your exam results in two to three business days (compared to two to three weeks with traditional Local Group testing).
Click/Tap Private Testing

Chicago Area Mensa also regularly offers Local Group Testing sessions (see listings below) for admission to the organization for a testing fee of $60.00.
The test is offered for the convenience of those individuals interested in joining Mensa who are age 14 or older and prefer paper exams or want to attend testing along with friends/family.
There's no way to study for the Mensa admission tests. You will be tested on logic, English vocabulary, and deductive reasoning. All materials will be provided; no calculators or mechanical devices will be allowed. Our proctors are current members of Mensa and are specially certified volunteers.

At the present time, American Mensa does not offer Group Testing for candidates who have low vision, partial deafness, dyslexia, test anxiety, etc. Our Private Testing is computer-based and may be suitable. Please see the bottom of this page for more information if you are not a native English speaker or for other special cases.

An optional at-home practice test is available for $9.99. Click/Tap here to be taken to the online purchase page. Just for fun, you may also try the Mensa Workout quiz

Individuals interested in taking the Local Group Testing should contact our testing coordinator, Conrad Pomykala. Contact him via email at Testing@chicago.us.mensa.org . Although walk-ins are welcome at most testing sites if spaces remain, you must contact the testing coordinator in advance:

• to preregister to take the test at some locations (as noted below),
• to guarantee a seat for a given session,
• if you will be 14 through 17 years of age on the test date,
• if you are a non-standard test candidate,
• or for any other special situations.

There is a group testing session held almost every month in the Chicago metro area; see the next few listed below. All sessions are subject to change or cancellation based on the lack of candidates or the unavailability of a proctor. Testing sessions last approximately 2 hours and are open to applicants 14 years of age and older.

Minors over 14 but under 18 MUST have written parental or guardian permission; inquire well in advance about our procedures.

To preregister for any of the following sessions, please use the email link shown, specifying the site/date you want below. You will receive a confirmation email with the full site-specific details.

While some sites accept walk-ins, not all do. Please pay attention to those instructions. At sites that do allow for walk-ins, you can do pay using credit/debit cards, checks, and money orders, but not cash or mobile payments! We encourage the use of our prepaid testing voucher. (Again, some sites below can ONLY accept vouchers!) You can visit the American Mensa website to click on the "Prepurchase testing" link to get started. Proctors accept a printout of your prepayment receipt at the session. The vouchers are the equivalent of cash, can be used only once, and expire after 24 months or as indicated. They are valid at any of American Mensa's Group Test sites.
If vouchers are presented during a reduced-rate testing promotion, the excess funds will be applied to your membership dues if you qualify; otherwise, they will be refunded upon written request.

At the present time, American Mensa does not offer Group Testing for candidates who have low vision, partial deafness, dyslexia, test anxiety, etc. Our Private Testing is computer-based and may be suitable. Group Testing is appropriate for candidates with low English skills; contact the testing coordinator for more details.

Mensa offers a Culture Fair test battery primarily for individuals who do not speak English as their primary language, have dyslexia, or have timed test anxiety.
The battery of three tests is designed to measure intelligence without the influence of cultural climate, level of education or verbal fluency.
These tests are non-verbal and require only that candidates be able to distinguish relationships in figures and shapes.

These Culture Fair tests are not regularly scheduled but are given a couple of times a year. You must contact the testing coordinator, Conrad Pomykala, in advance to make
arrangements for these exams. Reach him via email at Testing@chicago.us.mensa.org 
or IF YOU MUST you may leave a telephone message at (312) 666.1091 . activate above line (and delete following one) to allow fast dialing from smartphones. (312) 666-1091.

If you do not speak/understand any English, we will accommodate your interpreter, if possible.

Our tests are not appropriate for sight-impaired, hearing-impaired, or severely disabled people.

Individuals who have previously taken American Mensa's primary test battery but did not qualify can take the Culture Fair battery in another attempt to qualify for membership.
You must contact  us in advance to make arrangements for these exams.