Information on the Mensa Test?

Question

I took an unofficial test on the Mensa website. I got 20/30 and it said I would have a good shot of passing the Mensa official test.

Should I send off for a Mensa Home Test.

If I pass that will I become a member and is it a con site

The address is http://www.mensa.org.uk/

BTW I'm 12 so will I have a good chance if I'm a star pupil at school.

Answer 1

First of all, a 20 out of 30 is not so promising. 27-28 or higher would mean you have a strong chance. "Good" is not good enough and is really just a polite way of saying you aren't in the top tier. Second, the official Mensa test isn't really much like that practice test. I was surprised that it was divided up into a variety of types and many of them included goofy pictures instead of actual words. Plus the individual sections are timed which makes it harder because you can't budget your time to rush through easy sections and allow extra minutes for weaker areas. Third, if you pass the home test, that is really more of a practice test to see if you would stand a chance at the real test. The home test will not qualify you for anything and the web site warns you of that. It will simply tell you if it is worth the time and money to take the real test. At your age you will require parental permission to qualify for Mensa or take a test. No, that site is not a con site.

Finally, being a star student is rarely proof of a high IQ. Most of the highest IQ students DON'T do well in school because many gifted students are overlooked and end up too bored to care. There are hundreds of educational books on this problem but unfortunately, public schools don't have the funding to attend to each student's needs individually. Three people I know who are Mensa members graduated with average to poor grades. School grades rely a great deal on your ambition, participation and work habits which don't relate to IQ at all. So, a hard worker can get good grades with an average IQ. Now, if you get those good grades while sleeping through class and doing the bare minimum then acing tests, that is more of a sign of inborn high IQ. If things come easy to you and you rarely study but still do well, that's a good sign.

Answer 2

It's a waste of money.  Basically, you're paying someone to tell you you're smart.  If you're a good student, you already knew that.  It's not something you'd really want to put on a college application someday; academics don't really join MENSA, it's more of a bunch of socially-inept people living in their parent's basement (went to a meeting with a friend once).  

Also, if you're 12, you should be smart enough to realize that if you lie about your age to get a yahoo account, broadcasting your age in your questions is likely to get your account deleted.