You can qualify for Mensa membership by taking any of several tests.  (See http://us.mensa.org/join/testscores.)  The primary "battery" that we administer combines the Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test and the Mensa Wonderlic®, replacing the old Mensa Admissions Test.  On occasion, we also offer a Culture Fair test session; see that section below for a description of that test session.  If you score at or above the 98th percentile on any of the component tests in either the RAIT/Wonderlic® combination or the Culture Fair test, you'll qualify and be invited to join Mensa!

   Mensa membership offers people of all ages and professions the opportunity to connect for networking, intellectual pursuit, and fun!  Our 56,000 members share in wide variety of activities locally, nationally, globally, and online.  For more information, visit www.us.mensa.org or call 1-800-66-MENSA.
  • Anyone age 14 or older can take the test
  • Parental permission is required for ages 14-17
  • Test cost is currently $60 (except when there are specials; see below)
  • Reservations are required
   Interested in seeing what the test is like?  You can take the Mensa Practice Test for $18.

   For either one, also see the Testing Specials section below, for occasional discounts.

Regular Testing (75-90 minutes, plus registration etc.)

   See Frequent Venues (below) for details of our frequent venues, including further restrictions.  (Click the venue's name for its own web site, with more information, often including directions.)  Please show up at the stated time, so that there will be enough time to get everybody registered.  If you are late, we cannot guarantee that you will get registered and tested!  Contact our Testing Coordinator if you have questions.

Culture Fair Testing

   This is an alternative mainly for those whose primary language is not English.  (However, it is open to English-speakers as well.)  Often, people who have narrowly missed qualifying based on the usual test and want to try again, or those with certain learning disabilities or just don't do well with taking timed tests, can find success taking this set of tests.

   It consists of three tests, two of which are untimed, usually lasting a total of about two hours once the test itself starts.  A score at or above the 98th percentile on any one of them is sufficient to qualify for Mensa membership!  There is a limit of six test-takers – first come, first served.  (Again, see Frequent Venues, below, for details of the locations, including further restrictions.)
         Just as with the normal tests, see Frequent Venues (below) for details of our frequent venues, and please show up at the stated time, so that there will be enough time to get everybody registered.  If you are late, we cannot guarantee that you will get registered and tested!  Contact our Testing Coordinator if you have questions.

        Frequent Venues

           Click the name of each venue to see their own web site, with more information (often including directions):
        1681 Reidel Road, Crofton, MD 21114
        6400 Old Centreville Road, Centreville, VA 20121;
        room for 12 to 24 candidates, depending which room we get
        14997 Health Center Drive, Bowie, MD 20716; phone 301-880-7597;
        room for 12 candidates.
        3821 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203
        (between the Virginia Square-GMU and Ballston-MU
        Metro stops on the Orange and Silver lines);
        room for 6 candidates.
                    14120 Sullyfield Circle, Suite K, Chantilly, VA 20151; phone unknown at this time 
        7250 Heritage Village Plaza, Suite 101, Gainesville, VA 20155;
        room for 6 candidates
        Dulles South Station
        25216 Loudoun County Parkway
        Chantilly, VA 20152;
        room for 12 candidates;
        testing voucher prepurchase required due to site rules
                6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101; phone (703) 893-1759
                1919 M St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036;
                room for 12 candidates.
                Reservations are required (no walk-ins due to building security).  A list of names will be provided to the necessary personnel at that firm, so candidates can proceed past security to the room without an escort.
                There is free street parking after 6:30 PM.
                309 Yokum Parkway, Alexandria, VA, 22304; phone (703) 370-7000

                  Registration

                     To register for a testing session, please email the following information about each person to be tested, to our Testing Coordinator:
                  • Full Name
                  • Age
                  • Specific session preferred (date, time, and location) as listed above
                  • Confirmation they've never taken Mensa tests before.  (Mensa accepts many tests, and you can take many of them many times, but you can only take our test once.)

                     Please register for your Mensa test in advance.  Eligible candidates will be admitted on a space available basis.  However, if we have no pre-registrations for a test, it will be cancelled.  If that happens, walk-ins would find themselves at a venue with nothing taking place.  You can pre-purchase a testing voucher at https://www.us.mensa.org/join/testing/testingvoucher .

                  Testing Specials!

                  • Sorry, we have no specials right now.

                            Try again!

                               If you took the old Mensa Admissions Test and didn't make the cut, now you can try again!  Contact our Testing Coordinator for details.

                            For More Information:

                            • The national testing fee is waived for candidates working with the media (e.g., television, radio, print, etc.) with proof in the form of a press photo ID card (and a copy of your ID) or a letter from your employer when you attend testing.
                            • Local proctors may be available for group sessions at your office, school, or organization meeting place.  Contact our Testing Coordinator for more information.