Mensa is the world's oldest and largest high-IQ society, welcoming individuals who score in the top 2% of the population on a standardized intelligence test. This comprehensive guide covers the history of Mensa, membership requirements, Colorado Springs's connection to Mensa, and everything you need to know about testing in Colorado Springs.

Last Updated: July 2026

The History of Mensa

The Founding: Oxford, England (1946)

Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill and Dr. Lancelot Ware. The name comes from the Latin word for “table,” reflecting the concept of members meeting as equals. Membership is based on qualifying performance on an accepted standardized intelligence test.

The Early Years

The organization expanded internationally and developed national groups, local chapters, publications, scholarship programs, gifted-youth resources, special-interest groups, and social events. American Mensa is the U.S. national organization.

Mensa's Three Purposes

• Identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
• Encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence.
• Provide an intellectual and social environment for members.

Colorado Springs's Connection to Mensa

Colorado Springs and southeastern Colorado are served by Plains and Peaks Mensa, American Mensa local group 808. The public chapter directory lists the group in Region 7, the Heartland Region, with a founding date of August 1, 1980 and a newsletter titled PlainsPeaking.

The city’s military, aerospace, university, technology, medical, and Olympic communities create a broad base of members and prospective members. Local activities and test availability change, so official chapter and American Mensa calendars should be consulted.

Mensa Qualifying Scores

To qualify for Mensa, you must score at or above the 98th percentile on an approved standardized intelligence test. This means performing better than 98 out of every 100 people who take the same test.

Qualifying Scores by Test

Note that different tests use different standard deviations, which is why the qualifying scores vary. The consistent requirement is the 98th percentile.

Mensa in Colorado Springs

Plains and Peaks Mensa

• Official group: American Mensa local group 808 serves Colorado Springs and southeastern Colorado.
• Current directory size: The public American Mensa directory lists approximately 180 members; the count changes over time.
• Region: The chapter belongs to Region 7, the Heartland Region.
• Founding date: August 1, 1980.
• Newsletter: PlainsPeaking.
• Leadership: The public directory lists local officers, a testing coordinator, proctors, a gifted-youth coordinator, scholarship work, and member-support roles.

Who Takes the Mensa Test in Colorado Springs?

• Adults: Professionals, service members, veterans, students, retirees, and adults exploring gifted identity or intellectual community.
• Youth: Children may qualify through accepted prior evidence under American Mensa’s youth rules; standard admission testing has age restrictions.
• Prior-score applicants: Applicants may submit qualifying scores from accepted professionally administered tests.
• Test-site applicants: Local testing dates and locations are not continuous and must be confirmed through official calendars.
• Important distinction: A psychologist can administer and document a test, but only American Mensa determines membership eligibility.

Colorado Springs and Southeastern Colorado Mensa Activities

• Social and intellectual events: Local groups may organize meals, games, discussions, speakers, outings, online activities, and member gatherings.
• Gifted youth: A chapter gifted-youth coordinator may provide information and connections subject to current programming.
• Scholarships: Local volunteers may support Mensa Foundation scholarship programs and essay judging.
• Testing: Official proctors and testing coordinators arrange sessions according to national rules and local availability.
• Regional events: Members can participate in Region 7 and national gatherings beyond Colorado Springs.
• Verification: Event schedules, age rules, fees, registration, and locations change; use official Mensa sources.

Accepted Tests for Mensa Qualification

American Mensa accepts scores from approximately 200 different standardized intelligence tests. Tests must be administered by a neutral and qualified third party in a traditional testing environment.

Tests Commonly Administered by Psychologists

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) – FSIQ 130
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) – FSIQ 130
• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales – IQ 130-132 (depending on version)
• Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales – IQ 130
• Differential Ability Scales (DAS) – GCA 130-132

Tests Administered by Schools

• Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) – Composite Lockheed Martin 132
• Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) – Total SAI 132
• Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) – Nonverbal Ability Index Score 130-132
• Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities – IQ 131-132

College Preparatory Tests

• SAT (pre-1994) – Combined Verbal & Math 1250+
• GRE (pre-2001) – Combined Verbal & Quantitative 1250+
• ACT (pre-September 1989) – Composite 29+

The Mensa Testing Process

Two Ways to Qualify

There are two primary pathways to Mensa membership:

1. Take the Mensa Admission Test: A supervised test administered by Mensa proctors
2. Submit prior evidence: If you've already taken an approved test and scored at the 98th percentile, you can submit those scores

The Mensa Admission Test

The Mensa Admission Test is administered in supervised sessions held in cities nationwide, including Colorado Springs. Key details:

• Duration: 1-2 hours total
• Format: Two separate timed tests (the Wonderlic and Culture Fair tests)
• Qualifying: You only need to qualify on one of the two tests
• Cost: Approximately $40 for the test
• Retake policy: You can retake the test once every eight weeks

What the Mensa Admission Test Measures

• Pattern recognition – Identifying sequences and relationships
• Logical reasoning – Deductive and inductive thinking
• Spatial visualization – Mental manipulation of objects
• Problem-solving – Complex reasoning under time pressure

Important: The Test is for Admission Only

The Mensa Admission Test is specifically designed for admission to Mensa and does not provide a detailed IQ score or report. You will only be notified whether you qualified for membership. If you want a detailed IQ report with index scores, you should take a professionally administered test like WAIS-IV or SB-5 with a licensed psychologist.

Frequently Asked Questions