We can use a sports analogy to get a perspective on the Mensa test. In ancient times, the Greeks attempted to measure athleticism by introducing the pentathlon into their Olympic Games. This was a set of 5 events: the sprint, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, and a wrestling match, designed to measure speed, agility, and strength. This was extended in the modern olympics into the 10-event modern decathlon that provides a rough estimate of a participant’s athletic ability. However, it is only an estimate and would not be an accurate predictor of performance in games such as soccer, golf, or swimming. Similarly, the Mensa test is a reasonably accurate measure of general cognitive ability, especially for people of IQ between 70 and 130, but for IQ’s greater than 130, it is less reliable in its ability to distinguish between someone of high intellectual ability and someone with problem solving genius. For example, a Jeopardy! champion, might have a high score on a Mensa test, but would probably not be able to solve some of the deep mathematical problems that require months of intensive conscious and subconscious cognitive activity.
