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How Much Does an IQ Test Cost, and How Long Does It Take?
On this page
- How much does an IQ test cost?
- What do you get from a free online IQ test?
- How much does the Mensa test cost?
- How much does a psychologist IQ assessment cost?
- What does a psychologist’s IQ report include?
- Do schools give IQ tests?
- How long does an IQ test take?
- Where can you take an IQ test near you?
- Is a free online IQ test enough?
- How should you prepare for an IQ test?
- FAQ
How much an IQ test costs depends on the route. A free online test costs nothing but gives only an estimate. A supervised Mensa session costs $60 or $99 in the United States. A full assessment by a psychologist costs the most, and the price varies by provider.
How much does an IQ test cost?
The cost ranges from nothing to a professional fee. It depends on who gives the test and why. There are three main routes, and each buys you something different.
| Route | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free online test | Free | An estimate with a range; not accepted for anything formal |
| Supervised Mensa test (US) | $60 local group, $99 private | An admission result for Mensa |
| Psychologist assessment | Set by the provider | A formal, clinical result with a written report |
We print a price only when a primary source states it. Mensa’s fees come from its own testing page. We found no primary source for psychologist fees, so we give none. Any number you see elsewhere for those is someone’s estimate.
What do you get from a free online IQ test?
A free online IQ test gives you an estimate of your reasoning level, usually in one sitting. Good ones show a range around the score and explain how it was made. None of them gives a formal result.
Our own free IQ test has 30 questions and a 25 minute limit. It shows an estimate, a 90% range and a percentile. It asks for no email and no payment, and it never will.
Online results have limits. They are taken without supervision. A large review found such tests score slightly higher than supervised ones. The page are IQ tests accurate explains why. Our methodology shows exactly how our score is made.
Watch out for tests that are free to take but charge to see the result. A common complaint is a small fee to unlock a score. Then a monthly charge follows that the person did not expect. A free test should show the full result for free.
How much does the Mensa test cost?
In the United States, the Mensa admission test costs $60 with local group volunteers. A private session at an approved testing site costs $99. Those are the prices on American Mensa’s testing page. Outside the United States, check your national Mensa for its route and price.
The Mensa test is a supervised test. You need photo ID with your date of birth. It is not offered under age 14, and you can take it once every 8 weeks. The session takes one to two hours.
There is a second route. Mensa also accepts qualifying scores from many other supervised tests you have already taken. The Mensa IQ test page lists which tests count.
How much does a psychologist IQ assessment cost?
A psychologist IQ assessment costs whatever the provider charges. We found no primary source that gives a reliable range. So we do not print one.
A full clinical test is given one to one by a trained examiner. A fee can cover different things, so ask what yours includes. An assessment for a specific purpose, such as school support, may add interviews and other tests.
Before you book, ask a few questions. Which test will be used? What exactly does the fee include, such as a written report and a feedback session? Will the report give a full-scale score with its confidence range?
What does a psychologist’s IQ report include?
A clinical IQ report gives a full-scale score, the scores of its parts, labels and a range. That is what the publisher sample reports we read contain. The exact contents depend on the test and the provider.
Clinical reports show the uncertainty openly. In one publisher’s sample report, a full-scale IQ of 111 comes with a 95% range of 106 to 116. The report also lists the standard error of measurement, 3.00 points.
The parts matter as much as the total. A modern adult test reports five areas: verbal comprehension, visual spatial skills, fluid reasoning, working memory and processing speed. Two people with the same total can have very different profiles. Labels also differ by test, so check which label system the report uses. The IQ scale explains both common systems.
Do schools give IQ tests?
Some schools give group ability tests. A US public school must also evaluate a child for a disability after a request and the parent’s consent. Rules differ by school and by state.
Group tests used in schools include the CogAT and the OLSAT. Both measure verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning for students from kindergarten to grade 12. They are not the same as a one-to-one clinical test.
If you are a parent, ask the school what it offers, and whether there is any cost. Our guide to IQ tests for kids covers gifted testing and evaluations in more depth.
How long does an IQ test take?
How long an IQ test takes depends on the test. Our free online test has a 25 minute limit. A supervised Mensa session takes one to two hours. A full clinical test takes longer than most people expect.
| Test | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Our free test | up to 25 minutes |
| Mensa Norway free online test | 25 minutes |
| WAIS-5, full-scale score (7 subtests) | about 45 minutes |
| WAIS-5, primary index subtests | about 60 minutes |
| Stanford-Binet Fifth Edition | 10 subtests of about 5 minutes each |
| Mensa admission test (US) | one to two hours |
These are testing times only. A clinical assessment can add an interview before the test and a feedback meeting after it.
Where can you take an IQ test near you?
You can take a formal IQ test near you through a licensed psychologist or through Mensa. For a child, the school is another route. Online tests are available anywhere, but they are estimates.
In the United States, you can search the Psychologist Locator run by the American Psychological Association. Only licensed APA member practitioners can create profiles there. Ask whether the psychologist gives adult or child intelligence tests before you book.
American Mensa runs supervised sessions with local volunteers, and private sessions at approved sites. Its testing page lets you search by ZIP code.
In the United States, a parent can ask the public school to evaluate a child who may have a disability. The school must then evaluate within 60 days of consent. A state may set its own time limit instead. Our guide to IQ tests for kids explains the route in detail.
Is a free online IQ test enough?
A free online IQ test is enough if you want a quick estimate out of curiosity. It is not enough if the result must count for something. Examples are school support, a diagnosis or Mensa.
For those purposes, only a supervised test given under the test’s own rules counts. A formal diagnosis also looks at far more than one score. For example, intellectual disability needs limits in everyday skills as well as in reasoning. The IQ scale explains this with care.
How should you prepare for an IQ test?
You should prepare for an IQ test mainly by knowing what to expect. Read the instructions and bring what the examiner asks for. Try a few sample questions, so the format is not a surprise. Our IQ test questions page has worked examples.
Do not try to cram. Retaking tests raises scores a little, but that gain comes from retaking, not from higher ability. A result after heavy practice can overstate your level.
FAQ
Is there a free IQ test that is accurate?
A free test can be well made, but it is always an estimate. Look for one that shows a range, explains its method and never charges to see the result. Our average IQ guide explains why online results run a little high.
How much is a Mensa IQ test?
American Mensa lists $60 for a local group session. A private session is $99.
Can I take an official IQ test online?
Not for a formal result. Supervised tests are given in person or under the test’s own rules. Mensa does not accept unsupervised internet tests for admission.
Does insurance cover an IQ test?
It depends on your plan and the reason for testing. Ask your insurer and the provider before you book. We have no source that gives a general rule.
What is a proctored IQ test?
A proctored IQ test is one taken under supervision, with a person checking identity and rules during the test. Mensa’s local group sessions, for example, are proctored by volunteers. Online tests taken alone at home are unproctored.
Can I retake the Mensa test?
Yes. American Mensa lets you take its admission test once every 8 weeks.
Is a paid online IQ certificate worth it?
No formal body we know of accepts an online certificate as proof of IQ. Mensa, for example, does not accept unsupervised internet tests at all. Our test gives the full result free and sells no certificate.
How long are IQ test results valid?
There is no single rule. Each organization that asks for a score sets its own. Mensa, for example, lists which tests and scores it accepts.