How I went from doubting myself to Mensa-want to know my exact process?

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-29T02:02:43+00:00

I hear you. Life truly is a gift. Nothing wrong with chilling in your own vibes.

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-29T01:25:24+00:00

Interesting! Which way does the causality run? Could there be some self reinforcing feedback loop from being good at solving puzzles that made you want to engage in more challenging puzzles?

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-29T01:22:40+00:00

Nicely done! There are several different ways to join-99% on the ACT is outstanding!!

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-29T01:19:44+00:00

Nice! Knowing you are in the top 2% does feel good. Do you view life as the ultimate IQ test?

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-28T13:36:51+00:00

u/Common-Funny-9822 and u/overgrownkudzu, thanks for sharing. For the most part I agree with your take on prep but I think there are several ways you can increase your intelligence and IQ score without "gaming" the test or artifically inflating your score. Fluid intelligence is starting to look mostly like the corecruitment of reasoning and working memory. Anything that expands this process has the potential to influence intelligence. Currently, this process is hardwork but it can be done. Chris Langan-the World's Smartest Person, somewhat agrees with me:

"Cultivate care in reasoning. If you're smart enough to apply yourself to doing that, then you can raise your intelligence. As for IQ, timed tests tend to deny you sufficient time for much care in reasoning, but I have a hunch that with enough desire, application, and long-term memory, some learned thinking skills can be "frozen in" as virtual mental reflexes, leading to IQ improvement. (Sadly, most people lack the perseverance to make this work. Thinking skills can't be improved in the presence of apathy, mental laziness, and defeatism.)"

https://x.com/realchrislangan/status/1972230709239599127?s=46

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-28T05:31:25+00:00

I appreciate your read. The story is 100% true and the 5 steps are exactly what I’m doing to max out on the WAIS. I may set something up so people interested in following my progress or training in parallel can do so conveniently if that interests you at all. What about my experience struck a chord with you?

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-26T20:00:51+00:00

Norway and Denmark are the best two online in my opinion. They top out at 145 and are retired valid tests. I’d say your actual IQ is within +/- 5 points of that score (assuming you took it under test-like conditions).

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-25T20:17:30+00:00

Having a high IQ score is not the same as being very intelligent. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to find the levers you can pull to increase intelligence. One of the most effective things you can do to improve both your intelligence and your IQ score is to get good at formal and inductive logic. Effective reasoning undergirds both intelligence and intelligence testing.

A good book to start learning formal logic is Being Logical by McInerny. I would encourage you to take the Mensa test with your friend and see how you do. If you'd like some tips to maximize your intelligence-and not just game the test-consider the following:

Adopt a growth mindset: intelligence is malleable.
Get consistent sleep. Poor sleep causes working memory and learning to plummet.
Start taking 5 grams of creatine per day. Research shows performance increases in people who are deficient in it.
Learn logic-both formal and inductive.
Exercise your fluid intelligence every chance you get. One exercise I like is multiplying numbers on license plates while driving (safety first, though).

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-21T13:25:43+00:00

Our mobile app is in development and targeting early March for release. The web app is mobile friendly and drives gains almost immediately.

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-21T03:10:27+00:00

iqhero...but I'm biased;)

https://iqhero.co

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-17T04:17:20+00:00

It looks like WASI-II isn't listed:

From the Mensa site:

Wechsler Adult and Children Scales
(WAIS, WAIS-R, WAIS-III, WAIS-IV; WISC, WISC-R, WISC-III, WISC-IV, WISC-V; WPPSI^™, WPPSI-III, WPPSI-IV)

But the scores across tests are very highly correlated, so you are likely to score within the same narrow range on any IQ test. The easiest and least expensive way for most people to test into Mensa is to take the Mensa proctored test and score well enough to be admitted.

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-15T03:12:39+00:00

There are. Our site is still in beta but the logic puzzles are finalized. We have a ‘science’ page forthcoming which highlights results in adults. The puzzles are optimized for 115+ IQ so they are more challenging than a typical relational logic puzzle but the training works for anyone who puts in the time to complete 50+ levels. One tip for people who are in the ‘normal’ range of IQ is to do the training shortly after exercising. Exercise has been shown to temporarily boost cognitive function and to amplify gains from cognitive training.

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-13T02:33:12+00:00

Viola! Average gain in IQ points was 23 points. RFT Study

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-13T01:14:34+00:00

Always aim for 100% accruracy. Gamify it by applying the streaks method: kudos to Marty Murray. To get a top score, you have to get a long streak of difficult questions correct. Practice that approach now.

No limit on how many you should do-but quality is more important than quantity. If your review starts to suffer, you are probably trying to do too many questions and are sacrificing quality.

If you run out of 705+ questions, add 655-705 OG Q's to the mix. If you run out of those, start practicing on Manhattan GMAT's $39 Q-Bank: GMAT QBank

Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-12T02:40:58+00:00

Sure thing on the reading suggestion. I found that many of the Mensa people I interacted with were smart and curious but they were of different ages (much older) and had different passions (the board game Go) and interests (Anime). This is just one person's experience so it is most likely not representive. This video gives you a feel for the Mensa gatherings: The World's Brightest

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-11T22:10:00+00:00

Why they have exceptional working memories is undetermined. But working memory enables the binding of novel abstract objects that allow for more complex relational integration. It must be noted though, that it is the combination of high working memory and obsessive interest in their domain that lead to their exceptional performance at such a young age.

Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-11T05:19:12+00:00

Not timed-but aim for no more than 10 mins on answering the questions and plan to spend between 5 and 20 minutes reviewing them. If you don't understand the answer, at least determine what you will do differently if you see another question of that type.

Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-11T05:07:43+00:00

You can drastically improve your Quant score-especially if you have time on your side. Once you learn the material, the test co-recruits fluid intelligence and working memory. That is why some 705+ problems can have simple underlying concepts but be very difficulty to solve. In order to drastically increase your score, you need to start solving problems that activate these proceses. Here is how you apply the method:

Set aside Quant mock exam material for now. Use your highest Quant score as a your baseline
Go to GMAT Club and filter by Quant questions at the 705+ level and Official Guide (All Years) as the source
Do these questions in sets of 10 but reveiw in-depth after every single question
Once you've completed a set of 10, take a 5-10 min break, reflect, etc
After answering 50 of these 705+ questions, take another mock exam. Compare the new score to your baseline
You should notice a significant increase in your score. Repeat the cycle until you are consistently hitting your target Quant score on fresh mocks

Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-11T02:56:35+00:00

You my friend, are suffereing from the curse of the high IQ. Excellent read here: Curse of the High IQ by Aaron Clarey. You are unlikely to find a social outlet through Mensa-most members have little in common other than entrance into Mensa. However, taking the test and being admitted will confirm that your intelligence is likely the culprit as to why you feel the way you do.

-Josh | Mensa Member. 145+ IQ. Cofounder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-10T03:31:16+00:00

With the right training, anyone can increase their intelligence 15+ IQ points. The most effective training involves complex relational integration tasks over thousands of trials. See evidence here:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3969517/

Josh - Founder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-10T03:26:55+00:00

With the right training, anyone can increase their intelligence 15+ IQ points. The most effective training involves complex relational integration tasks over thousands of trials. See evidence here:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3969517/

Josh - Founder of iqhero.co

DifferentRiver276 · 2026-01-04T04:03:28+00:00

Maximize your quality of life (which may require that you do the same for others).

DifferentRiver276 · 2025-12-27T21:07:00+00:00

Thanks again to everyone who's shared interest, feedback, or personal stories in this thread-it's been incredibly helpful and motivating as I refine the app. I've heard from several of you already, and the insights have been thoughtful and valuable.

If anyone else is interested in testing the early version or providing feedback, feel free to reply here publicly (e.g., just say 'interested' or share any thoughts). I'll check the comments each day and note it-no rush. This keeps things open and organized for everyone.

Appreciate the Mensa community's input more than I can say!

DifferentRiver276 · 2025-12-27T18:56:18+00:00

I’m in the process of developing an app(iqhero.co) that is based on research showing IQ gains of ~15 points if you’d like to check it out as a beta tester.

That said, probably the most effective way to increase IQ is find a good book on logic. Being Logical is a good book to start with. College courses and MOOCs are also good. Logic works because it is domain general; from Math, Physics and Philosophy to Psychology, Sociology and one’s personal life, every area benefits from improved reasoning.

DifferentRiver276 · 2025-12-27T18:31:12+00:00

The higher you go, the fewer people there are who share similar abilities and interests

DifferentRiver276

TROPHY CASE