Great Torrington boy achieves maximum score on Mensa IQ test

In a remarkable achievement, a 12-year-old boy from Great Torrington has been invited to join Mensa after scoring within the top one per cent of the population on his IQ tests.

Rory Bidwell recently achieved the maximum possible score of 162 on the Cattell III-B test – a score similar to legendary minds such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

Because of his results, Rory has now been invited to join Mensa, the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organisation open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. 

Two weeks after his 12th birthday, Rory sat a two hour Mensa test in Exeter. Remarkably, Rory approached the tests without any prior awareness of Mensa or the purpose of the assessments, reducing anxiety and completing them unprepared.

Despite the pressurised environment, Rory navigated the challenges with ease. His mother, Abi Bidwell, said: "He even took a leisurely stroll to the toilet during one section!"

His impressive performance led to an invitation to join Mensa within days, solidifying his place in the top one per cent of the population.

Rory, a Year 7 student at Great Torrington School, displayed early signs of his exceptional abilities at just two-years-old when he independently completed 100-piece puzzles and mastered Year 7 algebra in Year 2. His passion for learning has extended to various subjects, with a particular love for maths, English, and PE.

He also has showed a love for reading, consuming all seven Harry Potter books during the first eight weeks of the Coronavirus lockdown of 2020. To tie in with his school learning, he is currently reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Rick Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus,

Beyond the academic realm, Rory's talents shine on the sports field. He represents his school in cross-country, football, and rugby, earning accolades such as winning Player of the Year for Torridgeside football team. Rory is also an accomplished swimmer, competing for Torridgeside swimming club.

Despite his intellectual prowess, Rory remains a typical 12-year-old who enjoys spending time with family, playing FIFA, Fortnite, and, of course, discussing football. His insatiable reading habit, which saw him devouring Harry Potter during lockdown, reflects his diverse interests.

He is also an avid Bristol City Football Club supporter.

Rory's mother, Abi Bidwell, describes him as "blessed with an incredible brain, capable of working things out and memorising information."

She emphasised that, despite his exceptional abilities, he's still a regular 12-year-old who occasionally needs reminders to focus on his learning.