In a quiet examination room in Oxford, a young Iranian student focused intently on the task before her. What began as an ordinary school test soon turned into an extraordinary milestone.
After completing the session, her performance revealed a remarkable result—an IQ score of 162 on the Mensa International test, recognized as one of the highest attainable within that category.
A Quiet Moment, A Big Surprise
Born to a family originally from Borazjan County in Iran’s Bushehr Province, 11-year-old Tara Sharifi was living and studying in the UK when she took the Mensa test. She modestly recalls that she was shocked when she saw the result and never expected such a score.
Her father shared that he always knew she was intelligent, but such a remarkable outcome was beyond his imagination.
Beyond The Numbers
Numbers alone rarely tell the full story. Yes, 162 is above the so-called “genius benchmark” of 140 and even higher than estimates often attributed to scientific icons like Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking—though neither ever took an official Mensa test.
What stood out most for Tara and her family was not the impressive score itself, but the opportunities it could create. For them, the achievement represented a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and explore new learning experiences within the Mensa community, rather than simply a measure of intelligence.
When asked what she’d like to do next, she offered a quietly ambitious answer: something related to mathematics.
A Bridge Between Worlds
Walking the corridor of her school in Aylesbury, Tara is no longer just “the clever student”—she becomes a symbol of potential. A child raised between Iran and the UK, navigating different cultures while thriving academically.
It’s worth pausing on that: a young girl whose roots lie in the sun-bathed south of Iran now attends a British secondary school, takes a rigorous IQ test in Oxford, and earns a result that attracts global attention. The contrast between her everyday routine and the magnitude of that result creates a compelling narrative of possibility.
Digging A Little Deeper
In the coverage of her achievement, some caution was raised. For example, Agence France-Presse fact-checked similar claims and reminded readers that there are no records of Einstein and Hawking having taken IQ tests.
There also remains limited information about the specific edition of the Mensa test Tara took, or how her result would compare with adults on an equal scale. Some outlets noted that she achieved the “highest possible mark for under-18s” in that test section.
Nevertheless, what is clear is this: a talented young person achieved a remarkable mark, was welcomed into a community of high-IQ individuals, and now stands at the threshold of whatever she chooses next.
What It Means—And Why It Matters
In a world that often focuses on failure, difficulty, and division, Tara’s story brings a quiet burst of hope. Here is a reminder that genius can emerge anywhere, and that young women from places not always highlighted in global education narratives—like Bushehr Province in Iran—can shine.
From a broader perspective, it raises questions about how talent is recognized and nurtured. The Mensa score is certainly high-profile, but it’s only one measure of potential. What matters next is whether Tara—and others like her—are given the right environments, mentorship, and opportunities to flourish.
For her family, the result seems to have been a wake-up call of sorts: witnessing her answer maths questions on TV before contestants, they realised her intelligence was more than just noticeable—it was exceptional.
What Lies Ahead
Tara’s journey is just beginning. With the Mensa community now accessible to her, she steps into a wider world of intellectual peers and new experiences. Her interest in mathematics suggests she may pursue a STEM path.
Her British schooling suggests access to rich resources. Her Iranian heritage suggests a cultural richness and identity that both grounds and distinguishes her.
It’s tempting to frame her future as “the next big thing,” and perhaps she will be. But for now, what’s inspiring is the everyday: the girl who answered questions under timed conditions and then marched on to class; the parents who saw early signs and nurtured them; the school that gave a form of normalcy to talents that could feel extraordinary. Her story becomes not just about a high IQ number, but about the intersection of family, school, culture, and opportunity.
A Hopeful Takeaway
So often we hear about the hurdles facing young people, especially in under-served communities or in global contexts overlooked by mainstream media. Tara’s story shows a different dimension: a young person’s quiet diligence, a family’s belief, a school’s support, and the opening of a door.
In the fullness of life, scores matter less than the curiosity they kindle, the doors they open, the self-belief they inspire. As Tara herself noted, she never expected such a score. Perhaps that disbelief is a virtue—an open-mindedness that leaves the future wide open.
Let us reflect: what young person in our own circle has quiet brilliance waiting to be recognised? And what doors could be opened—by community, by school, by chance—that lead to unexpected horizons?
Tara’s story invites us to look beyond the headline number. It reminds us that with the right mix of support, curiosity, and opportunity, even an 11-year-old from Iran can step into a broader world—and in doing so, light a hopeful path for others to follow.
Sources:
Mehr News
Fact Check
Next Shark
