The young Victorians impressing fellow genii with their smarts
Are you an Einstein or an average Aussie? Test yourself to see how you stack up against Victoria’s child genii with our 30 question quiz. TAKE THE QUIZ HERE
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He could recount the periodic table at age five and lists solving puzzles, playing chess, writing poems, software coding and the intricate workings of Melbourne’s tram and train networks among his many interests.
If you want to know what a child genius looks like, look no further than nine-year-old South Melbourne Primary School student Vihaan Dowwray.
He may still be too young to sit the supervised test for entry to Australian Mensa, but Vihaan has been a member of the society of genii since he was just six.
In Australia, children under 10 undergo an assessment from a registered psychologist using one of Mensa’s accepted IQ tests, and, for Vihaan, the quiz was a piece of cake.
After having skipped grades, the little boy — who wants to be a scientist when he grows up — will start secondary school next year.
He already has a comprehensive understanding of square roots, prime numbers and irrational fractions.
Victorian State Secretary of Australian Mensa John Bolton said there were more than 500 Mensa members in Victoria, aged from seven up.
Among the youngest is seven year-old Delilah Johnson, of Kew East.
Delilah’s mum Kristie Kwok suspected her daughter might be special when she started school and it became apparent other new preppies couldn’t read and do maths.
Delilah, on the other hand, had mastered reading before the age of four.
“Because she was my first child, I actually didn’t realise that wasn’t normal at the time,” Ms Kwok said. “I thought all kids that age must be reading.”
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When tested by a Melbourne psychologist, it was discovered Delilah had a genius IQ.
On a practical level, her extraordinary memory is of great help to her mum.
“She remembers everyone’s birthday,” laughed Ms Kwok.
Australian Mensa spokeswoman Teresa Wong said the organisation provided a social network for like minded children and adults of all ages and nationalities.
“We are a high IQ society, part of an International Mensa alliance of some 40 nations. Anyone achieving in the top two percentile group in a section of our official tests, is able to join. Language is no barrier as the tests do not rely on it,” she said.