A BRAINY Northwich schoolgirl has gained entry to one of the country's most exclusive clubs.
Chelcie Poole, 10, a pupil at The Grange School in Hartford, amazed her friends and family by qualifying for Mensa, the society for people whose IQ is in the top two per cent of the population.
The youngster was inspired to take the society's tests by a six-year-old girl, Chloe Bennion from the West Midlands, who qualified in February with an IQ of 138 after undergoing tests set by a child psychologist.
Proud father David, of Blakeden Lane, Winsford, said Chelcie saw this and decided that she would like to have a go at qualifying for the prestigious club.
He said she passed the initial tests and was invited to take the main exam, which can only be taken by people aged 10 or above.
The first tests suggested she had an IQ of 144. But after sitting the main exam surrounded by adult candidates, Chelcie discovered she actually had an IQ of 152.
David, 56, said it was Chelcie's idea to take the tests.
He said: "To walk into a room full of adults is quite daunting for someone of her age, but nobody asked her to do it. She's a very determined girl."
Chelcie, whose ambition is to study law at Oxford University, said: "I saw that a six-year-old had done it so I thought I could do it too.
"It started off quite simple but the supervised test was more challenging. All my teachers were very surprised."
Chelcie is one of only 16 children in the country aged between 10 and 11 to gain membership to Mensa.
David added: "She prefers to talk to older people rather than people of her own age.
"Her thirst for knowledge is unquenchable.
"We always need to keep her topped up with knowledge."
rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk
