Can you crack British spies' Xmas challenge?
GCHQ has released a festive set of seven puzzles for the general public to solve, designed to test a range of problem-solving skills, including intuitive reasoning and creativity.
GCHQ has released a festive set of seven puzzles for the general public to solve, designed to test a range of problem-solving skills, including intuitive reasoning and creativity.
With over 140,000 downloads last year, the quiz has become something of a Christmas tradition for the intelligence chiefs, and this time round, its in-house puzzlers have enlisted the help of school children.
In a design competition that launched in the run-up to Christmas, students were asked to draw their response to the question: "What do you think GCHQ looks like on Christmas Day?" They were challenged to embed hidden codes and ciphers into their pictures.
The puzzles, which are released each year, test codebreaking, math and analysis, and skills such as lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance.
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The spy agency's "Chief Puzzler," known only as "Colin," said the puzzles are designed to test "the same blend of skills our teams use every day to keep the country safe."
He added that the puzzles are solved most effectively in cross-disciplinary teams.
“No one will find them all easy! Some will suit analytical minds, others require creative leaps or perseverance. That's entirely intentional – we want groups of classmates, families and friends working together, combining their different strengths to reveal the final festive message,” Colin said.
Agency director Anne Keast-Butler, who is the first woman to lead GCHQ, added: "Puzzles are at the heart of GCHQ's work to keep the country safe from hostile states, terrorists and criminals; challenging our teams to think creatively and analytically every day.
“I hope this challenge inspires the next generation to explore STEM subjects and consider the rewarding careers available in cybersecurity and intelligence.
Below are some sample of questions – the full quiz can be found in this GCHQ-created [PDF]
The robber has to find a route through the house. He can't go through the same coloured door twice in a row, and cannot move against any arrows. Eventually, he gets caught by the police. How was he acting?Question 3
And then there's this question – can you solve the code?
Solve this code. It has lots of four-letter words!Question 6
The answers to the #GCHQChristmasChallenge will be released later on Wednesday.
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