The Unsupervised Genius Test

How Much Supervision Do You Actually Require?

Some people follow instructions.

Some people question instructions.

And some people look at the instructions, decide they could probably improve them and accidentally create something that requires a fire extinguisher.

Which one are you?

Welcome to the Unsupervised Genius Test, a completely unscientific assessment designed to answer one important question:

What could possibly go wrong?

Grab a pen, keep track of your answers and discover whether you're a perfectly responsible adult...

...or whether somebody should probably be checking on you.

No actual intelligence will be measured during this test.

Probably.

LET'S GO...

Question 1

You buy flat-pack furniture. You:

A. Read the instructions carefully before beginning.

B. Look at the picture and occasionally consult the instructions.

C. Start assembling immediately. How difficult could it be?

D. Decide the original design lacks ambition and begin modifying it.

Question 2

You see a button labelled “DO NOT PRESS.”

Your first thought is:

A. There is probably a good reason for that.

B. I wonder what it does.

C. Surely one press wouldn't hurt.

D. Why would they put a button there if they didn't want me to press it?

Question 3

You discover something in your house isn't working. You:

A. Call someone qualified.

B. Google the problem.

C. Watch three YouTube videos and announce, “I reckon I can fix that.”

D. Have already taken it apart before anyone realises what's happening.

Question 4

Someone says, “I wonder what would happen if...”

You:

A. Continue with your day.

B. Think about it.

C. Google it.

D. Say, “There's only one way to find out.”

🚨 Early warning sign detected.

Question 5

You're cooking and discover you're missing a key ingredient.

You:

A. Go to the shops.

B. Find a recommended substitute.

C. Improvise.

D. Create something completely different and insist this was the plan all along.

Question 6

You're given a new gadget.

You:

A. Read the manual.

B. Read the quick-start guide.

C. Turn it on and start pressing things.

D. Wonder what happens if you change the factory settings.

Somewhere, a warranty department just felt a disturbance.

Question 7

You're told, “That's impossible.”

Your immediate reaction is:

A. Fair enough.

B. Why?

C. Are you sure?

D. Hold my coffee.

Question 8

You have an idea at 11:47 p.m.

You:

A. Write it down and go to sleep.

B. Think about it for a few minutes.

C. Research it until 1:30 a.m.

D. By 3:00 a.m. you have a prototype, a name, a logo and seventeen browser tabs open.

Tomorrow-you is going to have questions.

Question 9

You find a mysterious leftover screw after assembling something.

You:

A. Immediately work out where it belongs.

B. Check the instructions.

C. Shake the furniture experimentally.

D. Put it in the drawer with the other mysterious screws.

You know the drawer.

Everyone has the drawer.

Question 10

Someone tells you a strange fact.

You:

A. Say, “Interesting.”

B. Ask where they heard it.

C. Immediately Google it.

D. Google it, discover something even stranger and return 20 minutes later with a completely unsolicited presentation.

The Genius Within Research Department approves.

Question 11

You find an unusual object and don't know what it's for.

You:

A. Leave it alone.

B. Ask someone.

C. Search for it online.

D. Start experimenting.

If you chose D...

we would like to remind you that electricity exists.

Question 12

Instructions say: “Professional installation recommended.”

You interpret this as:

A. Hire a professional.

B. Maybe ask someone experienced to help.

C. Watch a tutorial.

D. A challenge.

Question 13

You're halfway through a project when you realise you've made a mistake.

You:

A. Stop and correct it.

B. Carefully work around it.

C. Modify the design.

D. Announce that you've discovered an exciting new direction.

That's not a mistake.

That's innovation with poor documentation.

Question 14

You suddenly wonder whether something completely ridiculous is possible.

You:

A. Forget about it.

B. Think about it occasionally.

C. Research it.

D. Research it, calculate it, test it and tell three people who never asked.

The rabbit hole has entered the chat. 🐇

Question 15

Someone asks, “Are you sure you know what you're doing?”

You respond:

A. “Yes.”

B. “I think so.”

C. “Define know.”

D. “No, but that's what makes this interesting.”

Ok...We have all the information we need...

Calculate Your Unsupervised Genius Score

Give yourself:

A = 1 point

B = 2 points

C = 3 points

D = 4 points

Add up your score.

Maximum possible: 60

Minimum possible: 15

Now for the diagnosis...

15–24 Points

🟢 THE RESPONSIBLE ADULT

Interesting.

You read instructions.

You respect warning labels.

You believe screws have designated locations.

Frankly, we're not entirely sure how you found this website.

You're dependable, sensible and unlikely to accidentally dismantle household appliances simply to find out what's inside.

Every Unsupervised Genius needs someone like you nearby.

Usually holding the fire extinguisher.

Supervision Required:

None.

In fact, you may need to supervise everyone else.

25–36 Points

🟡 THE CURIOUS OPERATOR

You are mostly responsible.

Mostly.

You'll read the instructions...

but only after trying to work it out yourself.

You'll respect the warning label...

but you definitely want to know why it's there.

You possess a healthy combination of curiosity and self-preservation.

Usually, common sense wins.

Usually.

Supervision Required:

Occasional.

Particularly around buttons.

37–48 Points

🟠 UNSUPERVISED GENIUS

There it is.

We knew we'd find you.

You're curious.

Creative.

Confident.

Possibly overconfident.

You don't necessarily ignore instructions.

You simply regard them as one person's opinion about how the task could be completed.

Your natural habitat contains:

Half-finished experiments.

Open browser tabs.

Interesting ideas.

Tools you probably don't need.

And at least one project that began with:

“I've been thinking...”

Supervision Required:

Recommended.

Not because you're irresponsible.

Because somebody should probably document what happens next.

49–60 Points

🔴 EXPERIMENTAL HAZARD

Right.

We're going to need you to put down the screwdriver.

You don't see problems.

You see experiments.

You don't see warning labels.

You see unanswered questions.

And the phrase:

“What could possibly go wrong?”

does not function as a warning for you.

It functions as a starting pistol.

Your curiosity is powerful.

Your confidence is impressive.

Your relationship with instructions is complicated.

Some of humanity's greatest discoveries were probably made by people like you.

So were several very loud noises.

Supervision Required:

Immediate.

Preferably by someone with good insurance.

Bonus Question

There's no score for this one.

Be truthful.

When you read the words:

DO NOT CLICK THIS BUTTON

Did some tiny part of your brain immediately want to click it?

Yes?

Welcome aboard!

So... Are You an Unsupervised Genius?

Of course, this test is completely unscientific.

We didn't consult psychologists.

There were no laboratory trials.

No peer review.

No control group.

Which, when you think about it...

is an extremely Unsupervised Genius way to create an intelligence test.

But beneath the silliness is something we rather like.

Curious people question things.

Creative people experiment.

Inventive people sometimes ignore the obvious solution because they wonder whether there's a better one.

And occasionally the words:

“I wonder what would happen if...”

are the beginning of something brilliant.

Other times they're the beginning of an excellent story.

Either way, curiosity won.

Wear Your Diagnosis

If your result came back Unsupervised Genius or, slightly more concerningly, Experimental Hazard, we have some good news.

We've already made the warning label for you...

From The Genius Within, for curious minds with dangerously good ideas.