MovieChat Forums > Exam (2010) Discussion > These are actually common tests...(spoil...

These are actually common tests...(spoilers)

posted 11 years ago by Cinobite17
14 replies | jump to latest

They are actually testing for attention to detail and ability to follow instructions - not to determine the answer to what's on the paper.

In the forces (British) we used to issue tests like this to test for - and have some fun with - aptitude and ability to follow instructions.

Page 1 would start: "Test XXX. Read through the follow instructions thoroughly"

Then you'd have 30, 50 etc questions and tasks, things like, clap 3 times, stand up for the next 10 instructions" etc etc

The last page would end "Now that you have read through the test, sit quietly at you desk until the time is up"

So you'd get half the people following the first page and reading the test first. And half the people not READING the first page and carrying out the instructions within - usually at the humour of those who had read it.

This film was in similar vain. They needed to listen and understand the instructions. It could have been achieved without the "Question 1" even being on the paper.

I guess it's a little like thinking outside the boundaries of the exam. Like in the film, the instructions are thought to be outside the realm of the test, when in fact they are the test themselves. Similarly;

Carly's father has FIVE (5) daughters;

1. Nana
2. Nene
3. Nini
4. Nono
5. .....

What's the name of the 5 daughter?

--
Biomech

[–] Jestermonkey 11 years ago

What's the name of the 5 daughter?

Carly

[–] Augustus_Octavian 10 years ago

Could be ..... instead though since Carly is not necessarily the name of the daughter, but could be of the son.

[–] Rayvio 11 years ago

funnily I just mentioned a similar test in another thread here before reading this one. but anyway here's a few more...

you're driving a bus with 12 passengers and then six passengers get on at the next stop while two get off. at the following stop one person gets on. at the next stop three people get off the bus. at the next stop five people get on the bus and two people get off the bus... repeat with random numbers... what is the bus drivers name?

insert your name here. "you're driving a bus..."

you have one match and it's starting to get dark. the room contains a candle, an oil lamp and a fireplace. what do you light first?

the match

imagine you're in a room with no doors or windows in the wall. there is a trapdoor far above you from where you entered but it's too high to reach. the floor is unremarkable. the only items in the room are a pair of scissors, a lantern, a chair and a table. how do you get out?

stop imagining

they really work best when spoken though as then the questionee can't read them again to spot the trick

~~~
I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me...
rayvio.wordpress.com

[–] lamensterms 10 years ago

It's quite cool really. Often people are too preoccupied with delivering a quick response to a question rather than learning, understanding and reflecting on all the information given to them. It's a bit of a trend in modern society. I work with engineers and I find it more common for them to respond to a question or problem half-cocked and give an invalid solution, instead of taking the time to digest what the question/problem actually is. You might think that engineers should be some of the most scrupulous individuals around, but in my country, for the majority, quantity is definitely valued over quality.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Cinobite17 10 years ago

I'll be honest, I've never heard of the name Carly being used for a boy.
But I guess you'd change it to reflect social norms - in the West, Carly is a girl's name.
The only reason I used that as an example was that was the name of my girlfriend :P

--
Cinobite

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sohamorrohit-125-260623 9 years ago

Better still, make the question "Carly's father has only 5 five daughters" or "Carly's father has 5 children, all daughters".

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bigBang8 10 years ago

easy, carly. It just requires attention to detail.

The increase in human knowledge is the cause of the decline of religions.

[–] cobes11 9 years ago

Even that test is stupid because there is no correct way to do it. If you do the instructions on the last step you lose because instructions are meant to be followed in order.

[–] Cinobite17 9 years ago

You fail the test.

[–] kittykat_charm 9 years ago

But the instruction was read the following instructions thoroughly, not complete the questions on the test...

[–] winxptwker-1 9 years ago

Carly's father has FIVE (5) daughters;

1. Nana
2. Nene
3. Nini
4. Nono
5. .....

What's the name of the 5 daughter?

Nunu. Notice the vowels in the name. AEIOU