Reasoning Challenge
FAQ
Straight answers, including the ones that limit what the challenge can claim.
Is this an IQ test?
No. A real IQ test is standardized against a representative norm sample with published reliability and validity evidence. The Reasoning Challenge has none of that, so it reports a Novus Reasoning Score — your correct answers as a count and percentage on one form — and never an IQ number or percentile.
Can the score be used for Mensa, jobs, school, or diagnosis?
No. The score reflects performance on Novus questions only. It cannot be used for Mensa qualification, diagnosis, giftedness identification, educational placement, employment selection, disability applications, accommodations, legal matters, or medical decisions.
Does Career Discovery use my score?
Never. The career-matching engine strips reasoning-score inputs before matching runs, so a puzzle result cannot influence career suggestions in any direction.
What is the difference between the nine forms?
Three families: Quick forms (NRC-Q1 to Q3) have 18 scored questions in about 12 minutes; Full forms (NRC-F1 to F3) have 54 in about 36 minutes; Language-Light forms (NRC-L1 to L3) have 36 in about 24 minutes with short prompts and a matrix, sequence, spatial, and symbol emphasis. Forms never share scored questions.
Can I retake a form?
Yes, but a retake of the same form partly measures memory of its questions. For a fresh attempt, use a parallel form in the same family — they follow the same blueprint with entirely different questions.
Where is my data stored?
Attempts, answers, and scores live in IndexedDB on your device. The server scores submissions transiently against server-only answer keys and keeps no history tied to you. You can delete any attempt from the device-local history page.
Are the questions taken from real IQ tests?
No. Every question is original Novus content written by hand for its form. We never use leaked, recalled, licensed, or live test material.
Why can I not see the answer key?
Keys exist only on the server so that published forms stay meaningful. If you want to learn the reasoning behind question types, the Practice Lab teaches them untimed with worked explanations.
Where to read more
How it works walks through a session end to end, methodology explains authoring and scoring design, and privacy details the device-local data model. For professionally administered assessments, see external testing options.
Reasoning Challenge hub · Open NRC-Q1 · External testing options