Programmer's Aptitude Test (Don't scroll down until you're done.)
1. You push your cart through the supermarket
a. In a pre-defined manner
b. Randomly
2. When watching football on TV, you focus on
a. the quarterback
b. the defensive linemen
3. You drive to work
a. the same route every day
b. with a different route every once in a while
4. Which card game do you prefer?
a. bridge
b. poker
5. To plan for tomorrow's weather
a. You check the TV or internet.
b. You go outside, looking for signals.
6. Who do you prefer?
a. Andrew Carnegie
b. Marie Curie
7. You prefer
a. your keyboard
b. your mouse
8. Which subject do you prefer?
a. history
b. literature
9. Which would you rather do?
a. take a walk in the woods
b. a crossword puzzle
10. Which is more important to you?
a. time
b. space
Answer: If you tried to figure out (game) the test as you took it, you have a programmer's aptitude. If not, you don't, and probably don't even understand this answer.
I tried to figure out the test, (and suspected there might be no scoring mechanism at all) but still felt obligated to answer the questions honestly, despite thinking that some were clearly the "programmer" answer.
Maybe I should get the "golden patsy" award for knowing how to game the system but not doing it.
I read "don't scroll down until you're done", thought "ah, this is probably one of those tests that has an entertaining comment at the end unrelated to the questions", scrolled down without doing answering any of the questions, read the entertaining comment. I wonder if that's worth bonus points or negative points.
1. Mostly a, with a bit of b.
2. I don't watch football.
3. Not presently employed, but way back when, I guess b (VERY rarely diverted)
4. rummy, or whatever my folks are playing these days
5. I don't usually plan for weather, even though a Michigander should, but when I do, I'll try a
6. Martin Gardner
7. I don't know that I "prefer" it, but I guess I use the mouse more often. For serious work, the Wacom tablet.
8. Maths and sciences, actually, but between the choices, probably history.
9. Sudoku, actually. I guess that puts me closer to "b".
10. Having somewhat puzzled out relativity, I consider them about equally important.
Answer to the Answer: I wouldn't say I tried to "game" the test while taking it, but twenty years of coding in one form or another says you called me wrong. Then again, maybe I didn't bother trying to game it because I figured it was BS from the start?
Hmmm, I thought your goal was to generate an argument amongst us programmers over which was the right "programmer" response to each question, thus proving that there is no single programmer personality. By doing so I supported your point and undermined the point I wanted you to make. Crap.
I was starting to lean towards 'A' being the more programmer-ish set of answers, based on the hypothesis that the scoring of the test would be something like the number of 'A's one answered, but some of the questions really confused me until I got to the end....
I considered that possibility, but felt that it was less likely than an all-A or all-B type of scoring system. But you're right, I started questioning that assumption after several questions.
How many were thinking of replying with snarky comments like "You may want me to say crossword puzzle, but i like to talk a walk in the woods while doing the puzzle."?
