These festive brainteasers and codes are set by real life spies – can you crack the answer?
In the new year I’m quitting my job to become an undercover agent
Every year for the past few years, actual spies at GCHQ have set a range of festive brainteasers and codes to see if you have what it takes to be an undercover agent. This year, GCHQ has just set its latest quiz, full of questions to get your mind going.
The test this year comes on a Christmas card, and you have a series of questions which will help work out a secret word. GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler said the task is the “trickiest Christmas challenge so far.”
She said: “Puzzles have been at the heart of GCHQ from the start. These skills represent our historic roots in cryptography and encryption and continue to be important to our modern-day mission to keep the country safe. GCHQ’s history at Bletchley Park is represented in this year’s Christmas card as a reminder of the role this historic place has played in our wartime efforts but also as home to this year’s AI Safety Summit.
“Our puzzlers have created a Challenge which is designed for a mix of minds to solve. Whether you are an analyst, an engineer or a creative, there is a puzzle for everyone. This is one for classmates, family and friends to try to solve together.”
In the task, there are seven puzzles that all have a one-word answer, which can follow the word “Christmas.” Once you solve the seven brainteasers, you need to use the clue on the front of the Christmas card to place certain letters from your answers into the grid at the bottom of the sheet.
Most Read
When you do, you’ll reveal the final answer which should be a festive message. The spies have said it is tough – so recommend getting people to help you on bits you might get stuck on, or checking out Twitter or Instagram for comments which might help under the hashtag #GCHQChristmasChallenge.
Here are the brainteasers and Christmas card front cover clue you need:
via GCHQ
And here’s the space to add your final answer:
via GCHQ
Here’s a recap of the instructions set by the spies, to help you crack the brainteasers:
Good luck!
Related stories recommended by this writer:
• This maths question is destroying group chats, so what is 60÷5(7-4)?
• Can you pass a 2023 GCSE exam? Find out in what should be this very easy quiz
• Take this maths test and we’ll tell you what qualification you’d get now
Featured image background (before edits) via Unsplash.
Latest
Leeds fresher has ‘whole life’ stolen on first day of university
Heather Williams’ luggage was stolen within minutes of picking up the keys to her accommodation
These are the top four Smithdown based cures for your hangovers from hell
If anyone can still hack drinking until 6am, it’s defo not me x
Take this Lancs this-or-that and we’ll tell you if you’re on the naughty or nice list
It’s the end of Quizmas!
All The Ultimatum season three cast who are already attempting to make money on Cameo
I would pay that amount to not meet J.R., to be honest
Interview: Leeds student challenges LSR suspension after producing gender-critical content
‘My face was taken down off the wall and my name was taken off the website, it felt like I had already been found guilty [before the investigation was over]’
28 Years Later’s music has us spooked, so here’s the Rudyard Kipling eerie Boots poem in full
Who doesn’t love some psychological warfare in their movie trailers?
Katy Perry’s getting rinsed again for her cringe appearance as a RuPaul’s Drag Race judge
‘Gaga would never say something like this, that’s why she gets taken seriously’
Secret meaning behind Selena’s unique engagement ring shows Benny was listening
She’s been dreaming of that diamond for years
Leeds fresher has ‘whole life’ stolen on first day of university
Heather Williams’ luggage was stolen within minutes of picking up the keys to her accommodation
These are the top four Smithdown based cures for your hangovers from hell
If anyone can still hack drinking until 6am, it’s defo not me x
Take this Lancs this-or-that and we’ll tell you if you’re on the naughty or nice list
It’s the end of Quizmas!
All The Ultimatum season three cast who are already attempting to make money on Cameo
I would pay that amount to not meet J.R., to be honest
Interview: Leeds student challenges LSR suspension after producing gender-critical content
‘My face was taken down off the wall and my name was taken off the website, it felt like I had already been found guilty [before the investigation was over]’
28 Years Later’s music has us spooked, so here’s the Rudyard Kipling eerie Boots poem in full
Who doesn’t love some psychological warfare in their movie trailers?
Katy Perry’s getting rinsed again for her cringe appearance as a RuPaul’s Drag Race judge
‘Gaga would never say something like this, that’s why she gets taken seriously’
Secret meaning behind Selena’s unique engagement ring shows Benny was listening
She’s been dreaming of that diamond for years