Scoring Lenses

How answers are judged and what "good" looks like for each scoring lens.

Serious Thinking

Quiz - Exact Match

Give the correct answer. Correct answers get full credit. Incorrect answers get zero.

How to give a great answer:

• State the exact fact, number, or phrase that answers the question • Be precise and avoid "close enough" or hedging • Do not add unsupported information • If multiple details are requested, supply each one exactly • Keep it concise: wrong or extra details reduce your score

Great for:

Quiz questions with fixed answers • Knowledge checks • Fact recall drills

Quiz - Close Match

Give your best estimate and explain your reasoning. You'll get credit for being close and showing how you got there.

How to give a great answer:

• Give the closest correct value or description you can, even if slightly off • Mention ranges, estimates, or your confidence level when uncertain • Explain the evidence or reasoning behind your approximation • Avoid confidently stating incorrect facts; honest uncertainty scores higher • Cover the key elements of the question, even if some minor details are fuzzy

Great for:

Estimation questions • Reasoned guesses • Data with acceptable tolerances

Creativity

Come up with a surprising, original idea that still makes sense for the problem. Think outside the box but keep it plausible.

How to give a great answer:

• Think outside the box: borrow ideas from other industries or domains • Propose something unexpected and unusual, not safe or conventional • Make sure your idea still connects plausibly to the actual problem • Express it clearly with vivid language or metaphors • Avoid randomness or ideas that don't fit the question

Great for:

Brainstorming sessions • Innovation challenges • Breaking out of conventional thinking

Design Thinking

Solve the problem by understanding users first, then defining what needs fixing, and finally proposing solutions you could test.

How to give a great answer:

• Start by showing deep understanding of user needs and perspective • Clearly define or reframe the problem before jumping to solutions • Propose user-centered solutions that address the defined problem • Consider how you'd prototype or test your idea (what would success look like?) • Make sure your solution actually solves the user's problem

Great for:

Product design challenges • User experience problems • Innovation workshops

First Principles Thinking

Break the problem into its most basic parts, state your assumptions clearly, and build your answer from those fundamentals.

How to give a great answer:

• Break the problem into its most basic parts • State your assumptions explicitly • Show how your solution connects cause to effect with clear reasoning • Avoid vague slogans or hand-waving; be specific and concrete • Build your answer step by step from first principles

Great for:

Ambiguous strategy questions • Cost/efficiency decisions • New‑market thinking

Fun Challenges

Answer Like Yoda

Answer the question using Yoda's distinctive way of speaking (inverted sentences) while still sharing real wisdom.

How to give a great answer:

• Use Yoda's inverted syntax convincingly (e.g., "Strong with the Force, this answer is") • Keep the cryptic, wise tone that matches Yoda's character • Make it concise and memorable • Still convey meaningful insight or perspective despite the playful style • Ensure it's understandable despite the linguistic inversion

Great for:

Parody and humor • Team building exercises • Creative communication

Clickbait Headline

Write a headline that makes people curious enough to click, but clear enough they know what they're getting.

How to give a great answer:

• Create a curiosity gap: hint at something interesting without revealing everything • Trigger emotions (surprise, urgency, intrigue, FOMO) that compel clicks • Make it clear enough to understand the topic, but mysterious enough to want to click • Avoid being too obvious, boring, or completely confusing • Balance intrigue with clarity about what the content promises

Great for:

Parody and humor • Content marketing • Creative writing exercises

LinkedIn Post

Write a LinkedIn post that's super enthusiastic and full of buzzwords, but doesn't say much of substance. The perfect influencer vibe.

How to give a great answer:

• Use excessive enthusiasm: everything is AMAZING and life-changing! • Pack it with buzzwords (synergy, leverage, disrupt, game-changer, thought leadership, etc.) • Make it sound impressive and engaging but keep it vague; avoid too much detail • Use multiple exclamation points!!! • Keep it hollow but inspiring: the perfect LinkedIn influencer vibe

Great for:

Parody and humor • Team building exercises • Creative writing

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