Test the Nation

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For the Irish version, see here.

Test the Nation is a television programme, first broadcast in 2001 by BNN in the The Netherlands. The format has now been made around the world in countries such as Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Indonesia, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan, and Ireland. It is set to launch in the Middle East on 1 November on the Arabic language MBC1. On 18 March 2007, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation launched the Canadian Test The Nation.

The format is designed to allow viewers to answer a number of questions in order to measure their IQ or their ability in some other 'intellectual' area. For instance, in the UK (where the show has run since 2002) there have been editions of the show devoted to general knowledge, knowledge of the UK itself, and the English language. There is also an annual test of the year's events just before Christmas.

Typically there is a studio audience who answer the questions along with the viewer. The studio demography is broken down into fun categories often designed to challenge or affirm stereotypes. For example, in the United Kingdom, White-Van Men and fashion models are commonly thought to be less intelligent, whilst doctors and scientists are expected to score highly.

The fun is in comparing your score against your fellow countrymen. The British version was originally presented by Anne Robinson and Phillip Schofield. The BBC tests are devised and standardised by the academic Colin Cooper, of Queen's University Belfast, who is sometimes referred to on the programme as 'Sooperman Cooperman'.

Viewers can play along using interactive television, log onto the BBC website, or just use a pen and paper to keep score.

The last IQ test (in the UK) was shown on 2 September 2006, when the studio groups were public school students, state school students, butchers, vegetarians, estate agents, footballers' wives and celebrities. In this episode Danny Wallace, a successful writer, made his first appearance as co-host. He replaces Phillip Schofield, who now works only with ITV.

Although there is usually an end-of-year test in the UK each year around Christmas, there wasn't one at the end of 2006. But at the start of 2007 there was a similar programme broadcast on BBC One called Your Country Needs You, presented by Patrick Kielty, with the same general format but instead having the groups comprise the different nations within the UK (i.e. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England). They all competed against each other and at the end it was down to the interactive viewers at home to see who was the brainiest country of all. England won at the end with 140 points, closely followed by Northern Ireland. Wales had around 80 points and Scotland finished last with around 30 points.