Level 0 exam — Creativity & Problem Solving

Exam — fresh questions

12 questions to validate the fundamentals: nature of creativity, divergence/convergence, blockers and curiosity.
Answer everything, then click Check: your score and explanations will appear.

0.1 · Recall

1. Is creativity a gift or a skill?

An innate gift reserved for a few A skill learned through method and practice A trait fixed from birth A quality reserved for artists

Creativity rests on methods, habits and a mindset that can be trained: it develops.

0.1 · Application

2. Sara simplifies file tracking: a new board that saves one hour a week. Why is this creative?

Because only an artist could have thought of it Because it is pretty and well presented, even with no use Because it is expensive and complicated to set up Because the idea is both new here AND useful for the problem

Creating = producing ideas both original AND relevant to the need.

0.1 · Application

3. An accountant makes monthly closes reliable with a faster method. What to conclude?

This is not creativity: he is no artist This is creativity: a new, useful idea solving a problem Only free originality counts, not usefulness You need an innate gift to call it creative

Creativity serves every job, wherever there is a problem to solve.

0.2 · Recall

4. What does divergent thinking do?

It sorts and decides between paths It criticizes each idea as soon as it comes out It alone chooses the final solution It generates a maximum of ideas without judging

Divergence opens: quantity and boldness, no judgment; convergence closes (sort, decide).

0.2 · Application

5. In a meeting, Sara announces « ten minutes, we note everything without commenting, we sort afterward ». Which principle is she applying?

Never mix generation and evaluation: open first, close after Judge each idea as soon as it is said to save time Limit the group to two ideas to avoid debate Immediately seek the single obvious solution

Open without judging, then close rigorously — never both at once.

0.2 · Arbitration

6. Two facilitations: A kills each idea at once with « too expensive »; B notes 20 ideas then sorts by cost/impact. Which to choose and why?

B, because separating the phases gives more ideas AND a clearer sort A, because limiting ideas avoids wasting time B, because all sorting must be banned even after generation A, because fast judging proves the team's rigor

Early judgment censors; separating divergence then convergence gives quantity then quality.

0.2 · Application

7. What is the « double diamond »?

A silent brainstorming type A weighted-vote sorting tool Several divergence/convergence cycles (problem then solution) A decision matrix for voting

Design Thinking alternates opening and closing cycles on the problem then the solution.

0.3 · Recall

8. What is the number-one blocker of creativity?

Lack of time in meetings Self-censorship (judging your ideas before expressing them) Lack of innate talent Lack of budget for tools

Self-censorship, with fear of judgment, blocks ideas before they emerge.

0.3 · Application

9. After a mockery, Sara's team goes silent. What should she set up first?

Stronger pressure with shorter deadlines Competition between members with a single winner Banning wild ideas to stay serious Psychological safety: propose fearlessly, no mockery, right to fail

A climate where people propose fearlessly is the base condition of creativity.

0.3 · Arbitration

10. Reaction A: « Nonsense, that makes no sense. » Reaction B: « Interesting, develop it — what does it trigger? » Which call?

Pick B since ideas must never be sorted afterward Pick A to keep good standards on people Pick B since it protects boldness then lets you discuss substance Pick A since pressure brings out the best ideas

The same idea feeds the group or freezes it depending on the welcome: protect first, evaluate after.

0.4 · Application

11. Where do new ideas most often come from?

Pure chance with no prior material Pressure and permanent urgency Unexpected connections between known things Grinding alone with never a break

The more varied material, the more original connections: hence curiosity.

0.4 · Arbitration

12. Sara hesitates: note her ideas while walking or rely on memory in the evening? What to recommend and why?

Note at once (notebook, voice memo): relaxed, the brain connects, but the idea evaporates fast Rely on memory: noting wastes time and breaks inspiration Note nothing and work harder in the evening to recover the idea Wait for inspiration at the office: relaxation brings nothing

Diffuse mode in relaxation favors connections; without immediate capture, the idea is lost.

What's next?

Score ≥ 80%: move on to Level 1 — V3 (brainstorming, brainwriting, mind mapping, SCAMPER, analogies).
Score < 80%: reread the explanations above — each one re-explains the concept (creativity, divergence/convergence, blockers, curiosity) — then redo the test.