life problem solving quiz

• Brain Development
• Childhood & Adolescence
• Diet & Lifestyle
• Emotions, Stress & Anxiety
• Learning & Memory
• Thinking & Awareness
• Alzheimer's & Dementia
• Childhood Disorders
• Immune System Disorders
• Mental Health
• Neurodegenerative Disorders
• Infectious Disease
• Neurological Disorders A-Z
• Body Systems
• Cells & Circuits
• Genes & Molecules
• The Arts & the Brain
• Law, Economics & Ethics
• Neuroscience in the News
• Supporting Research
• Tech & the Brain
• Animals in Research
• BRAIN Initiative
• Meet the Researcher
• Neuro-technologies
• Tools & Techniques
• Core Concepts
• For Educators
• Ask an Expert
• The Brain Facts Book

Test Your Problem-Solving Skills

Personalize your emails.

Personalize your monthly updates from BrainFacts.org by choosing the topics that you care about most!

Find a Neuroscientist

Engage local scientists to educate your community about the brain.

Image of the Week

Check out the Image of the Week Archive.

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

• Privacy Policy
• Accessibility Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Manage Cookies

Some pages on this website provide links that require Adobe Reader to view.

Creative Problem-Solving Test

Do you typically approach a problem from many perspectives or opt for the same old solution that worked in the past? In his work on human motivation, Robert E. Franken states that in order to be creative, you need to be able to view things from different perspectives.

Creativity is linked to fundamental qualities of thinking, such as flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity. This Creative Problem-solving Test was developed to evaluate whether your attitude towards problem-solving and the manner in which you approach a problem are conducive to creative thinking.

This test is made up of two types of questions: scenarios and self-assessment. For each scenario, answer according to how you would most likely behave in a similar situation. For the self-assessment questions, indicate the degree to which the given statements apply to you. In order to receive the most accurate results, please answer each question as honestly as possible.

After finishing this test you will receive a FREE snapshot report with a summary evaluation and graph. You will then have the option to purchase the full results for $6.95

This test is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any health condition. If you would like to seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional you can search Psychology Today's directory here .

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Teletherapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

Overview of the Problem-Solving Mental Process

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

• Identify the Problem
• Define the Problem
• Form a Strategy
• Organize Information
• Allocate Resources
• Monitor Progress
• Evaluate the Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Problem-solving is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing, and solving problems. The ultimate goal of problem-solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue.

The best strategy for solving a problem depends largely on the unique situation. In some cases, people are better off learning everything they can about the issue and then using factual knowledge to come up with a solution. In other instances, creativity and insight are the best options.

It is not necessary to follow problem-solving steps sequentially, It is common to skip steps or even go back through steps multiple times until the desired solution is reached.

In order to correctly solve a problem, it is often important to follow a series of steps. Researchers sometimes refer to this as the problem-solving cycle. While this cycle is portrayed sequentially, people rarely follow a rigid series of steps to find a solution.

The following steps include developing strategies and organizing knowledge.

1. Identifying the Problem

While it may seem like an obvious step, identifying the problem is not always as simple as it sounds. In some cases, people might mistakenly identify the wrong source of a problem, which will make attempts to solve it inefficient or even useless.

Some strategies that you might use to figure out the source of a problem include :

• Asking questions about the problem
• Breaking the problem down into smaller pieces
• Looking at the problem from different perspectives
• Conducting research to figure out what relationships exist between different variables

2. Defining the Problem

After the problem has been identified, it is important to fully define the problem so that it can be solved. You can define a problem by operationally defining each aspect of the problem and setting goals for what aspects of the problem you will address

At this point, you should focus on figuring out which aspects of the problems are facts and which are opinions. State the problem clearly and identify the scope of the solution.

3. Forming a Strategy

After the problem has been identified, it is time to start brainstorming potential solutions. This step usually involves generating as many ideas as possible without judging their quality. Once several possibilities have been generated, they can be evaluated and narrowed down.

The next step is to develop a strategy to solve the problem. The approach used will vary depending upon the situation and the individual's unique preferences. Common problem-solving strategies include heuristics and algorithms.

• Heuristics are mental shortcuts that are often based on solutions that have worked in the past. They can work well if the problem is similar to something you have encountered before and are often the best choice if you need a fast solution.
• Algorithms are step-by-step strategies that are guaranteed to produce a correct result. While this approach is great for accuracy, it can also consume time and resources.

Heuristics are often best used when time is of the essence, while algorithms are a better choice when a decision needs to be as accurate as possible.

4. Organizing Information

Before coming up with a solution, you need to first organize the available information. What do you know about the problem? What do you not know? The more information that is available the better prepared you will be to come up with an accurate solution.

When approaching a problem, it is important to make sure that you have all the data you need. Making a decision without adequate information can lead to biased or inaccurate results.

5. Allocating Resources

Of course, we don't always have unlimited money, time, and other resources to solve a problem. Before you begin to solve a problem, you need to determine how high priority it is.

If it is an important problem, it is probably worth allocating more resources to solving it. If, however, it is a fairly unimportant problem, then you do not want to spend too much of your available resources on coming up with a solution.

At this stage, it is important to consider all of the factors that might affect the problem at hand. This includes looking at the available resources, deadlines that need to be met, and any possible risks involved in each solution. After careful evaluation, a decision can be made about which solution to pursue.

6. Monitoring Progress

After selecting a problem-solving strategy, it is time to put the plan into action and see if it works. This step might involve trying out different solutions to see which one is the most effective.

It is also important to monitor the situation after implementing a solution to ensure that the problem has been solved and that no new problems have arisen as a result of the proposed solution.

Effective problem-solvers tend to monitor their progress as they work towards a solution. If they are not making good progress toward reaching their goal, they will reevaluate their approach or look for new strategies .

7. Evaluating the Results

After a solution has been reached, it is important to evaluate the results to determine if it is the best possible solution to the problem. This evaluation might be immediate, such as checking the results of a math problem to ensure the answer is correct, or it can be delayed, such as evaluating the success of a therapy program after several months of treatment.

Once a problem has been solved, it is important to take some time to reflect on the process that was used and evaluate the results. This will help you to improve your problem-solving skills and become more efficient at solving future problems.

A Word From Verywell​

It is important to remember that there are many different problem-solving processes with different steps, and this is just one example. Problem-solving in real-world situations requires a great deal of resourcefulness, flexibility, resilience, and continuous interaction with the environment.

Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how you can stop dwelling in a negative mindset.

Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

You can become a better problem solving by:

• Practicing brainstorming and coming up with multiple potential solutions to problems
• Being open-minded and considering all possible options before making a decision
• Breaking down problems into smaller, more manageable pieces
• Asking for help when needed
• Researching different problem-solving techniques and trying out new ones
• Learning from mistakes and using them as opportunities to grow

It's important to communicate openly and honestly with your partner about what's going on. Try to see things from their perspective as well as your own. Work together to find a resolution that works for both of you. Be willing to compromise and accept that there may not be a perfect solution.

Take breaks if things are getting too heated, and come back to the problem when you feel calm and collected. Don't try to fix every problem on your own—consider asking a therapist or counselor for help and insight.

If you've tried everything and there doesn't seem to be a way to fix the problem, you may have to learn to accept it. This can be difficult, but try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and remember that every situation is temporary. Don't dwell on what's going wrong—instead, think about what's going right. Find support by talking to friends or family. Seek professional help if you're having trouble coping.

Davidson JE, Sternberg RJ, editors.  The Psychology of Problem Solving .  Cambridge University Press; 2003. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511615771

Sarathy V. Real world problem-solving .  Front Hum Neurosci . 2018;12:261. Published 2018 Jun 26. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00261

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

• Business Skills
• Personal Development
• Leadership and Management
• Most Popular
• For your Business
• Mind Tools Store
• About Mind Tools Content
• Member Stories

• Business Operations and Process Management
• Strategy Tools
• Customer Service
• Business Ethics and Values
• Handling Information and Data
• Project Management
• Knowledge Management
• Self-Development and Goal Setting
• Time Management
• Presentation Skills
• Learning Skills
• Career Skills
• Communication Skills
• Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence
• Working With Others
• Difficult Conversations
• Creativity Tools
• Self-Management
• Work-Life Balance
• Stress Management and Well-Being
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Change Management
• Team Management
• Managing Conflict
• Delegation and Empowerment
• Performance Management
• Leadership Skills
• Developing Your Team
• Talent Management
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making

• How it works
• For business

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

If You Can Solve These Puzzles, You'll Have a Head Start at Work!

Book Insight

Puzzles for Professionals

I love puzzles, and I've included lots of them in this blog. They're fun challenges, perfect for sharing, and a great way to test a range of thinking skills. But they also reveal the serious professional benefits that come from learning how to think creatively .

I was reminded of this when I read "The Creative Thinking Handbook," the new book from creativity guru Chris Griffiths. It's sprinkled with puzzles that illustrate the dos and don'ts of problem solving. Griffiths shows what a difference it can make when we develop a robust creative process – as individuals, teams and entire organizations.

Before writing, I spent 10 years as a teacher, and I often used puzzles to stretch my students' thinking. As the kids grappled with intriguing problems, they gained the confidence to take risks, to keep going, and to be creative as part of a team.

Now, after moving back into a business environment, I realize that these skills are more important in the workplace than ever. So try to match wits with me – and, in the process, see how you can start to think better, and achieve more, wherever you work.

Puzzles and Riddles

Let's start with one of my favorites. 

Puzzle 1:  If these nine dots were printed on paper, how could you link all nine by drawing just four straight lines – and without taking your pen off the page?

Have a go – it's not as easy as it looks! If you're stuck, see if someone nearby has any ideas. And try to recognize how you tackle this puzzle – because your strategies here should reveal a lot about your approach to problem solving as a whole.

In case you don't crack it, the answer to this and all my other puzzles are at the end of the blog. But try to resist the temptation to look too soon! You've got a lot to gain from stretching your thinking skills and persisting even if your first attempt fails. It's like resistance training for your brain, building strength to tackle the real-life problems that crop up every day. 

Puzzles for Learning

Puzzles get you thinking and learning in new ways. They force you to challenge the idea that there's only one way of doing things, and they train you to explore a range of options . By doing that, you develop a much richer understanding of any situation, and get your "creative juices" flowing.

You also get a taste of metacognition – "thinking about thinking." If you let them, puzzles will give you valuable insights into the way you approach problems. And the more alert you are to what's going on in your brain when you're in puzzle-solving mode, the more you'll gain, and the faster you'll grow.

Your experiences should also help others to unlock their creativity. And by leading creative-thinking teams, you can make your whole organization more exciting, more innovative, and more successful.

Avoid the Thinking Traps

In puzzles, as in life, you often learn more from your mistakes. It's particularly important to notice which styles of thinking help you to find answers, and which get in the way. In fact, many of the best puzzles are designed to tempt you into these thinking "traps."

For example:

Puzzle 2: A horse is tied to a 10-foot rope, so how does it reach the bale of hay 15 feet away? (This question tempts you to make assumptions – which are so often the enemies of creative problem-solving.)

Puzzle 3: If a plane crashes exactly on the border between France and Germany, in which country should the survivors be buried? (Many people get this one wrong by overlooking the obvious.)

Puzzle 4: Bob and Ben were born on the same day, to the same parents, but they aren't twins. How come? (You'll only solve this puzzle if you can take a seemingly impossible situation, and find a new way of looking at it.)

When the time comes to check the answers, notice any thinking traps you fell into. Think about whether you ever make the same mistakes with real-life problems!

Positive Problem-Solving Strategies

As well as avoiding the traps laid by puzzles writers, you also need to have a range of effective thinking strategies if you're going to find the answers.

Puzzles are a great way to build confidence , and strengthen persistence, open-mindedness, and flexibility. As you work out exactly what a question is asking, discard any "red herrings," and try various positive tactics until one works. In that way, you train yourself to take a strategic, energetic, and resilient approach to solving problems. 

Use some more of mine to put yourself to the test.

For each of the following questions, choose a strategy to start with. But, if that doesn't work, find a different plan of attack. See what happens when you ask friends and family for their ideas. And don't give up. Sometimes, like Sherlock Holmes playing his violin, you'll need to go away and do something else to cut loose your creativity and make the breakthrough. 

Puzzle 5 : Where in the world does Friday come before Thursday?

Just as tricky is this:

Puzzle 6: Which substance is represented by the letters HIJKLMNO?

This is fiendish:

Puzzle 7: 3, 3, 5, 4, 4, 3, 5, 5, ? What's next in this numeric code – and why?

Puzzles With Words

Our brains work through connections, and puzzles strengthen our ability to make links, see patterns, and piece things together. They also provide a rich opportunity to collaborate with other people.

Word problems are particularly good for this. When you work on a cryptic crossword with a friend, for example, you have the opportunity to explore someone else's understanding of the possibilities of language.

You find yourself looking at words and phrases in a new light, making new connections, and exploring seemingly meaningless clues from different angles. Until, suddenly, something clicks.

Here are three to try now, on your own – or, even better, in collaboration with someone sitting nearby!

Puzzle 8: Mode of transport crashed in Nepal (5) (Clue: "crashed" means that there's an anagram here.)

Puzzle 9: Singer in tunnel visit (5) (Clue: the singer's name is in "tunnel visit.")

Puzzle 10: Moscow funding? (7) (Clue: it's a word that could define "Moscow" AND "funding.")

Puzzles Boost Profits!

In education, training, and in the world of work generally, I've seen the way that puzzles can inspire a curious, playful attitude. And it spreads. It can change the way any kind of organization works for the better.

As Griffiths shows in his book, creative companies are some of the most enjoyable to work in – and among the most successful in the long term.

One reason for this is that playing around with puzzles gets you used to making mistakes. Good puzzle-solving involves free thinking and gathering a range of ideas from the whole team.

But it also requires staying focused on the question, and making sure that your solution answers it well.

Train Your Creative Brain

These days, there's no shortage of puzzles to challenge yourself with, in books, magazines and online. So take every chance you get to put your brain to work, and to share the fun with others.

Most importantly, see what happens when you put your problem-solving skills to use. You'll likely have a different outlook on real-world problems, because you'll have a range of powerful ways to solve them.

And here's one more puzzle from me to keep you practicing this creative – but concerted – approach. Why not share it with your colleagues? One person might solve it, or maybe you'll get there together.

Puzzle 11: You've put a coin inside an empty wine bottle and sealed it with a cork. How can you remove the coin without pulling the cork out of the bottle, and without damaging the bottle or the cork?

Get the Answers – by Opening Your Mind!

As "Creative Thinking Handbook" author Chris Griffiths puts it, creative thinking is about much more than "thinking outside of the box." It's about getting rid of the box altogether! And that's why I chose the puzzle at the start of this blog – because you won't solve it by staying within the confines of the grid itself.

You need to stretch some of your lines beyond its boundaries, and move into the white space outside.

When you're ready, there's a diagram below to explain the full, surprisingly simple (though sneaky!) solution.

Puzzles in a New Light

It's a great feeling when you solve a puzzle like this. But the best puzzles should keep you entertained and intrigued while you're still wrestling with them, allowing you to enjoy the process of training your creative brain.

So, see how well you get on with the ones I've set here – maybe with "The Creative Thinking Handbook" by your side! Share them to challenge your friends. And see if you notice a difference when you put your new, confident problem-solving strategies into action at work. 

" The Creative Thinking Handbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Problem Solving in Business ," by Chris Griffiths with Melina Costi, is published by Kogan Page.

If you're a Mind Tools Club member, you can listen to our Book Insight review .

Answers to the Puzzles

2. The other end of the rope isn't tied to anything.

3. Survivors don't need to be buried anywhere.

4. They're two of a set of triplets.

5. In a dictionary.

6. Water: "H to O"! (H 2 O)

7. 4 (As the question says, it's a "numeric" code, but it's based on the number of letters in each number word: one (3 letters), two (3), three (5), and so on. So the next number is nine, which has four letters in it.)

10. capital

11. Push the cork into the bottle.

About the Author

Jonathan was World Memory Champion and has written extensively about learning. He also spent 15 years as a BBC Radio presenter, followed by a decade as a teacher and school leader. Jonathan writes many different Mind Tools resources, as well as presenting videos and podcasts. He’s particularly proud of his articles about tackling discrimination, embracing neurodiversity, and supporting working parents. Jonathan enjoys running, crosswords, and traveling with his family. His top advice is to keep reflecting on how you feel about your work. “Life’s too short to be unhappy. If something’s not right – change it!”

24 comments on “If You Can Solve These Puzzles, You'll Have a Head Start at Work!”

I love it❤very helpful indeed? Thank you so much? God bless!

Thank you Sr Helen for that feedback. Hope you enjoy more of our resources here to help with your learning and development.

This is so interesting and thrilling. Although I could not get any correctly but am happy I tried it. Thank you

Great that you tried these puzzles Somina! I also struggled with getting the correct answers when I tried it too! 😉

In the first puzzle, why do you need to draw four lines?!! Try connecting the dots with THREE lines without lifting the pencil. It has a perfectly logical answer?

You are indeed correct and you have done brilliantly to spot another solution! I think it takes a particular kind of brain to solve these puzzles! I know I am challenged with many of them!

We are very impressed with your problem-solving skills and are grateful that you have highlighted another option to us. As a result, we're going to change the design of the puzzle, so that our solution is the only one that works.

Problem 2 is also solvable if you assume the horse is staked to a post 10 feet away, as long as the bale is on the other side of the stake. In such a setup, the horse could reach a bale *20* feet from it.

It has given complete different way of thinking, other side of coin. I could say Indirect Way of Thinking. Thank you, I will try similar way in my personal and professional life ahead.

We're glad you found this helpful, Rajesh! Different ways of thinking and looking at challenges help us to see different (and new) solutions too. Good luck!

learnt from these puzzles that need to see the problems with alternate thinking.

Great to hear Prakash that you learned something from doing these puzzles. I definitely believe that they can stretch our thinking which in turn helps us when we face situations at work.

sound exercises with solutions

Thanks, Harry, for that feedback. Puzzles certainly do stretch my thinking which in turn helps me as I approach work tasks!

Really thoughtful & motivate to think alternatively ….

Helpful in a way that one stretches his or her thinking beyond the normal view.

Help to overcome daily routine challenges.

Nice, good tips

Great post! It was very informative and helpful! You always offer fresh ideas to all readers like me.

I LOVE these puzzles! It makes us think ourside the box (no pun inended). Speaking of the box; what is the solution to the 9-dot puzzle using only 3 lines?

Hi Craig - they're great, aren't they! I have to admit I get a bit frustrated by some of them - which probably means I should practice them a bit more.

Craig, you ask what is the solution to the 9-dot puzzle using only 3 lines? The puzzle is to solve it in 4 lines, are you suggesting there's a way to do it in 3? If so I can't see it - do tell!

Sarah Mind Tools Coach

Try Mind Tools for FREE

You may also like..., digging into conflict: how to "play nice" at work.

"It leads to what the author calls “assertive play” – not brick-on-skull assertive, but self-confident engagement, where people know they have things to contribute, and stake their claim."- Jonathan Hancock

Book Insight , Career Skills , Communication

I Might Regret Writing This Blog 

"We can also make ourselves better with “at least” statements – acknowledging to ourselves that the outcome could have been worse." - Melanie Bell

Book Insight , Personal Development , Wellbeing

How to Make Good on Bad Habits

Changing your habits can actually make you a different, better version of yourself.

Book Insight , Personal Development

FAQs | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms and Conditions | Policies

Problem solving test: Pre-employment screening assessment to hire the best candidates

Summary of the problem solving test.

This Problem Solving test evaluates candidates’ ability to define problems and analyze data and textual information to make correct decisions. This test helps you identify candidates who use analytical skills to evaluate and respond to complex situations.

Covered skills

Creating and adjusting schedules, interpreting data and applying logic to make decisions, prioritizing and applying order based on a given set of rules, analyzing textual and numerical information to draw conclusions, use the problem solving test to hire.

Any role that involves managing constantly shifting variables with tight deadlines. This may include administrative assistants, project managers, planners, and people working in hospitality or sales.

You can use this test for free when you sign up for a free plan

About the Problem Solving test

Effective problem-solving requires a broad skill set that enables individuals, teams, and businesses to advance towards stated objectives. It involves the ability to define a problem, to break it down into manageable parts, to develop approaches to solve the (sub)problem using creativity and analytical thinking, and to execute flawlessly.

This problem solving test allows you to identify candidates who display these abilities. The test presents candidates with typical problem-solving scenarios like scheduling on the basis of a diverse set of conditions, identifying the right sequence of actions based on a number of business rules, and drawing conclusions based on textual and numerical information.

The test requires candidates to identify the right answers to the questions in a limited amount of time. Successful candidates can quickly identify the key elements of the problem and work through the problem at speed without making mistakes. This is a great test to include to check candidates' overall analytical skills.

The test is made by a subject-matter expert

The global IT industry has benefited from Anirban’s talents for over two decades. With a flawless reputation that precedes him, Anirban has earned a status as a sought-after agile project manager and consultant. He’s worked internationally as a Senior Project Manager with companies such as Ericsson, IBM, and T-Mobile.

Anirban’s love for learning helps him keep his skills sharp. He holds an MBA and a degree in engineering, is a certified Scrum Master, and has certifications in Prince2 and ITIL.

Crafted with expert knowledge

TestGorilla’s tests are created by subject matter experts. We assess potential subject-matter experts based on their knowledge, ability, and reputation. Before being published, each test is peer-reviewed by another expert, then calibrated using hundreds of test takers with relevant experience in the subject.

Our feedback mechanisms and unique algorithms allow our subject-matter experts to constantly improve their tests.

What our customers are saying

TestGorilla helps me to assess engineers rapidly. Creating assessments for different positions is easy due to pre-existing templates. You can create an assessment in less than 2 minutes. The interface is intuitive and it’s easy to visualize results per assessment.

VP of engineering, mid-market (51-1000 FTE)

Any tool can have functions—bells and whistles. Not every tool comes armed with staff passionate about making the user experience positive.

The TestGorilla team only offers useful insights to user challenges, they engage in conversation.

For instance, I recently asked a question about a Python test I intended to implement. Instead of receiving “oh, that test would work perfectly for your solution,” or, “at this time we’re thinking about implementing a solution that may or may not…” I received a direct and straightforward answer with additional thoughts to help shape the solution.

I hope that TestGorilla realizes the value proposition in their work is not only the platform but the type of support that’s provided.

For a bit of context—I am a diversity recruiter trying to create a platform that removes bias from the hiring process and encourages the discovery of new and unseen talent.

Chief Talent Connector, small business (50 or fewer FTE)

Use TestGorilla to hire the best faster, easier and bias-free

Our screening tests identify the best candidates and make your hiring decisions faster, easier, and bias-free.

Learn how each candidate performs on the job using our library of 400+ scientifically validated tests.

Test candidates for job-specific skills like coding or digital marketing, as well as general skills like critical thinking. Our unique personality and culture tests allow you to get to know your applicants as real people – not just pieces of paper.

Give all applicants an equal, unbiased opportunity to showcase their skills with our data-driven and performance-based ranking system.

With TestGorilla, you’ll get the best talent from all walks of life, allowing for a stronger, more diverse workplace.

Our short, customizable assessments and easy-to-use interface can be accessed from any device, with no login required.

Add your company logo, color theme, and more to leave a lasting impression that candidates will appreciate.

Watch what TestGorilla can do for you

Create high-quality assessments, fast.

Building assessments is a breeze with TestGorilla. Get started with these simple steps.

Building assessments is quick and easy with TestGorilla. Just pick a name, select the tests you need, then add your own custom questions.

You can customize your assessments further by adding your company logo, color theme, and more. Build the assessment that works for you.

Send email invites directly from TestGorilla, straight from your ATS, or connect with candidates by sharing a direct link.

Have a long list of candidates? Easily send multiple invites with a single click. You can also customize your email invites.

Discover your strongest candidates with TestGorilla’s easy-to-read output reports, rankings, and analytics.

Easily switch from a comprehensive overview to a detailed analysis of your candidates. Then, go beyond the data by watching personalized candidate videos.

View a sample report

The Problem Solving test will be included in a PDF report along with the other tests from your assessment. You can easily download and share this report with colleagues and candidates.

Why problem-solving is a crucial skill

We’ve all been thrown a curveball at work. An unexpected problem crops up and we need to make a plan to solve it. This is called problem-solving and it’s an important skill in most job roles because employees will encounter difficult or complex situations or problems that need to be solved.

Interestingly, unlike some career skills, problem-solving translates to both an individual’s personal and professional lives, making it crucial to potential success. But this may make it harder for recruiters to find the right candidate for a job where problem-solving skills are needed. In this case, a problem-solving test can help you find the best candidate capable of handling situations that influence business functions.

Problem-solving in the workplace

In business, problem-solving relies on a candidate’s ability to create processes that mitigate or remove obstacles that prevent the company from achieving its goals. Consequently, these issues or situations can create a gap between desired outcomes and actual results. This means that problem-solving plays an important role in how employees meet this challenge and work through it.

Roles such as project management, administrative assistance, and planning work with changing circumstances and tight deadlines on a day-to-day basis. When recruiting for these roles, finding candidates who have good problem-solving skills is crucial to their success in the role.

To gain insight into a candidate’s skill in this area, you can use a problem-solving test. Through expert formulation, a skill-specific test can help you understand a candidate’s level of proficiency. And testing your applicants before you start the interview process can highlight the candidates with the skills most relevant to the role.

A process-driven skill

In the workplace, there are important steps that can contribute to a candidate’s ability to successfully solve problems. Let’s take a look:

Identify the problem

Problem-solving begins with accurately identifying the problem. This determining factor looks at whether a candidate can find the origin and the implications of the problem. It includes:

• Differentiating between fact and opinion

• Compiling data to determine the problem

• Identifying underlying causes

• Recognizing which processes are affected• Pinpointing the process standard

By accurately identifying the problem, individuals can proceed to the next step to solve the problem.

Determine alternative solutions

Once an individual has established the source of the problem, they can determine alternative solutions. The goal of plotting solutions to the problem is to remedy it and realign it with business goals. A creative problem-solving test may identify whether an individual has the competency to determine solutions. Key competencies in seeking solutions include:

• Establishing alternative solutions that align with business goals

• Determining whether a problem needs short- or long-term solutions

• Evaluating how solutions may impact on resources; and determining if there are any barriers to implementing the solutions.

Although any problem can have multiple solutions, the simplest or fastest one may not always be the best course of action. This is where solution comparison comes into play.

Compare solutions and plot a course

Once all possible solutions are determined, it is important to compare them. This involves evaluating each solution without bias to determine the optimal solution to the problem.

Through the evaluation process, the individual should rule out options that do not align with company goals, may take too much time and/or resources, or are unrealistic in their approach.

Some considerations when determining the best solution include the likelihood of solution implementation, whether all parties involved will accept the solution, and how it fits in with business goals. Additionally, it is important to note that the goal of the optimal solution is to solve the problem without causing additional or unanticipated problems.

In essence, problem-solving is about finding solutions that cause as little disruption as possible and correcting a project’s course.

Implement the solution

The last stage in problem-solving is the implementation of the final step. This step focuses on the remedial solution and requires continuous evaluation to ensure its effective implementation. For you as a recruiter, knowing if a candidate can find a solution as well as implement it may be important to the goals of the role.

Continually evaluating the solution will give the individual insight into whether the project goals are aligned, whether all stakeholders accept the new solution and whether the outcomes are managed effectively.

Considerations for recruiters

When hiring for a role in which problem-solving skills are crucial, it may be beneficial to test a candidate’s ability to define problems and analyze data and textual information to make decisions that best serve the business. Some of the considerations for a problem-solving test include:

Schedules are living documents that need to adapt as eventualities come into play. Candidates should be able to understand what they can realistically achieve with the time and how to adjust schedules to account for variable outcomes.

Data-driven decision-making should inform a course of action before an individual commits to it. For recruiters, this means candidates should have an aptitude for aligning data with business goals and making actionable decisions.

By using prioritization rules and supporting information, candidates can determine which project tasks take priority. This system aims to optimize resources for project delivery.

Examining textual and numerical information to reveal patterns, relationships, and trends can tell the candidate what connection exists among variables. Conclusions can then be drawn from the data to gain an accurate assessment of the overall situation.

When broken down, problem-solving is a skill that relies on a variety of disciplines to achieve success. Although this skill is transferable to many job roles, determining candidates’ proficiency can be difficult, so it can be beneficial to recruiters to use a problem-solving test to review candidates’ aptitude when recruiting for a role.

Using a pre-formulated problem-solving test will enable you to quickly assess your candidates and help you recruit the best person for the role.

An assessment is the total package of tests and custom questions that you put together to evaluate your candidates. Each individual test within an assessment is designed to test something specific, such as a job skill or language. An assessment can consist of up to 5 tests and 20 custom questions. You can have candidates respond to your custom questions in several ways, such as with a personalized video.

Yes! Custom questions are great for testing candidates in your own unique way. We support the following question types: video, multiple-choice, coding, file upload, and essay. Besides adding your own custom questions, you can also create your own tests.

A video question is a specific type of custom question you can add to your assessment. Video questions let you create a question and have your candidates use their webcam to record a video response. This is an excellent way to see how a candidate would conduct themselves in a live interview, and is especially useful for sales and hospitality roles. Some good examples of things to ask for video questions would be "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "Try to sell me an item you have on your desk right now."

Besides video questions, you can also add the following types of custom questions: multiple-choice, coding, file upload, and essay. Multiple-choice lets your candidates choose from a list of answers that you provide, coding lets you create a coding problem for them to solve, file upload allows your candidates to upload a file that you request (such as a resume or portfolio), and essay allows an open-ended text response to your question. You can learn more about different custom question types here .

Yes! You can add your own logo and company color theme to your assessments. This is a great way to leave a positive and lasting brand impression on your candidates.

Our team is always here to help. After you sign up, we’ll reach out to guide you through the first steps of setting up your TestGorilla account. If you have any further questions, you can contact our support team via email, chat or call. We also offer detailed guides in our extensive help center .

It depends! We offer five free tests, or unlimited access to our library of 400+ tests with the price based on your company size. Find more information on our pricing plans here , or speak to one of our sales team for your personalized demo and learn how we can help you revolutionize hiring today.

Yes. You can add up to five tests to each assessment.

We recommend using our assessment software as a pre-screening tool at the beginning of your recruitment process. You can add a link to the assessment in your job post or directly invite candidates by email.

TestGorilla replaces traditional resume screening with a much more reliable and efficient process, designed to find the most skilled candidates earlier and faster.

We offer the following cognitive ability tests : Numerical Reasoning, Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Thinking.

Our cognitive ability tests allow you to test for skills that are difficult to evaluate in an interview. Check out our blog on why these tests are so useful and how to choose the best one for your assessment.

Related tests

Computational thinking, basic math calculations, mechanical reasoning, understanding instructions, attention to detail (visual), intermediate math, basic triple-digit math, basic double-digit math, attention to detail (textual), numerical reasoning.

10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

Cognitive science tells us that we regularly face not only well-defined problems but, importantly, many that are ill defined (Eysenck & Keane, 2015).

Sometimes, we find ourselves unable to overcome our daily problems or the inevitable (though hopefully infrequent) life traumas we face.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce the incidence and impact of mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by helping clients face life’s difficulties (Dobson, 2011).

This article introduces Problem-Solving Therapy and offers techniques, activities, and worksheets that mental health professionals can use with clients.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is problem-solving therapy, 14 steps for problem-solving therapy, 3 best interventions and techniques, 7 activities and worksheets for your session, fascinating books on the topic, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Problem-Solving Therapy assumes that mental disorders arise in response to ineffective or maladaptive coping. By adopting a more realistic and optimistic view of coping, individuals can understand the role of emotions and develop actions to reduce distress and maintain mental wellbeing (Nezu & Nezu, 2009).

“Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychosocial intervention, generally considered to be under a cognitive-behavioral umbrella” (Nezu, Nezu, & D’Zurilla, 2013, p. ix). It aims to encourage the client to cope better with day-to-day problems and traumatic events and reduce their impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Clinical research, counseling, and health psychology have shown PST to be highly effective in clients of all ages, ranging from children to the elderly, across multiple clinical settings, including schizophrenia, stress, and anxiety disorders (Dobson, 2011).

Can it help with depression?

PST appears particularly helpful in treating clients with depression. A recent analysis of 30 studies found that PST was an effective treatment with a similar degree of success as other successful therapies targeting depression (Cuijpers, Wit, Kleiboer, Karyotaki, & Ebert, 2020).

Other studies confirm the value of PST and its effectiveness at treating depression in multiple age groups and its capacity to combine with other therapies, including drug treatments (Dobson, 2011).

The major concepts

Effective coping varies depending on the situation, and treatment typically focuses on improving the environment and reducing emotional distress (Dobson, 2011).

PST is based on two overlapping models:

Social problem-solving model

This model focuses on solving the problem “as it occurs in the natural social environment,” combined with a general coping strategy and a method of self-control (Dobson, 2011, p. 198).

The model includes three central concepts:

• Social problem-solving
• The problem
• The solution

The model is a “self-directed cognitive-behavioral process by which an individual, couple, or group attempts to identify or discover effective solutions for specific problems encountered in everyday living” (Dobson, 2011, p. 199).

Relational problem-solving model

The theory of PST is underpinned by a relational problem-solving model, whereby stress is viewed in terms of the relationships between three factors:

• Stressful life events
• Emotional distress and wellbeing
• Problem-solving coping

Therefore, when a significant adverse life event occurs, it may require “sweeping readjustments in a person’s life” (Dobson, 2011, p. 202).

• Enhance positive problem orientation
• Decrease negative orientation
• Foster ability to apply rational problem-solving skills
• Reduce the tendency to avoid problem-solving
• Minimize the tendency to be careless and impulsive

D’Zurilla’s and Nezu’s model includes (modified from Dobson, 2011):

• Initial structuring Establish a positive therapeutic relationship that encourages optimism and explains the PST approach.
• Assessment Formally and informally assess areas of stress in the client’s life and their problem-solving strengths and weaknesses.
• Obstacles to effective problem-solving Explore typically human challenges to problem-solving, such as multitasking and the negative impact of stress. Introduce tools that can help, such as making lists, visualization, and breaking complex problems down.
• Problem orientation – fostering self-efficacy Introduce the importance of a positive problem orientation, adopting tools, such as visualization, to promote self-efficacy.
• Problem orientation – recognizing problems Help clients recognize issues as they occur and use problem checklists to ‘normalize’ the experience.
• Problem orientation – seeing problems as challenges Encourage clients to break free of harmful and restricted ways of thinking while learning how to argue from another point of view.
• Problem orientation – use and control emotions Help clients understand the role of emotions in problem-solving, including using feelings to inform the process and managing disruptive emotions (such as cognitive reframing and relaxation exercises).
• Problem orientation – stop and think Teach clients how to reduce impulsive and avoidance tendencies (visualizing a stop sign or traffic light).
• Problem definition and formulation Encourage an understanding of the nature of problems and set realistic goals and objectives.
• Generation of alternatives Work with clients to help them recognize the wide range of potential solutions to each problem (for example, brainstorming).
• Decision-making Encourage better decision-making through an improved understanding of the consequences of decisions and the value and likelihood of different outcomes.
• Solution implementation and verification Foster the client’s ability to carry out a solution plan, monitor its outcome, evaluate its effectiveness, and use self-reinforcement to increase the chance of success.
• Guided practice Encourage the application of problem-solving skills across multiple domains and future stressful problems.
• Rapid problem-solving Teach clients how to apply problem-solving questions and guidelines quickly in any given situation.

Success in PST depends on the effectiveness of its implementation; using the right approach is crucial (Dobson, 2011).

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

The following interventions and techniques are helpful when implementing more effective problem-solving approaches in client’s lives.

First, it is essential to consider if PST is the best approach for the client, based on the problems they present.

Is PPT appropriate?

It is vital to consider whether PST is appropriate for the client’s situation. Therapists new to the approach may require additional guidance (Nezu et al., 2013).

Therapists should consider the following questions before beginning PST with a client (modified from Nezu et al., 2013):

• Has PST proven effective in the past for the problem? For example, research has shown success with depression, generalized anxiety, back pain, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and supporting caregivers (Nezu et al., 2013).
• Is PST acceptable to the client?
• Is the individual experiencing a significant mental or physical health problem?

All affirmative answers suggest that PST would be a helpful technique to apply in this instance.

Five problem-solving steps

The following five steps are valuable when working with clients to help them cope with and manage their environment (modified from Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to consider the following points (forming the acronym ADAPT) when confronted by a problem:

• Attitude Aim to adopt a positive, optimistic attitude to the problem and problem-solving process.
• Define Obtain all required facts and details of potential obstacles to define the problem.
• Alternatives Identify various alternative solutions and actions to overcome the obstacle and achieve the problem-solving goal.
• Predict Predict each alternative’s positive and negative outcomes and choose the one most likely to achieve the goal and maximize the benefits.
• Try out Once selected, try out the solution and monitor its effectiveness while engaging in self-reinforcement.

If the client is not satisfied with their solution, they can return to step ‘A’ and find a more appropriate solution.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

Positive self-statements

When dealing with clients facing negative self-beliefs, it can be helpful for them to use positive self-statements.

Use the following (or add new) self-statements to replace harmful, negative thinking (modified from Dobson, 2011):

• I can solve this problem; I’ve tackled similar ones before.
• I can cope with this.
• I just need to take a breath and relax.
• Once I start, it will be easier.
• It’s okay to look out for myself.
• I can get help if needed.
• Other people feel the same way I do.
• I’ll take one piece of the problem at a time.
• I can keep my fears in check.
• I don’t need to please everyone.

5 Worksheets and workbooks

Problem-solving self-monitoring form.

Answering the questions in the Problem-Solving Self-Monitoring Form provides the therapist with necessary information regarding the client’s overall and specific problem-solving approaches and reactions (Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to complete the following:

• Describe the problem you are facing.
• What is your goal?
• What have you tried so far to solve the problem?
• What was the outcome?

Reactions to Stress

It can be helpful for the client to recognize their own experiences of stress. Do they react angrily, withdraw, or give up (Dobson, 2011)?

The Reactions to Stress worksheet can be given to the client as homework to capture stressful events and their reactions. By recording how they felt, behaved, and thought, they can recognize repeating patterns.

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Helping clients capture triggers for their stressful reactions can encourage emotional regulation.

When clients can identify triggers that may lead to a negative response, they can stop the experience or slow down their emotional reaction (Dobson, 2011).

The What Are Your Unique Triggers ? worksheet helps the client identify their triggers (e.g., conflict, relationships, physical environment, etc.).

Problem-Solving worksheet

Imagining an existing or potential problem and working through how to resolve it can be a powerful exercise for the client.

Use the Problem-Solving worksheet to state a problem and goal and consider the obstacles in the way. Then explore options for achieving the goal, along with their pros and cons, to assess the best action plan.

Getting the Facts

Clients can become better equipped to tackle problems and choose the right course of action by recognizing facts versus assumptions and gathering all the necessary information (Dobson, 2011).

Use the Getting the Facts worksheet to answer the following questions clearly and unambiguously:

• Who is involved?
• What did or did not happen, and how did it bother you?
• Where did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• Why did it happen?
• How did you respond?

2 Helpful Group Activities

While therapists can use the worksheets above in group situations, the following two interventions work particularly well with more than one person.

Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making

A group setting can provide an ideal opportunity to share a problem and identify potential solutions arising from multiple perspectives.

Use the Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making worksheet and ask the client to explain the situation or problem to the group and the obstacles in the way.

Once the approaches are captured and reviewed, the individual can share their decision-making process with the group if they want further feedback.

Visualization

Visualization can be performed with individuals or in a group setting to help clients solve problems in multiple ways, including (Dobson, 2011):

• Clarifying the problem by looking at it from multiple perspectives
• Rehearsing a solution in the mind to improve and get more practice
• Visualizing a ‘safe place’ for relaxation, slowing down, and stress management

Guided imagery is particularly valuable for encouraging the group to take a ‘mental vacation’ and let go of stress.

Ask the group to begin with slow, deep breathing that fills the entire diaphragm. Then ask them to visualize a favorite scene (real or imagined) that makes them feel relaxed, perhaps beside a gently flowing river, a summer meadow, or at the beach.

The more the senses are engaged, the more real the experience. Ask the group to think about what they can hear, see, touch, smell, and even taste.

Encourage them to experience the situation as fully as possible, immersing themselves and enjoying their place of safety.

Such feelings of relaxation may be able to help clients fall asleep, relieve stress, and become more ready to solve problems.

We have included three of our favorite books on the subject of Problem-Solving Therapy below.

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D’Zurilla

This is an incredibly valuable book for anyone wishing to understand the principles and practice behind PST.

Written by the co-developers of PST, the manual provides powerful toolkits to overcome cognitive overload, emotional dysregulation, and the barriers to practical problem-solving.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Treatment Guidelines – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

Another, more recent, book from the creators of PST, this text includes important advances in neuroscience underpinning the role of emotion in behavioral treatment.

Along with clinical examples, the book also includes crucial toolkits that form part of a stepped model for the application of PST.

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

This is the fourth edition of a hugely popular guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies and includes a valuable and insightful section on Problem-Solving Therapy.

This is an important book for students and more experienced therapists wishing to form a high-level and in-depth understanding of the tools and techniques available to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.

For even more tools to help strengthen your clients’ problem-solving skills, check out the following free worksheets from our blog.

• Case Formulation Worksheet This worksheet presents a four-step framework to help therapists and their clients come to a shared understanding of the client’s presenting problem.
• Understanding Your Default Problem-Solving Approach This worksheet poses a series of questions helping clients reflect on their typical cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to problems.
• Social Problem Solving: Step by Step This worksheet presents a streamlined template to help clients define a problem, generate possible courses of action, and evaluate the effectiveness of an implemented solution.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others enhance their wellbeing, check out this signature collection of 17 validated positive psychology tools for practitioners. Use them to help others flourish and thrive.

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

While we are born problem-solvers, facing an incredibly diverse set of challenges daily, we sometimes need support.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce stress and associated mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by improving our ability to cope. PST is valuable in diverse clinical settings, ranging from depression to schizophrenia, with research suggesting it as a highly effective treatment for teaching coping strategies and reducing emotional distress.

Many PST techniques are available to help improve clients’ positive outlook on obstacles while reducing avoidance of problem situations and the tendency to be careless and impulsive.

The PST model typically assesses the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies when facing problems before encouraging a healthy experience of and relationship with problem-solving.

Why not use this article to explore the theory behind PST and try out some of our powerful tools and interventions with your clients to help them with their decision-making, coping, and problem-solving?

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

• Cuijpers, P., Wit, L., Kleiboer, A., Karyotaki, E., & Ebert, D. (2020). Problem-solving therapy for adult depression: An updated meta-analysis. European P sychiatry ,  48 (1), 27–37.
• Dobson, K. S. (2011). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
• Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2021). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies  (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
• Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook . Psychology Press.
• Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2009). Problem-solving therapy DVD . Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310852
• Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2018). Emotion-centered problem-solving therapy: Treatment guidelines. Springer.
• Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2013). Problem-solving therapy: A treatment manual . Springer.

Share this article:

Article feedback

What our readers think.

Thanks for your information given, it was helpful for me something new I learned

Let us know your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related articles

The Empty Chair Technique: How It Can Help Your Clients

Resolving ‘unfinished business’ is often an essential part of counseling. If left unresolved, it can contribute to depression, anxiety, and mental ill-health while damaging existing [...]

29 Best Group Therapy Activities for Supporting Adults

As humans, we are social creatures with personal histories based on the various groups that make up our lives. Childhood begins with a family of [...]

47 Free Therapy Resources to Help Kick-Start Your New Practice

Setting up a private practice in psychotherapy brings several challenges, including a considerable investment of time and money. You can reduce risks early on by [...]

Read other articles by their category

• Body & Brain (49)
• Coaching & Application (57)
• Compassion (26)
• Counseling (51)
• Emotional Intelligence (24)
• Gratitude (18)
• Grief & Bereavement (21)
• Happiness & SWB (40)
• Meaning & Values (26)
• Meditation (20)
• Mindfulness (45)
• Motivation & Goals (45)
• Optimism & Mindset (34)
• Positive CBT (28)
• Positive Communication (20)
• Positive Education (47)
• Positive Emotions (32)
• Positive Leadership (18)
• Positive Parenting (4)
• Positive Psychology (33)
• Positive Workplace (37)
• Productivity (16)
• Relationships (46)
• Resilience & Coping (36)
• Self Awareness (21)
• Self Esteem (38)
• Strengths & Virtues (31)
• Stress & Burnout Prevention (34)
• Theory & Books (46)
• Therapy Exercises (37)
• Types of Therapy (64)

13 Printable Life Skills Worksheets for Students and Adults

There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

Have you ever wished there was a guidebook containing step-by-step instructions on the things that you’re supposed to know once you become an adult?

Life can be very confusing at times.

Nevertheless, we are often expected to know how to deal with everything we experience.

Somehow, we’re supposed to know that clothes need to be separated by color when we’re doing the laundry.

We’re also supposed to be aware that job interviews have a certain dress code that we need to follow if we’re to be seriously considered for the position we’re applying for.

Possessing the necessary life skills for any given situation helps people have a better chance at coping with whatever life throws at them.

In this article, we’re sharing a collection of printable life skills worksheets that can equip both adults and students with the know-how necessary for functioning in everyday life.

You’ll find worksheets that help you develop housekeeping, technical, financial, and self-awareness skills.

Before diving into our list, let’s talk more about the importance of life skills.

Table of Contents

Why Do We Need Life Skills?

The World Health Organization, UNESCO, and UNICEF recommend 10 core life skills as the basis for a healthy, competent, well-adjusted individual.

You need life skills to thrive and fully function as an adult.

For example, knowing some basic housekeeping not only guarantees a clean, healthy, and safe environment for you to live in, but being free from clutter also provides peace of mind.

If you possess the following abilities…

• Problem solving
• Making healthy lifestyle choices
• Communicating properly
• Managing your finances well

…then you’re well on your way to becoming a functioning and contributing member of society.

Let’s check out some worksheets to help you develop these skills.

Life Skills Worksheets for Adults

1. brain dump worksheet.

Knowing how to cope with stress is one of the 10 core life skills identified by UNESCO, WHO, and UNICEF.

Do you often find yourself overwhelmed with thoughts about things that make you worried or anxious? One way to relieve the thoughts weighing you down is by writing everything out on paper.

This stress-busting exercise is known as a brain dump .

This worksheet provides the space you need to offload all that’s going on inside your head. We recommend doing a brain dump at least once a week to clear your head and prevent the buildup of stress and anxiety.

2. Developing Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an essential life skill involving troubleshooting problems that crop up in your daily life. It often involves the application of mindful communication.

Furthermore, critical thinking teaches us how to think independently.

This printable is a compilation of different worksheets that can help you develop and strengthen critical thinking skills.

3. Empathy Workbook

Empathy allows us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes and imagine how they could be feeling during a particular situation. It is one of the essential life skills that we need to learn to navigate through life and our relationships with others more smoothly.

This workbook provides the basics about empathy and why it’s important. It has activities and guide questions to help users develop a deeper understanding of this life skill. Dedicated spaces are provided for writing answers and reflections.

4. Wall of Resilience

This worksheet helps you develop personal resilience by identifying the areas of your life that need improvement. It also provides tips for strengthening particular areas.

The areas that the worksheet recommends you work on include:

• Relationships
• Rest and relaxation
• Physical activity
• Spirituality

5. Weighing the Consequences of a Decision

Sometimes it’s really difficult to make a decision, especially if you’re not sure of the consequences of your decision.

Nevertheless, being able to make decisions and accept their consequence is an important life skill.

This worksheet is designed to help you consider the foreseeable positive and negative consequences of a decision. Hopefully, with the help of this worksheet, you can learn how to accept and face the outcome of your choices.

6. Hold Yourself Accountable

Accountability and personal responsibility are an essential life skill for success.

If you keep making excuses for your failures, you might become an unreliable person. Learning to be accountable for your actions is easier with this worksheet.

7. Self-Love Worksheet

Perhaps one of the most difficult life skills to learn as an adult is how to practice self-compassion.

We often beat ourselves up for the mistakes we make. Furthermore, many of us find it easier to prioritize other people's welfare than our own.

This self-love worksheet keeps you mindful of the ways that you can show yourself appreciation and love. ( Here are some pointers for loving yourself more. )

Worksheets for Students

8. step by step guide to laundry.

Doing the laundry is one of the life skills that older kids will find useful once they find places of their own. This worksheet provides a clear-cut guide to doing this essential household chore.

Hang it in the laundry area for easy access for those who need some visual prompts for washing their clothes.

9. Kitchen Safety

If your kids are learning how to cook, they need to understand how to stay safe in the kitchen. This worksheet provides tips, warnings, and instructions on how to safely navigate around the kitchen while cooking.

In addition to notes about kitchen safety, the worksheet provides a quizlet to check whether your child has understood the topic they're learning about.

10. How to Write a Check

Although financial transactions these days are usually done through electronic banking or debit cards, knowing how to write a check is still a useful life skill that everyone should have.

This worksheet helps users correctly write checks. It features a diagram and a blank check that you can practice on.

11. Communicating Effectively via Email

An essential life skill that is a great help for young people's future careers is communicating effectively.

This worksheet teaches students and young people how to write polite and professional emails in preparation for the correspondence they might send when they are in a workplace.

The worksheet also provides information about the various parts of an email, as well as tips for filling out the sections appropriately.

12. Helping Others

Children are sometimes involved in conflicts with their peers. Adults need to show them the skills necessary for dealing with conflict and empower them to take action that shows critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and conflict-resolution skills.

This worksheet helps students role-play a couple of social situations for the practical application of several life skills.

13. Making an Appointment

Another essential life skill that students need to learn is how to set an appointment.

This worksheet is a guide to social interaction. An example dialogue is added so students can practice the steps for accomplishing this.

Final Thoughts

Life skills are essential not only for our success, but also for our survival.

Ideally, many of these skills need to be taught early. The more life skills children and young people have, the more easily they can become contributing and functioning members of society.

Speaking of skills, here are several more resources that you might want to check out about this subject:

• Learn Something New: 101 New Skills to Learn Starting Today
• 135 Soft Skills List to Stand Out on a Resume or Job Application
• How to Use Deliberate Practice to Master ANY Skill
• 7 Styles for Learning New Things (and Actually Remembering Them!)
• 21 Fun Tools to Learn Something New Every Day

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

Eat, Sleep, Wander

5 Examples of Problem Solving Scenarios + ROLE PLAY SCRIPTS

Problem-solving is an essential skill in our daily lives. It enables us to analyze situations, identify challenges, and find suitable solutions. In this article, we’ll explore five real-life problem-solving scenarios from various areas, including business, education, and personal growth. By understanding these examples, you can develop your problem-solving abilities and effectively tackle challenges in your life.

Examples of Problem Solving Scenarios

Improving Customer Service Scenario:

A retail store is experiencing a decline in customer satisfaction, with clients complaining about slow service and unhelpful staff.

Solution : The store manager assembles a team to analyze customer feedback, identify key issues, and propose solutions. They implement a new training program focused on customer service skills, streamline the checkout process, and introduce an incentive system to motivate employees. As a result, customer satisfaction improves, and the store’s reputation is restored.

Enhancing Learning Outcomes Scenario:

A high school teacher notices that her students struggle with understanding complex concepts in her science class, leading to poor performance on tests.

Solution : The teacher reevaluates her teaching methods and incorporates active learning strategies, such as group discussions, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, to make the material more engaging and relatable. She also offers additional support sessions and resources for students who need extra help. Consequently, students’ understanding improves, and test scores increase.

Overcoming Procrastination Scenario:

An individual consistently procrastinates, leading to increased stress and reduced productivity.

Solution : The person identifies the root cause of their procrastination, such as fear of failure or lack of motivation. They establish clear goals and deadlines, break tasks into manageable steps, and use time management tools, like the Pomodoro Technique , to stay focused. By consistently applying these strategies, they successfully overcome procrastination and enhance their productivity.

Reducing Patient Wait Times Scenario:

A medical clinic has long wait times, leading to patient dissatisfaction and overworked staff.

Solution : The clinic’s management team conducts a thorough analysis of the appointment scheduling process and identifies bottlenecks. They implement a new appointment system, hire additional staff, and optimize the workflow to reduce wait times. As a result, patient satisfaction increases, and staff stress levels decrease.

Reducing Plastic Waste Scenario:

A local community is struggling with an excessive amount of plastic waste, causing environmental pollution and health concerns.

Solution : Community leaders organize a task force to address the issue. They implement a recycling program, educate residents about the environmental impact of plastic waste, and collaborate with local businesses to promote the use of eco-friendly packaging alternatives. These actions lead to a significant reduction in plastic waste and a cleaner, healthier community.

Conclusion : These five examples of problem-solving scenarios demonstrate how effective problem-solving strategies can lead to successful outcomes in various aspects of life. By learning from these scenarios, you can develop your problem-solving skills and become better equipped to face challenges in your personal and professional life. Remember to analyze situations carefully, identify the root causes, and implement solutions that address these issues for optimal results.

• See also: 4 Medical Role Play Scenarios: Prepare for the Real Thing
• See also: 3 Financial Advisor Role Play Scenarios: Practice Your Skills!
• See also: 3 Insurance Role Play Examples
• See also: 3 Workplace Scenarios for Role Play

Role Play: Improving Customer Service in a Retail Store

Objective : To practice effective problem-solving and communication skills in a retail setting by addressing customer service issues and finding solutions to improve customer satisfaction.

Scenario : A retail store is experiencing a decline in customer satisfaction, with clients complaining about slow service and unhelpful staff.

Characters :

• Store Manager
• Sales Associate
• Assistant Manager

Role Play Script:

Scene 1 : Store Manager’s Office Store Manager: (Addressing the Assistant Manager and Sales Associate) I’ve noticed that our customer satisfaction has been declining lately. We’ve received several complaints about slow service and unhelpful staff. We need to address these issues immediately. Any suggestions?

Sales Associate : I’ve observed that the checkout process can be quite slow, especially during peak hours. Maybe we can improve our system to make it more efficient?

Assistant Manager : I agree. We could also implement a new training program for our staff, focusing on customer service skills and techniques.

Scene 2 : Staff Training Session Store Manager: (Addressing the entire staff) We’re implementing a new training program to improve our customer service. This program will cover effective communication, problem-solving, and time management skills. We’ll also introduce an incentive system to reward those who provide exceptional service.

Scene 3 : Retail Floor Customer: (Approaching the Sales Associate) Excuse me, I can’t find the product I’m looking for. Can you help me?

Sales Associate : (Smiling) Of course! I’d be happy to help. What product are you looking for?

Customer : I need a specific brand of shampoo, but I can’t find it on the shelves.

Sales Associate : Let me check our inventory system to see if we have it in stock. (Checks inventory) I’m sorry, but it seems we’re currently out of stock. However, we’re expecting a new shipment within two days. I can take your contact information and let you know as soon as it arrives.

Customer : That would be great! Thank you for your help.

Scene 4 : Store Manager’s Office Assistant Manager: (Reporting to the Store Manager) Since we implemented the new training program and made changes to the checkout process, we’ve seen a significant improvement in customer satisfaction.

Store Manager : That’s excellent news! Let’s continue to monitor our progress and make any necessary adjustments to ensure we maintain this positive trend.

More Examples of Problem Solving Scenarios on the next page…

Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

We understand that it's difficult to learn how to use critical thinking more effectively in just one article, but our service is here to help.

We are a team specializing in writing essays and other assignments for college students and all other types of customers who need a helping hand in its making. We cover a great range of topics, offer perfect quality work, always deliver on time and aim to leave our customers completely satisfied with what they ordered.

The ordering process is fully online, and it goes as follows:

• Select the topic and the deadline of your essay.
• Provide us with any details, requirements, statements that should be emphasized or particular parts of the essay writing process you struggle with.
• Leave the email address, where your completed order will be sent to.
• Select your prefered payment type, sit back and relax!

With lots of experience on the market, professionally degreed essay writers , online 24/7 customer support and incredibly low prices, you won't find a service offering a better deal than ours.

Are you planning for retirement? Take this quiz to see if you're ready or not

Most Americans heading toward retirement don't have a good grasp of the issues that could shape their financial well-being after they stop working.

Researchers from the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at Stanford University recently asked adults five questions dealing with retirement issues focused on Social Security, Medicare and workplace retirement plans. On average, respondents answered two of five questions correctly. Only 4% of the respondents got all five right.

The lack of awareness of retirement issues could translate to poor financial decisions and other problems. "Individuals with greater retirement 'fluency' tend to be more confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout retirement," the researchers wrote.

The quiz results from this study are the latest example showing generally low financial literacy. Test your knowledge on the five questions below, with correct answers at the bottom of the article.

Which statement about Social Security is false?

1. The amount someone receives in Social Security benefits depends upon his/her earnings during the last two years of full-time employment.

2. A worker receives Social Security benefit payments if he/she becomes disabled before retiring.

3. Social Security benefit payments will continue as long as an individual is alive, no matter how long he/she lives.

4. Don’t know.

On average, Medicare and other government programs cover how much of an individual’s health care expenses in retirement?

1. Over 90%.

2. About 2/3.

3. About 1/2.

Latisha plans to start saving for retirement by setting aside $2,000 this year. Her employer offers a 401(k) plan and fully matches a worker’s contributions up to $5,000 each year. Under which scenario does Latisha have the largest amount in retirement savings at year-end?

1. She contributes $2,000 to the 401(k) plan and invests the money in a mutual fund that earns a 5% return during the year.

2. She contributes $2,000 to an IRA or Individual Retirement Account and invests the money in a mutual fund that earns a 5% return during the year.

3. It does not matter — she will have the same amount of year-end savings either way.

Susan worries about living a long life and running out of money. What is the best way for her to address that possibility?

1. Buy an annuity.

2. Buy life insurance.

3. There is nothing she can do about this.

(For men) On average in the U.S., how long will a 65-year-old man live?

1. About 14 more years (age 79).

2. About 19 more years (age 84).

3. About 24 more years (age 89).

(For women) On average in the U.S., how long will a 65-year-old woman live?

1. About 17 more years (age 82).

2. About 22 more years (age 87).

3. About 27 more years (age 92).

Assessing your score

As noted, only 4% of respondents answered each of the five retirement questions correctly.

The correct answer to the first question is response 1, as Social Security benefits are based on decades' worth of earnings, up to 35 years, not just on the last two years.

On question 2, the correct response is 2, with Medicare and other government programs covering about two-thirds of medical costs in retirement on average. This answer got the fewest correct answers, just 30%.

The correct answer to the third question is response 1. The information provided for answers 1 and 2 is identical, except for the employer's matching funds in the 401(k) program that go into Latisha's account to help boost her balance.

For question 4, the correct answer is 1, as annuities are designed to provide lifetime income. Life insurance benefits, by contrast, typically are paid at death. The fourth question elicited the most correct responses, 53%.

The correct answers to the fifth question are 2 for men and 2 for women. In other words, men reaching 65 can expect to live another 19 years on average to 84 and women another 22 years to 87.

General financial awareness is also lacking

The retirement questions were not included in an ongoing annual quiz and study by researchers at the TIAA Institute and Stanford's GFLEC that measures general financial literacy.

For that, adult respondents correctly answered 48% of this year's 28 questions. That figure has hovered around 50% since the first survey was conducted in 2017. People scoring lower tend to have more debts, less in savings and reduced confidence in making financial decisions, the researchers said. Nearly 3,900 adults were surveyed.

Want to retire in Arizona? You may need to save more than $1M. How much it costs

Here are two sample questions:

• Anna saves $500 each year for 10 years and then stops saving additional money. Charlie saves nothing for 10 years but then receives a $5,000 gift, which he saves.  If both Anna and Charlie earn a 5% return each year, who will have more money in 20 years? Anna? Charlie? Or will both have the same amount?
• Jose owes $1,000 on a loan that has an interest rate of 20% compounded annually. If he makes no payments on the loan, how many years will it take for the amount he owes to double? Fewer than five years? Five to 10 years? More than 10 years?

Answer to the first question: Anna, as she too would contribute $5,000 in total but would earn a 5% return annually for 20 years, compared to 10 for Charlie.

Answer to the second question: Fewer than five years.

This answer can be figured quickly using the rule of 72, which estimates the time it would take your money to double if you know the interest rate. You divide 72 by the interest rate — in this case 20 — for an answer of 3.6 years.

Reach the writer at [email protected].

What Is The Problem In Your Life? Quiz

Do you feel like your life is full of problems? Have you ever tried to find out what is the real problem in your life? Take this 'what is the problem in your life quiz' and find out your biggest life problem. All you have to do is answer a few questions that we'll ask you here in this quiz. Once you've answered all the questions, we'll try to determine the result on the basis of your answers. But please note that the answers here are just assumptions and do not guarantee any real-life accuracy.

Which of these words catch your attention?

Which of these things do you consider the most important in your life?

Do you think I really guessed your problem?

I hope you can help me with my problems too..

I'm not in the mood.

Maybe, I don't know.

Hahaha LOL!

What's your mood for most of the day?

Hot tempered

What are you thinking right now?

Where to find money

Which of these sentences explain your life or problems? 

I'm an independent person, I survive on my own.

I was fired/kicked out of my job and now I don't know what to do.

I love him/her so much I hope we can be together again. I want to be with him, her.

My family doesn't understands me, they just know what they want for me.

Ok tell me, what is your plan now?

I feel find work again, I will go back school.

I will go to my special someone, I miss him/her so much

I will prove to my parents I can do it!

I will borrow money or find a way to have a money

Where do you eat? and what do you eat?

I eat on my home, and I eat some canned foods.

I'm not eating this pass days

At home, and I eat anything what's on table

I eat outside or in my friends house, I don't wanna stay home

Which of these things do you consider as your biggest weakness? 

My never ending greed for money 

My partner 

My job and career

According to you, your problem in life is related to ________________. 

My relationships and love life

Quiz Review Timeline +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

• Current Version
• Mar 22, 2022 Quiz Edited by ProProfs Editorial Team
• Jan 20, 2016 Quiz Created by Lyn07

Related Topics

Recent Quizzes

Featured Quizzes

Popular Topics

• Activism Quizzes
• Adult Quizzes
• Age Quizzes
• Antisocial Quizzes
• Boy Quizzes
• Bullying Quizzes
• Clan Quizzes
• Communism Quizzes
• Community Quizzes
• Conflict Quizzes
• Crime Quizzes
• Cultural Assimilation Quizzes
• Culture Quizzes
• Death Quizzes
• Dictator Quizzes
• Disability Quizzes
• Environment Quizzes
• Ethnicity Quizzes
• Etiquette Quizzes
• Event Quizzes
• Feminism Quizzes
• Festival Quizzes
• Fraternity Quizzes
• Future Quizzes
• Gay Quizzes
• Gender Quizzes
• Generation Quizzes
• Girl Quizzes
• Goth Quizzes
• Homelessness Quizzes
• Human Rights Quizzes
• Humanity Quizzes
• Kid Quizzes
• Labor Quizzes
• Law Quizzes
• Lesbian Quizzes
• LGBT Quizzes
• Lifestyle Quizzes
• Man Quizzes
• Mature Quizzes
• Military Quizzes
• Morality Quizzes
• Movement Quizzes
• Museum Quizzes
• Mythology Quizzes
• Paranormal Quizzes
• Peer Pressure Quizzes
• People Quizzes
• Politics Quizzes
• POSH Quizzes
• Racism Quizzes
• Religion Quizzes
• Romanticism Quizzes
• Security Quizzes
• Social Quizzes
• Social Science Quizzes
• Spirituality Quizzes
• Tribe Quizzes
• Wedding Quizzes
• Women Quizzes
• Work Quizzes
• Youth Quizzes

Related Quizzes

Wait! Here's an interesting quiz for you.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

AI Prompt Engineering Isn’t the Future

• Oguz A. Acar

Asking the perfect question is less important than really understanding the problem you’re trying to solve.

Despite the buzz surrounding it, the prominence of prompt engineering may be fleeting. A more enduring and adaptable skill will keep enabling us to harness the potential of generative AI? It is called problem formulation — the ability to identify, analyze, and delineate problems.

Prompt engineering has taken the generative AI world by storm. The job, which entails optimizing textual input to effectively communicate with large language models, has been hailed by World Economic Forum as the number one “job of the future” while Open AI CEO Sam Altman characterized it as an “amazingly high-leveraged skill.” Social media brims with a new wave of influencers showcasing “magic prompts” and pledging amazing outcomes.

• Oguz A. Acar is a Chair in Marketing at King’s Business School, King’s College London.

Partner Center

• The Magazine
• Stay Curious
• The Sciences
• Environment
• Planet Earth

The Science Behind Netflix's '3 Body Problem,' As Explained By Astrophysics Expert Paul Sutter

The namesake behind netflix's new sci-fi series is an unsolvable physics problem that has baffled scientists for centuries. paul sutter breaks down the real three-body problem — and why nobody can solve it..

Netflix's 3 Body Problem has been generating a lot of buzz since its premiere last month, and it's not hard to see why: The hit new series is being helmed by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with screenwriter Alexander Woo, and adapts a bestselling sci-fi book trilogy by Chinese writer Liu Cixin.

Both series explore thorny theoretical ideas posed by quantum mechanics, and don't skimp on the science, either. In fact, the series namesake — the titular three-body problem — involves an unsolvable physics conundrum that has baffled scientists for centuries.

Paul Sutter , a theoretical cosmologist, award-winning science communicator, NASA advisor, and U.S. Cultural Ambassador helps break down the real-world science behind the fiction.

What Is the Real Three-Body Problem?

The three-body problem is the original, and perhaps greatest, unsolved problem in all of physics. And while we know that we will likely never find a true solution to it, its existence continues to propel even the most advanced of our theories.

Read More: Our Moral Obligations for Parallel Universes are Unclear, Says Expert Paul Sutter

The trouble began all the way back in the early 1700’s. Sir Isaac Newton had just revolutionized our understanding of the physical world by realizing that gravity was a universal force : It causes the motion of everything from an apple falling from a tree to the orbit of the Moon around the Earth. It was also a major advance in mathematical physics. With a simple equation, now you could do the seemingly impossible: predict the future.

For example, if you know the masses of two objects in space and their distance from each other, then you can use Newton’s law of gravitation to predict exactly how those objects will move throughout the rest of time. And as an added bonus, all you need is a pencil and plenty of paper to get the job done.

Naturally, given Newton’s insight, physicists wanted to apply his technique to all sorts of scenarios. For example, Sir Edmund Halley was famously able to predict the reappearance of his eponymous comet and the timing of a total solar eclipse in 1715. But the real solar system is often much more complex than just two individual objects interacting with each other.

The next step up in difficulty is to solve for the gravitational movement of three objects, and that quickly proved to be, well, impossible. Try as they might, nobody could write down a simple formula that predicted with absolute certainty how three objects would behave when interacting with gravity: this is the root of the three-body problem.

Efforts to Solve the Three-Body Problem

Through the centuries many famous mathematicians and physicists, like Leonhard Euler, Joseph-Louis Lagrange, and Henri Poincare, have thrown themselves at the problem, to varying levels of success.

For example, Euler found that if all three objects start off in a straight line you can find some solutions to their future motions. Lagrange discovered that if one of the objects is much, much smaller than the other two, you can find some points of stability where the third object will maintain in equilibrium (which are now known as Lagrange points in his honor).

Read More: Have the Laws of Physics Ever Been Broken?

It even rose to the level of a competition. In 1889 Oscar II, King of Sweden and Norway, announced an international prize for anyone who could solve the three-body problem. Poincare responded to the challenge and ended up writing an entire book dedicated to the subject.

Even though he was awarded the prize, he didn’t think he deserved it – after all, even after writing the book, he still hadn’t solved the problem for all cases, only finding to his dismay a rich series of limited solutions and special cases.

The Rise of Chaos Theory

These giants of mathematics didn’t realize that they were dealing with a whole new kind of physics, one that we didn’t recognize until the mid-twentieth century. The three-body problem is our earliest known example of what we now call chaos theory. Chaos theory refers to a special set of problems that, although they can appear extremely simple, are outright impossible to solve.

The real issue behind chaos theory is something known as sensitivity to initial conditions. If you change one tiny little thing about the starting point of your planets, for example, you’ll end up in a completely different set of orbits than what you predicted.

Read More: 5 Obscure Formulas That Rule the World

Since it’s impossible to measure with infinite precision the position of any planet, this sensitivity means that we are fundamentally limited in how far into the future we can predict the motions of objects in the three-body problem.

Chaos theory now sits as its own branch of physics, informing such seemingly unrelated phenomena as weather systems and population dynamics.

New Interest in the Three-Body Problem

Pop culture aside, in recent years, the three-body problem has taken on renewed interest in astronomy over the question of planetary habitability and extraterrestrial life. Most of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy are binary pairs, or more, and for years, astronomers assumed that planets could not exist around those stars in a stable orbit.

Read More: 10 Facts You May Not Know About the Milky Way

But astronomers have indeed discovered exoplanets orbiting binary stars, in all sorts of strange orbits. Determining if these planets can host life requires an understanding of the long-term stability of their orbits — which means solving the three-body problem once and for all.

Paul M. Sutter is a theoretical cosmologist, NASA advisor, host of the "Ask a Spaceman" podcast, and a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. He is the author of Your Place in the Universe and How to Die in Space .

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

These 150-foot-high sails could help solve shipping’s climate problem

Harnessing the power of wind could both reduce emissions from cargo ships and extend the life of these vessels.

To cut costs and carbon emissions, cargo ships are putting a new spin on an ancient technology: the sail.

These aren’t the sailboats of yore. Modern sails look more like airplane wings, smokestacks or balloons, and they use artificial intelligence to catch the wind with little help from mariners who long ago forgot the art of hoisting a mainsail.

Sails can reduce an existing ship’s fuel consumption — and greenhouse emissions — by something like 10 or 20 percent, according to maritime experts, making them an attractive option for ship owners looking to cut costs or comply with environmental regulations.

Ships burn some of the world’s dirtiest fuels and generate roughly 3 percent of global emissions, a share that’s only expected to rise over time , according to the United Nations. The European Union created a cap-and-trade system for shipping emissions earlier this year, and the U.N. International Maritime Organization is finalizing its own emissions rules now that would penalize the owners of dirty vessels.

Rather than sending those dirty vessels to the scrapyard, companies can install sails to clean up some of their emissions and extend their ships’ lives. And as the industry eventually moves toward alternative fuels that are low-carbon but high-cost, saving money on fuel will become even more important.

There are now 39 large commercial ships with sails, according to the International Windship Association, an industry group that represents sailmakers, ship owners and ship designers. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the roughly 100,000 cargo ships plying the seas , but the technology seems poised to take off as sails move from test projects to real-world use. Sailmakers are building new factories to meet the expected demand.

“We’re at an inflection point,” said Matthew Collette, a professor of naval architecture and marine engineering at the University of Michigan. “We’re going to see this coming very quickly to a larger number of ships.”

Here are some of the strange sails that may one day push your online orders across the seas.

Ships with wings

One of the most versatile sail designs looks and works a lot like an airplane wing.

“All we’ve done is taken that wing and put it vertically,” said John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, a company that manufactures this type of sail, “so instead of creating lift, we’re creating thrust.”

On an airplane, wind flows over the wings and creates air pressure differences that push the plane up. On a ship, the wings works the same way — except they’re angled to push the ship forward.

The wings come with sensors that measure weather conditions, and they automatically change their angle and shape to catch the wind. These sails can typically be used for most of a voyage, but they fold down to the deck if the wind blows faster than 30 knots, or when the ship is docking or loading cargo.

Last year, BAR Technologies installed two of its wings on a 43,000-ton ship designed to carry dry bulk cargo such as grains, coal or minerals. Over its first six months, the ship saved 14 percent on fuel as it crisscrossed the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, according to the ship’s owner.

The return of the rotor sail

At first glance, rotor sails may look like smokestacks rising from the deck, but they’re actually tall, rotating cylinders that use wind to push a ship forward.

When the wind is blowing at the right angle, an electrical motor spins the rotor sails, speeding up the air flow on one side of the sail and slowing it down on the other. That creates an air pressure difference that pushes the ship forward.

Norsepower, the biggest rotor sail manufacturer, says they typically help ships save 8 to 10 percent on fuel.

Rotor sails are more than a century old; German inventor Anton Flettner patented the idea in 1922 and an experimental cargo ship fitted with rotor sails crossed the Atlantic in 1926. But Norsepower, which is based in Finland, says the sails have come a long way since then, thanks to lightweight composite materials and AI systems that adjust to the wind to make the sails more efficient.

“We can make a much better sail than Mr. Flettner did in the 1920s,” said Tuomas Riski, Norsepower’s CEO.

The Michelin Man sail

Michelin is developing a more experimental inflatable sail which, appropriately, looks a lot like the company’s mascot.

Michelin’s design works similarly to a classic sail, made to catch the wind and redirect its power forward. The main difference is that its sail is made of inflatable fabric instead of a canvas sheet, and its mast can retract down to the deck. The sail can change its size depending on wind conditions.

Like the other sails, Michelin’s product operates by itself. “It has to be fully automated because today’s sailors have no time and no particular knowledge about sails,” said Gildas Quemeneur, who is leading the project.