The Great British Intelligence Test: how to take the BBC Horizon IQ test to see how smart you are - and what the results mean

Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Hannah Fry shared the findings on a special edition BBC Two show Horzion on Monday night (4 May).

But the test – created in conjunction with Imperial College London – is still available, and “with the nation staying at home, and with more time on our hands”, serves as a perfect time waster.

“Now’s your chance to flex your brain muscles,” say the BBC.

Here’s everything you need to know about it:

How do I take the test?

Actually navigating your way to the test is the easy part. Just head to the website here and get going.

Once you’re there, things get a little tougher, logic-wise; the test is made up of 10 separate parts, including exercises like spatial awareness and memory.

The full test can take over half an hour to complete, so make sure you set aside a bit of time if you wish to take it seriously.

Once you’re finished, you’ll be given a score based on your performance, which you can use to compare your mental dexterity to others who have taken the test.

The results page will also give you a rundown of what your mental strengths are.

What do my results mean?

If you’re wondering just how accurately the test is able to rank you based on the nation’s intelligence, it’s worth remember that over 250,000 have taken the test.

That means your results are accurate enough to give you a good idea of where you stand compared to the country.

Your results will also be contributing to important scientific research, helping scientists at the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, to understand how our changing behaviour and lifestyle is affecting our intelligence.

What does the test say about the nation?

A huge range of factors can affect intelligence, from age and lifestyle to even internet usage.

The study showed that people who play video games, for example, scored higher in tests of spatial working memory. And the best types of games for tightening up those cortices? High-paced, shoot 'em up style games.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, reading was found to be the best way to boost ones verbal abilities, but the study also concluded that searching the web was nearly as useful.

Other things that were found to affect your verbal ability were a healthy diet (lots of fruit and vegetables had a positive impact), and cat owners were found to have slightly better verbal abilities than dog owners - though researchers admitted this may have been a fluke.

Despite what many people might think, the study found little relationship between brain power and time spent using modern gadgets and technology.

It’s only when the time spent on such devices approached a symptom of tech addition – which can lead to increased stress and mental health issues – that the results changed.

Horizon’s Great British Intelligence Test is available to stream on iPlayer until early June