Pew Research News IQ Quiz

What's Your Political News IQ?
Take the Quiz

To test your knowledge of prominent people and major events in the news, we invite you to take our short 11-question quiz. Then see how you did in comparison with 1,004 randomly sampled adults asked the same questions in a national survey conducted Mar. 17-20, 2011 by the Pew Research Center.

The Pew Research Center updates the News IQ quiz every few months by conducting a nationwide survey of Americans reached by both landline and cell phones. Each version of the quiz asks a wide range of questions about current events and issues as well as background facts and concepts that are relevant to the news. For an analysis of the findings from the most recent national News IQ survey, read the full summary of findings. (No peeking! If you are going to take the quiz, do it first before reading the analysis.)

The exact same quiz administered on the telephone survey is replicated here on the website. When you finish, you will be able to compare your News IQ with: the average American, as well as with the scores of men and women; with college graduates as well as those who didn't attend college; with people who are your age as well as with younger and older Americans. Are you more news-savvy than the average American? Here's your chance to find out.

The full reports from earlier versions of the quiz are also available (See November 2010, July 2010, January 2010, October 2009, April 2009, December 2008, February 2008, September 2007 and April 2007). The April 2007 report also includes an analysis of how knowledge levels vary according to people's news sources.