GCHQ Christmas puzzle 2022

The festive challenge was designed to test problem-solving skills as well as inspire an interest in Stem subjects. UK, York, Male and female operators in ...

“But skills alone won’t be enough to crack this one. He continued: “Based on the seven disciplines featured in the recently published Puzzles For Spies book, the GCHQChristmasChallenge tests the lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance needed by those working at GCHQ across its missions to keep the country safe.” The puzzles are based on the seven disciplines of: languages, engineering, codebreaking, analysis, maths, coding and cyber security – all key skills needed at GCHQ to help keep the country safe.

The Cheltenham-based intelligence and security organisation is challenging school children and the public generally to pass its test.

This year’s GCHQ Christmas Card Challenge gives an insight into the skills we need every day as part of our mission - from languages to coding. Once they solve all seven puzzles, schoolchildren will need to think outside the box, using the design on the front of the card to assemble the answers, forming three separate What3Words locations. They are based on the seven disciplines of languages, engineering, codebreaking, analysis, maths, coding and cyber security - all key skills needed at GCHQ to help keep the country safe. The puzzle features on the GCHQ director’s Christmas card. It is primarily aimed at secondary school children but GCHQ is inviting everyone to see if they can crack it. This year’s test for the nation has been set by staff at the intelligence and security organisation.

The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has released a string of "fiendish" puzzles for Christmas, curated by a team of in-house masterminds.

"But skills alone won’t be enough to crack this one. [Sign up](https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters?itm_channel=native&itm_campaign=footer&itm_audience=prospecting&itm_content=newsletters) to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Once six of the seven puzzles have been completed, they must be assembled into three words to form an address.

GCHQ director Sir Jeremy Fleming warned puzzlers that "skills alone won't be enough" to solve this year's festive brain-scratcher.

"But skills alone won't be enough to crack this one. Puzzlers need to combine a mix of minds to solve the seemingly impossible." A GCHQ spokesman: "This year's challenge comes with a twist, once they solve all seven puzzles, schoolchildren will need to think outside the box, using the design on the front of the card to assemble the answers, forming three separate What3Words locations.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, the spy chief who leads GCHQ, has set a mission for schoolchildren to solve this challenge in time for the 25th. The puzzle is designed ...

Puzzlers need to combine a mix of minds to solve the seemingly impossible.' The remaining puzzle contains a third address. 'This year's GCHQ Christmas Card Challenge gives an insight into the skills we need every day as part of our mission – from languages to coding. Six of the puzzles have one-word answers. Sir Jeremy Fleming, the spy chief who leads GCHQ, has set out a seven-step puzzle to be solved in time for the 25th Sir Jeremy Fleming, the spy chief who leads GCHQ, has set a mission for schoolchildren to solve this challenge in time for the 25th.