A seemingly simple question on The 1% Club left three-quarters of contestants scratching their heads after a clever wording trick caught them out.
The ITV quiz show, hosted by comedian Lee Mack, is designed to test logic and common sense rather than straightforward general knowledge. Contestants face increasingly difficult questions as they compete for a share of a £100,000 cash prize.
But one recent question proved that sometimes the hardest part of a quiz is simply reading the question carefully.
Would you get this in 30 seconds? (ITV)
Can you solve it in 30 seconds?
Contestants were shown three different shapes labelled A, B and C and asked:
“Which square has the biggest total area?”
They had just 30 seconds to choose their answer.
At first glance, the question appeared to be a straightforward maths problem. The shapes and numbers looked as though they belonged on a school maths exam, making it tempting to start working out their respective areas.
Others might simply have looked at the three shapes and instinctively chosen B because it appeared to be the largest.
But both approaches could lead you straight into the trap.
According to the episode, 75 per cent of contestants got the question wrong.
The trick was hidden in the wording
The question did not actually require any calculations.
Instead, contestants needed to pay close attention to one particular word: “square.”
Although three shapes were displayed, only one of them was actually a square.
The other two options were rectangles, meaning A was automatically the correct answer because it was the only square shown.
The apparent size of the shapes was completely irrelevant.
It was a classic 1% Club question: rather than testing someone’s ability to calculate an area, it tested whether they could resist the instinct to overthink what they were seeing.
Viewers admitted they fell for it too
The question also caught out viewers watching along at home.
One person admitted on social media that they initially chose B before going back and reading the question again.
Another viewer confessed: “I’m not going to lie, at first instinct I got it wrong too, then I saw the question again.”
The puzzle was a perfect reminder that The 1% Club often rewards careful reading over quick reactions.
With only 30 seconds to answer, it can be tempting to rush into calculations or choose the option that looks most obvious.
But sometimes, as this question demonstrated, the answer is sitting right in front of you — provided you actually read the question.