The Test

Idir Jalil lives in London with his wife, Tidir, and two children. As an immigrant seeking citizenship, he must pass the British Values Assessment test. Failure will cause an immediate deportation of the whole family.

Just minutes after he starts the test, terrorists storm the building. Their leader plays a game with Jalil – every fifteen minutes he picks two hostages from the crowd and has Jalil decide who lives and who dies. With his family amongst the hostages, Jalil experiences conflicting emotions and heart-wrenching drama. How is he supposed to choose who lives and who dies?

Obviously, theres much more going on, but I cant elaborate on it without going too far into a spoiler territory. Terrorists have their motives and we discover them at around thirty pages into the novella. A strong contrast between Jalils goodness and oppressors cold and clinical approach to life results in a fascinating read.

I find The Test disturbing and though-provoking, but also predictable. While not remarkable, its well worth the read.

I’ve read it as a third novella in my self-imposed 10 days / 10 novellas challenge. Seven more to go

Its hard to discuss The Test without giving away key plot details. As a summary, its a harrowing read, filled with deep questions about ethics, human psychology, and the impact of trauma. I recommend giving it a read.

To go into a bit more detail

The Test is an examination of what it means to be human. It starts off as a typical test and becomes a horrifying life or death situation. The novella asks an extremely complex question: what kind of person would you become in a situation of extreme trauma? Its an interesting and terrifying question, especially when used as a method for assessing a persons right to citizenship. The psychological implications of this test are astounding, especially when the plot digs deeper and examines its roots.

At the beginning, we see a typical immigration test and, while its ridiculous and asks questions no one really needs to know, it pales in comparison to the horrors that come. To say the scenario is unethical would be an understatement. Imagining a government weeding people out based on trauma is pretty horrifying. This reduces people down to sets of statistics, with their futures hanging on which box gets checked.

Its especially difficult to watch these events unfold because we get to know the primary character well. We see him shift from excitement to fear to pure trauma. That transition is haunting, and knowing the implications of the test on his life to come makes it all the harder to stomach.

The Test is a psychological experiment to be sure, examining human actions from a personal and a government perspective. In the end, its clear that the good guys have crossed the threshold and left their humanity at the door.

How does one accurately determine if someone is a good fit for their society? In <i>The Test</i>, this citizenship test is much more than your basic test. It assesses your values, beliefs, knowledge and most importantly, whether you will be a good fit for the society as a whole.

The test of course isnt without its flaws. Who they decide to deem a citizen is incredibly subjective. To me, the test is more of a cruel and unusual punishment than an actual measurement of whether someone meets the qualifications to become a British citizen. Overall, a thought-provoking and entertaining read. I didnt give it a higher rating because some of the dialogue and inner thoughts of the characters were written in a very juvenile tone.

Set in a futuristic society where the immigration process is data-driven and is like a Black Mirror episode – pass ~the test~ and secure your and your familys citizenship.

I love this novella for hitting the nail in the head in just a hundred pages. It makes you think and realize that the choices you make for yourself and others, no matter how minute they may seem – change the narrative and, ultimately, YOU.

Trigger/content warning: terrorist attack, hostage-taking, violence, trauma

A short story that will inevitably be compared to an episode of Black Mirror. Set in a near future where British security is at a heightened state and the vetting of citizens is at a premium, The Test makes the reader think about race, the choices we make, and the aftermath of those decisions. I thoroughly enjoyed the psychological language Nuevel employed to describe the inter-workings of the exam. This story will push you and get your heart pounding.

Definitely Recommended.

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