A method for demonstrating a person has strong analytic and synthetic ability. The subject is presented with a carefully chosen puzzle or problem, which is fairly easy to solve using trial and error, but which also can be solve by using analysis and synthesis. The subject is instructed to solve the puzzle without using trial and error and to describe or document their method. Where the subject successfully describes the steps such that they follow a logical flow and lead correctly to the solution, the subject has demonstrated analytic and synthetic ability in a verifiable way.