QQ is here to change the face of school quizzes. As the country's first professional quiz certification, it aims to recognise true talent.

First there was Intelligent Quotient (IQ) and those who supposedly had it going around with smug expressions. Then came along the Emotional Quotient (EQ). The latest in the quotient factory is SQ (Spiritual Quotient for the initiated). But kids can now perhaps boast of being one step ahead with Quiz Quotient - 2001-02 to be launched by Quizbrain, the first quiz portal in the world to be nominated for an Internet Oscar.

Quizbrain.com, an affiliate of indiainfo.com, is being projected as India's "first comprehensive knowledge portal". The 'offline' shows are hosted by quizmaster Giri Balasubramaniam who calls himself 'Pickbrain' on these shows.

QQ is India's first professional quiz certification for school children. "We want QQ to be a barometer of the quizzing aptitude of the kids," says Mr Balasubramaniam. "QQ would help schools identify quizzing talent instead of blindly packing off toppers to quiz competitions." School toppers, he adds, are not necessarily good quizzers. "Most of the quizzes at schools are heavily into academics and invariably drab. The questions never stray from science, maths and history. And we all know how 'relevant' these subjects are in the real world," he says with a chuckle.

Prior to the launch, Quizbrain commissioned a survey of parents and students across five cities. Over 1,200 students and 250 parents were quizzed about quizzing trends and practices. "Most parents vehemently agreed that quizzing improves awareness and just academics is not enough. And nearly 65 per cent of the children said they were unhappy with the selection process for quiz teams in their schools," he says.

And what of the KBC effect? "KBC did prop up but surprisingly, more than half the children preferred live interactive quizzing to TV shows." The quizmaster complains about the outdated quizbooks available in the market. "The quiz books I bought 10 years ago are still making the rounds. What more, they are as insipid and unimaginative as ever."

The quiz certification is divided into three levels from II to X standard. The quotient would be calculated against the maximum of 100. Those who obtain a quotient value of more than 40 would be given QQ certificates and the best individual performer in each category at each school would be provided a one-time scholarship.