How to get better at logic puzzles: 7 practical tips
Puzzle-solving is a skill, and like any skill it improves with practice and a few good habits. These seven tips work for number sequences, logic statements and most brain teasers.
1. Look at the gaps, not the numbers
In a sequence such as 3, 5, 9, 15, 23, ?, the numbers themselves look random. Write down the differences instead: 2, 4, 6, 8. The next difference is 10, so the answer is 33.
2. Try multiplying, not just adding
If the gaps grow very fast, the rule is probably multiplication. In 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ? each number is multiplied by 2, then 3, then 4, then 5. Next is × 6, giving 720.
3. Turn letters into numbers
Letter sequences are usually number sequences in disguise. Write each letter’s place in the alphabet (A = 1, B = 2 …) and the pattern often jumps out.
4. With logic statements, only trust what must be true
“If it rains, the match is cancelled. The match was not cancelled.” The only safe conclusion is that it did not rain. Avoid answers that might be true but don’t have to be.
5. Simplify balance puzzles by removing the same thing from both sides
Just as in algebra, taking the same item off both sides of a scale keeps it balanced. This turns a confusing picture into a single simple step.
6. Eliminate wrong answers
With multiple choice, ruling out two clearly wrong options doubles your chances. Check each remaining option against the rule instead of guessing.
7. Practise little and often, then review your mistakes
A few minutes a day beats one long session. The most useful part is reading why an answer was right. That’s why the Ndovia app shows a summary with the correct answers after each section, and practice rounds at three levels.
A note on “brain training”
Practice makes you faster and more accurate at the kinds of puzzles you practise. There’s much less evidence that puzzle games raise general intelligence. Enjoy puzzles as a fun challenge, and see 6 types of reasoning puzzles for more examples to try.
Try it yourself: Ndovia IQ Brain Quiz is a free 24-question brain challenge across six domains, with a new mix of puzzles every time.
