Your next screen break: a free 7-day brain games challenge →

Free paper practice / BrainGamesZone

Give the screen
a short break.

Seven paper prompts for each of three practice goals. Use your browser’s Print menu to print this page or save it as a PDF. Cover recall examples before writing your answer.

These are recreational exercises, with no clinical scoring or guaranteed cognitive benefit.

Memory prompts

Pair these with the free memory challenge if you want online game practice too.

  1. 01

    Find your starting point

    Read 58 24 91 for ten seconds, then cover it. Recall the digits in order after a ten-second pause. Use your usual approach first. Compare with the original after you finish and mark omissions or swaps.

  2. 02

    Make smaller groups

    Read 36 70 18 for ten seconds, then cover it. Recall the digits in order after a ten-second pause. Try rehearsing the three pairs. Compare with the original after you finish and mark omissions or swaps.

  3. 03

    Name a visual pattern

    Draw a 3 by 3 grid. Shade squares 3, 6, 9 counting left to right, top to bottom. Look for ten seconds, cover the grid and reproduce it. Check the original afterwards.

  4. 04

    Slow down the first look

    Read these words for ten seconds: river, key, cloud, chair, lemon. Cover them and recall them in order. Use a new sheet; compare with the original only after finishing.

  5. 05

    Keep the order

    Read 64 29 50 for ten seconds, then cover it. Recall the digits in order after a ten-second pause. Use your usual approach first. Compare with the original after you finish and mark omissions or swaps.

  6. 06

    Try a second strategy

    Read 81 35 72 for ten seconds, then cover it. Recall the digits in order after a ten-second pause. Try rehearsing the three pairs. Compare with the original after you finish and mark omissions or swaps.

  7. 07

    Review without a record chase

    Draw a 3 by 3 grid. Shade squares 1, 4, 7 counting left to right, top to bottom. Look for ten seconds, cover the grid and reproduce it. Check the original afterwards.

Focus and accuracy prompts

Pair these with the free focus challenge if you want online game practice too.

  1. 01

    Begin with accuracy

    Write the numbers 1 to 20. Circle only multiples of three, then check every choice. Make a new copy and change the rule to odd numbers.

  2. 02

    Read the rule first

    Calculate 13 + 8, 25 - 9, 4 × 5, and 19 + 10. Check each result with a calculator after you finish; record calculation and copying errors separately.

  3. 03

    Use one task at a time

    Make two lists: five animals and five things that fit in a pocket. Pause before changing categories. Check that each item follows the new rule.

  4. 04

    Pause before the answer

    Write the numbers 4 to 23. Circle only multiples of four, then check every choice. Make a new copy and change the rule to odd numbers.

  5. 05

    Change the rule deliberately

    Calculate 16 + 11, 28 - 12, 7 × 4, and 22 + 13. Check each result with a calculator after you finish; record calculation and copying errors separately.

  6. 06

    A manageable challenge

    Make two lists: five foods and five objects found in a kitchen. Pause before changing categories. Check that each item follows the new rule.

  7. 07

    Review your attention setup

    Write the numbers 7 to 26. Circle only multiples of three, then check every choice. Make a new copy and change the rule to odd numbers.

Reaction practice planning

Pair these with the free speed challenge if you want online game practice too.

  1. 01

    Set a fair baseline

    Write your device, browser and input method. Compare with your Day 1 setup. Record any change before interpreting today's reaction score.

  2. 02

    Wait for the signal

    Draw 6 small circles across a sheet of paper. Point to each in order with a pencil, then reverse the order. Prioritise placement over speed; this is a coordination prompt, not a timed test.

  3. 03

    Aim with control

    Write today's three-game warm-up and a fixed stopping point. After practice, note which game felt comfortable and which you would shorten tomorrow. Do not infer competitive gaming ability from this exercise.

  4. 04

    Decide before you move

    Write your device, browser and input method. Compare with your Day 1 setup. Record any change before interpreting today's reaction score.

  5. 05

    Keep the setup fixed

    Draw 5 small circles across a sheet of paper. Point to each in order with a pencil, then reverse the order. Prioritise placement over speed; this is a coordination prompt, not a timed test.

  6. 06

    Build a short warm-up

    Write today's three-game warm-up and a fixed stopping point. After practice, note which game felt comfortable and which you would shorten tomorrow. Do not infer competitive gaming ability from this exercise.

  7. 07

    Review the week

    Write your device, browser and input method. Compare with your Day 1 setup. Record any change before interpreting today's reaction score.