How word searches work
CHALKBOARD at ten letters and GEOGRAPHY at nine are the anchors here, and both are too long for the smallest grid to always accommodate alongside everything else.
The X in EXAM and the K in BACKPACK, LOCKER and CHALKBOARD are the fastest routes in. RECESS has a double S worth scanning for as a shape rather than as a word.
The grid regenerates every time you load the page, so the same theme never gives you the same arrangement twice. Words run in all eight directions including backwards and diagonally, and your fastest completion time for each grid size is saved in your browser.
The school word list
| Word | Letters | Notable letters |
|---|---|---|
| HOMEWORK | 8 | K, W |
| TEACHER | 7 | common letters only |
| LIBRARY | 7 | Y |
| PENCIL | 6 | common letters only |
| BACKPACK | 8 | K |
| SCIENCE | 7 | common letters only |
| HISTORY | 7 | Y |
| RECESS | 6 | common letters only |
| CHALKBOARD | 10 | K |
| STUDENT | 7 | common letters only |
| EXAM | 4 | X |
| LOCKER | 6 | K |
| NOTEBOOK | 8 | K |
| GEOGRAPHY | 9 | Y |
How to find words faster
- Find the longest school words first. CHALKBOARD is the longest entry at 10 letters, and long words have far fewer possible placements than short ones. Clearing them early removes a disproportionate share of the grid.
- Target the uncommon letters in this list. The rare letters present here are K, W, X, Y. Each one appears only a handful of times in the random filler, so finding the letter usually hands you the word.
- Leave EXAM until last. At 4 letters it is the shortest entry, which means it has the most possible positions on the grid and hides best. Short words are always the least efficient thing to hunt first.
- Read every candidate in both directions. Roughly half the placements in any grid are reversed. If an area looks empty, try reading it backwards before moving on.
Frequently asked questions
What school words are in this puzzle?
Fourteen classroom words covering subjects, supplies and places around a school, suitable for younger readers as well as adults.
Which words are longest?
CHALKBOARD at ten letters and GEOGRAPHY at nine. On the smallest grid there may not be room for both alongside everything else.
What is the quickest way in?
The X in EXAM, then the K that appears in BACKPACK, LOCKER and CHALKBOARD. RECESS has a double S worth scanning for as a shape rather than as a word.