Start with the shape, not the answer
Separate vowels from consonants. Most English words alternate between the two, so a rack with three consonants and two vowels already suggests likely shapes.
Next, look for familiar beginnings such as re-, un- and dis-, and endings such as -ing, -ed, -er and -ly. Removing a likely chunk makes the remaining problem smaller.
Build small anchors
Find a common two- or three-letter group—th, ch, sh, st, tion—and move it as one unit. This reduces the number of arrangements your working memory needs to consider.
If nothing appears, say the letters aloud in different rhythms. Sound often reveals a word that visual scanning misses.
Practise for recognition
Use short timed rounds, but review every missed word without the timer. Speed grows from a larger library of recognised patterns, not from rushing.
Fun IQ practice mode gives you unlimited single-word rounds after the daily puzzle.