Brainsfirst NeurOlympics Examples and Game Guide
See what to expect in Brainsfirst NeurOlympics with practical examples of the four games and what to prioritize first when preparing.
Brainsfirst NeurOlympics: examples to focus on first
Brainsfirst NeurOlympics is a game-based assessment made up of four core components. The best way to prepare is to understand what each game is designed to measure and to focus first on the skill that drives performance in that game.
Because the exact setup can vary by organization, it helps to prepare by theme rather than by memorizing a fixed test layout. The examples below show the kind of thinking each game can require, so you know where to place your attention first.
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The four game types and the main skill behind each one
- Collect: working memory
- Activate: anticipating what comes next
- Connect: cognitive control and flexible switching
- Synchronise: attention, speed, and sustained focus
If you want the highest return on preparation time, start with the skill that is least automatic for you. For many candidates that means working memory or attention, because both affect how accurately you process information under pressure.
Then move to the games that demand control and anticipation. Those components are less about quick reactions alone and more about staying accurate while the task changes or the pace increases.
Practical examples of what each game may feel like
Collect
A useful example is being shown a pattern or sequence and needing to keep it in mind long enough to use it correctly. The key priority is not only remembering the information, but keeping it clear while distractions or extra steps appear.
Activate
This game can feel like making a decision with limited time and limited room for error. A good example situation is needing to judge what will happen next in a changing layout, where planning ahead matters more than rushing the first available answer.
Connect
Here the focus is often on staying controlled when the rules or response pattern shift. The best example is a task where you must avoid an automatic reaction and switch cleanly when the situation changes.
Synchronise
This component may involve reacting quickly while keeping your attention stable over repeated rounds. A relevant example is a task where accuracy matters across many small decisions, especially when the pace makes it easy to lose focus.
How to prepare in the right order
Start by identifying which of the four skills feels least natural under time pressure. That gives you a clearer training priority than trying to improve everything at once.
Next, practice in a way that highlights the underlying demand of the game. For example, work memory tasks help with Collect, timed planning helps with Activate, switching tasks helps with Connect, and sustained attention drills help with Synchronise.
Finally, train for consistency. In this type of assessment, the result is shaped by how well you keep performing across several different demands, not by one isolated strength.