Grid Lock
Grid Lock is an exact-fit packing puzzle: a grid region with a set of shaped pieces floating around it; tap a piece to rotate, drag it into place, and the puzzle completes when every free cell is filled. It is in every Cognify battery, including the three-game US default. Criteria’s own description (“fit all of the puzzle pieces into the grid area as quickly as possible”) and a candidate session recording confirm the format — it is not a sliding-block puzzle, despite some guides describing it that way.
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Updated
How to play
Tap a piece to rotate it 90°; drag it onto the grid.
The puzzle completes automatically once every free cell is filled.
Grids grow from 3×3 to 5×5 with blocked cells and up to six pieces.
Up to nine puzzles under one 3-minute clock; one star per puzzle solved.
In the real assessment
The 9-puzzle / 3-minute configuration, the Skip and Reset buttons, tap-to-rotate control and one-star-per-puzzle scoring are first-hand confirmed from a candidate session recording and Revelian’s 2016 brief. Piece shapes and grid sizes follow what was observed; whether pieces can ever be flipped was never seen, so this build allows rotation only.
Skills assessed
Create an account to save your results. A Cognify pass includes unlimited replays. All results stay free.
Score improvement across practice attempts
Across our matched practice data, the median candidate improves their score by +23% between their first and fifth practice attempt on a game — with no employer ever seeing practice data.
Read the full methodologyMedian Criteria Cognify score lift by practice attempt
Median paired change vs. first attempt on scored Criteria Cognify practice games. Observed practice association — not a hiring-outcome guarantee.
Companies reported to use Grid Lock
Candidates report seeing Grid Lock in assessments for these employers. Assessment stages can change by role, region, and recruiting cycle, so check your invitation before practicing.
Independent Cognify-style practice. GameAssessmentPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by Criteria Corp. Employers configure the battery (the US default runs three games; the full suite runs six); timing and scoring vary — your invitation is authoritative.