Problem Solving

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.

3 minutes (one clock, all puzzles)
Up to 9 puzzles
Tap to rotate, drag to place (mouse or touch)

How to Play

01

Tap a piece to rotate it 90°; drag it onto the grid.

02

The puzzle completes automatically once every free cell is filled.

03

Grids grow from 3×3 to 5×5 with blocked cells and up to six pieces.

04

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

Spatial ReasoningSpeedRecovery

Cognify practice is free — create a free account to start playing.

Employer guides

Companies reported to use Grid Lock

Candidates report seeing Grid Lock in assessments for these employers. Game lineups 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.