We have all heard the advice that to really learn something, you have to “teach it” or build it from scratch. But a revealing study published in the Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education has some good news for anyone who prefers the path of least resistance: You don’t always need to do the heavy lifting to get the brain benefits.
The research, titled “Crossword Puzzles and Knowledge Retention“, looked at whether the hard work of creating a crossword puzzle actually helped students learn better than just solving one. The results? Doing the hard work didn’t guarantee better test scores.
The Findings: Solving is Enough
The researchers tracked students across different universities to see if becoming a “puzzle architect”—writing clues, checking definitions, and building grids—gave them a competitive edge. Surprisingly, the “creators” didn’t consistently outperform the “solvers” on quizzes.
While the students felt like they were learning more when they created puzzles, the test results showed that the extra effort didn’t always pay off in better grades. For the efficient learner, this is a major win. It means you can skip the tedious setup and go straight to the fun part—solving—without missing out on the cognitive boost.
Why “The Easy Way” Works
Solving a puzzle works because of active recall. When you look at a clue and force your brain to find the answer, you are strengthening the neural pathway to that information. You don’t need to spend hours designing a grid to get this benefit; you just need to engage with the clues.
Tools to Streamline Your Study
If you want to maximize your learning with minimum effort, use these tools to automate the process.
1. The “Unstuck” Button: Crossword.guru
The only downside to the “solving” method is hitting a clue you just can’t figure out. This usually leads to frustration and quitting.
- guru: Think of this as your study companion. If you are testing yourself on vocabulary and get stuck, this site helps you find the answer using the letters you already have. It keeps the momentum going so you can finish the puzzle and see the full picture, rather than staring at a blank box.
2. The Instant Generator: Crossword Labs
If you do want to turn your notes into a game (perhaps to challenge a friend, which is a great way to study), don’t waste time drawing squares on graph paper.
- Crossword Labs: This is the shortcut for creation. You just paste your word list, and it builds the puzzle for you in seconds. It allows you to reap any potential benefits of “creation” without the headache of formatting.
3. Ready-Made Brain Workouts
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. High-quality puzzles are already out there that can help keep your brain sharp.
- The Washington Post Crosswords: These are professionally made and offer a consistent difficulty curve, perfect for daily practice without any setup time.
The Bottom Line
The study by Torres et al. (2022) proves that “working harder” isn’t always the answer. If you enjoy making puzzles, go for it—it’s fun and engaging. But if you just want to learn the material, simply solving puzzles is a scientifically valid—and much easier—way to retain knowledge.









