What you need
- A tray or board with a grid of letter cubes
- A cover or container for shuffling
- Paper and pencils for every player
- A visible timer
- An agreed English dictionary
Grid size depends on the edition. Some sets use 4×4 letters; others use 5×5. Use the components supplied with your set or the format announced by the organiser.
Set up a round
- Place all cubes in the covered tray.
- Shake gently, then settle one cube into every space.
- Turn the board so every player can read it.
- Start the timer and reveal the grid together.
Find words
Build words by moving between touching cubes. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal moves are normally allowed. The path may bend, but it cannot jump, and it cannot return to a cube already used in that word.
End and check
Everyone stops at the signal. Players read their lists, invalid words are removed and challenged words are checked in the chosen dictionary. In the classic duplicate-cancellation format, words found by more than one player are crossed off all matching lists.
Score the game
A common scale gives 1 point for 3–4 letters, 2 for 5, 3 for 6, 5 for 7 and 11 for 8 or more. This is not universal: school organisers sometimes require four-letter words or publish a different table.
Useful competition variations
- Unique-word scoring: shared words score zero.
- All-valid scoring: every accepted word scores.
- Team relay: players rotate between boards or rounds.
- Longest-word bonus: reward the longest accepted path.
- Solo practice: compete against a personal best.
Trademark and edition note
Several unrelated products and classroom activities use the name Word Factory. This independent guide does not identify one physical manufacturer and does not reproduce proprietary components. Follow the instructions included with your specific set.