Class Game · CEFR Pre-A1 to B1
Countdown
Race the clock in this free online Countdown-style game: unscramble the letters to find the target English word before time runs out. It’s a fast, exciting vocabulary and spelling game for ESL classrooms and solo practice alike.
Time remaining
Score
0
Letters
—
Clues used
0
Streak
0
★ In memory of Richard Whiteley (1943–2005) & Alan Hawkshaw (1937–2021) ★
How to Play Countdown
Countdown is a free online word game with a famous ticking clock. You’re shown a set of jumbled letters and must unscramble them to find the target English vocabulary word before time runs out. It’s fast, exciting, and brilliant for a whole-class spelling race.
Step by step
- Look at the scrambled letters when the round begins.
- The 30-second clock starts ticking.
- Work out the hidden vocabulary word and arrange the letters.
- Lock in your answer before the timer hits zero.
- Beat the clock to score, then go again with a new word.
Tips to beat the clock
- Group the vowels and consonants in your head to see possible combinations.
- Try common starting letters first.
- If a clue or topic is shown, use it to narrow down the word quickly.
Who it’s for
Words are drawn from CEFR Pre-A1 to B1 vocabulary, making Countdown a lively classroom game for beginner and elementary ESL learners — and great fun solo.
More class games: Games Hub · The Letters Game · Anagram