The SpeedQuizzing Observation round is one of the most distinctive formats in a quiz night. Instead of reading out a question, the quizmaster shows a video clip — then asks questions about what you saw or heard. Adverts, TV show clips, film scenes, and music videos are all fair game.
How the SpeedQuizzing Observation Round Works
The clip plays on the main screen for the whole room to see and hear. Once it’s finished, a series of questions appear on your device based on the content of the clip — what you noticed, what people said, what was in the background, what happened in what order.
Some clips have a lot going on, so the quizmaster may play them twice before the questions appear. Pay attention to details — Observation rounds reward the people who notice things others miss.
Why it works so well
There’s real psychology behind why Observation rounds catch people out. As the famous “invisible gorilla” experiment showed, people can focus so hard on one thing that they become blind to the unexpected, even when staring right at it. Watch a clip looking only for the obvious answer, and you’ll likely miss the detail the quizmaster was really after.
Want an observation round at your own event?
The observation round is part of the quiz nights I host. To have it at your venue, see how I host a quiz night at your venue, or send me an enquiry with your date and place. For a work event, see my corporate quiz night page. I also run Music Bingo, and what is SpeedQuizzing explains the format.
Tips for Observation rounds
- Watch the whole clip before trying to remember specific details — knowing the general content first makes specific questions easier
- Pay attention to background details as well as the main action — these are often where the questions come from
- Listen as well as watch — Observation questions frequently include audio clues
See also: Picture Round · Music Round · All round formats
