Why quizzing is good for you

Taking part in quizzes can be an enjoyable way of forming social connections and being part of a team – as well as finding new interests.

For Paul Sinha, one of the stars of the ITV quiz show The Chase, quizzing was an accidental discovery – but one that has proved invaluable in forming social connections.

“The quiz world has definitely provided me with more close friends than any other activity,” says Sinha, also known as The Sinnerman.

Sinha, a stand-up comedian who originally trained as a doctor, got into serious quizzing in 2008 through the Quiz League of London. “I was stood up for dinner and impulsively went to a quiz instead,” he says.

That missed meal led him to find a community. He started entering pub quizzes, especially large ones with lots of teams. “It was a good night out – I wasn’t doing it for financial profit,” he says. “Though we did once win a £100 bar tab and exclusive seats in the pub to watch England versus Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 World Cup.”

Starter for one

As an intellectually curious child, Sinha loved watching TV quizzes. His favourite was Sale of the Century, in which contestants answered rapid-fire questions on a broad range of general knowledge topics.

This style of quiz suited Sinha, who says he’s always enjoyed learning lists, whether that’s of birthstones, monarchs or many other subjects. And he has a strategy for keeping it interesting. “You get bored quickly. So I’d learn five or 10 but then go into detail.”

He explains how he would approach learning Winners of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for example. “I’d click through their names on Wikipedia and look for anything interesting. George Sanders – the British actor – won the award for his role in All About Eve. He married Zsa Zsa Gabor – and later her sister.”

Finding harmony in the music round – and beyond

The key to quiz success isn’t just individual expertise. It’s a team effort – and the ideal quiz team should feature a mix of people. “In a four‑person team, having a variety of ages is incredibly useful,” says Sinha. “Pop music might mean a 2025 award or an obscure hit from the 1950s. You need to have a young, trendy person as well as a veteran.

“The best mix can’t be achieved by four identical people – ideally you want someone who watches sport, someone who follows the news and someone who’s tuned into the cultural zeitgeist.”

You don’t, however, have to be a professional quizzer to have a good time. You may not spend your evenings brushing up on flags of the world or physics formulas, but you can still enjoy taking part and your teammates’ company. You never know – that one answer you remember could be the winning point, and one conversation could turn into a long-term friendship.

Multiple choice: picking the right quiz for you

If you’re thinking of getting into quizzing, you may not need to look further than your local pub. Many run a weekly quiz and will be happy to welcome you.

Quiz nights can vary between pubs, but whether you’re looking for recreation or intellectual rigour, the general spirit should be one of community rather than competition.

Sinha says he prefers quizzes with smaller prizes. “In general, I don’t approve of big jackpots. A smaller prize, a bar tab – that’s ideal. You’re putting something back in.”

Bonus round

Quizzing can also be good for broadening your horizons. “Ageing changes what you’re interested in so if you sit down and learn new facts, you might find yourself drawn to new things,” says Sinha.

“I used to only understand art at a quiz level. Now I go to a city just to visit an art gallery and I realise there’s more to art than knowing who painted what.”

For Sinha, quizzing led to a new career. As well as appearing on The Chase, he’s made a name for himself on TV quiz shows including Mastermind and University Challenge: The Professionals, competed at the World Quizzing Championships, and detailed his experiences in his memoir, One Sinha Lifetime (Penguin).

And he’s still learning. “Last night’s theme was video games and internet culture,” he says. “I didn’t do well but I didn’t do badly either.

“At the age of 55, they appreciated the fact that I tried my best, even though I’m the famous quizzer from the telly. For me, that’s one of the most positive things about the world of quizzing – everyone, of any age, can feel comfortable.”

The cognitive benefits of quizzing

Quizzes can offer a range of cognitive and social benefits, as psychotherapist Tina Chummun explains. “Engaging in quizzes activates the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex parts of the brain, key areas for memory and executive function,” she says.

They can also provide neurochemical rewards, she says. “When we recall a fact correctly, our brain releases small bursts of dopamine, which reinforces learning and boosts our mood.”

And quizzing can also bring people together. “Group or pub quizzes provide valuable opportunities for social connection, reducing loneliness,” Chummun adds.

That’s a key reason why local Age UKs all over the country put on quiz nights that you can take part in too. Find out more about how you can support Age UK through quizzing here. And if you’re inspired by hearing from TV’s Paul Sinha, you might wonder about going on a TV quiz yourself. Read our piece on which TV quiz you’re most likely to win.

Image courtesy of Andy Hollingworth