Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Highest-scoring Scrabble word with four tiles (22)” is answered with QUIZ.
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Answer: QUIZ
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Length: 4 letters
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Clue number and direction: 6 Across
In the grid, it appears as a four‑letter entry: Q U I Z.
Why “QUIZ” Is the Right NYT Answer
The clue explicitly points to Scrabble scoring and specifies “four tiles (22),” telling you you’re looking for a 4‑letter word worth 22 points in standard Scrabble scoring.
Using standard tile values (Q=10, U=1, I=1, Z=10), QUIZ totals 22 points: 10 + 1 + 1 + 10 = 22, which matches the number in parentheses in the clue.
Because the clue says “Highest-scoring Scrabble word with four tiles,” it’s hinting that among all 4‑letter words in Scrabble, QUIZ is the top scorer under normal rules, so once you think of a short Q‑word with a Z, it clicks immediately.
What “QUIZ” Means in Plain English
In everyday English, QUIZ is a short test or set of questions used to check someone’s knowledge, often in school or in a game setting.
It can be a noun (“we had a quiz in class”) or a verb (“they’ll quiz us tomorrow”), but in this clue the focus is entirely on the word’s letters and Scrabble value, not its meaning.
Still, knowing the common word helps the answer feel fair and familiar, which is typical of NYT style: real words, even in game‑related clues.
How “QUIZ” Fits the Grid and Crossings
For 6 Across, the entry length is 4 letters, so the pattern looks like:
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Pattern before solving:
_ _ _ _ -
Final fill:
Q U I Z
Crossings will help you lock it in:
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The rare Q and Z are especially strong anchors; once you see a
Q _ I _or_ U I Zpattern from intersecting Downs, QUIZ is the natural fit. -
If any crossing letter disagrees with
Q,U,I, orZ, it’s usually the crossing answer that needs rechecking, because the clue’s Scrabble‑math (four tiles, 22 points) is very specific.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
Use these strategies whenever you hit Scrabble‑ or scoring‑style clues:
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Pay attention to numbers in parentheses: A number like “(22)” after the clue often signals a total score or some fixed value you can compute.
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Recall tile values: Knowing that Q and Z are 10‑point tiles makes it easier to think of high‑scoring short words like QUIZ or “JAZZ.”
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Match length to scoring: If the clue says “four tiles” and you know Q and Z are likely, start testing 4‑letter combos with those high‑value letters.
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Use crossings aggressively: Unusual letters (Q, Z, J, X) quickly constrain your options, so fill easier Downs to confirm them.
Possible Alternate Clues for “QUIZ”
The answer QUIZ can appear in other crosswords with more straightforward or playful clues, such as:
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“Pop test”
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“Short exam”
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“Teacher’s surprise”
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“Test, informally”
In those cases the focus is on meaning rather than Scrabble scoring, but the underlying answer is the same four‑letter word you’re filling here.
