Balloon Risk Game
Pump each balloon to grow its value, then bank before it pops. A free practice version of the balloon-style risk task used in game-based assessments.
How to play
- Each pump adds 5p to the balloon's value.
- Bank the balloon to keep its value. If it pops first, that balloon earns nothing.
- Every balloon pops at a different, random point. There is no pattern to learn.
What it measures
Balloon tasks observe how you trade a growing reward against an uncertain loss. Assessors are not looking for a single right number of pumps; the result describes a risk style, and different roles suit different styles.
Research basis: this game is our own implementation of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Lejuez et al. (2002), Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 8(2), 75–84. ↗
Tips to improve
- Decide on a rough stopping range before you start, then adjust from what happens, not from one dramatic pop.
- A pop is information, not failure. Keep your approach consistent rather than swinging after each loss.
- Work at a steady pace. Rushing tends to produce unplanned extra pumps.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a right number of pumps?
No. In this practice version each balloon pops at a random point between 1 and 32 pumps, so stopping around half way earns most on average, but real assessments treat the result as a risk profile rather than a pass mark.
Does popping a balloon count against me?
In practice it is just a cost: that balloon earns nothing. What matters is the overall pattern of how far you push and how you respond after a loss.
Which employers use balloon-style tasks?
Several game-based assessment providers include a risk task of this kind. Check the employer pages linked below for the assessment format each employer publishes.
More assessment games
- Attention and impulse controlGo / No-Go Reaction GameRespond as fast as you can to green circles and hold back on red squares. Free practice for the reaction and inhibition tasks used in game-based tests.
- Cognitive flexibilityRule Switch GameSort each card by colour or by shape, depending on the rule shown. The rule changes without warning. Free practice for flexibility tasks in game-based assessments.