They are skills Flint Sherborne (12) might have honed in his usual favourite pursuits of surfing and snowboarding or at the skate park.
"I have quick reaction times but even I was surprised at how many points I got in the first rounds of the show," Flint said.
"I think I just anticipated a few answers and backed myself – if you want the points you have to be fast!"
The Year 8 pupil travelled to Christchurch to record the show at WhitebaitMedia last month, and was excited to finally see his episode hit the screen on Monday.
A long-time fan of the show, which airs on TV2 weekdays at 4pm, Flint said as soon as he was the right age to have a chance, he grabbed it with both hands. He took the online quiz and was quickly contacted to audition.
"I just decided I wanted to give it a try – you never know what the questions are going to be like and you might just get topics you are really into," he said.
Each Brain Busters episode features four Year 8 or 9 contestants playing quiz rounds for maximum points before two are given the chance to take on an in-studio obstacle course.
The winner gets the chance to answer more questions for a chance to turn their points into dollars.
The show’s producers, who cast 600 contestants a year from all over the country, say Flint handled the audition questions with confidence but it was his "give it a go" attitude which made him stand out.
"Flint was a great candidate for Brain Busters," series producer Reuben Davidson said.
"We’re always on the lookout for everyday Kiwi kids that our audience can relate to and Flint is a great example of someone ready to jump in boots and all to give it their best shot."
Flint said he would recommend the whole experience from the audition to the flights to Christchurch and the excitement of seeing behind the scenes in a TV studio.
"It was cool being flown up to Christchurch. Hanging out with the cast and crew was a good time and I’d definitely recommend it," he said.
The biggest challenge was keeping his cool when the pressure was on.
"I had to play the memory game Blueprinter. I had a strategy to memorise the pattern of letters to help me complete the puzzle in the 30-second time limit and get close to maximum points," he said.
He then took on the in-studio obstacle course for a nail-biting finish.
Flint said his experience showed anyone could have a chance at doing a quiz show and they should "go for it".
"It just goes to show you have to give things a try because you don’t know until you’ve actually been on it," he said.
Those who want to see Flint on TV and find out what he will spend his prize-money on will have to catch him on demand on TVNZ+.
