What Is Inspection? The 15-Second Rule and When You Get +2 or DNF

Inspection is the 15 seconds you get to study the cube before solving

In speedcubing, inspection means the time between picking up the scrambled cube and starting the timer, during which you study the cube. At WCA (World Cube Association) competitions it is limited to 15 seconds. In that time you pick the cube up, look all around it and plan how you will start your solve.

• During inspection you may pick the cube up and look at it from any angle
• You may not turn any face (doing so is a DNF). Rotating it in your hands to look is fine
• Inspection time is separate from the solve time. The 15 seconds are not included in your result
• You may start the solve at any point within 15 seconds. Starting early is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage

Blindfolded events (3BLD and so on) are the exception: there is no inspection, and memorisation time counts as part of the solve. All other events, including 3×3, 2×2, 4×4 and one-handed, have 15 seconds of inspection.

How inspection runs at a competition, and the 8 and 12-second calls

At a competition, the judge places the cube in front of the competitor under a cover. When the competitor is ready, the judge lifts the cover and starts an inspection stopwatch. From there it goes like this.

1. 1

   Inspection begins when the cover comes off

   The judge starts the stopwatch. The competitor picks up the cube and studies it.

2. 2

   Call at 8 seconds

   After 8 seconds the judge says "Eight seconds". That means 7 seconds are left.

3. 3

   Call at 12 seconds

   At 12 seconds the judge calls "Twelve seconds". With 3 seconds left, many competitors put the cube down on the mat and get their hands ready on the timer.

4. 4

   Place your hands on the StackMat and release

   Put both hands on the timer's sensors; when the light turns green, lift your hands and the solve begins. The judge checks the inspection time at that moment.

There are only two calls, at 8 and 12 seconds; nobody tells you when you reach 15 or 17. So when you hear the 12-second call, it is important to have already decided to start within the remaining 3 seconds. The Rubik’s Cube Timer can play one beep at 8 seconds and two beeps at 12 seconds in place of the calls.

Over 15 seconds is +2; over 17 seconds is DNF

If inspection goes over the 15-second limit, you get a penalty. Under the WCA Regulations, it depends on the time from the start of inspection to the start of the solve.

A +2 adds two seconds to your solve time, and that time is used when calculating averages. DNF stands for Did Not Finish: the attempt has no result and counts as the slowest when averaging. In an ao5 one DNF can be dropped, but with two the ao5 itself is a DNF. The calculation is explained in how to calculate ao5 and ao12.

Other common situations that give +2 or DNF

Penalties aren't only for going over the inspection time. Here are the ones first-time competitors most often run into. Detailed rules can change, so check the latest WCA Regulations and the competition information before you compete.

The most common are the +2 for slapping the timer while still holding the cube in the rush of finishing, and the +2 for being "one move off" by stopping before the last U turn is complete. If you make a habit at home of putting the cube down and letting go before stopping the timer, you won't panic at a competition.

What to look at in 15 seconds: using inspection at each level

Fifteen seconds sounds long, but at first it can slip away while you are still deciding where to start. What to do in inspection depends mostly on your method and level.

What matters is being able to turn your inspection plan into hand movements quickly. A perfect plan is worthless if you go past 15 seconds before your hands are on the timer. As a rule of thumb, aim to finish planning by about 10 seconds and have your hands on the timer by the 12-second call.

How to get used to inspection when practising at home

If you always practise without inspection, the first time you face a hard 15-second limit will be at a competition, and it is easy to panic. The best preparation is to time with inspection in everyday practice.

1. 1

   Time with inspection turned on

   In the Rubik’s Cube Timer, turn on inspection in the settings. The space bar (a tap on phones) starts a 15-second countdown, and +2 past 15 seconds and DNF past 17 seconds are applied automatically.

2. 2

   Play beeps at 8 and 12 seconds

   Instead of the judge's calls, the timer can beep once at 8 seconds and twice at 12. Practise getting your hands ready when you hear them, and you'll stay calm when a judge calls out at a competition.

3. 3

   Ready your hands and wait for green

   Hold the space bar or screen and wait; release when the display turns green to start. You can choose a hold time of 0.3 s or 0.55 s to get closer to the feel of a StackMat.

4. 4

   Treat penalties as part of your record

   Lots of +2s or DNFs are a sign to fix how you use inspection before worrying about speed. You can also add or remove +2 and DNF afterwards in the list.

Knowing what time you need on your fifth solve to reach a target average, once four solves are done, helps you decide whether to push or play it safe. That calculation is explained in BPA, WPA and the time you need for a target ao5.

FAQ

How long is inspection?

Up to 15 seconds at WCA competitions. Starting the solve after 15 but within 17 seconds gives +2, and after 17 seconds it is a DNF. Blindfolded events have no inspection.

Can I turn the cube during inspection?

You can't turn any face; doing so is a DNF. You are free to pick the cube up and rotate it to look at it from different angles.

What is a +2?

A penalty that adds 2 seconds to your solve time. You get it when inspection goes over 15 but not over 17 seconds, when you stop the timer one move away from solved, or when you stop the timer while still touching the cube, among other cases.

What does DNF mean in cubing?

It stands for Did Not Finish and means the attempt has no result. You get a DNF if inspection goes over 17 seconds, if you stop the timer two or more moves from solved, or if you turn a face during inspection, among other cases. In averages it counts as the slowest result.

Why are there calls at 8 and 12 seconds?

To tell the competitor how much inspection time is left. The judge calls only at 8 and 12 seconds and says nothing at 15 or 17. When you hear the 12-second call, aim to start within the remaining 3 seconds.

How can I practise inspection at home?

Use a timer with 15-second inspection that applies +2 and DNF automatically. The Rubik’s Cube Timer beeps at 8 and 12 seconds and applies time penalties on the same basis as competitions.