How to Use Duels on StudyInk

The short answer: open /duels and either create a match or join one with a code. Inside the match you answer timed questions against other players, earn points for speed and accuracy, and finish on a leaderboard that pays XP and Inkies when two or more registered users play.

This guide walks through the lobby, the match itself, and the reward rules, so you can set up a duel without fumbling the invite link.

Duels at a Glance

The Main Lobby

The lobby has two primary buttons: Create Duel and Join via code. Create Duel opens an arena selection modal. Join via code reveals a text field where you paste an invite code, up to 12 characters, and press Join.

If you are not signed in and try to create or join, the app asks for a guest name first. That name is saved locally and used for the match.

Choosing an Arena

The arena modal has a search field and three groups:

• Standard Matches with a SAT random pool quick play option.
• Practice Lessons drawn from your lessons that have questions.
• Your Custom Quizzes from your quiz list.

Pick the SAT random pool for a quick match, or choose a specific lesson or quiz to duel on that content. Search filters the lesson and quiz lists by title.

The Duel Lobby

After creating, you land in a duel lobby with an invite link. Copy it and send it to a friend. A Ready button toggles your status. If you are the host, the creator, a Start Duel button appears and is enabled once two or more participants have joined. Other players see a "waiting for host" note.

The lobby also lists participants with their ready state and current score.

Playing the Match

When the host starts the duel, the gameplay screen appears. Each question has:

• A question counter and your running score.
• A 15 second timer bar that drains as you think.
• The question text and a list of answer options.
• A Submit Answer button, then a Next Question button.

Pick an option and submit. A correct answer awards 100 points plus a time bonus calculated from the seconds left. An explanation appears after you submit. If the timer hits zero, your answer is submitted as a timeout. On the last question, the button reads Submit Game, which sends your final score.

Results and Rewards

After you submit, you wait on a "Waiting for players" view until others finish. Then the scoreboard shows ranked participants with medals for first, second, and third. If two or more registered users were in the duel, rewards are granted: the winner earns XP and Inkies, and other placed players earn smaller amounts. If not enough registered users played, the match is marked as practice only.

A Return to Lobby button resets the view.

Why Timed Competition Can Help

A duel is retrieval practice under a clock, and the testing effect is well established: taking a test builds memory, not just measures it Roediger & Karpicke, "Test-Enhanced Learning," 2006. The competitive layer is more mixed. A 2022 meta analysis of gamified learning found an overall positive effect, with competitive elements sometimes outperforming non competitive ones, though the authors note the competitive effect was not consistent in every subgroup analysis Ho, Hung & Kwan, "The impact of peer competition and collaboration on gamified learning". The practical read: use duels for reps and motivation, but do not mistake a win for mastery of the underlying material.

Common Mistakes

• Creating a duel but not sharing the invite link. Others cannot join without it.
• Forgetting the 15 second clock. Speed matters because it adds to your score.
• Expecting rewards as a guest. Inkies and XP require a registered account in the match.
• Treating a win as proof you know the topic. Review the explanations you missed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to sign in to duel?

No. Guests can enter a name and play, but only registered users in a duel of two or more earn XP and Inkies.

How is the time bonus calculated?

A correct answer gives 100 points plus a bonus scaled from the seconds remaining on the 15 second clock.

Can I duel on a specific topic?

Yes. In the arena modal, choose a practice lesson or a custom quiz instead of the SAT random pool.

What does the host do?

The host creates the duel, copies the invite, and starts it once at least two players have joined.

Why did my match show practice only?

Rewards are granted only when two or more registered users are in the duel. Fewer registered players means no XP or Inkies.

Is the match live with other people?

Yes. A real time connection updates the lobby and scoreboard as participants answer and finish.