Overview

Go to the Head of the Class is a classic trivia board game originally published in 1936. Players answer questions to advance their playing pieces around the board, moving through desks in a classroom setting. Correct answers let you move forward, while wrong answers send you back. The first player to reach the Head of the Class wins. Multiple difficulty levels and question categories keep the game accessible for various ages.

Components

• 1 game board showing a classroom with desk spaces
• Playing pieces (1 per player)
• Question/quiz booklets (with multiple difficulty levels)
• Examination cards and Luck cards
• 2 dice

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Each player chooses a playing piece and places it on the starting desk.
3. Select the appropriate difficulty level for players: Student, Scholar, or Graduate.
4. Place Examination and Luck card decks on the board.

Turn Structure

1. Roll dice – the player with the least forward position rolls first.
2. Move to the matching desk space.
3. Answer a question from the quiz booklet (category determined by the die roll or space).
4. Move forward or backward based on whether you answered correctly.

Actions

Answering Questions

• Questions are drawn from the booklet based on the difficulty level chosen.
• A correct answer allows you to move 6 spaces forward.
• An incorrect answer forces you to move 2 spaces backward.

Examination Cards

• Landing on certain spaces requires drawing an Examination card.
• A correct answer to an Examination question allows you to move 12 spaces forward.
• An incorrect answer forces you to move 5 spaces backward.

Luck Cards

• Landing on certain spaces requires drawing a Luck card.
• Luck cards provide various effects – both positive and negative.

Question Categories

The die roll indicates which category of question to answer. Categories include general knowledge, history, science, geography, and other academic subjects.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The first player to reach the Head of the Class position on the board wins.

There are no points to track – it is purely a race to the finish based on answering questions correctly.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Three difficulty levels (Student, Scholar, Graduate) make the game suitable for mixed-age groups.
• Players must answer honestly – another player or a designated questioner reads the questions.
• If a player would move backward past the starting position, they remain at the start.
• The game has been published in many editions since 1936 (Milton Bradley/Hasbro), with question content varying by edition.
• In some editions, players choose “easy” or “hard” questions with different movement rewards.

Player Reference

Answer Result	Movement
Correct answer	+6 spaces
Wrong answer	-2 spaces
Correct Examination	+12 spaces
Wrong Examination	-5 spaces
Luck card	Varies

Win condition: First to reach the Head of the Class

Difficulty levels: Student, Scholar, Graduate