How much can you hold in mind at once?
This test measures visuospatial working memory — the small, fast, easily disrupted store that holds information you are actively using. It is the visual version of the digit span task psychologists have used for over a century, and it has the same property: the limit is surprisingly low, and it is remarkably hard to move.
What the levels mean
| Level reached | Reading |
|---|---|
| 4 or below | Distracted — try again in a quiet room |
| 5–7 | Below average for a rested adult |
| 8–10 | Typical adult range |
| 11–13 | Strong — you are almost certainly chunking |
| 14+ | Exceptional, or a well-practised strategy |
Strategies that actually work
- Chunk. Group the sequence into threes. Three chunks of three beat nine single items.
- Draw the path. Treat the lit squares as a route across the grid, not a list of positions.
- Name the shape. "L, then a diagonal" survives in memory far better than six coordinates.
- Do not rehearse out loud. Verbal rehearsal competes with the spatial store and slows you down.
Why your score changes between attempts
Working memory span is not a fixed trait like height. Attention, sleep, caffeine, noise and even how recently you ate all move it. A two-level swing on the same afternoon is ordinary, which is why a single attempt tells you much less than your typical range over several.
Does a big span mean a high IQ?
Working memory and fluid reasoning are related but they are not the same thing, and the relationship is far weaker at the level of one person than in a population. Plenty of people with strong reasoning have an ordinary span. For an ability estimate, take the culture fair IQ test.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good sequence memory score?
Most adults reach level 8 to 10. Level 14 or higher usually means you are chunking rather than memorising individual squares.
What does this test actually measure?
Visuospatial working memory — how much ordered spatial information you can hold and reproduce. It is the visual counterpart of a digit span test.
Why did I fail at a level I passed before?
Span fluctuates with attention and fatigue. A two-level swing between attempts on the same day is completely normal.
Can I train my working memory?
You will improve at this task quickly, mostly through strategy. Whether that transfers to unrelated tasks is still debated and the evidence is weak.
What is the best strategy?
Chunk into groups of three or four, and turn the path into a shape rather than a list of positions.
Is this memory test free?
Yes, free online, no registration, play as often as you like.