Chimp Test
Test number-position memory online: memorise the numerals on a 6×6 grid, tap 1 to hide them, then recall every position in ascending order across eight scored rounds.
Remember where the digits are, then tap 1
- See where the digits sit
- Tap 1 — the rest flip white
- Then tap 2, 3, 4 … in order
8 rounds · more digits, better
How to read your score
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| Chimp Test: 0-4 digits | A Chimp Test score of 0-4 digits means no scored round above the four-digit starting level was completed perfectly. Check cells in order out of 60: a rising total shows more correct placements across the run even before the main score reaches 5. Compare several runs on the same device. |
| Chimp Test: 5-6 digits | A Chimp Test score of 5-6 digits means the longest perfectly recalled round contained five or six number-position links. Higher is better within this task. Repeat the test under the same conditions to see whether your completed runs stay in this range instead of treating one result as a fixed limit. |
| Chimp Test: 7-8 digits | A Chimp Test score of 7-8 digits means the longest perfectly recalled round contained seven or eight number-position links. This is the middle of this test's five score ranges, not the middle of a population. The cells-in-order total out of 60 helps distinguish early misses from near-complete attempts. |
| Chimp Test: 9-10 digits | A Chimp Test score of 9-10 digits means the longest perfectly recalled round contained nine or ten number-position links, one or two below this test's ceiling of 11. It is a task-specific range, not a percentile or a player label. Repeat the same test to see whether the result holds. |
| Chimp Test: 11 digits | A Chimp Test score of 11 digits means you completed this test's maximum 11-digit round in order. The test stops increasing at 11, so the result shows that you reached the instrument ceiling; it does not estimate the most positions you could remember on a longer version. |
These Chimp Test score ranges describe only this fixed version: a 6×6 board, eight scored rounds, levels from 4 to 11, and up to 600 milliseconds of viewing time per numeral. They are not population norms, percentiles, pass marks, or age and ability grades, so they cannot show how many people you outscored. Compare several completed runs on the same device and screen size.
How to play
- How do you play the Chimp Test online?: Press Start and use the three-digit practice round to learn the sequence. When each scored round begins, wait until every numeral is visible, then memorise which square holds 1, 2, 3, and the rest.
- When do the numbers disappear in the Chimp Test?: Tap numeral 1 when you are ready. That first tap turns every remaining numeral into a blank white square; if the viewing time runs out first, they are hidden automatically and you have less time left to answer.
- What happens if you make a mistake in the Chimp Test?: Tap the blank squares that held 2, 3, 4, and so on, in ascending order. A wrong square or timeout ends that round; the next round uses a new layout, and it increases by one digit only after a correct round.
- How is a Chimp Test score calculated?: Complete all eight scored rounds. Your main score is the largest digit count recalled perfectly, so higher is better; use the cells-in-order total out of 60 to distinguish an early miss from a near-complete round, then compare several runs on the same device.
What this measures
A Chimp Test run begins with one unscored three-digit practice round, followed by eight scored rounds on the same 6×6 board. The practice teaches the controls; only the next eight rounds affect your result.
Scored rounds begin with four numerals. A correct round adds one numeral, while a wrong tap or timeout repeats the same number with a new layout. The hardest possible round has 11 numerals.
Only the tap on 1 should happen while the numerals are visible. Tapping another numeral or an empty square does not submit an answer. After the numbers are hidden, tap each remembered square once in ascending order; one wrong square ends the round.
Each round allows 600 milliseconds of viewing time per numeral, with a minimum of 2.5 seconds and a maximum of 6 seconds. Recall time is 1.2 seconds per numeral. Hiding the numbers early moves the unused viewing time into recall, so waiting for them to disappear leaves less time to answer.
Your main Chimp Test score is the highest digit count completed without a mistake, and higher is better. The cells-in-order total out of 60 shows partial progress across all eight rounds. Milliseconds per cell describes your fully correct highest-level round; lower is faster, but it does not mean you remembered more.
To judge improvement, compare several completed Chimp Test runs on the same device and screen size. Look for a stable rise in the main score or cells-in-order total, not one unusually high run; a shorter per-cell time matters only when the digit count stays the same.
A Chimp Test result needs at least six of the eight scored rounds to finish within their answer window. Leaving, refreshing, stopping the run, or a display stall ends it without a score. A smooth run takes about 45 seconds including practice; the longest possible run stays under about 2 minutes 10 seconds, excluding the untimed hand-off.
The Chimp Test asks you to bind each numeral to a position, keep those number-position links in memory after they are hidden, and reproduce their order. It measures performance on this task, not intelligence, and differs from digit span because all numerals appear together in different locations.
FAQ
What does the Chimp Test measure?
The Chimp Test measures how many numbered positions you can briefly hold on a 6×6 grid and reproduce in order after the numbers are hidden, using eight scored rounds under the same fixed conditions. It describes spatial working-memory performance on this task, not intelligence, health, or a clinical condition.
What is a good Chimp Test score?
There is no verified population average for this Chimp Test, so a good score is one that stays high or improves across several completed runs made on the same device and screen size. The descriptive ranges are 0-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11 digits; 11 is the test ceiling, not a perfect or population-ranked result.
How do you get better at the Chimp Test?
The most useful Chimp Test practice is to repeat the same version under the same conditions, group nearby positions into small shapes, and judge progress across several completed runs instead of chasing one lucky peak. Change one strategy at a time, and use the cells-in-order total out of 60 to spot gains before the main digit score rises.
How long is one Chimp Test run?
A smooth Chimp Test run takes about 45 seconds from Start to score, including practice, while the slowest possible run stays under about 2 minutes 10 seconds; the untimed hand-off is excluded. Each round gives 600 milliseconds of viewing time per numeral, with a 2.5-second minimum and a 6-second maximum.
How is the Chimp Test different from a digit span test?
The Chimp Test measures ordered recall of number-to-position links after a visual mask, while a digit span test presents a sequence over time and asks you to repeat that sequence in order. The two tasks place different demands on memory, produce different scores, and cannot be used interchangeably.
Do chimpanzees outperform humans on the Chimp Test?
The research behind the Chimp Test found an advantage for highly trained chimpanzees under specific brief-presentation conditions, but that result does not support a general species ranking or a personal comparison from this page. Inoue and Matsuzawa's 2007 human group had no prior task practice; a later practice study found that two trained humans matched the reported accuracy. This site compares only your own runs.
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Last updated: 2026-10-10 · Scores stay on this device