Chimp Test Explained

The chimp test is a quick memory game that spread online after experiments in which young chimpanzees beat adult humans at remembering the positions of briefly shown numbers. You can play it in a minute, and every run ends with a number you can try to beat.

Take the free chimp test now to get a baseline, then come back for the tips below. No login, nothing is uploaded.

How the chimp test works

1. Numbers appear in random squares of a grid.
2. You click number 1. The other numbers immediately turn into blank squares.
3. You click the squares in order, 2, 3, 4 and so on, from memory.
4. If you finish, the next round has one more number. A wrong click is a strike, and three strikes end the run.

Your result is the highest count of numbers you cleared. Our version starts at 4 numbers on a 6 x 5 grid.

What it measures

The test checks short-term visual memory and attention: how well you hold a spatial pattern for a few seconds. It is not an intelligence test and says nothing about your overall abilities. Sleep, stress and simple luck of the layout all move the score.

Tips to remember more numbers

1. Use the first click wisely. The moment you click 1, the rest vanish. Study the whole board before you click, not after.
2. Remember a path, not positions. Picture a line that connects 1, 2, 3 and onward, like a snake across the grid.
3. Chunk. Group neighbours into small clusters, for example 1-2-3 in the top left, 4-5-6 in the middle, then link the clusters.
4. Scan in a fixed order. Looking left to right, top to bottom each time makes the picture easier to store.
5. Say it silently. Label regions with words such as top-left, centre or bottom-right to back up the visual memory.
6. Click at a steady pace. Rushing causes slips, and a strike costs more than a second of thought.
7. Play rested. Memory drops when you are tired, so compare scores from the same time of day.

What is a good score?

There is no official scale, and results depend on the grid size and number of strikes allowed. Rather than chasing a figure you saw somewhere, track your own best. The test saves it in your browser so you can see whether it grows over a week of short practice.

More memory tests

If the chimp test is fun, try the number memory test, the sequence memory test, the visual memory test and the verbal memory test. For general advice, read how to improve memory, see all free brain games, or play Rankle, a free daily ordering puzzle.

FAQ

What is the chimp test?

The chimp test is a short-term visual memory game. Numbers flash in a grid, then hide behind blank squares, and you must click the squares in ascending order from memory. Each successful round adds one more number.

Does the chimp test measure intelligence?

No. It measures short-term visual memory and attention on one task. It is a fun benchmark, not an IQ test, and scores vary with sleep, focus and practice.

What is a good score on the chimp test?

There is no official scale. Scores depend on grid size and the number of strikes allowed, and most people improve with practice. Compare yourself with your own earlier runs rather than with other people.

How can I get better at the chimp test?

Memorise the whole layout as a path instead of single positions, group nearby numbers into small chunks, scan in a fixed order such as left to right, and play when rested. Short regular practice helps more than one long session.