Memory Span Test

What it measures

Your forward digit span — the longest sequence of digits you can hold in mind and repeat back in order. Digit span is a classic index of the capacity of verbal short-term and working memory and appears in standard cognitive batteries such as the Wechsler scales.

How it works

Digits flash on screen one at a time, then disappear and you type the sequence back in the same order. Each correct sequence increases the length by one digit; a mistake earns a second attempt at the same length, and two failures at one length ends the test. Your score is the longest sequence you reproduced correctly.

Tips for an accurate result

• 1Chunk the digits — Grouping a run like 4-8-1-5 into ‘48’ and ‘15’ is a well-known way to stretch your effective span.
• 2Rehearse silently — Quietly repeating the digits as they appear keeps them active in your phonological loop until you respond.
• 3Stay relaxed — Anxiety and fatigue shrink working-memory capacity. Test when you’re rested for a fairer result.
• 4Expect day-to-day variation — Span naturally wobbles by a digit or so between sessions; look at your typical range, not a single best run.