How the test works
- A circle appears in the middle, one at a time: 30 in total.
- Green circle: click, tap or press Space as fast as you can.
- Red circle: don't press anything. It disappears on its own.
- Your score is your average time on green circles. Clicking on red or missing a green adds a half-second penalty, so speed and self-control both count.
What it measures
The Go/No-Go task is a standard psychology test of response inhibition: stopping an action you're ready to make. Because most circles are green, clicking becomes a habit, and the red ones test whether you can catch yourself in time.
What is a good score?
| Score | Faster than about |
|---|---|
| 251 ms | 99% of people (top 1%) |
| 310 ms | 90% of people (top 10%) |
| 350 ms | 75% of people |
| 400 ms | 50% of people (average) |
| 458 ms | 25% of people |
Estimated from typical scores for this kind of test.
Tips to improve
- Keep your finger ready, but wait until you've actually seen the colour.
- Don't try to predict the next colour; red circles come at random.
- If you click on red a lot, slow down a little. Mistakes cost more than a few milliseconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Go/No-Go score?
Around 400 ms is typical, including mistakes. Under 330 ms puts you in roughly the top 17%, and under 300 ms is in the top 8%.
What does the Go/No-Go test measure?
Response inhibition, or impulse control: how well you can stop yourself from making an action you're primed to make. Psychologists use it in research on attention and self-control.