How the test works
- 36 cards are face down: 18 matching pairs.
- Turn over two cards. If they match, they stay face up.
- If they don't, they turn back over, so remember where they were.
- Find all 18 pairs. Your score is the number of moves (pairs of cards turned). Fewer is better.
What it measures
The matching game, also known as Concentration or Pairs, tests short-term visual and spatial memory: remembering what each card was and where it was. On the 6×6 board the best possible score is 18 moves, which needs some luck; good memory keeps you close to it. The expert board has 18 pairs, so it rewards a system for remembering positions.
What is a good score?
| Score | Better than about |
|---|---|
| 19 moves | 99% of people (top 1%) |
| 26 moves | 90% of people (top 10%) |
| 30 moves | 75% of people |
| 35 moves | 50% of people (average) |
| 40 moves | 25% of people |
Estimated from typical scores for this kind of test.
Tips to improve
- Turn over cards you haven't seen yet before guessing at ones you have.
- Say the picture and position to yourself: "moon, top left".
- Work through the grid in order, row by row, so you know which cards you've seen.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good score on the expert board?
Around 35 moves is typical. 27 moves or fewer puts you in roughly the top 12%. The fewest possible is 18, one move per pair.
Which level should I play?
Easy (4×3) suits younger children, Normal (4×4) is the classic game, and Hard (6×5) and Expert (6×6) are a real memory workout.
Is this memory game good for kids?
Yes. It's a simple, calm game that works well on tablets and Chromebooks, and it has no ads inside the game area.