How the test works
- Click the box to start. It turns red.
- Wait. After a random delay of 1 to 3 seconds it turns green.
- Click or tap as soon as you see green. Clicking early counts as a false start and that try is repeated.
- After 5 tries you get your average reaction time.
What it measures
This test measures simple visual reaction time: how long it takes your brain to notice a change and your hand to respond. Most people land between 200 and 300 milliseconds. Your score also includes the delay added by your mouse, keyboard and screen, which is usually 10 to 50 ms on a typical laptop, so the same person can score differently on different devices.
What is a good score?
| Score | Faster than about |
|---|---|
| 178 ms | 99% of people (top 1%) |
| 214 ms | 90% of people (top 10%) |
| 239 ms | 75% of people |
| 270 ms | 50% of people (average) |
| 305 ms | 25% of people |
Estimated from typical scores for this kind of test.
Tips to improve
- Use a wired mouse and a desktop screen; touchscreens and wireless mice add delay.
- Rest your finger on the button so the only movement left is the click.
- Look at the centre of the box, not at the cursor.
- Take a few warm-up rounds. Scores usually improve over the first 10 to 20 tries.
- Sleep, caffeine and time of day all change reaction time, so compare scores taken in similar conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good reaction time?
Around 250 ms is typical for a visual test like this one. Under 200 ms is very fast and puts you in roughly the top 5%. Over 350 ms is slower than most people, often because of device lag.
Why is my score slower on my phone?
Touchscreens take longer to register a tap than a mouse does to register a click, and many phone screens add display delay. Expect phone scores to be 20 to 60 ms slower.
Can you improve your reaction time?
A little. Practice, good sleep and a low-latency setup all help. Most gains in the first sessions come from getting used to the test rather than faster reflexes.
What is the fastest possible human reaction time?
Visual reaction times below about 100 ms are generally treated as anticipation rather than reaction, which is why sprint starts treat anything under 100 ms as a false start.