How the test works
- Words appear one at a time.
- If you have already seen the word in this test, click Seen. If it is new, click New.
- You have 3 lives. Each wrong answer costs one.
- Your score is the number of words you answered correctly.
What it measures
This test measures verbal recognition memory: how well you can tell familiar words from new ones as the list of words you have seen keeps growing. It gets harder because every new word adds to what you must remember.
What is a good score?
| Score | Better than about |
|---|---|
| 96 words | 99% of people (top 1%) |
| 73 words | 90% of people (top 10%) |
| 60 words | 75% of people |
| 45 words | 50% of people (average) |
| 30 words | 25% of people |
Estimated from typical scores for this kind of test.
Tips to improve
- Picture each new word vividly for a moment; images are easier to recognise later.
- Don't overthink. Your first feeling of familiarity is usually right.
- Watch for similar words; the test mixes in words you haven't seen that look like ones you have.
- Stay steady. Most lives are lost by rushing after a long streak.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good verbal memory score?
Around 45 words is typical. Getting past 75 puts you in roughly the top 10%, and 100 or more is excellent.
How often do repeated words appear?
Early on, most words are new. As the test goes on, more of the words are repeats, so you need to remember more of the list.