Number Memory
A number appears — remember it and type it back. It grows by one digit each round.
About the number memory test
The number memory (digit span) test is a classic measure of short-term verbal memory used in psychology since the early 1900s. A number appears for a few seconds, then vanishes. You type it back. Each round adds one more digit.
How it works
- 1A number is shown for a short time, based on its length.
- 2The number disappears — type back what you remember.
- 3Correct answer? The next number is one digit longer.
- 4One wrong answer ends the run. Your longest digit is your score.
Score benchmarks
How your score stacks up. Values are indicative averages, not clinical thresholds.
| Tier | Score |
|---|---|
| Elite | 13 + digits |
| Strong | 10–12 digits |
| Average | 7–9 digits |
| Beginner | ≤ 6 digits |
Tips to improve
- Chunk digits into pairs or triplets ('174' not '1-7-4').
- Speak them aloud (or subvocalize) while they're on screen.
- Use phone-number rhythm — everyone has that pattern wired in.
- For long numbers, memorize front and back separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average digit span?
The classic result from Miller's 'magical number seven' is 7 ± 2 digits. Most healthy adults reach 7–9 in this test.
Why does chunking help?
Working memory holds a fixed number of items, but each item can contain multiple digits. Grouping 12 digits into 4 chunks of 3 makes recall dramatically easier.
Is digit span a good IQ proxy?
It correlates with IQ but isn't a substitute. It's one subtest in standardized batteries like the WAIS.