Chimp Test
Numbers appear in random squares of the grid. Click 1 and the rest turn into blank tiles: now click them in order from memory. Every cleared level adds one more number. Three strikes and the test is over.
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Are you faster than a chimpanzee?
Click the squares in order, starting from 1. After your first click the numbers hide.
Keyboard: arrow keys move between squares, Enter or Space clicks.
How to use the Chimp Test
- Press Start test. Optionally pick when the numbers should hide.
- Memorize the positions of all the numbers on the grid.
- Click 1. The other numbers turn into blank tiles.
- Click the blank tiles in order 2, 3, 4… from memory. Clear the level to get one more number.
- Avoid 3 strikes. A wrong click ends the level and shows the order; after the third strike your score is saved.
Where the chimp test comes from
The game is modeled on research by Sana Inoue and Tetsuro Matsuzawa at Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute, published in Current Biology in 2007. Young chimpanzees, most famously Ayumu, were shown the numerals 1 to 9 scattered on a touch screen. As soon as they touched the first numeral, the others were replaced by blank white squares, and they had to touch the squares in ascending order. In the masked condition with very short display times, Ayumu's accuracy was higher than that of the university students tested in the same study.
The result is often summed up as "chimps beat humans at memory", but it is narrower than that: it shows a striking ability to take in a whole spatial layout at a glance. Humans were not trained for as long, and later studies found that people can improve a lot with practice.
Rules used in this version
| Rule | This test |
|---|---|
| Grid | 8 × 5 squares (5 × 8 on narrow phone screens), 40 positions |
| First level | 4 numbers (or 6 or 8 if you choose) |
| Each cleared level | +1 number, new random layout, up to 40 |
| When numbers hide | On your first correct click (classic) or after 0.5 to 3 seconds |
| Wrong click | Strike: the correct order is shown, then the level restarts with a new layout |
| End of test | After 3 strikes |
| Score | Most numbers cleared in one level |
Clicks on empty squares are ignored, so a slip next to a tile never costs a strike.
Memory strategies that work
- Plan the path first. Before clicking 1, follow the numbers 1, 2, 3… with your eyes and remember the zig-zag path they form.
- Chunk. Remember 1 to 4 as one shape and 5 to 8 as another. Chunks of three or four are easier than single squares.
- Use landmarks. Edges, corners and the middle row give positions an anchor.
- Do not rush the first click. In classic mode the numbers stay on screen until you click 1, so take your time memorizing.
- Train with a timer. Once your classic score is stable, practise with "hide after 2 seconds" to build faster encoding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the chimp test?
It is a working-memory game based on experiments at Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute, where the young chimpanzee Ayumu was shown numerals 1 to 9 on a touch screen. When he touched 1 the others were masked by white squares, and he had to touch them in ascending order from memory. Inoue and Matsuzawa (2007) reported that he did this very quickly and accurately, outperforming the human students tested in that study at short display times.
How is the chimp test scored?
The first level shows 4 numbers and each cleared level adds one. Your score is the highest number of numbers you placed correctly in one level. A wrong click is a strike and you retry with the same amount of numbers in a new layout; after 3 strikes the test ends.
What is a good chimp test score?
There is no official norm for this game. Most people clear the first levels comfortably and find it much harder somewhere around 7 to 12 numbers, which fits research suggesting short-term memory holds only a handful of items at once. Compare your own scores over time rather than against a single number.
Why do the numbers hide when I click 1?
That is the classic rule from the original experiment: you see the whole layout only until your first response, so you must remember every position at once. If you prefer, choose a fixed viewing time (for example 2 seconds) and the numbers hide automatically.
How can I improve my chimp test score?
Trace a path through the numbers in order before clicking 1, and remember it as a shape. Group the numbers into chunks of three or four, and notice landmarks such as edges and corners. Short daily practice tends to help more than long sessions.
Is my score history stored online?
No. The last 30 scores are kept only in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded, and you can clear the history with one click.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.