Trail making test
Connect scattered circles in order as fast as you can: numbers first, then numbers and letters in turn.
- 1Part A: tap the circles in order, from 1 to 25. The clock starts when you tap 1.
- 2Part B: alternate between numbers and letters, 1, A, 2, B, all the way to 13.
- 3A wrong circle flashes pink while the clock keeps running. At the end, compare your two times.
Two parts · nothing is saved
How scoring works
- Each part is timed from your tap on 1 to your tap on the last circle, in seconds.
- A wrong tap isn’t taken as an answer, but the clock keeps running while you find the right circle, so it costs time. Wrong taps are also counted.
- Part B minus Part A shows how much switching between numbers and letters cost you; B ÷ A shows the same as a ratio.
- Every run lays out a new trail that never crosses itself, so the layout can’t be learned.
A little perspective
Published norms for the trail making test come from the pen-and-paper version, so screen times can’t be compared with them. This practice version is not a clinical assessment.
Results describe your performance on this task, with no invented percentiles or IQ equivalents.
What is the trail making test?
The trail making test is a classic task in two parts. In Part A you connect circles numbered 1 to 25 in order. In Part B you alternate between numbers and letters, 1-A-2-B-3-C, up to 13. Both parts ask you to search quickly; Part B also asks you to keep switching between two sequences.
Psychologists use the paper version as one part of wider assessments, often looking at the difference between the two parts. This online version is for practice and curiosity: it times each part on your screen, lays out a fresh trail for every run, and reports the B − A difference and the B ÷ A ratio, without clinical norms or labels.
Getting started
- Look ahead: while you tap one circle, start searching for the next.
- In Part B, say the sequence quietly to yourself, “1, A, 2, B”, to keep your place.
- Use the same device for each run. A bigger screen spreads the circles further apart.
Read how Logitally tests and scores work for more about interpreting results.
Common questions
What does the trail making test measure?
Part A mainly reflects visual search and speed. Part B adds switching between numbers and letters, so the difference between the parts is often read as the cost of switching. Here those are described as results on this task, not as a diagnosis.
Can I compare my times with published norms?
No. Published norms come from the pen-and-paper version, given by a trained examiner under set conditions. Tapping circles on a screen is a different task, so compare your results with your own earlier runs instead.
What counts as an error?
Tapping any circle other than the next one in the sequence. The tap is ignored and the clock keeps running, so errors show up as extra time. They are also counted separately.