Working memory test
Hold a sequence in mind, then bring it back. See how far your recall can stretch.
- 1Watch digits appear one at a time.
- 2Type them back in order, or last to first in backward mode.
- 3Each correct answer adds a digit. A wrong one costs one of your three lives.
Type the digits as they appeared.
3 lives · nothing is saved
How scoring works
- Your score is the longest sequence you typed back correctly, counted in digits.
- Sequences start at three digits and grow by one after each correct answer, up to twelve.
- A wrong answer costs a life and repeats the same length with new digits. The run ends when all three lives are gone.
- Backward mode is scored the same way but is usually harder, so compare each mode only with itself.
A little perspective
Digit recall measures performance on this task; it does not diagnose a memory condition.
Results describe your performance on this task, with no invented percentiles or IQ equivalents.
How the digit span working memory test works
This working memory test uses digit sequences. Watch the numbers appear one at a time, hold the sequence in mind, then type it back. A correct answer adds a digit to the next sequence, so the task gradually asks you to retain more information.
Forward mode asks you to reproduce the original order. Backward mode asks you to reverse it before answering. Reversing the sequence changes the task, so keep forward and backward scores separate when you compare your own runs. This online challenge is for practice and curiosity; it is not a clinical assessment.
Getting started
- Start in forward mode to learn the pace and controls before trying backward mode.
- Keep the test visible while the digits appear. The sequence is presented once before you answer.
- Use the same mode when comparing runs. Remembering five digits forward and five backward are different tasks.
For a different recall challenge, try the photographic memory test.
Read how Logitally tests and scores work for more about interpreting results.
Common questions
What is digit span?
In this test, digit span is the longest sequence of numbers you entered correctly. Sequences start at three digits and grow by one after a correct response, up to twelve digits.
What happens if I enter the wrong sequence?
You lose one of your three lives. The next round uses a new sequence of the same length. The run ends after all three lives are lost.
Can this working memory test diagnose a memory problem?
No. A score describes this run of a browser-based digit recall task. It is not a diagnosis, a clinical screening result, or an IQ score.