Operation span memory test

You judge equations and remember letters in the same round. Choose Right or Wrong for an equation, then remember the letter that replaces it. Keep the letters in order while judging the next equations. At the end, type the letters you saw. The numerical answers are not part of the recall list.

What each level changes

Each round contains one letter per equation. Higher levels add letters and shorten the deadline for each equation:

• Level 1: 3 letters, with 5.75 seconds per equation.
• Level 2: 4 letters, with 5.5 seconds per equation.
• Level 3: 5 letters, with 5.25 seconds per equation.
• Level 4: 6 letters, with 5 seconds per equation.
• Level 5: 7 letters, with 4.75 seconds per equation.
• Level 6: 8 letters, with 4.5 seconds per equation.
• Level 7: 9 letters, with 4.25 seconds per equation.
• Level 8: 10 letters, with 4 seconds per equation.

Every letter appears for 0.9 seconds, including after a wrong judgment or a timeout. Letters are consonants and do not repeat within a round. All levels use addition or multiplication with numbers from 2 to 9. Recall has no time limit, and you can edit your answer before pressing Check.

A worked example

In a Level 1 round, imagine these three steps:

• 4 + 5 = 9: choose Right, then remember B.
• 3 × 4 = 14: choose Wrong, because 3 × 4 = 12, then remember K.
• 8 + 2 = 10: choose Right, then remember R.

The recall answer is BKR. If you enter BRK instead, only B is in the right position: 1 of 3, or 33%. All 3 equation judgments can still be correct. If the second equation times out but you recall BKR, letter recall is 100%, while equations judged correctly is 2 of 3, with 1 timeout.

What your result means

Letters in the right position reports correct positions as a percentage of the requested letters. Missing positions earn no credit. Each extra letter beyond the requested length removes one correct position, down to zero; BKRX would therefore score 67% in this example. Equations judged correctly is a separate count, and unanswered equations count as timeouts. Read both results together: retaining the letters while neglecting the equations leaves one part of the task unfinished.

A submitted recall answer completes the round, even if it is short. Ending before submission or moving this tab into the background ends the round without a scored or saved result. Compare completed rounds at the same level. These results describe this letter-and-equation task, not your memory in everyday life.

Try the method in the lesson Hold letters between sums. The related guide N-back test: what one score can tell you discusses how to interpret results from another working-memory practice.

For a broader mix of practices, explore the memory practice test. Sign in free to start a test.