Chimp Test
Numbers appear scattered on a grid. Click 1 and the rest go blank - finish the order from memory. Three strikes and it's over.
How the chimp test works
You start with four numbers placed randomly on a grid. Study them as long as you like - but the instant you click 1, every other number turns into a blank tile. Click the remaining tiles in ascending order from memory. Clear the board and the next round adds one more number. Three mistakes across the run ends the test.
The experiment behind it
In the famous Kyoto University study, a young chimpanzee named Ayumu memorized the positions of nine digits that appeared for about a fifth of a second - faster than a human eye can comfortably scan - and still tapped them in perfect order. University students tested on the same task lost badly. It remains one of the most humbling results in comparative cognition, and this test lets you feel exactly why.
Why is it called the chimp test?
It recreates the Kyoto University experiment where the chimp Ayumu outperformed university students at memorizing number positions shown for a fraction of a second.
What is a good chimp test score?
Most people manage around 9 numbers. Reaching 12-13 is roughly top 10%, and 15+ is exceptional.
How do I get better?
Scan the numbers in order before your first click and rehearse the path your hand will travel, not the digits. Treat it as one continuous route across the screen.