Chimp Test — Test Your Working Memory Like a Chimpanzee
Numbers appear scattered on screen. Click them in ascending order — after you click 1, the rest turn blank and you're working from memory. In the original study, chimps beat most humans at this.
Starts at 4 numbers · one more each round · 3 strikes
The chimpanzee study behind the test
In a well-known Kyoto University experiment, young chimpanzees were shown numerals scattered on a screen for a fraction of a second, then had to touch their hidden positions in order — and they did it faster and more accurately than adult humans. The result made headlines because it flipped the usual assumption: on this specific snapshot-memory task, we're not the best species in the room. This test recreates that mechanic — the same one popularised by the Human Benchmark chimp test, so your score compares directly.
Reading your score
Most people top out between 8 and 10 numbers; the layout is random each round, so there's no pattern to learn — just your visual snapshot and how fast it fades. If you enjoy this one, the sequence memory teststresses ordered recall and thevisual memory teststresses spatial patterns — the three make a quick working-memory workout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chimp Test?
The Chimp Test is a working-memory challenge based on a famous Kyoto University experiment: numbers appear scattered on screen, and the moment you click 1, the rest turn blank — you must click them in order purely from the snapshot in your memory.
What is the average human score on the chimp test?
Most people fail somewhere between 8 and 10 numbers. Because the layout is random every round, scores past that require either an unusually strong visual snapshot or lots of practice.
What is the world record for the chimp test?
There’s no officially verified world record for the online format. Well-practised players post runs into the high teens and beyond on popular sites, but such claims are self-reported and unverified.
Are chimpanzees really better at this than humans?
In the original Kyoto University study, young chimpanzees — especially one named Ayumu — recalled briefly flashed numeral positions faster and more accurately than adult humans. One popular theory is a cognitive trade-off: humans gave up some raw snapshot memory as language took over shared brain real estate.
Is there a mobile app version of the chimp test?
This version runs in any mobile browser — no app needed. Tap works the same as clicking, though a bigger screen makes the number layout easier to snapshot.
How this test works: everything runs and is timed locally in your browser, and results depend on your device and conditions. Scores are for casual benchmarking and entertainment — not a clinical, medical or diagnostic measurement.