Memory test: how many digits can you remember?
A sequence appears one item at a time – then you repeat it. Every correct answer makes the next sequence one item longer. At the end you see your memory span: the longest sequence you repeated without a mistake.
How it is calculated
How the memory test works
- Choose the task – digits forwards, digits backwards or color sequence – and the speed.
- After “Start” the items appear one after another. Just watch, don’t write them down.
- Then repeat the sequence: digits with the keyboard or number pad, colors by tapping the fields (or keys 1–4).
- Digits: you start with 3 digits. Correct → the next sequence has one more digit. Wrong → a second try with a new sequence of the same length; two mistakes in a row end the test.
- Colors: the sequence grows by one field each round while the earlier ones stay the same. The first mistake ends the test.
Your memory span is the longest sequence you repeated without an error. Best scores per task are kept in your browser.
Background: memory span
Repeating sequences of digits is a classic task in memory research. In 1956 George A. Miller described in “The magical number seven, plus or minus two” that adults can hold about seven items in short-term memory. In 2001 Nelson Cowan concluded that the underlying capacity is closer to four units of information (“chunks”) – longer spans appear when people group items, for example digits into pairs. Backwards is harder because the sequence also has to be reordered in your head.
What this test cannot do
The procedure is a simple design of this tool, not a standardized test. Results depend on how you feel that day, practice, distractions and strategy, and cannot be compared with norms. This test is not a diagnosis – if you are worried about your memory, please see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
How many digits can people usually remember?
Miller described a span of about seven items (plus or minus two) in 1956. Later work such as Cowan 2001 estimates the capacity at about four chunks; grouping items lets you remember more.
Why is backwards harder?
You have to keep the sequence and also reverse it in your head. That puts extra load on working memory, so the backwards span is usually shorter.
Can this test detect dementia?
No. It is a practice and game test without norms and not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your memory, a medical assessment is the right step.
Is my result saved?
Only your best score per task, and only in this browser. “Clear best scores” removes them. Nothing is sent to a server.
Can I play the color sequence with the keyboard?
Yes. Keys 1 to 4 match the four fields. Each field also has its own shape, so they can be told apart without color vision.
Sources and legal basis
- Miller (1956): The magical number seven, plus or minus two. Psychological Review 63(2) – PubMed
- Cowan (2001): The magical number 4 in short-term memory. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 24(1) – PubMed
- Wikipedia: Memory span
- MDN: Crypto.getRandomValues()
- MDN: Window.localStorage
As of:
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