Digit Span Test
Recall digits flashed one by one
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What is the Digit Span Test?
The Digit Span Test is one of the oldest and best known memory tests. A list of digits is presented one at a time, and the person repeats them back in the same order. The lists get longer until the person makes mistakes, and the longest list repeated correctly is their digit span. It has been used in memory assessment since the late 19th century.
Digit span is part of the Wechsler intelligence scales and is widely used in research on short-term and working memory. A forward span of around seven digits is typical for adults. A backward version, where digits are repeated in reverse, adds the job of rearranging what you hold in mind. The Neuroptimize Digit Span Test plays both versions, flashing digits on screen for you to type back.
How to play the Digit Span Test
- Digits flash in the centre of the screen one at a time. Tick marks below show how many digits are in the list.
- When the last digit has gone, type the list on the keypad and tap ✓ to submit. On a computer you can also use the number keys, Backspace and Enter.
- Any wrong digit makes the whole answer wrong. The correct list is then shown so you can compare.
- A correct answer adds one digit to the next list, and a wrong answer removes one, anywhere between 2 and 12 digits.
- Higher levels start with longer lists, flash the digits faster and use fewer rounds per session, from ten down to eight.
- From level 12, some rounds are announced as reverse rounds. In these you type the digits in the opposite order, starting with the last one shown.
Strategies and tips
Group digits in threes
Chunk the list into groups, like a phone number: 4 8 1 7 2 9 becomes 481, 729. Two or three chunks are much easier to hold than six single digits.
Say them silently
Repeat the digits under your breath as they appear, keeping a steady rhythm. Replaying the sound of the list is often more reliable than trying to picture it.
Look for familiar numbers
Spot years, ages, times or simple runs such as 3 4 5 inside the list. A chunk that already means something to you takes up less room in memory.
Reverse in chunks
On reverse rounds, split the list into small groups first, then reverse each group and the order of the groups. Flipping 3 digits at a time is easier than flipping 8 at once.
Type straight away
Start typing as soon as the keypad is ready, while the list is still fresh. There is no time limit, but memory for the list fades quickly if you wait.
The science behind the Digit Span Test
Digit span is the longest sequence of digits a person can repeat back correctly. It has been used in memory assessment since the late 19th century and is part of the Wechsler intelligence scales. Repeating digits in reverse order, known as backward span, additionally requires manipulating the information held in memory.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal digit span?
Most adults can repeat around seven digits forwards, give or take about two. Backward span is usually shorter, because the digits must be rearranged as well as remembered.
What does the digit span test measure?
Forward digit span is used to measure short-term memory for verbal information. Backward span also involves working memory, since you have to manipulate the list while holding it.
Is backward digit span harder than forward?
For most people, yes. Reversing the list takes extra mental work, so backward scores are usually lower. In the Neuroptimize version, reverse rounds appear from level 12 and are always announced first.
Can I use my keyboard in the Digit Span Test?
Yes. On a computer you can type digits with the number keys, delete with Backspace and submit with Enter, or use the on-screen keypad.