The formula
CPS stands for clicks per second, and the formula is as short as it sounds:
CPS = clicks divided by seconds
The test counts every left click or tap inside the box. The clock starts on your first click and runs for the length of the test, five seconds on this page. When it stops, your total is divided by five and shown to one decimal place.
Worked examples
| Test length | Clicks | Calculation | CPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 seconds | 30 | 30 / 5 | 6.0 |
| 5 seconds | 38 | 38 / 5 | 7.6 |
| 5 seconds | 47 | 47 / 5 | 9.4 |
| 5 seconds | 56 | 56 / 5 | 11.2 |
| 1 second | 9 | 9 / 1 | 9.0 |
| 10 seconds | 83 | 83 / 10 | 8.3 |
Take the third row. Forty seven clicks in five seconds gives 9.4, which falls in the Above average band of 9 to 10.9. Add three more clicks to reach 50 and the score becomes 10.0. Add another 5 and it becomes 11.0, which moves you into the Fast band.
How much is one click worth
Because the count is divided by the length, a single click is worth a different amount in each test:
- In a 1 second test, one click is worth 1.0 CPS.
- In a 5 second test, one click is worth 0.2 CPS.
- In a 10 second test, one click is worth 0.1 CPS.
That is why short tests swing so much. Missing one click in a one second run drops your score by a whole point, while in a ten second run it barely moves it.
Working backwards from a goal
You can also use the formula to set a target. Multiply the CPS you want by the test length to get the clicks you need.
To reach 8 CPS in five seconds you need 8 times 5, which is 40 clicks. To reach 14 CPS, the Exceptional band, you need 14 times 5, which is 70 clicks. If your best so far is 45 clicks, then 40 is already behind you and 70 is 25 clicks away.
Every five second score ends in an even tenth, such as 7.4 or 9.6, because each click adds exactly 0.2.
Check the arithmetic yourself
The result screen shows your click count next to your CPS, so you can do the division by hand. Try the CPS test 1 second to see the one click equals one point rule in action, or the 10 second click test to see how a longer run smooths it out.