How the sequence memory test works
The board has nine tiles. When you start, one tile lights up. Tap it. Then the same tile lights up again followed by a second one, and you tap both in order. Every round keeps the pattern so far and adds one more step.
The test ends at your first wrong tap. Your score is the longest sequence you repeated without a mistake.
What is a good sequence memory score?
| Longest sequence | Rating |
|---|---|
| 15 or more | Exceptional |
| 12 to 14 | Strong |
| 9 to 11 | Above average |
| 6 to 8 | Average |
| 4 to 5 | Below average |
| Under 4 | Keep practicing |
These bands are a rough guide. If your result is lower than you expected, run it a second time. The first run often ends early from a slip of attention, not a real memory limit.
The science behind it
The closest relative in psychology is the Corsi block-tapping test, developed in the early 1970s. An examiner taps a series of blocks and the person taps them back in the same order. Healthy adults usually manage a span of about five to six blocks.
You will probably score higher than that here, and there is a good reason. In the Corsi test every trial is a brand new sequence. In this test the sequence builds up, so by the time you reach step ten you have already rehearsed step one nine times. The early part of the pattern moves into longer-term memory, and only the newest few steps rely on working memory.
How to remember longer sequences
Chunk it. Do not store ten separate taps. Break the pattern into groups of three or four and give each group a shape or a path: “corner, corner, middle” then “down the right side”.
Trace the path. Many people do better when they picture a line connecting the tiles, like drawing a constellation. Your finger hovering over the board during playback helps too.
Number the tiles. Treat the board like a phone keypad, 1 to 9, and turn the pattern into a number. This recruits verbal memory to back up visual memory. If you are good at the number memory test, this method will suit you.
Focus on the new step. You already know the sequence up to the last round. During playback, ride along with what you know and put your attention on the final tile.
Do not rush the input. There is no time limit when it is your turn. Fast tapping is the most common cause of a wrong tile.
What this skill is used for
Remembering an ordered series of positions shows up when you dial a number from a keypad, follow a set of directions, learn a piece on the piano or play a combo in a game. It also leans on the same spatial memory as the visual memory test, which asks you to remember where squares were without caring about the order.