Attention Span Test
Shapes pop up one at a time. Tap fast for the go shapes; hold back for anything with a cross. The window to tap gets shorter as you improve.
Is there such a thing as an attention span score?
Not one number. "Attention span" usually means how long you can stay on task, and that depends on the task, the time of day and how interested you are. Psychologists measure parts of it with tasks like this one: a go/no-go task tests sustained attention and holding back an automatic tap, and related tasks like the flanker test measure how well you ignore distractions (Eriksen & Eriksen, 1974).
How the game scores you
A tap on a go shape is right; leaving a no-go shape alone is right too. Missing a go, or tapping a no-go, counts as wrong. About three in four shapes are go shapes, which is exactly what makes holding back hard.
Tips
- Keep your thumb hovering, not resting.
- Look for the cross first, colour second.
- Breathe out slowly between shapes when the pace picks up.
How to play
- Shapes pop up one at a time.
- Tap the pad fast for a circle or a star.
- Anything with a cross: hold back and let it go.
Scoring and levels
You have 60 seconds. Every right answer scores, and answers in a row score more. Two right in a row step you up a level; a wrong one steps you down, so it stays a stretch without getting stuck. Every game shows a short demo before you start, and your last ten scores are on the result screen.
In everyday life
Responding quickly to the right thing and ignoring the wrong one is the shape of many everyday jobs: answering only the messages that matter, catching the one typo, or reacting to a brake light but not a reflection.
Questions
What is a go/no-go task?
A test where you respond quickly to some signals and hold back for others. It measures sustained attention and response inhibition.
Is the average attention span 8 seconds?
That figure is often repeated but isn't a measurement of any one thing; how long you can focus depends on the task.
How can I improve my focus?
Short, regular practice, sleep and fewer interruptions help. Brainbay's Focus mode starts with a calm minute before two attention games.
Related
Brain tests
Brain games by topic
Guides
Sources
- Eriksen, B. A. & Eriksen, C. W. (1974). Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter. Perception & Psychophysics, 16(1). doi.org/10.3758/BF03203267
Brainbay is for practice and fun. Your scores show how you do at these games; they don't measure IQ or diagnose anything.