Reaction Time Test
This reaction time test measures how fast you respond when a panel changes color. Wait for the change, then tap as fast as you can. Your score is the average of 5 rounds.
- Wait until the panel turns from gray to teal and shows "Tap".
- Tap or click the panel, or press Space, as fast as you can.
- Do it 5 times. Your score is the average.
Keys: Space or Enter
Tapping before the change, or faster than a real reaction, restarts that round.
How does the reaction time test work?
The panel stays gray for a random wait. Then it turns teal and shows “Tap”. The timer starts on the frame the color changes, and stops when you tap, click or press Space.
A tap before the change does not count. The round simply starts again. A tap faster than 110 ms after the change is treated as a guess too. That limit follows a large study, which only counted responses from 110 to 1,000 ms after the signal.
What is a normal reaction time?
In a study of 1,469 adults aged 18 to 65, the average was 231 ms on a computer. That figure includes screen and mouse delay. Without that delay, the average was 213 ms.
Age made a small difference. The youngest group averaged 217.8 ms and the oldest 239.1 ms. Men and women did not differ.
Treat these numbers as a rough guide, not a grade. The study used its own hardware and many more trials than this game.
Why does my device change the score?
Every screen, mouse and touch screen adds its own delay. In the study above, the display and mouse added about 17.8 ms on average. Other devices add a different amount.
So compare your scores on the same device. A better score on a new phone may be the phone, not you.
How can I get a better reaction time?
A few simple things help on the day:
- Sit close and look at the middle of the panel.
- Keep your finger resting just above the screen or button.
- Do not try to guess the moment. Guesses restart the round anyway.
Practice will likely lower your score in this game. That shows you got better at this game. A large review found little proof that such gains spread to other skills.
Is reaction time a sign of intelligence?
Not on its own. Speed is only one small part of thinking. A full IQ test such as the WAIS-5 has sections for reasoning, verbal skills, working memory and processing speed.
Our free IQ test focuses on reasoning. The methodology page explains how it turns answers into a score. Our guide to how accurate IQ tests are covers what any short test can and cannot show.
FAQ
What is a good reaction time?
There is no official line. In one large study, adults averaged 231 ms on a computer. Your device adds its own delay, so compare scores on the same device.
Why did my round start again?
You tapped before the panel changed, or less than 110 ms after it. Both count as guesses, so the round runs again.
Is my score saved?
Your best and your last few results are saved in this browser. When a game ends, its score is also counted anonymously: one number, with no name, account or device details, so the site can show how plays compare once a game has enough of them. The cookie policy lists the storage item.