Chimp Test
Are you smarter than a chimpanzee?
How to Play
Each correct sequence adds one more number to remember.
What is the Chimp Test?
The chimp test flashes numbered tiles at random screen positions. The moment you tap 1, the other numbers hide, and you must tap the remaining tiles in ascending order from memory. It recreates a task from Kyoto University, where in 2007 a young chimpanzee named Ayumu beat adult humans at it decisively, remembering number positions after seeing them for a fraction of a second.
What's a good score?
| Rating | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Chimp-Level Memory | 12+ numbers | Top 1% |
| Excellent | 9–11 numbers | Top 10% |
| Above Average | 7–8 numbers | Top 30% |
| Average | 5–6 numbers | Top 50% |
| Below Average | Under 5 numbers | Bottom 50% |
Frequently asked questions
Did a chimpanzee really beat humans at this?
Yes. In Inoue and Matsuzawa's 2007 study, Ayumu recalled the positions of numbers shown for just 210 milliseconds with about 80% accuracy, while university students managed roughly 40% on the same task. Young chimps in the study consistently outperformed both adult chimps and people.
Why are chimps better at this than us?
One influential idea is the cognitive trade-off hypothesis: as humans evolved language, the brain real estate supporting instant photographic-style recall got repurposed. A chimp glances at the screen and retains the whole layout; we try to encode positions one by one and run out of time.
What is a good chimp test score?
Most people manage 5 or 6 numbers. Reaching 7 or 8 puts you in the top 30%, 9 to 11 in the top 10%, and 12 or more earns the chimp-level badge held by roughly 1% of players. You get three lives, so one bad board doesn't end the run.
Is there a strategy for the chimp test?
Scan the whole board before touching 1, and try to encode the numbers as a path or shape rather than separate locations. Many players trace the route with their eyes a couple of times first. The habit of rushing to tap 1 early is the most common way to throw away a level.