Most people reach about 7 numbers on the chimp test, where you memorize scattered numbered squares and click them in order after they hide. A result near that is normal. What makes this test interesting is the benchmark it’s named after: a chimpanzee that beat human adults at the same task.
The Ayumu benchmark
The chimp test comes from a 2007 study at Kyoto University by Sana Inoue and Tetsuro Matsuzawa. A young chimpanzee named Ayumu recalled the positions of numbers flashed for a fraction of a second, faster and more accurately than the human adults tested next to him. On this rapid spatial task, a chimp outscored people.
That’s the fun tension in the average. Humans assume we win every memory contest, but on this specific speed-and-position challenge, our typical score isn’t the top of the chart. Trained humans can close the gap with practice, but the raw-speed edge Ayumu showed is real.
The score bands
Here’s how chimp test results break down:
| Band | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Below average | Under 5 tiles | Bottom 25% |
| Average | 5 to 9 tiles | 25th to 75th percentile |
| Above average | 9 to 11 tiles | 75th to 95th percentile |
| Exceptional | 11 tiles and up | Top 5% |
In short: near 7 is typical, past 9 is above average, and clearing 10 is strong. The top reach 13. Full distribution on the chimp test percentiles page.
How to beat the average
The people who push past 7 numbers stop reading the board and start photographing it. One soft, wide glance captures the whole layout; scanning number by number is too slow before they hide. Anchoring where the low numbers sit gets you moving fast. The full method is on the chimp test page. For what practice on games like this does and doesn’t train, see memory games.
To see how the typical chimp test score shifts across age bands, see memory score by age. For a related fast-spatial challenge, try the sequence memory test. Ready to see how you compare to Ayumu? Take the chimp test.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good chimp test score?
A good score is above the typical 7 numbers. Passing 9 puts you in the upper quarter, and clearing 10 is strong. The top performers reach 13. See the percentiles page for exact ranks.
Can a human beat a chimpanzee’s chimp test score?
Some can, on some rounds, especially with practice. The 2007 Kyoto study found a young chimp, Ayumu, outscored adult humans at rapidly recalling flashed number positions. Trained people can reach strong scores, but the raw speed advantage the study documented is hard to fully overcome.
Why is the average lower than I’d expect?
Because the numbers hide almost instantly, giving you no time to read them in order. You have to snapshot the whole board and hold the positions, which is a demanding form of working memory. That short exposure is the whole point of the test, and it keeps the typical score modest.