Question 1

What is the Chimp Test (Chimpanzee Working Memory Test)?

Accepted Answer

The Chimp Test is a visuospatial working memory task based on research at Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute. In 2007, Tetsuro Matsuzawa and Sana Inoue showed young chimpanzees numerals 1 to 9 scattered on a touchscreen. As soon as the chimp touched the first number, the rest turned into blank squares, and it had to tap them in ascending order from memory. A young chimpanzee named Ayumu became famous for doing this with remarkable speed and accuracy, even when numbers were visible for only a fraction of a second, outperforming university students. Our online version recreates this test so you can measure your own short-term spatial memory against that benchmark.

Question 2

What is a good score on the Chimp Test compared to the global human average?

Accepted Answer

On this test, the average human remembers about 7 numbers, which is Level 4. Trained adult chimpanzees handle around 9 numbers at roughly 90% accuracy, so reaching 9 numbers (Level 6) means you're keeping pace with a chimp. Scores of 11 or more numbers (Level 8 and up) put you in roughly the top 1% of human players. Anything beyond 15 numbers is exceptional and usually reflects practiced chunking strategies. Your result depends on focus, screen size and fatigue, so try several runs and use your personal best as the fairest measure of your working memory capacity.

Question 3

Why do chimpanzees remember numbers faster than humans?

Accepted Answer

Tetsuro Matsuzawa proposed the Cognitive Tradeoff Hypothesis to explain it. Chimpanzees seem to rely on a fast, almost photographic (eidetic-like) spatial memory that captures a whole scene in a single glance, a skill useful in the wild for spotting fruit, rivals or predators instantly. Humans, the theory says, traded some of that raw snapshot memory for language, symbols and abstract reasoning, which need working-memory space of their own. So while we can describe and plan far better, a young chimp can freeze an image of the screen faster. Humans can still close the gap with practice and structured memorization strategies.

Question 4

How do you play the Chimp Test and how do 25+ Unlimited Wave levels work?

Accepted Answer

Numbered tiles appear on the board. Study them, then tap 1. Every other number is instantly masked, and you must tap the rest in order from memory. Each level adds one number with no maximum. You have 3 hearts; a wrong tap reveals the numbers for 1.5 seconds, costs a heart and restarts the current part with new positions. Losing all three ends the run. Once a level has more than 25 numbers it splits into waves: Part 1 shows 1–25, then Part 2 shows 26 onward. The timer pauses between waves while you memorize, and resumes only when you tap 26.

Question 5

How can I improve my score and beat Level 9 on the Chimp Test?

Accepted Answer

The best players stop memorizing single numbers and start memorizing shapes. Use visual chunking: group numbers into sets of three and picture each group as a triangle or short path on the grid. Rehearse the route your finger will take rather than the digits themselves. Soften your gaze and use peripheral vision to take in the whole board at once instead of darting between tiles. Spend your study time on the later numbers, since 1, 2 and 3 are easiest to recall. Short, focused daily sessions build skill faster than long tired ones, and a calm breathing rhythm helps prevent careless mistakes.

Question 6

How does the Active Play Timer and Hint system work?

Accepted Answer

The Active Play Timer measures only your real recall time. It starts when you tap the first number of a wave (1, 26, 51 and so on) and pauses the instant a wave or level ends. While you study the next set of numbers, the clock stays frozen and picks up from the exact second when you tap that wave's first number. The timer also pauses whenever a reward video is playing, so sponsor time is never added to your result. The optional Hint shows the hidden numbers for 1.5 seconds, and an Extra Life restores one heart at the same level and part.

Chimp Test

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