A short browser practice session
For people who want to practise holding and reversing a small sequence. Start with three digits if the task is unfamiliar; a larger starting span adds more material to remember.
Backward Digit Span
Watch digits appear one at a time, then recall them backwards. Practise eight rounds with a fixed length by default and review your accuracy and longest correct span.
About this exercise
Backward digit span is a short sequence-recall task. Watch each digit, keep the order in mind, then type the sequence backwards after presentation ends. Reversing the order makes it different from simply repeating digits forwards.
This is practice on a specific task, not a medical assessment or IQ test. Results depend on settings, device, input method and familiarity. Compare like-for-like sessions; a higher score does not establish general cognitive improvement.
Who this is for
Choose the task that fits what you want to practise.
Come back to the same setup
Compare sessions with the same settings, language and input method. Review accuracy and unanswered trials before response time. These are task results, not population norms or a measure of intelligence.
History and privacy
The latest 10 local sessions are kept on this device. Signed-in sessions are saved to your account; guest sessions can be imported after review. No digits, positions, words or answers are uploaded.
How to practise: Backward Digit Span
- Choose 3, 4 or 5 starting digits. Every session contains eight rounds.
- Each digit appears for 900 ms, followed by a 200 ms gap. Wait until the whole sequence disappears.
- Enter the complete sequence backwards using the number pad or keyboard, then check it. Leading zeros matter. You have 30 seconds; Skip records an unanswered round.
- Fixed mode keeps the selected length for all eight rounds. Optional Flexible mode adds one digit after a correct answer and removes one after a wrong or skipped answer, within 2-9 digits.
Understanding your results
Accuracy counts every scored trial, including unanswered trials. Response time is the median of answered trials and is shown alongside accuracy, never as a substitute for it.
This is practice on a specific task, not a medical assessment or IQ test. Results depend on settings, device, input method and familiarity. Compare like-for-like sessions; a higher score does not establish general cognitive improvement.
History and privacy
The latest 10 local sessions are kept on this device. Signed-in sessions are saved to your account; guest sessions can be imported after review. No digits, positions, words or answers are uploaded.
Understanding your results
Use the metrics together. Faster answers with more mistakes do not necessarily represent better task performance.
| Metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Correct | Correct answers out of all scored trials. Wrong and unanswered trials remain in the total. |
| Median response | The middle response time among answered trials, including wrong answers. Unanswered trials are excluded. |
| Longest correct span | The longest sequence recalled completely correctly. It is not an average span or a standardized test score. |
Choose your settings
Start with 3, 4 or 5 digits. Fixed mode keeps the selected length for all eight rounds. Optional Flexible mode adds one digit after a correct answer and removes one after a wrong or skipped answer, within 2-9 digits. The presentation uses 900 ms per digit and a 200 ms blank gap. There are 30 seconds to enter a complete answer.
Practice tips
Backward Digit Span
Preserve leading zeros, wait until the full sequence has ended, and enter every digit before checking. Use Skip if you cannot recall it; guessing and skipping are recorded differently.
Come back to the same setup
Compare sessions with the same settings, language and input method. Review accuracy and unanswered trials before response time. These are task results, not population norms or a measure of intelligence.
Take a break when needed
Pause or open the guide when you need a break. Resume the same trial when ready; paused time is excluded.
Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about the task, settings and saved results.
Why does the number of digits change?
Fixed mode keeps the selected length for all eight rounds. Optional Flexible mode adds one digit after a correct answer and removes one after a wrong or skipped answer, within 2-9 digits.
Can I practise without an account?
The latest 10 local sessions are kept on this device. Signed-in sessions are saved to your account; guest sessions can be imported after review. No digits, positions, words or answers are uploaded.
How should I compare my results?
Compare sessions with the same settings, language and input method. Review accuracy and unanswered trials before response time. These are task results, not population norms or a measure of intelligence.
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