Schulte Grid — Attention and Visual Search Test
Tap every number in order while your eyes and attention keep up
What this level trains
The Schulte grid is a classic attention test: the numbers 1 to n² are scattered across an n×n grid, and you tap them in ascending order. It looks simple, but your gaze must keep jumping across the grid while you hold the current number in working memory. You can play the Schulte table online here for free.
The eight levels map straight to the grid side: level 1 is 3×3 with 9 cells, and level 8 is 10×10 with 100 cells. More cells mean a longer visual search path and more time to find each number, so the time thresholds rise along with the grid. The rule never changes from level to level, only the board grows.
A marked mode is also available: tapped numbers turn solid and are easier to find, so scores in that mode count at 85 percent. That discount keeps assisted and unassisted runs comparable on the same board, so the easier setting never quietly beats a harder one.
Schulte grids are used to gauge visual search speed and how steadily you can hold attention. They are a routine drill for pilots and athletes and a rough proxy for reading eye movements. They train this search skill well, though they are not a shortcut to wider mental gains.
How to play
- Start on sightThe clock starts the instant the grid appears. Begin at 1 and tap upward, one number at a time, until you reach the highest number on the board.
- Hold your gaze centralPoint with a finger or cursor if it helps, but the stronger habit is to keep your eyes near the centre and scan with peripheral vision. The grid grows to 10×10, so wide scanning saves real time.
- Wrong taps are forgivingA correct next number confirms immediately. A wrong tap gives feedback but does not end the round, so the pace stays entirely in your control.
- Graded on total timeOnce every number is tapped, the set is graded on the total time across full-mark, excellent, good and pass bands. Shorter is always better, and the anti-cheat floor is 300 milliseconds per cell.
8 difficulty levels and score thresholds
The grid side is difficulty plus two, so the eight levels run from 3×3 (9 cells) to 10×10 (100 cells). Thresholds climb with the grid: level 1 asks for 5 seconds for excellent and 12 seconds to pass, while level 8 asks for 150 seconds and 225 seconds. The anti-cheat floor is 300 milliseconds per cell, and marked mode scores at 85 percent.
| Level | Grid | Full-mark line | Excellent | Good | Pass | Max score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 3 × 3 (9 cells) | 3.5 s | 5 s | 8 s | 12 s | 3000 |
| Level 2 | 4 × 4 (16 cells) | 7 s | 10 s | 16 s | 17 s | 4000 |
| Level 3 | 5 × 5 (25 cells) | 14 s | 20 s | 25 s | 30 s | 5000 |
| Level 4 | 6 × 6 (36 cells) | 28 s | 40 s | 50 s | 1 min | 6000 |
| Level 5 | 7 × 7 (49 cells) | 55.3 s | 1 min 19 s | 1 min 40 s | 2 min | 7000 |
| Level 6 | 8 × 8 (64 cells) | 1 min 10 s | 1 min 40 s | 2 min 5 s | 2 min 30 s | 8000 |
| Level 7 | 9 × 9 (81 cells) | 1 min 28 s | 2 min 5 s | 2 min 35 s | 3 min 5 s | 9000 |
| Level 8 | 10 × 10 (100 cells) | 1 min 45 s | 2 min 30 s | 3 min 10 s | 3 min 45 s | 10000 |
You can only reach the maximum score at or under the full-mark line. Past the pass line the score keeps decaying, down to 0 at twice the pass line. The maximum rises from 3000 to 10000 across the levels.
Tips and common mistakes
- Keep your gaze centralLet peripheral vision find the next number. This cuts the number of large eye movements you make and often makes the same person more than 10 percent faster.
- Work in zonesInstead of sweeping row by row, divide the grid into quadrants and track which numbers remain in each; it beats re-scanning the whole board from the top.
- Do not rehearse the countSilently repeating several numbers occupies the same working memory you need for the task. Keep just the single next number in mind.
- Do not rush the startTime is scored across the whole set, so frantic tapping in the first two seconds mostly adds errors and stretches the total. Steady is usually faster.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Schulte grid measure?
- It mainly measures visual search speed and attention stability, that is, whether you can stay locked on the task without being pulled away by nearby numbers. It is also used as a rough indicator of reading eye-movement efficiency and as a standard drill for pilots and athletes.
- How fast is a good Schulte grid time?
- A common benchmark for a 5×5 grid is under 30 seconds for a good adult time and under 20 seconds for excellent. This site lists explicit full-mark, excellent, good and pass lines for every grid size, so you can check the row that matches your level.
- Why does marked mode only score 85 percent?
- Marking removes much of the burden of remembering which numbers you have already tapped, so it acts like a built-in aid. Scoring it at 85 percent keeps marked and unmarked runs directly comparable on one leaderboard.
- How should I practise the Schulte grid?
- Two or three sets a day with a minute of rest between them works better than one long session. Attention training is very sensitive to fatigue, and grinding on while tired mostly rehearses how you perform when tired.
- Is a small phone screen a disadvantage?
- A little. On a phone each cell is smaller and spans a narrower visual angle, so the same difficulty tends to be slightly slower than on a desktop. That difference is normal for the Schulte table online on any mobile device.
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Content updated on 2026-10-03 · Level 2 · Attention