Chimp Test Average Score: How Do You Compare?

What Is the Chimp Test?

Numbers flash on a grid in random positions, disappear in under a second, and you tap them in the correct numerical order from memory. Each level adds one more number, so the challenge scales up as you go.

The test was made famous by Human Benchmark, the original platform that brought millions of players to this format. You can take the free chimp memory test right here on ToolsBracker with no signup required.

Average Chimp Test Score for Humans

Here is where most players land based on the level system:

Most people score between 5-7 on their first attempt. That puts you right in the average range, and it is completely normal. With consistent practice, most players reach level 8 or 9 before hitting their natural ceiling.

You can find your level right now on the free chimp test on ToolsBracker.

Are Chimps Actually Better Than Humans?

Yes, for this specific task. A chimpanzee named Ayumu at Kyoto University was studied alongside humans and consistently outperformed every person tested, memorizing 9 numbers in under 0.2 seconds. The results surprised cognitive scientists who assumed humans held no rivals in complex memory tasks.

What gives chimps the edge is photographic short-term memory: the ability to capture and hold a brief visual snapshot with extreme precision. Humans rely more on verbal encoding. We mentally say the numbers to ourselves, and that process is slower than what chimps do.

Humans beat chimps in language, reasoning, long-term planning, and almost every other cognitive task. The chimp test targets the one narrow window where chimps have a genuine advantage. It is not a measure of overall intelligence, just a specific type of visual memory.

The "are you smarter than a chimp" framing is exactly what made this test go viral. It is designed to put humans in their place, which is what makes it compelling.

What Is the Chimp Test World Record?

The highest recorded human scores on Human Benchmark reach around level 12-13. Most dedicated players plateau around level 8-9 after consistent practice. Getting into double digits already puts you in rare territory.

Streamers like xQc have attempted the chimp test live on stream, bringing millions of viewers to try it themselves. Those viral moments are a big part of why this became one of the most searched memory challenges online.

For context on how cognitive speed connects to other benchmarks, see our reaction time statistics breakdown.

How to Improve Your Chimp Test Score

• Start at lower levels and build consistency before pushing higher. Jumping straight to level 9 when you are shaky at level 7 builds nothing useful.
• Focus on spatial patterns rather than individual numbers. Your brain handles clusters and corner positions better than isolated spots scattered across the grid.
• Practice in short daily sessions. Ten to fifteen minutes every day builds memory faster than a single long session on the weekend.
• Test when rested. Fatigue drops scores noticeably, and a tired brain will convince you that you have hit your ceiling when you have not.

Processing speed also plays a role in how fast you can lock in positions before they disappear. Check our average reaction time by age breakdown for context on how cognitive speed changes over time.

Frequently Asked Questions