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Reaction Time Test

How fast do you react? Five rounds, about a minute, and you see how you compare with people on the same kind of device.

Reaction Time

When the box turns green, click or tap as fast as you can. Click to start.

Tip: rest your finger on the button and watch the centre of the box.

What this test measures

The average simple reaction time to a visual signal is around 250 milliseconds in laboratory studies. Online tests like this one usually show 270–310 ms, because screens, mice and touchscreens add 20–80 ms of delay. Under 220 ms is fast; under 180 ms is exceptional.

Simple reaction time is the time between a signal and your response when you already know what to do. It reflects how quickly your eyes, brain and hand work together, and it is one of the oldest measures in psychology. It changes with sleep, caffeine, focus and age, and it also depends on your hardware, which is why MindSpeed compares you only with people who used the same kind of input.

How it works

  1. Click or tap the box to start. It turns red: wait.
  2. After a random pause it turns green. Click or tap as fast as you can.
  3. Clicking before green is a false start; that round is repeated. After five rounds you get your result.

Your score is the median of five rounds, in milliseconds (lower is better). The median ignores one unusually slow or lucky round. Times under 100 ms are anticipations, not reactions, and such results are not ranked.

How to do your best

  • Use a wired mouse or your phone’s screen directly; wireless and Bluetooth devices can add delay.
  • Close other tabs and apps, and turn on your screen’s highest refresh rate if you can.
  • Do a few practice rounds: most people get 10–20 ms faster after the first try.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good reaction time?

On this test, the median is around 270–310 ms depending on the device. Under 220 ms beats most people; under 180 ms is very rare and usually needs a fast screen and mouse.

Why is my reaction time slower on my phone?

Touchscreens detect a tap a little later than a mouse detects a click, and many phones refresh the screen at 60 Hz. That is why MindSpeed compares touch results only with other touch results.

Can I improve my reaction time?

A little. Sleep, a moment of focus before you start, caffeine in moderation and practice all help. Most of the gain comes in the first few tries, as you get used to the test.

Does reaction time get slower with age?

Yes, gradually. Studies find simple reaction time changes little until middle age and slows more after about 60. Our statistics by age group show how people on MindSpeed compare.

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