EveryMemoryCorsi Block Test
Watch the blocks light up, then tap them back in order. The Corsi block test measures your spatial memory span — how long a sequence of positions you can hold. Play it free here.
⚡ Quick answer
The Corsi block test measures visuospatial memory span: blocks flash in a sequence and you tap them back in the same order, with the sequence getting one longer each time you succeed. Your span is the longest sequence you can repeat. A typical adult Corsi span is around five, give or take — usually a touch shorter than forward digit span. It's noisy from a single run and depends on attention and screen size, so it's an orientation, not a diagnosis.
Key takeaways
- Repeat the lit-up block sequence in order; longest correct run is your spatial span.
- A typical adult Corsi span is around five — usually below the ~7 digit span.
- The spatial counterpart to digit span; noisy from one run, sensitive to attention.
- An informational self-check, not the clinical instrument — track your own average.
The Corsi block test is the spatial cousin of the digit span: instead of remembering numbers, you remember positions. Blocks light up one after another, and you tap them back in the same order. The longest sequence you can repeat is your spatial memory span.
Play the version above, then read on for what your span means and how to read it honestly. This is a for-interest self-check, not the clinical instrument used in assessments.
How to play
- Press Start — a few blocks light up one at a time. Watch the order.
- Tap the blocks back in the same order they lit up.
- Get it right and the next sequence is one block longer; get one wrong and the round ends.
- Your score is your longest correct sequence — your spatial span — saved on your device.
It runs entirely in your browser, with no sign-up and nothing sent anywhere.
What's a typical Corsi span?
Most adults land around a span of five, broadly similar to (and often a little below) forward digit span. As with any span, the spread between people is wide and a single run is noisy.
| Measure | What you repeat | Rough adult span |
|---|---|---|
| Corsi block span | A sequence of positions | ~5 blocks |
| Forward digit span | A sequence of digits | ~7 (the classic 7±2) |
| Backward digit span | Digits in reverse | ~5 |
These are orientation figures, not norms to rank yourself against. Spatial span and verbal span lean on partly different systems, so it's normal for one to be stronger than the other.
Why your span jumps around
Spatial span is sensitive to your state and the test, so one number means little:
- Attention — a moment of distraction ends a sequence early.
- Screen size and layout — bigger, clearer blocks are easier to track.
- Practice — you improve at the task itself, separate from any change in memory.
- Sleep and stress — both shrink usable span.
So comparing one run of yours to a stranger's figure is close to meaningless.
The honest way to read your span
Forget ranking against a population. The useful comparison is you versus your own past — play a few times under the same conditions and watch your average span.
For the verbal version of the same idea, see what is digit span and try the working memory test; for memory of positions shown at once, the visual memory test. For a self-relative check you can repeat, try the memory test online.
⚠ When to talk to a professional
This is a non-medical, for-interest version of the Corsi block-tapping task, not the clinical instrument or a diagnostic assessment. Spatial span varies widely with attention, sleep, screen size, and practice, and a single score says little. If you're worried about a real, persistent change in your memory, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
