Online attention trainer

Symbol Digit Test: turn symbols into digits with the key

Also known as: Symbol Coder, symbols and digits, coding test

At the top is a key: nine symbols, each with its own digit. A symbol appears in the center; tap its digit as fast as you can. Each round lasts a minute and a half, and you can play 10 minutes a day without signing up.

Go to the game ↓

1.5 minutesper round
9 symbolsdigits 1 to 9
No sign-up10 minutes a day
Progress30-day chart

What it trains

Why take a symbol digit test

The exercise works on processing speed: see a symbol, find it in the key, tap the digit, and again and again. At first your eyes run to the key every time, then the pairs start to stick. When the key changes, it all starts over.

The round summary shows how many answers were right and how many were mistakes. Once you sign up, your rounds are saved, and your account shows a 30-day chart and your personal bests.

You keep checking back with instructions or a tableYour eyes go back and forth
New notation slows you downUnfamiliar symbols make you stall
You make mistakes when you work fastSpeed eats into accuracy
You want a ninety-second warm-upA simple rule, a clear score

Processing speed

Each symbol has to be decoded in a fraction of a second.

Visual search

Quickly find the right symbol among the nine in the key.

Short-term memory

The symbol–digit pairs stick as you play.

Accuracy

Every mistake is subtracted from your correct answers.

Rules

How to play

Start
Press the start button. The ninety-second timer begins right away.
The key
At the top are nine symbols, each with its digit from 1 to 9 underneath.
Answer
Find the symbol from the center in the key and tap its digit. You can also type the digits on your keyboard.
Mistake
If you get it wrong, we show the right digit. A mistake costs a point.
New key
After every 20 correct answers the key changes, and a message tells you so.

Play online

Symbol digit test online

Look at the symbol in the center and tap its digit from the key. Without an account you get 10 minutes of play a day.

Symbol Coder

The key at the top matches each symbol to a digit. Turn the symbols into digits as fast as you can. Every now and then the key changes.

Free play left today without signing up: 10 min

Method

What the exercise is based on

Tasks that pair symbols with digits have long been part of psychological testing. In the Wechsler scales this subtest is called Digit Symbol (Coding): you draw a symbol for each digit. Here it works the other way round, you find the digit for each symbol, the way the related SDMT (Symbol Digit Modalities Test) does it.

The Schulte table works on a similar skill of fast visual search.

9symbols in the keypicked from 12, with a new key every round

20correct answersand the key changes to another one

1:30per roundscore = correct answers minus mistakes

Who it’s for

Which ages

Adults

A warm-up for speed and accuracy, a lot like working with tables and codes.

Kids

Not part of the “Kids” collection. Better for older students.

60+

Part of the “60+” collection: one rule, the key always in view, and you can type the digits on your keyboard. 60+ set

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How is the score calculated?

Correct answers minus mistakes. The score never drops below zero.

Why does the key change?

So the exercise doesn’t turn into pure memorizing of pairs. After every 20 correct answers the symbols get new digits.

Can I play with the keyboard?

Yes, you can type the digits 1 to 9 on your keyboard.

Do I need to sign up?

No, you can play 10 minutes a day right away. Free sign-up lets you keep playing, save your results, track your progress and unlock the daily workout.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes, the trainer runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. There’s nothing to install.

Save your results and track your progress

Free sign-up: round history, a chart by skill and a daily workout of 5 exercises. No credit card needed.

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Symbol Digit Test: turn symbols into digits with the key