Same circles, twice the thinking
Both parts use the same number of circles and similar distances. Part B only adds one thing, switching between two sequences. The difference is what switching costs you.
Where the seconds go
Every step of part B, in order. Tall bars are where you hesitated, often when hunting for a letter, or after losing your place.
Finish part B to see every step.
Keep two counters running
Look one ahead
While you move to 3, your eyes should already be hunting for C.
Say the pair
Whisper "3 – C, 4 – D". Saying it keeps both counters in step.
Scan in rings
If you lose a circle, sweep outward from where you are instead of searching the whole board.
Search, hold, switch, move
A simple pencil test that uses much of the brain at once: which is why it's so widely used. Pick a region.
Trail Making began as part of the US Army Individual Test Battery. Ralph Reitan later made it a standard tool in brain-health assessment.
Reitan, 1958Because it cancels out plain speed, the ratio of part B to part A is often used as a cleaner measure of switching than either time alone.
Arbuthnott & Frank, 2000Connecting the dots, then alternating
Join numbers in order, then alternate between numbers and letters (1-A-2-B). One of the most widely used neuropsychological tests, dating back to US Army testing in 1944.
Pick a moment to see what's going on
Tap a situation to see which part of the skill it relies on.
More attention games
All 40 games →Alternate rules without losing speed.
Sort a mix of letters and numbers.
Find the odd item in a crowded field.
Repeat a sequence of taps.