Attention & Focus
Trail Making
Part A is numbers in order: 1, 2, 3, and on. Part B mixes numbers and letters: 1, A, 2, B. Tap the next target as fast as you can. A wrong tap is ignored so you can recover. Short is Part A. Long is A then B, summed.
Played 10,509 times · average 28 s
Tap targets in order. Short is numbers only (Part A). Long adds numbers mixed with letters (Part B).
Pick a length
Short is a quick check. Long is the full run. Your best for each is stored on this device.
What this measures
Trail making is a paper classic moved to taps. Part A is visual search plus sequencing. Part B adds set shifting: you must alternate two ordered lists. The jump from A to B is the interesting number. Large B costs with a clean A often point at switching, not at raw search speed. Clinicians use timed trails as a quick executive screen. This version is a practice cousin, not a scored clinic sheet, because screens and finger size change the motor part.
Where this shows up in real life
Jumping between two ordered lists (numbers and letters, or two checklists) is the same switch you make when a second queue interrupts the first.
How to improve
- Scan ahead one target while you tap the current one.
- On Part B, whisper the next pair: two, B, three, C.
- Do not drag. Lift and tap. Slides create misses.
- If you stall, find the last correct number and restart the sequence from there.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good trail time?
On this layout, under half a minute for Long (A plus B) is solid. Compare your own A versus B. If B is more than about twice A, switching is the weaker piece.
Why is a wrong tap ignored?
Clinic sheets mark errors and still finish the trail. We ignore the miss so a slip does not lock the board. Time still grows while you hunt the right target.
Does finger size matter?
Yes. Large targets help. Use the same device when you retest so motor noise stays similar.