Memory
Word Memory
A short list of words appears for a few seconds. When it vanishes, pick every word you saw from a mixed grid that also contains decoys. False picks cancel correct ones — only tap what you are sure about.
A word list appears briefly. Memorise it, then tap those words in a mixed grid. Wrong taps cancel correct ones — only pick what you are sure about. Reach 80% to advance.
What this measures
Word memory measures free verbal encoding followed by recognition under distractor interference. Unlike continuous seen/new recognition, you first study a closed list, then must retrieve those items from a foil-filled set. That combination taxes both the phonological loop that rehearses the words and the decision process that rejects lure items. False alarms are especially informative: they show when familiarity from related words outruns recollection of the actual study list. Clinical verbal learning batteries use the same study-then-select pattern because it separates encoding strength from recognition criterion.
Where this shows up in real life
Studying a shopping list, lecture keywords, or medication names then spotting them among lookalikes is everyday verbal learning. False alarms here mirror real mistakes: picking the wrong similar word under time pressure.
Score guide
| Rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Exceptional | level 8+ |
| Excellent | level 6–7 |
| Above average | level 5 |
| Average | level 3–4 |
| Below average | level 2 or less |
How to improve
- Build a tiny story that links the words in order — narrative beats rote rehearsal for short lists.
- Say each word once out loud in your head; sound codes survive the blank interval better than silent looking.
- When the grid appears, mark only high-confidence words first, then fill gaps — false taps wipe a correct hit.
- Group words by meaning (nature, objects, places) so missing one still leaves a category cue.
- Do not rush the study phase. Extra seconds of encoding beat extra seconds of guessing later.
Frequently asked questions
How is Word Memory different from Verbal Memory?
Verbal Memory is continuous recognition: each word is judged seen or new as a growing set builds. Word Memory is a closed study list followed by a pick-from-grid recall with decoys. Both measure verbal memory, but Word Memory emphasises encoding a fixed set and rejecting lures.
What is a good Word Memory score?
Clearing four levels is typical. Reaching level 6 or higher usually means you are using a linking strategy rather than trying to hold every word as an isolated sound.
Why do false picks hurt so much?
Each wrong tap cancels one correct word, so guessing is expensive. That scoring mirrors real recognition settings where false alarms are as costly as misses — precision matters as much as recall.
Does the list get harder each level?
Yes. Higher levels show more target words and keep a pool of decoys in the recall grid, so both encoding load and discrimination demand rise together.