Stroop Test
Answer the ink color, not the word.
Only three colors are used: red, blue and yellow. Answer buttons also show the color name, so you never have to rely on color alone.
You can also start with Space / Enter
Overview
The Stroop test shows you color words and asks for the color they are printed in, not what they say. When the word "BLUE" appears printed in red, the automatic habit of reading interferes with naming the ink color. The ability to override that interference and keep your attention on the ink is called inhibitory control, and this task, first reported by John Ridley Stroop in 1935, has been one of the most widely used paradigms in psychology ever since. Your score is the average time per trial, with matching and mismatched trials mixed together. Only three colors are used, red, blue and yellow, chosen so that no easily confused color pair ever appears together, and every answer button also shows the color name, so people with color vision differences can take the test as it is.
Rules
- A color word appears on screen. Answer the ink color with the buttons below, not the word itself
- Trials where the word and ink match are mixed with trials where they clash
- A wrong answer keeps the same trial going until you get it right (the extra time counts toward your score)
- After the final trial your score is the average time per trial
Score Guide
| Score | Rating | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 388ms | Legendary | Top 1% |
| 389-521ms | Exceptional | Top 1-5% |
| 522-643ms | Excellent | Top 5-15% |
| 644-745ms | Great | Top 15-30% |
| 746-850ms | Above Average | Top 30-50% |
| 851-955ms | Average | Top 50-70% |
| ≥ 956ms | Below Average | Outside top 70% |
FAQ
Why do the words keep tripping me up?
Reading is so practiced that it starts automatically the moment you see a familiar word. When you try to name the ink color, the word's meaning has already been processed and competes as a candidate answer. This interference is known as the Stroop effect, and the ability to suppress it and stay focused on the ink is called inhibitory control. Interestingly, fluent adult readers tend to suffer stronger interference than children, precisely because their reading is more automatic.
Can I take this test with a color vision difference?
Yes. Only red, blue and yellow are used, chosen so that pairs that are hard to tell apart under the most common color vision types, such as red and green, never appear in the same trial. Every answer button also shows a color swatch together with its name, so choosing a button never depends on color perception alone.
What happens to my score when I answer wrong?
The same trial continues until you answer correctly, and all of that time counts toward your score. Wrong answers therefore stretch your average time, so mashing buttons never pays off. Taking a beat to check the ink color before answering usually ends up faster.
Why are there trials where the word and color match?
Matching trials produce almost no reading interference, so they measure your baseline speed at naming a color. The gap between matching and clashing trials reflects the size of the interference, and mixing both lets the overall average capture how well you resist it. If you are quick on matching trials but slow overall, interference is likely costing you time.
Does practice make me faster?
Most people shave time off their average within a few attempts, as they learn to hold a set of looking at the ink without reading the word. Comparing against your own history is more meaningful than comparing with others. Past records kept on this device are shown on the result screen.