Visual search · Sustained attention

Schulte Grid

The Schulte Grid is a classic attention trainer. By searching for numbers in ascending order across a shuffled grid, you build visual search ability, peripheral vision and sustained focus.

Grid size

5×5 (1-25): the canonical size from Schulte (1968).

Age band (for scoring reference)Not signed in (scores won't count toward profile)

Grid size: 5×5Elapsed: 0.00 s

When you hit Start, click the numbers from 1 up in order. Wrong taps aren't counted as errors but extend your time.

History

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Reference: Schulte, W. (1968) original paradigm.

Scientific basis

Schulte Grid · scientific basis

Visual search & sustained attention

Defined by Walter Schulte in 1968 (Psychodiagnostische Aufgabentafeln) and adapted clinically by Gorbov in the Soviet tradition. A canonical tool for training focal attention; also widely used in speed-reading curricula.

Expert-mode parameters

These are the standard parameters from the canonical paradigm (used by the "Expert" difficulty).

Parameter	Standard value	Source
Grid size	3×3 to 7×7 selectable; standard 5×5 (1-25)	Schulte 1968 / site extension
Typical protocol	5 tables run consecutively	Gorbov 1964
Primary metric	Completion time T (s)	Schulte 1968
Secondary (EW)	Mean time across 5 tables	Gorbov 1964

Healthy-population norms (by age)

Thresholds apply to 5×5; other grids scale linearly with cell count (4×4 ≈ × 16/25, 6×6 ≈ × 36/25). Visual scanning speed peaks at ages 16-25 — thresholds are tightest there and relax slowly with age. Assessment mode selects the band matching your actual profile age.

Limitations： Schulte's literature base is thin — Schulte 1968 provided no norms; Gorbov 1964 comes from Soviet speed-reading / military training rather than peer-reviewed psychometrics; there is virtually no peer-reviewed Western adult Schulte standardization (the West uses TMT instead). Our thresholds draw on: (a) Korneev 2021 Russian schoolchildren cohort (peer-reviewed, n=860) directly supporting the 8-17 bands; (b) Gorbov-era trained-adult target values supporting 18-34; (c) ages 35+ are extrapolated from the general ~2-3s-per-decade visual-search decline, without direct Schulte data. For a stricter visual-search / processing-speed assessment we recommend the TMT module on this site — Tombaugh 2004 provides US n=911 age-and-education-stratified peer-reviewed norms (ages 18-89). Please cross-reference Schulte results against TMT-A.

Age band	Excellent	Average	Slow	Evidence
Ages 8-9	≤ 35 s	~46 s	≥ 75 s	medium
Ages 10-11	≤ 30 s	~37 s	≥ 65 s	medium
Ages 12-13	≤ 26 s	~31 s	≥ 58 s	medium
Ages 14-15	≤ 23 s	~26 s	≥ 52 s	medium
Ages 16-17	≤ 22 s	~22 s	≥ 48 s	medium
Ages 18-24	≤ 22 s	~22 s	≥ 48 s	medium-weak
Ages 25-34	≤ 25 s	~25 s	≥ 55 s	medium-weak
Ages 35-44	≤ 27 s	~30 s	≥ 58 s	weak (extrap.)
Ages 45-54	≤ 30 s	~35 s	≥ 63 s	weak (extrap.)
Ages 55-64	≤ 35 s	~42 s	≥ 70 s	weak (extrap.)
Ages 65+	≤ 40 s	~48 s	≥ 78 s	weak (extrap.)

Standard output metrics

·T (completion time) — Primary metric — lower is better
·EW — Mean time across 5 consecutive tables
·PS — T4 ÷ EW — fatigue index
·WA — T1 ÷ EW — warm-up index
·Misclicks — Operational accuracy

Citations

Schulte, W. (1968). Psychodiagnostische Aufgabentafeln. Göttingen: Hogrefe. Google Books
Gorbov, F. D. (1964). Experimental-psychological study of attention disturbances. Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. PubMed
Korneev, A. A., et al. (2021). Developmental norms for neuropsychological tests. Psychology in Russia: State of the Art, 14(4), 18-37. PDF

All reference ranges come from published peer-reviewed literature. For personal training reference only — not a medical diagnosis. Full methodology: docs/PARADIGMS.md.

This tool is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a clinical diagnosis.