Visual search · Task switching

Trail Making Test

TMT originated in the 1944 Army Individual Test Battery and was standardized by Reitan (1958). Part A tests speed; Part B adds task-switching demand. Tombaugh (2004) provides contemporary adult norms.

DifficultyExpert = strict academic parameters

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

Intermediate: 20 circles.

Part A: click circles 1→2→3→…→25 in order. Part B: alternate 1→A→2→B→3→C…. Wrong clicks flash red — return to the last correct circle and continue.

History

No training records yet

References: Reitan (1958); Tombaugh (2004); Anderson et al. (2001).

Scientific basis

TMT · scientific basis

Visual search · Task switching

TMT traces to the 1944 Army Individual Test Battery and was standardized by Reitan (1958) for detecting organic brain damage. Tombaugh (2004) published the contemporary reference norms stratified by age and education (N=911).

Expert-mode parameters

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

Parameter	Standard value	Source
Part A	Connect 1-25 in order	Reitan 1958
Part B	Alternate 1-A-2-B-...-13 (25 circles)	Reitan 1958
Error handling	Immediate prompt; return to last correct circle	Reitan 1958
This module	Digital (pen-and-paper norms approximate)	Note

Healthy-population norms (by age)

Based on Tombaugh 2004 pen-and-paper adult norms (US n=911, stratified by age with the ≥12y education group), with child bands taken from Anderson 2001 (Australian sample). 'Part A excellent' = TMT-A mean − 1 SD (shorter is better). Assessment mode matches your actual age to the corresponding band.

Limitations： Tombaugh 2004 is the strongest peer-reviewed contemporary TMT norm, with n=911 spanning ages 18-89 and education stratification — adult bands are very solid. Child bands interpolate from Anderson 2001 (Australia, n=138, ages 7-13) and the Salthouse 2011 review; samples are small. Version matters: (a) this module is digital (touch / mouse), whereas Tombaugh norms are pen-and-paper — electronic completion times tend to run 5-10% shorter; (b) the language-agnostic letter sequence may still be slightly slower for non-English speakers. B−A is the most robust executive-function index and should be the primary reference; cross-check Part A with on-site SDMT for processing speed.

Age band	Part A excellent (s)	Part A mean (s)	Part B mean (s)	Evidence
8-9	≤ 22	~37	~95	medium
10-11	≤ 18	~30	~75	medium
12-13	≤ 17	~26	~60	medium
14-15	≤ 16	~24	~55	medium
16-17	≤ 16	~23	~50	medium
18-24	≤ 16.1	~22.9	~49.0	strong
25-34	≤ 15.7	~24.4	~50.7	strong
35-44	≤ 18.4	~28.5	~58.5	strong
45-54	≤ 21.9	~31.8	~63.8	strong
55-64	≤ 23.5	~32.2	~68.0	strong
65+	≤ 26.0	~40.0	~95.0	strong

Standard output metrics

·TMT-A time — Visual search + motor speed (seconds)
·TMT-B time — + task switching / cognitive flexibility
·B − A — Executive component (minus motor speed)
·B / A ratio — Alternative switch-cost measure
·Error count — Errors corrected per part

Citations

Reitan, R. M. (1958). Validity of the Trail Making Test as an indicator of organic brain damage. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 8, 271-276. DOI
Tombaugh, T. N. (2004). Trail Making Test A and B: Normative data stratified by age and education. Arch Clin Neuropsychol, 19(2), 203-214. DOI
Anderson, V. A., et al. (2001). Development of executive functions through late childhood and adolescence in an Australian sample. Dev Neuropsychol, 20(1), 385-406. DOI
Army Individual Test Battery. (1944). Manual of directions and scoring. Washington, DC: War Department. en.wikipedia.org

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.