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Set-shifting · flexibility

Trail Making Test (TMT-A & TMT-B)

Part A: connect numbered dots 1 → 2 → 3 in order. Part B: alternate between numbers and letters (1, A, 2, B, 3, C…). The ratio of B-time to A-time is the classic cognitive-flexibility index.

What makes this one different

We log each segment (the path between two consecutive dots) so you can see exactly where you stumbled — and identify whether the cost was visual scanning, motor planning, or task-switching.

Part
Time 00:00.0
Errors 0

Click/tap the next dot in sequence. Connect in order: A=1→2→3→…, B=1→A→2→B→…

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Results & segment breakdown

Time (A or B)
—
Errors
—
B/A ratio
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The B/A ratio is the headline number. Most healthy adults: 1.5–2.5. Higher = greater set-shifting cost.

History

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What problem does it solve?

The Trail Making Test is one of the most widely used neuropsychological measures in the world. Part A measures visual scanning and motor speed. Part B adds a set-shifting demand: you must switch between number and letter sequences. The extra cost (B minus A, or the ratio B/A) reflects how hard it is for you to switch mental sets — a marker of executive function.

Who is this for

How to interpret your results

Part A time under 30 seconds is normal for adults. Part B under 75 seconds is normal.

B/A ratio of 1.5–2.5 is healthy. Above 3.0 suggests significant set-shifting difficulty.

Limitations

  • Touch/mouse motor cost differs from the pencil-and-paper version. Your raw times won't match clinical norms directly.
  • The clinical TMT uses standardized paper with specific dot placements. We randomize dot positions.
  • This is a recreational version. Clinical TMT interpretation requires a qualified neuropsychologist.

FAQ

Do I have to do both parts?

For a meaningful B/A ratio, yes. But you can practice each one separately first.

What counts as an error?

Clicking the wrong dot before the correct one. Each wrong click counts as one error; you then click the correct one to continue.

How do I use Trail Making Test (TMT-A & TMT-B) step by step without mistakes?Follow the order given in the usage section: Connect numbered dots (TMT-A), then alternate between letters and numbers (TMT-B). The ratio (B time / A time) is the classic flexibility index. The step-by-step part matters less than the unit check that sits inside it. Confirm every unit matches the thing you are actually trying to measure before you press calculate - that single check catches more wrong answers than any other habit, and it costs about ten seconds.
What are the common mistakes when using Trail Making Test (TMT-A & TMT-B)?Most common mistakes come down to four habits: entering 20 when the field expects 0.2 because the field is a percentage; leaving a field blank and accepting the default without checking what it stands for; changing one input and reading a result that was calculated before the change; and quoting the output as an exact figure when the page describes it as a reference estimate. Press calculate again after any edit, and treat the number as a reference point rather than a final answer.
How do I read the result from Trail Making Test (TMT-A & TMT-B)?Read the final figure first, then come back to this section for the conditions behind it: Part A time under 30 seconds is normal for adults. Part B under 75 seconds is normal. B/A ratio of 1.5–2.5 is healthy. Above 3.0 suggests significant set-shifting difficulty. Keep two things apart: the number itself, which comes from the values you typed, and the assumptions it depends on, which decide whether that number is meaningful. The page sets out what a higher or lower result means for your case, so check that direction as well as the magnitude.
Can I act on the Trail Making Test (TMT-A & TMT-B) result directly?Treat it as one reference sheet before you decide, rather than as the answer itself: Touch/mouse motor cost differs from the pencil-and-paper version. Your raw times won't match clinical norms directly. The clinical TMT uses standardized paper with specific dot placements. We randomize dot positions. This is a recreational version. Clinical TM The output describes a magnitude under the conditions you entered. It does not include what it actually costs to act, what might change while you act, or how the other side behaves. Before you commit, compare the result against reality and note which assumptions do not hold where you are.