What is a Schulte table?
A Schulte table is a grid of numbers placed in random positions. The familiar 5×5 version runs from 1 to 25. You find the numbers in ascending order; the online version adds a timer and a fresh arrangement for each round.
Step by step
- Choose a grid size. A 3×3 or 4×4 table is an easy starting point.
- Find number 1. This starts the timer.
- Continue with 2, 3, and every next number until the table is complete.
- Try a new layout at the same size if you want to compare your time.
Where should you look?
A common suggestion is to keep your gaze near the center and notice numbers around it. Treat this as an optional technique, not a rule that requires holding your eyes still. If the screen is small or your eyes feel tired, use a comfortable search pattern.
What does the time tell you?
Your result depends on the grid size, screen, input method, and familiarity with the task. Comparing your score with someone else's supposed “normal time” is therefore of limited use. For your own progress, compare rounds under similar conditions.
What has research examined?
Lu and colleagues (2022) studied attention mechanisms during a digital visual search task based on a Schulte grid. It investigates the task itself; it does not show that playing this game improves reading or treats a health condition. Read the paper in Brain and Behavior.
Try it your way
Open the online trainer or use a printable table for an offline session.