Can You Beat the Working Memory Test? Why Your Brain Sometimes Feels Like An Internet Browser with 47 Tabs Open

Can You Beat the Working Memory Test?

Why your brain sometimes feels like internet browser with 47 tabs open.

Ever forgotten what someone said halfway through a sentence? Read the same paragraph four times? Walked upstairs and immediately forgotten why?

That may involve working memory — your brain’s temporary mental workspace. It helps you hold information in mind while using it, like remembering instructions, solving maths problems, following conversations, or organising your next step.

At Choice Point Psychology, working memory is often explored as part of cognitive, ADHD, autism, and learning disorder assessments.

Working Memory Challenge

Try these without writing them down.

Level 1

4 – 9 – 2

Level 2

7 – 1 – 4 – 9 – 3

Level 3

8 – 2 – 6 – 1 – 9 – 4 – 7

Now try saying each sequence backwards.

This is not a diagnostic test — just a fun demonstration of working memory load.

What Is Working Memory?

Working memory is like your brain’s mental sticky note. It holds information briefly while you do something with it.

For example, working memory helps when you:

• Remember a phone number long enough to type it
• Follow multi-step instructions
• Keep track of what someone is saying in conversation
• Do mental arithmetic
• Read and understand complex sentences
• Plan what to do next

At School

Working memory helps students follow instructions, remember steps, complete tasks, and keep up with classroom learning.

At Work

It helps with meetings, planning, emails, deadlines, problem-solving, and remembering what needs to happen next.

In Daily Life

It supports cooking, conversations, routines, appointments, shopping lists, and everyday organisation.

When Working Memory Is Under Pressure

Working memory difficulties can show up in children, teens, and adults. They may be associated with ADHD, autism, specific learning disorders, anxiety, stress, fatigue, or cognitive difficulties.

Signs working memory may be under strain:

• Forgetting instructions quickly
• Needing information repeated
• Losing track during conversations
• Difficulty with reading comprehension
• Struggling with mental maths
• Feeling overwhelmed by multi-step tasks
• Starting tasks but forgetting the next step
• Appearing distracted, disorganised, or “not listening”

How Cognitive Assessments Can Help

Cognitive assessments can help identify a person’s learning and thinking profile, including strengths and challenges in working memory, verbal reasoning, visual reasoning, processing speed, and problem-solving.

This can be helpful when exploring:

• ADHD assessments
• Autism assessments
• Cognitive assessments
• Intellectual disability assessments
• Specific learning disorder assessments in reading, writing, or mathematics
• School support needs
• Exam provisions or academic accommodations

Learn more about our assessment services here: Psychological Assessments at Choice Point Psychology.

For Psychologists and Supervisees

Working memory interpretation is an important part of psychological assessment, especially when formulating ADHD, autism, cognitive, and learning profiles. It is also a common topic in supervision for psychologists building confidence in assessment interpretation and report writing.

Learn more about supervision here: Clinical Supervision at Choice Point Psychology.

Want Answers, Not Guesswork?

If you or your child are struggling with attention, memory, learning, organisation, or school performance, assessment can help identify what is going on and what supports may help.

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Final thought: Your brain is not necessarily bad at remembering. Sometimes it is just trying to juggle too many tabs at once.