Mensa IQ Working Memory and Processing Speed Flashcards

You hear the digits 8, 3, 7, 1, 5 and must repeat them in reverse order. What is the correct reverse sequence?

Answer: 5, 1, 7, 3, 8

Reversing 8-3-7-1-5 gives 5-1-7-3-8.

A processing speed task shows 60 simple math problems to be completed in 60 seconds. A test-taker finishes 45. What is their completion rate per second?

Answer: 0.75 problems/sec

45 problems divided by 60 seconds equals 0.75 problems per second.

In a dual n-back task at level 2, you must remember both the position and sound from 2 steps ago. This primarily taxes which cognitive resources?

Answer: Working memory and divided attention

Dual n-back tasks heavily load working memory while simultaneously requiring divided attention across two streams.

A sequence of letters is shown briefly: K, F, R, M, Q, B. You are asked to recall only the consonants in alphabetical order. Which answer is correct?

Answer: B, F, K, M, Q, R

All six letters are consonants; alphabetically sorted they are B, F, K, M, Q, R.

Which condition is most likely to impair processing speed on a timed cognitive task?

Answer: Mental fatigue and sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation and mental fatigue significantly slow neural processing and response times.

You see the sequence 4, 9, 2, 7, 5, 8, 3 and must mentally sort it in ascending order. What is the third number in the sorted list?

Answer: 4

Sorted ascending: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 — the third number is 4.

In a symbol-digit coding test, you are given 90 seconds to match 120 symbols to their digit codes. Completing more items primarily measures what?

Answer: Processing speed and psychomotor speed

Symbol-digit coding tasks are a classic measure of processing speed and psychomotor efficiency.