Make your own Reaction Timer
Here is a simple method for making your own reaction timer. It is basic, and probably not the most accurate test of reaction time, but it is interesting activity to do, and you'll have lots of fun with it. A variation of this test is the Ruler Reaction Test. There are some commercially available variations of this test too, see the review of Reaction Sticks.
Equipment Required
- A piece of thick paper or cardboard, approximately 20 cm long and 5 cm wide.
- A ruler
- A pen or pencil
Construction Method
- Cut the card to at least 20cm long and 5 cm wide.
- Mark the piece of paper or cardboard as illustrated (use the figure on right as a guide).
- The numbers 40 to 200 (time in milliseconds) are to be written on the card at the specified distances (in centimeters) from the bottom of the card.
Note: all measurements are approximate
Test Method
- Have a friend hold the reaction timer at the top
- Line up your fingers with the bottom edge of the reaction timer
- Have the friend drop the reaction timer at any time, without warning, and try and grab it between your fingers. Don't chase it, that's cheating!
- Read off your score from the side of the card at the point you grabbed it, and rate your score using the table below.
Scoring
| Speed (milliseconds) | Rating |
|---|---|
| 40 | pretty good |
| 60 | a little below average |
| 80 | slow |
| 100 | very slow |
| 120 | have another go |
| 140 | I wouldn't get into a car with you |
| 160 | what drugs are you on? |
| 180 | hello? |
| 200 | wake up! |
Related Pages
- Test your reaction time A fun test of your finger clicking reaction time.
- A similar test, the Ruler Reaction Test
- A list of reaction time tests
- Video examples of Reaction Time Tests
- View reaction time scores graphical results of people's reaction time scores from one of our reaction tests.
- React to Sound — an online reaction test in which the user responds to a audio cue.
- About Reaction Time
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
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