Schulte Table Standard Times — Score Reference
What counts as a good Schulte table time? These reference bands — for 3×3 up to 10×10 grids and four age groups — are the commonly published standards for interpreting your result.
Finish a round to start your progress curve.
Reference tables
| Grid | Excellent | Good | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×3 | ≤9s | 10–12s | ≤20s |
| 4×4 | ≤16s | 16–20s | ≤30s |
| 5×5 | ≤35s | 36–45s | ≤58s |
| Grid | Excellent | Good | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×3 | ≤8s | 9–10s | ≤15s |
| 4×4 | ≤14s | 15–18s | ≤25s |
| 5×5 | ≤28s | 29–34s | ≤45s |
| Grid | Excellent | Good | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×3 | ≤6s | 7–9s | ≤14s |
| 4×4 | ≤12s | 13–17s | ≤20s |
| 5×5 | ≤25s | 26–29s | ≤35s |
| Grid | Excellent | Good | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×3 | ≤5s | 6–8s | ≤12s |
| 4×4 | ≤10s | 11–16s | ≤17s |
| 5×5 | ≤20s | 21–25s | ≤30s |
| 6×6* | ≤40s | 41–50s | ≤60s |
| 7×7 | ≤79s | 80–100s | ≤120s |
| 8×8* | ≤100s | 101–125s | ≤150s |
| 9×9* | ≤125s | 126–155s | ≤185s |
| 10×10* | ≤150s | 151–190s | ≤225s |
These are widely-cited reference values, not official exam criteria: different sources vary slightly, and clicking on a screen is usually a little faster than pointing on paper. Rows marked * are interpolated values. What matters most is your own trend — a downward curve beats any single number.
How to read your result
Finish a round on any grid above, then find your grid size and age group in the table. If you land in “excellent”, move up a grid size or try the dynamic variants (spinning, blinking, moving) to keep progressing.
If you’re outside the “average” band, don’t be discouraged — most untrained adults finish a 5×5 in 35–60 seconds on their first try. Daily 5-minute sessions typically move you down a band within two to four weeks.
The classic benchmark is the adult 5×5 table: under 20 seconds excellent, 21–25 good, under 30 average. Consistency across several rounds matters more than a single lucky run.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good 5×5 Schulte table time for adults?
Under 20 seconds is excellent, 21–25 seconds is good, and under 30 seconds is average for adults. First-timers often take 35–60 seconds — that’s normal and improves quickly with daily practice.
What is a good time for kids?
It depends strongly on age. For a 5×5 grid: ages 6–10 are excellent under 28 seconds, ages 11–17 under 25 seconds. For younger children, start with 3×3 (excellent under 9 seconds for ages 3–5) or 4×4 (excellent under 14 seconds for ages 6–10).
Are these standard times official?
No — they are the commonly published reference bands (several websites share the same table). There is no single official standard; sources vary slightly, and screen clicking is usually faster than pointing on paper. Use them as a guide and track your own progress curve.
Does the world record matter?
Videos of people finishing 5×5 grids in just a few seconds circulate online, but such times rely on extreme practice and sometimes favorable conditions. For meaningful training, compare against your own history rather than outliers.