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.
Next steps
Knowing your level is step one — training the right way is what moves it: How to train the right way → Benefits & evidence →