Cognitive Skills Profile
Frequently Asked Questions
What are cognitive skills?
Cognitive skills are the mental abilities your brain uses to think, learn, remember, and solve problems. They include working memory, processing speed, attention, cognitive flexibility, and reasoning. These skills underpin everything from reading to decision-making.
What does this cognitive skills test measure?
This test measures four key areas: working memory (holding and manipulating information), cognitive flexibility (switching between tasks), mental arithmetic (numerical processing speed), and sustained attention (maintaining focus over time).
How can I improve my cognitive skills?
Regular practice with varied mental challenges, physical exercise, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet all support cognitive function. Our companion Cognitive Skills Workbook provides targeted exercises for each skill area.
How to use your cognitive profile
Unlike a single IQ figure, this test builds a profile across several cognitive skills — such as memory, attention, processing speed and reasoning — so you can see your relative strengths and the areas with the most room to grow. There is no single pass mark; the value is in the pattern. Knowing where you are naturally strong helps you play to those strengths, while spotting weaker areas shows you where practice will make the biggest difference.
Making the most of your results
- Look at the shape of the profile, not just one score.
- Target your weakest skill with the matching practice tests on this site.
- Retake it after a few weeks of practice to track real change.
- Treat it as a snapshot — mood, sleep and focus all affect performance.