The benchmark data by age group
The table below combines data from Human Benchmark sessions, published laboratory studies, and the NIH Toolbox normative database. All scores are expressed as completion time on a symbol-matching task (lower = faster = better) and as a normalized percentile within the full adult population. You can compare your own score after taking the Processing Speed test.
| Age group | Median score | 25th pct | 75th pct | vs. peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13–17 | 1.41s | 1.22s | 1.63s | +8% |
| 18–24 ← Peak | 1.30s | 1.11s | 1.50s | - |
| 25–34 | 1.36s | 1.16s | 1.57s | +5% |
| 35–44 | 1.48s | 1.28s | 1.72s | +14% |
| 45–54 | 1.63s | 1.40s | 1.88s | +25% |
| 55–64 | 1.82s | 1.57s | 2.11s | +40% |
| 65–74 | 2.08s | 1.79s | 2.43s | +60% |
Median processing speed score by age (lower = faster)
Desktop sessions only. Scores represent median completion time on symbol-matching task (seconds). Lower = faster.
What your score actually means
A processing speed score does not exist in isolation - its meaning depends on your age, the specific task format, and what you were doing in the hours before testing. Fatigue, anxiety, unfamiliarity with a computer interface, and even ambient noise can shift your score by 10–20% on any given day.
How to interpret your result
- →Well above median for age: Strong processing speed. Likely reflects good sleep, fitness, and cognitive engagement.
- →Near median: Normal. No cause for concern - focus on the lifestyle factors that preserve speed over time.
- →Well below median for age: Repeat the test over 3 separate days. A consistently low score is worth discussing with a clinician if accompanied by other memory or attention concerns.
One useful cross-check: compare your processing speed score to your Reaction Time test result. If reaction time is fast but processing speed is slow, the bottleneck is likely in the perceptual or decision stage rather than motor execution. If both are slow, overall neural efficiency is the likely factor.
For a broader cognitive picture, also take the Attention test - attentional lapses are a common hidden contributor to apparently slow processing speed scores.
Factors that affect your score beyond age
Sleep quality
High evidenceA single night of 6 hours of sleep or less produces processing speed decrements equivalent to 1.5 BAC drinks (~0.05% blood alcohol). Chronic sleep restriction compounds this effect. Across studies, well-rested individuals consistently score 10–18% faster than sleep-deprived counterparts of the same age.
Aerobic fitness
High evidenceHigher VO₂ max is consistently associated with faster processing speed across all age groups. The effect is largest in older adults (50+) where active individuals score 15–25% faster than sedentary peers. Even 8 weeks of regular aerobic training produces measurable improvements in symbol-search speed. More in our lifestyle habits for cognitive processing guide.
Stress and anxiety
Moderate evidenceModerate acute stress (arousal) can improve speed on simple tasks through catecholamine release. However, high chronic stress is reliably associated with slowing, particularly on complex choice tasks. Cortisol elevations impair prefrontal processing which is needed for rapid decision-making in multi-choice paradigms.
Caffeine
Moderate evidenceA moderate caffeine dose (100–200mg) reliably improves processing speed and reaction time by 5–12% in non-habitual users, and by a smaller margin in regular consumers. The effect peaks approximately 45–60 minutes post-ingestion. See our caffeine and cognition deep-dive for the full evidence.
Find your age percentile now
Take the test and see exactly how your processing speed compares to others in your age group.
Take the Processing Speed test
