Tap the numbers in order, as fast as you can. The timer starts on 1.
Find: 1
0.0s
Look at the center of the grid and keep your eyes there. Find 1, then 2, then 3, using the edges of your vision instead of scanning row by row. That is the whole exercise. It feels slow at first and gets faster within a few rounds.
Schulte tables are named after the German psychiatrist Walter Schulte, who used them to measure attention. They are now a standard drill in speed reading courses, because taking in more of a line per glance means fewer eye stops per line. They are also used as a warm-up for focus.
For the 5×5 grid, 25 to 30 seconds is a common target for adults and under 20 is fast. Larger grids are for when 5×5 gets easy. Your best time for each size is saved in this browser.
Want to know your reading speed too? Take the free reading speed test.
ReaderPro is my iPhone and iPad app with Schulte tables that adapt to your level, in numbers or letters, plus 13 more speed reading drills and progress tracking.
Get ReaderPro on the App Store