Arrow Focus Game
Five arrows appear; respond to the middle one and ignore the rest. A free practice version of the focus tasks in game-based and cognitive assessments.
How to play
- Look at the centre arrow only.
- Press ← or → (or tap the matching button) for the direction the centre arrow points.
- The outer arrows sometimes point the other way. Ignore them.
What it measures
Flanker tasks measure selective attention: how well you filter out conflicting information. The gap between mismatched and matched trials, called the interference cost, is the key result.
Research basis: this game is our own implementation of the Eriksen flanker task. Eriksen & Eriksen (1974), Perception & Psychophysics, 16(1), 143–149. ↗
Tips to improve
- Fix your gaze on the exact centre of the row before each trial.
- Accuracy first. Speed follows once the response becomes automatic.
- If you notice yourself following the outer arrows, slow slightly for a few trials.
Frequently asked questions
What is interference cost?
How much slower you are when the outer arrows point the other way. A smaller cost means you are better at filtering out distractions.
Is there a time limit per trial?
Each trial allows two seconds. Unanswered trials count as errors.
Which assessments use this?
Attention and focus tasks appear in several game-based assessments and in cognitive screening. See the linked employer pages for each employer's published process.
More assessment games
- Attention and impulse controlGo / No-Go Reaction GameRespond as fast as you can to green circles and hold back on red squares. Free practice for the reaction and inhibition tasks used in game-based tests.
- Cognitive flexibilityRule Switch GameSort each card by colour or by shape, depending on the rule shown. The rule changes without warning. Free practice for flexibility tasks in game-based assessments.