Learn by Novus · Open practice pack v1

Working memory: hold, update, and manipulate: open practice pack

100 untimed questions across 10 authored sections.

This is untimed educational practice for one cognitive skill. It is not a clinical, diagnostic, employment, or professionally recognized assessment, and it does not produce an IQ score or credential.

Learner worksheet

Working memory is the skill of holding, updating, and manipulating short sequences, rules, or instructions entirely in your head. Work through each section at your own pace, and try to answer from memory without scrolling back. That is what makes this genuine working-memory practice rather than a lookup.

Choose one answer for each item. For a delayed-recall item, read its study text, cover it, and then answer without looking back.

Holding short sequences

Read each short sequence once, hold it in mind, and answer without re-reading.

1. working-memory-s01-q01

Sequence: 8 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 9. What is the sum of the first and last digits?

  1. 15
  2. 16
  3. 17
  4. 18

Answer:

2. working-memory-s01-q02

Sequence: R - K - P - M - T. Which letter is exactly in the middle position?

  1. K
  2. P
  3. M
  4. T

Answer:

3. working-memory-s01-q03

Hold these three words in mind: BASKET, UMBRELLA, CANDLE. Which one has the most letters?

  1. Basket
  2. Umbrella
  3. Candle
  4. They are all the same length

Answer:

4. working-memory-s01-q04

Sequence: 4 - 7 - 2 - 9 - 5 - 1. Reading backward from the last digit, what is the third digit you reach?

  1. 5
  2. 9
  3. 2
  4. 7

Answer:

5. working-memory-s01-q05

Hold in mind: apple = 3, banana = 5, cherry = 2. What is apple + cherry?

  1. 5
  2. 7
  3. 8
  4. 10

Answer:

6. working-memory-s01-q06

Shape sequence: circle, triangle, circle, square, triangle. How many circles appeared?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

Answer:

7. working-memory-s01-q07

Sequence: 5 - 2 - 8. What is the sum of all three digits?

  1. 13
  2. 14
  3. 16
  4. 15

Answer:

8. working-memory-s01-q08

Hold these words in mind: LAMP, RIVER, STONE. Which word came second?

  1. Lamp
  2. Stone
  3. River
  4. Stove

Answer:

9. working-memory-s01-q09

Sequence: T - F - B - X. Which letter came immediately after F?

  1. B
  2. X
  3. T
  4. F

Answer:

10. working-memory-s01-q10

Colour sequence: red, green, blue, green. How many times did green appear?

  1. 1
  2. 3
  3. 4
  4. 2

Answer:

Ordered recall after study

Each item shows material to study first: continue to hide it, then answer entirely from memory.

11. working-memory-s02-q01

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this sequence, then continue: 7, 1, 8, 4.

What was the third number in the sequence?

  1. 1
  2. 4
  3. 8
  4. 7

Answer:

12. working-memory-s02-q02

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this word list in order, then continue: FERN, TIGER, CLOUD, BRICK.

Which word was last in the list?

  1. Cloud
  2. Brick
  3. Tiger
  4. Fern

Answer:

13. working-memory-s02-q03

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study these letters in order, then continue: G, M, S, K, V.

Which letter was in the middle (third) position?

  1. M
  2. K
  3. G
  4. S

Answer:

14. working-memory-s02-q04

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this list, then continue: spoon, ladder, candle, marble, ribbon.

Which of these was NOT in the list?

  1. Ladder
  2. Marble
  3. Ribbon
  4. Carpet

Answer:

15. working-memory-s02-q05

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this sequence, then continue: 3, 9, 9, 2, 6.

Which number appeared twice?

  1. 9
  2. 3
  3. 2
  4. 6

Answer:

16. working-memory-s02-q06

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study these names in order, then continue: Priya, Callum, Nadia, Tomas.

Who was listed immediately before Nadia?

  1. Priya
  2. Tomas
  3. Callum
  4. Nadia

Answer:

17. working-memory-s02-q07

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this short instruction, then continue: "Turn left at the library, then take the second door on the right."

Which door should you take after turning at the library?

  1. The first door on the left
  2. The second door on the right
  3. The second door on the left
  4. The first door on the right

Answer:

18. working-memory-s02-q08

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this sequence, then continue: Q, 4, R, 7, Z.

How many letters (as opposed to digits) were in the sequence?

  1. 3
  2. 2
  3. 4
  4. 5

Answer:

19. working-memory-s02-q09

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this list in order, then continue: violet, amber, teal, coral, olive, slate.

Which colour was fifth in the list?

  1. Coral
  2. Olive
  3. Slate
  4. Teal

Answer:

20. working-memory-s02-q10

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this sequence, then continue: 6, 2, 7, 5, 1, 9, 3.

What was the second-to-last number?

  1. 1
  2. 3
  3. 9
  4. 5

Answer:

Reversing and reordering

Hold each sequence, then mentally reverse, swap, or re-sort it before answering.

21. working-memory-s03-q01

Sequence: 4 - 1 - 7. Say it backwards in your head. What is the middle digit of the reversed sequence?

  1. 4
  2. 7
  3. 1
  4. It cannot be known

Answer:

22. working-memory-s03-q02

Sequence: N - E - P - A. Reversed, which letter comes first?

  1. A
  2. N
  3. P
  4. E

Answer:

23. working-memory-s03-q03

Sequence: 2 - 8 - 5 - 3. Read backwards, what are the first two digits?

  1. 2 then 8
  2. 3 then 5
  3. 5 then 3
  4. 8 then 2

Answer:

24. working-memory-s03-q04

Sequence: 9 - 4 - 6 - 2 - 7. If you reverse the sequence, which digit is now in the fourth position?

  1. 6
  2. 2
  3. 9
  4. 4

Answer:

25. working-memory-s03-q05

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this sequence, then continue: 5, 8, 1, 6.

From memory, what is the sequence in reverse order?

  1. 6, 1, 8, 5
  2. 5, 8, 1, 6
  3. 6, 8, 1, 5
  4. 1, 6, 5, 8

Answer:

26. working-memory-s03-q06

Sequence: L - D - Q - J - X. Swap the first and last letters in your head. Which letter is now first?

  1. L
  2. X
  3. J
  4. Q

Answer:

27. working-memory-s03-q07

Sequence: 3 - 7 - 2 - 9. Sort the digits from smallest to largest in your head. Which digit is now third?

  1. 3
  2. 2
  3. 7
  4. 9

Answer:

28. working-memory-s03-q08

Sequence: 6 - 1 - 8 - 4 - 5. Move the first digit to the end of the sequence. What is the new middle digit?

  1. 8
  2. 5
  3. 6
  4. 4

Answer:

29. working-memory-s03-q09

Words: PEAR, MINT, OAK. Reverse the word order, then spell the middle word backwards. What do you get?

  1. TNIM
  2. KAO
  3. RAEP
  4. MINT

Answer:

30. working-memory-s03-q10

Sequence: 7 - 3 - 8 - 2 - 6 - 4. Reverse the sequence, then find the sum of the first two digits of the reversed sequence.

  1. 9
  2. 11
  3. 10
  4. 13

Answer:

Running totals and updating

Update a value or tally step by step as you read. Carry only the latest state forward.

31. working-memory-s04-q01

Start with 5. Add 3, subtract 2, add 4. What number do you finish with?

  1. 9
  2. 10
  3. 11
  4. 8

Answer:

32. working-memory-s04-q02

Count the vowels as this list goes past: apple, kiwi, plum. How many vowels appear across all three words?

  1. 4
  2. 6
  3. 5
  4. 3

Answer:

33. working-memory-s04-q03

A lift starts on floor 3. It goes up 4 floors, down 2, up 1. Which floor is it on now?

  1. 6
  2. 5
  3. 7
  4. 8

Answer:

34. working-memory-s04-q04

Start with the word CART. Replace the first letter with P. Which word do you now have?

  1. PORT
  2. CARP
  3. PART
  4. TARP

Answer:

35. working-memory-s04-q05

Keep a running count: how many even numbers pass by in this list: 7, 4, 9, 2, 6, 3, 8?

  1. 3
  2. 5
  3. 2
  4. 4

Answer:

36. working-memory-s04-q06

Start with 20. Halve it, add 6, then subtract 9. What is the result?

  1. 8
  2. 7
  3. 6
  4. 9

Answer:

37. working-memory-s04-q07

Track two counters. Starting at zero, add 1 to counter A each time you read the word LEFT and 1 to counter B each time you read RIGHT: LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT. What are the final values of A and B?

  1. A = 4, B = 2
  2. A = 3, B = 3
  3. A = 2, B = 4
  4. A = 5, B = 1

Answer:

38. working-memory-s04-q08

Start at 50. Subtract 7 repeatedly, three times in total. Where do you land?

  1. 31
  2. 27
  3. 36
  4. 29

Answer:

39. working-memory-s04-q09

Update the letter each step. Start with B. Move forward two places in the alphabet, then back one, then forward three. Which letter do you reach?

  1. E
  2. G
  3. F
  4. D

Answer:

40. working-memory-s04-q10

You are tracking stock of one item. Start with 12 units. Sell 5, receive 8, sell 6, receive 2. How many units remain?

  1. 10
  2. 12
  3. 9
  4. 11

Answer:

Following multi-step instructions

Hold a short set of instructions in mind and carry them out in order, entirely mentally.

41. working-memory-s05-q01

Take the number 6. Double it, then add the number of letters in the word DOG. What is the result?

  1. 14
  2. 15
  3. 16
  4. 18

Answer:

42. working-memory-s05-q02

Follow all three steps in your head: think of the word TRAIN; remove the first letter; add the letter S to the end. What word results?

  1. TRAINS
  2. RAINS
  3. SRAIN
  4. RAIN

Answer:

43. working-memory-s05-q03

Apply these rules to the number 9: if it is odd, add 5; then, if the result is even, halve it. What do you get?

  1. 7
  2. 9
  3. 14
  4. 4

Answer:

44. working-memory-s05-q04

Follow the instructions in order: start facing north; turn right; turn right again; turn left. Which direction are you facing?

  1. North
  2. South
  3. West
  4. East

Answer:

45. working-memory-s05-q05

Hold this rule: whenever a word contains the letter E, count it. How many of these words get counted: TABLE, CHAIR, DESK, LAMP, SHELF?

  1. 2
  2. 4
  3. 3
  4. 5

Answer:

46. working-memory-s05-q06

Do all steps mentally: write the digits of 47 in reverse; then add 2 to the result. What number do you get?

  1. 74
  2. 49
  3. 72
  4. 76

Answer:

47. working-memory-s05-q07

Follow the rule chain for the letter M: move one letter forward in the alphabet; if the result comes after P, move two letters back; otherwise move one more forward. Which letter do you reach?

  1. O
  2. N
  3. L
  4. P

Answer:

48. working-memory-s05-q08

Carry out these steps: take the word STONE; swap the first two letters; read the result. Which of these do you get?

  1. SOTNE
  2. TSONE
  3. STONE
  4. ETONS

Answer:

49. working-memory-s05-q09

Hold all three conditions, then judge: a number qualifies if it is greater than 10, even, and not a multiple of 6. Which of these qualifies: 14, 12, 9, 18?

  1. 12
  2. 18
  3. 9
  4. 14

Answer:

50. working-memory-s05-q10

Follow every step: start with 3; multiply by 4; subtract 5; multiply the result by itself. What is the final number?

  1. 49
  2. 36
  3. 64
  4. 44

Answer:

Holding under interference

Study something, do a small unrelated mental task, then recall. The distraction is deliberate.

51. working-memory-s06-q01

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember this word, then continue: HARBOUR.

First, solve 6 + 7 in your head. Now, which word were you asked to remember?

  1. Harbour
  2. Harvest
  3. Arbour
  4. Harbinger

Answer:

52. working-memory-s06-q02

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember this number, then continue: 58.

Count backwards from 10 to 1 in your head. What number were you asked to remember?

  1. 85
  2. 58
  3. 48
  4. 68

Answer:

53. working-memory-s06-q03

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember these two words, then continue: CANDLE, ORANGE.

Mentally spell your own first name, then answer: which pair matches what you studied?

  1. Candle and Orchid
  2. Kindle and Orange
  3. Candle and Orange
  4. Candle and Amber

Answer:

54. working-memory-s06-q04

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember this sequence, then continue: 4, 9, 1.

First decide mentally whether 17 is odd or even; then recall, what was the middle number of the studied sequence?

  1. 4
  2. 1
  3. 17
  4. 9

Answer:

55. working-memory-s06-q05

Hold the letters K and T in mind. Count the words in the phrase 'the quick silver fox' (there are four). Now: which of the held letters comes later in the alphabet?

  1. K
  2. Q
  3. T
  4. They are equal

Answer:

56. working-memory-s06-q06

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember this shopping item and quantity, then continue: 3 lemons.

Mentally add 14 + 9; then recall what you studied. Which was it?

  1. 3 lemons
  2. 4 lemons
  3. 3 melons
  4. 2 lemons

Answer:

57. working-memory-s06-q07

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember these three digits in order, then continue: 7, 2, 5.

First judge which is larger: 48 or 51. Now, from memory, what was the studied sequence?

  1. 7, 5, 2
  2. 7, 2, 5
  3. 2, 7, 5
  4. 7, 2, 6

Answer:

58. working-memory-s06-q08

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember this phrase, then continue: GREEN DOOR.

Mentally count the sides of a hexagon; then recall the phrase you studied.

  1. Green Floor
  2. Grey Door
  3. Green Down
  4. Green Door

Answer:

59. working-memory-s06-q09

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember these two numbers, then continue: 34 and 81.

First work out 5 × 6 in your head; then answer, what is the sum of the two numbers you studied?

  1. 105
  2. 115
  3. 125
  4. 47

Answer:

60. working-memory-s06-q10

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Remember this seat allocation, then continue: Row F, Seat 12.

Mentally name the month that follows October; now recall, which seat allocation did you study?

  1. Row F, Seat 12
  2. Row E, Seat 12
  3. Row F, Seat 21
  4. Row G, Seat 11

Answer:

Dual tasks: hold and compute

Keep several values in mind and calculate with them at the same time.

61. working-memory-s07-q01

Hold these prices in mind: tea = £2, scone = £3, juice = £4. What is the total cost of one tea and two scones?

  1. £7
  2. £9
  3. £8
  4. £10

Answer:

62. working-memory-s07-q02

Remember the code pairs: X = 5, Y = 8, Z = 2. What is (X × Z) + Y?

  1. 18
  2. 15
  3. 20
  4. 16

Answer:

63. working-memory-s07-q03

Hold this in mind: the red box weighs 4 kg, the blue box weighs 7 kg, the green box weighs 5 kg. Which two boxes together weigh exactly 9 kg?

  1. Red and blue
  2. Red and green
  3. Blue and green
  4. No pair weighs 9 kg

Answer:

64. working-memory-s07-q04

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study these values, then continue: north = 6, south = 1, east = 9.

From memory, what is north + east − south?

  1. 16
  2. 15
  3. 13
  4. 14

Answer:

65. working-memory-s07-q05

Hold the sequence 5 - 3 - 8 in mind while you double each digit. What is the doubled sequence?

  1. 10, 6, 16
  2. 10, 8, 16
  3. 8, 6, 16
  4. 10, 6, 14

Answer:

66. working-memory-s07-q06

Remember: Anna scored 12, Ben scored 9, Chloe scored 15. Who scored closest to 11?

  1. Ben
  2. Chloe
  3. Anna
  4. Anna and Ben are equally close

Answer:

67. working-memory-s07-q07

Hold these three times in mind: bus at 09:20, train at 09:45, tram at 09:35. Which departs second?

  1. Bus
  2. Tram
  3. Train
  4. They depart together

Answer:

68. working-memory-s07-q08

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this stock note, then continue: shelf A holds 14 tins, shelf B holds 8 tins.

From memory, how many tins must move from shelf A to shelf B for the two shelves to hold equal numbers?

  1. 2
  2. 4
  3. 6
  4. 3

Answer:

69. working-memory-s07-q09

Keep the number 27 in mind. Now compute 6 × 4. Is the held number larger, smaller, or equal to the result, and by how much?

  1. Larger by 3
  2. Smaller by 3
  3. They are equal
  4. Larger by 4

Answer:

70. working-memory-s07-q10

Hold these exchange values: 1 token = 3 stars; 1 star = 2 coins. How many coins is 2 tokens worth?

  1. 6
  2. 10
  3. 8
  4. 12

Answer:

Substitutions and rule mapping

Memorise a small code or rule, then apply it to new material without writing anything down.

71. working-memory-s08-q01

Use this code: star = 4, moon = 7. What is star + moon + star?

  1. 11
  2. 15
  3. 18
  4. 14

Answer:

72. working-memory-s08-q02

Apply the rule 'swap every A with O' to the word ALARM. What results?

  1. OLORM
  2. OLARM
  3. ALORM
  4. ORLOM

Answer:

73. working-memory-s08-q03

Hold this mapping: 1 = D, 2 = B, 3 = F. Decode the sequence 3 - 1 - 2.

  1. F, B, D
  2. D, F, B
  3. F, D, B
  4. B, D, F

Answer:

74. working-memory-s08-q04

Apply the rule 'shift each letter one place forward in the alphabet' to the word BEE. What do you get?

  1. CFF
  2. BFF
  3. CEE
  4. DGG

Answer:

75. working-memory-s08-q05

Use the code: triangle means add 10, square means subtract 4. Starting from 6, apply: triangle, square, triangle. What is the result?

  1. 20
  2. 24
  3. 18
  4. 22

Answer:

76. working-memory-s08-q06

Hold this mapping: cat becomes dog, dog becomes bird, bird becomes cat. Apply the mapping twice, starting from 'cat'. What do you get?

  1. Cat
  2. Dog
  3. Bird
  4. Fish

Answer:

77. working-memory-s08-q07

Substitute digits for letters using A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 4. What is the value of the word CAB added up?

  1. 6
  2. 7
  3. 5
  4. 8

Answer:

78. working-memory-s08-q08

Apply this rule to the sequence 2, 5, 8: replace each even number with E and each odd number with O. What is the result?

  1. O, E, O
  2. E, O, E
  3. E, E, O
  4. O, O, E

Answer:

79. working-memory-s08-q09

Hold both rules: rule one doubles a number; rule two adds 3. Apply rule one, then rule two, then rule one again, starting from 4. What is the result?

  1. 19
  2. 25
  3. 22
  4. 16

Answer:

80. working-memory-s08-q10

Use the cipher 'each letter of the coded message maps back to the previous letter of the alphabet' to decode the message HBUF. What word appears?

  1. FETE
  2. HAVE
  3. GAZE
  4. GATE

Answer:

Tracking several things at once

Follow two or more changing quantities, positions, or states through a short scenario.

81. working-memory-s09-q01

Two jars start empty. You add 3 marbles to jar A, 2 to jar B, then move 1 marble from A to B. How many marbles are in jar B now?

  1. 2
  2. 4
  3. 3
  4. 5

Answer:

82. working-memory-s09-q02

Track three runners. Amir starts 1st, Beth 2nd, Cara 3rd. Beth overtakes Amir; then Cara overtakes Amir. Who is now 2nd?

  1. Amir
  2. Beth
  3. Nobody: the order is unchanged
  4. Cara

Answer:

83. working-memory-s09-q03

A scoreboard starts at Home 0, Away 0. Home scores twice, Away scores once, Home scores once more, Away scores twice. What is the final score?

  1. Home 3, Away 3
  2. Home 3, Away 2
  3. Home 2, Away 3
  4. Home 4, Away 2

Answer:

84. working-memory-s09-q04

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study these starting values, then continue: kettle = 5, toaster = 2.

From memory, add 3 to the kettle value and double the toaster value. What are the new values?

  1. Kettle 7, toaster 4
  2. Kettle 8, toaster 4
  3. Kettle 8, toaster 5
  4. Kettle 6, toaster 4

Answer:

85. working-memory-s09-q05

Follow the swaps. Cups start in order: red, blue, green (left to right). Swap the left and middle cups; then swap the middle and right cups. What is the order now, left to right?

  1. Blue, green, red
  2. Green, blue, red
  3. Red, green, blue
  4. Blue, red, green

Answer:

86. working-memory-s09-q06

Keep two tallies while reading: count words starting with S, and words ending with T. List: SALT, STAR, NET, SOFT, MAP. What are the two tallies?

  1. 3 and 2
  2. 2 and 3
  3. 3 and 3
  4. 4 and 2

Answer:

87. working-memory-s09-q07

A library cart has 10 books. At the first stop, 4 are removed and 2 added. At the second stop, half the books are removed. How many books remain?

  1. 5
  2. 4
  3. 6
  4. 3

Answer:

88. working-memory-s09-q08

Track the letter and the number together. Start with C3. Each step moves the letter one forward in the alphabet and the number one up: step once, then twice more. What do you reach?

  1. E5
  2. F7
  3. G6
  4. F6

Answer:

89. working-memory-s09-q09

Three switches are all off. You flip switch 1, flip switch 2, flip switch 1 again, then flip switch 3. Which switches end up on?

  1. Switches 1 and 2
  2. Switches 2 and 3
  3. Switch 2 only
  4. All three

Answer:

90. working-memory-s09-q10

Update two accounts in your head. Account P starts with £40, account Q with £25. Transfer £10 from P to Q, then Q pays £15 out. Which account now holds more, and how much does it hold?

  1. Q, with £35
  2. P, with £40
  3. Q, with £20
  4. P, with £30

Answer:

Layered hold-and-transform challenges

The hardest set: combine studied material, multiple rules, and several transformations in one item.

91. working-memory-s10-q01

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this rule set, then continue: start = 9; rule X doubles the number; rule Y subtracts 4; apply the rules in the order X, Y, X.

From memory, what is the final number?

  1. 24
  2. 28
  3. 32
  4. 26

Answer:

92. working-memory-s10-q02

Hold everything in your head: four parcels weigh 2 kg, 5 kg, 3 kg, and 6 kg, in that order. Swap the middle two weights, then add the first and third weights of the new order. What is the result?

  1. 8
  2. 5
  3. 7
  4. 9

Answer:

93. working-memory-s10-q03

Work entirely in your head: reverse the digits of 316, then subtract the smallest digit of the original number from the result. What number do you get?

  1. 612
  2. 613
  3. 610
  4. 615

Answer:

94. working-memory-s10-q04

Follow the full chain: start with the word PLANET; remove the last letter; reverse what remains. What is the second letter of the result?

  1. E
  2. A
  3. L
  4. N

Answer:

95. working-memory-s10-q05

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study this table, then continue: Monday = 4 deliveries, Tuesday = 7, Wednesday = 5, Thursday = 1.

From memory, which two days together total exactly 9 deliveries?

  1. Tuesday and Thursday
  2. Monday and Tuesday
  3. Monday and Wednesday
  4. Wednesday and Thursday

Answer:

96. working-memory-s10-q06

Hold three rules at once and apply them to the number 8: if it is even, add 5; if the result is odd, double it; if the final result is greater than 20, subtract 1. What do you get?

  1. 26
  2. 21
  3. 24
  4. 25

Answer:

97. working-memory-s10-q07

Keep the sequence 9 - 2 - 6 - 4 in mind. Replace each digit with the difference between it and 10, keeping the order. What is the new sequence?

  1. 1, 8, 4, 6
  2. 1, 8, 6, 4
  3. 9, 8, 4, 6
  4. 1, 2, 4, 6

Answer:

98. working-memory-s10-q08

Study text. Read this, then cover it before answering.

Study these seat swaps, then continue: Aisha, Ben, Kofi, and Lena sit in seats 1 to 4 in that order; then Aisha and Kofi swap seats; then Ben and Lena swap seats.

From memory, who ends up in seat 2?

  1. Ben
  2. Aisha
  3. Kofi
  4. Lena

Answer:

99. working-memory-s10-q09

Do the whole calculation mentally, holding intermediate results: (the number of days in a week × 3) minus (the number of sides of a square × 2). What is the answer?

  1. 12
  2. 14
  3. 13
  4. 15

Answer:

100. working-memory-s10-q10

The hardest hold: memorise the mapping red = 2, blue = 5, green = 7 as you read. A bag holds one red token, one blue token, and one green token. Halve the total value, then add the value of one red token. What is the final number?

  1. 10
  2. 8
  3. 9
  4. 11

Answer:

Authored hints

This cognitive practice source does not publish authored hints. Every item is listed as missing a hint, and no hint text is generated or inferred.

100 worksheet items do not have an authored hint.

This source contains no authored hints. No hint text was generated.

Answer key

ItemChoiceAnswer
working-memory-s01-q01C17
working-memory-s01-q02BP
working-memory-s01-q03BUmbrella
working-memory-s01-q04B9
working-memory-s01-q05A5
working-memory-s01-q06B2
working-memory-s01-q07D15
working-memory-s01-q08CRiver
working-memory-s01-q09AB
working-memory-s01-q10D2
working-memory-s02-q01C8
working-memory-s02-q02BBrick
working-memory-s02-q03DS
working-memory-s02-q04DCarpet
working-memory-s02-q05A9
working-memory-s02-q06CCallum
working-memory-s02-q07BThe second door on the right
working-memory-s02-q08A3
working-memory-s02-q09BOlive
working-memory-s02-q10C9
working-memory-s03-q01C1
working-memory-s03-q02AA
working-memory-s03-q03B3 then 5
working-memory-s03-q04D4
working-memory-s03-q05A6, 1, 8, 5
working-memory-s03-q06BX
working-memory-s03-q07C7
working-memory-s03-q08D4
working-memory-s03-q09ATNIM
working-memory-s03-q10C10
working-memory-s04-q01B10
working-memory-s04-q02C5
working-memory-s04-q03A6
working-memory-s04-q04CPART
working-memory-s04-q05D4
working-memory-s04-q06B7
working-memory-s04-q07AA = 4, B = 2
working-memory-s04-q08D29
working-memory-s04-q09CF
working-memory-s04-q10D11
working-memory-s05-q01B15
working-memory-s05-q02BRAINS
working-memory-s05-q03A7
working-memory-s05-q04DEast
working-memory-s05-q05C3
working-memory-s05-q06D76
working-memory-s05-q07AO
working-memory-s05-q08BTSONE
working-memory-s05-q09D14
working-memory-s05-q10A49
working-memory-s06-q01AHarbour
working-memory-s06-q02B58
working-memory-s06-q03CCandle and Orange
working-memory-s06-q04D9
working-memory-s06-q05CT
working-memory-s06-q06A3 lemons
working-memory-s06-q07B7, 2, 5
working-memory-s06-q08DGreen Door
working-memory-s06-q09B115
working-memory-s06-q10ARow F, Seat 12
working-memory-s07-q01C£8
working-memory-s07-q02A18
working-memory-s07-q03BRed and green
working-memory-s07-q04D14
working-memory-s07-q05A10, 6, 16
working-memory-s07-q06CAnna
working-memory-s07-q07BTram
working-memory-s07-q08D3
working-memory-s07-q09ALarger by 3
working-memory-s07-q10D12
working-memory-s08-q01B15
working-memory-s08-q02AOLORM
working-memory-s08-q03CF, D, B
working-memory-s08-q04ACFF
working-memory-s08-q05D22
working-memory-s08-q06CBird
working-memory-s08-q07A6
working-memory-s08-q08BE, O, E
working-memory-s08-q09C22
working-memory-s08-q10DGATE
working-memory-s09-q01C3
working-memory-s09-q02DCara
working-memory-s09-q03AHome 3, Away 3
working-memory-s09-q04BKettle 8, toaster 4
working-memory-s09-q05ABlue, green, red
working-memory-s09-q06C3 and 3
working-memory-s09-q07B4
working-memory-s09-q08DF6
working-memory-s09-q09BSwitches 2 and 3
working-memory-s09-q10DP, with £30
working-memory-s10-q01B28
working-memory-s10-q02C7
working-memory-s10-q03A612
working-memory-s10-q04DN
working-memory-s10-q05CMonday and Wednesday
working-memory-s10-q06D25
working-memory-s10-q07A1, 8, 4, 6
working-memory-s10-q08DLena
working-memory-s10-q09C13
working-memory-s10-q10C9

Worked explanations

working-memory-s01-q01

First digit 8 + last digit 9 = 17.

working-memory-s01-q02

With 5 letters, the middle (3rd) position holds P.

working-memory-s01-q03

Basket and Candle each have 6 letters; Umbrella has 8.

working-memory-s01-q04

Reading backward: 1 (1st), 5 (2nd), 9 (3rd).

working-memory-s01-q05

apple (3) + cherry (2) = 5.

working-memory-s01-q06

Circle appears twice: 1st and 3rd positions.

working-memory-s01-q07

Add as you go rather than at the end: 5 + 2 = 7, then 7 + 8 = 15. Keeping a running total lightens the memory load.

working-memory-s01-q08

Rehearsing the list once in order (lamp, river, stone) fixes the positions: River sat in the second slot.

working-memory-s01-q09

Replaying the sequence in order (T, F, B, X) shows B follows straight after F.

working-memory-s01-q10

Tally each colour as it passes: green appears in the 2nd and 4th positions, so twice.

working-memory-s02-q01

The sequence was 7, 1, 8, 4, counting along it puts 8 in the third position. Grouping digits into pairs (71, 84) makes short sequences easier to hold.

working-memory-s02-q02

The list ended with BRICK. The last item in a studied list is often the freshest in memory, a pattern called the recency effect.

working-memory-s02-q03

The order was G, M, S, K, V, so the third letter was S. Middle items are the hardest to recall, which makes them worth an extra rehearsal while studying.

working-memory-s02-q04

The studied list was spoon, ladder, candle, marble, ribbon, carpet never appeared. Checking each option against your mental list one at a time avoids false recognition.

working-memory-s02-q05

The sequence 3, 9, 9, 2, 6 repeats only the 9, in the second and third positions. Noticing a repeat while studying gives you a strong anchor for later recall.

working-memory-s02-q06

The order was Priya, Callum, Nadia, Tomas. Callum came directly before Nadia. Replaying the list as a spoken rhythm helps preserve neighbouring pairs.

working-memory-s02-q07

The instruction specified the second door on the right. Turning directions into a quick mental walk-through makes them far easier to retain than the words alone.

working-memory-s02-q08

The sequence mixed Q, R, and Z with the digits 4 and 7, three letters in total. Sorting items into categories while studying is itself a working-memory exercise.

working-memory-s02-q09

Counting along violet, amber, teal, coral, olive, slate places olive fifth. With six items, chunking into two groups of three keeps the positions straight.

working-memory-s02-q10

The sequence ended ... 1, 9, 3, so the second-to-last number was 9. Seven digits sits near the limit of most people's span: chunking (62, 75, 193) helps.

working-memory-s03-q01

Reversing 4 - 1 - 7 gives 7 - 1 - 4. A useful shortcut: reversing any sequence leaves the middle element exactly where it was, so it is still 1.

working-memory-s03-q02

The first letter of a reversed sequence is simply the last letter of the original. Here that is A, with no need to reverse the whole thing.

working-memory-s03-q03

Reading 2 - 8 - 5 - 3 from the end gives 3, 5, 8, 2, so the first two digits backwards are 3 then 5. Working from the tail end is easier if you rehearse the sequence once forwards first.

working-memory-s03-q04

Reversed, the sequence reads 7, 2, 6, 4, 9, putting 4 in the fourth position. Equivalently, the fourth-from-the-front of the reversed list is the fourth-from-the-back of the original.

working-memory-s03-q05

The studied sequence 5, 8, 1, 6 reversed is 6, 1, 8, 5. Doing this from memory combines storage and manipulation: the core of working memory.

working-memory-s03-q06

Swapping the ends of L - D - Q - J - X moves X to the front and L to the back, so the sequence now starts with X.

working-memory-s03-q07

Sorted, the digits run 2, 3, 7, 9. The third is 7. Re-sorting held material is harder than reversing because every element changes position.

working-memory-s03-q08

Moving the 6 to the end gives 1, 8, 4, 5, 6, whose middle (third) digit is 4. Visualising the digits sliding one place left makes the shift concrete.

working-memory-s03-q09

Reversing the order gives OAK, MINT, PEAR, so the middle word is still MINT, and spelt backwards it reads TNIM. Handling two transformations in a row is a genuine two-step hold.

working-memory-s03-q10

The reversed sequence starts 4, 6, and 4 + 6 = 10. Notice you only ever needed the last two digits of the original, spotting shortcuts reduces the load.

working-memory-s04-q01

Update after every step: 5 + 3 = 8, 8 − 2 = 6, 6 + 4 = 10. Discard each old value as you go, only the current total needs holding.

working-memory-s04-q02

Apple has a and e (2), kiwi has i and i (2), plum has u (1). A running tally reaches 5.

working-memory-s04-q03

Track the floor after each move: 3 up to 7, down to 5, up to 6. Picturing the lift moving makes each update easier to hold than raw arithmetic.

working-memory-s04-q04

Only the first letter changes: C becomes P while A-R-T stay put, giving PART. Editing one element of a held word is a small but genuine act of updating.

working-memory-s04-q05

The evens are 4, 2, 6, and 8, a tally that ticks up to 4. Saying the count in your head at each hit stops it slipping while you scan the next number.

working-memory-s04-q06

Step by step: 20 halved is 10, plus 6 is 16, minus 9 is 7.

working-memory-s04-q07

LEFT appears four times and RIGHT twice, so A finishes on 4 and B on 2. Running two counters at once is what makes this harder than a single tally.

working-memory-s04-q08

Count down in steps: 50 to 43, to 36, to 29. Alternatively, 3 × 7 = 21 subtracted in one go gives the same 29, but the step-by-step version is the memory workout.

working-memory-s04-q09

Follow each hop: B forward two is D, back one is C, forward three is F. Saying each intermediate letter aloud in your head keeps the chain intact.

working-memory-s04-q10

Update the stock after every movement: 12 − 5 = 7, 7 + 8 = 15, 15 − 6 = 9, 9 + 2 = 11. Four updates in a row is where unrehearsed totals start to slip.

working-memory-s05-q01

Doubling 6 gives 12, and DOG has 3 letters, so 12 + 3 = 15. The trick is holding the intermediate 12 while you count the letters.

working-memory-s05-q02

TRAIN loses its T to become RAIN, then gains an S at the end to become RAINS. Applying edits one at a time, in order, prevents the steps blurring together.

working-memory-s05-q03

9 is odd, so add 5 to reach 14; 14 is even, so halve it to reach 7. Check each condition against the current value, not the starting one.

working-memory-s05-q04

North, right turn to east, right again to south, then a left turn from south faces you east. Imagining yourself physically rotating keeps each turn anchored.

working-memory-s05-q05

TABLE, DESK, and SHELF each contain an E; CHAIR and LAMP do not, so the count is 3. Holding the rule steady while scanning is the real work here.

working-memory-s05-q06

47 reversed is 74, and 74 + 2 = 76. A common slip is adding 2 before reversing. The order of steps matters.

working-memory-s05-q07

M moves forward to N. N does not come after P, so the otherwise-branch applies: one more forward lands on O. Conditional steps demand you test before you move.

working-memory-s05-q08

Swapping the S and T of STONE gives TSONE, with the remaining letters O-N-E untouched. Focus the swap on exactly the two named positions.

working-memory-s05-q09

14 is over 10, even, and not divisible by 6, so it passes all three tests. 12 and 18 fail the multiple-of-6 condition, and 9 is odd, checking every candidate against every held condition is the exercise.

working-memory-s05-q10

3 × 4 = 12, then 12 − 5 = 7, then 7 × 7 = 49. The final squaring only works if the 7 was held accurately through the earlier steps.

working-memory-s06-q01

The studied word was HARBOUR. Doing arithmetic in between creates interference: attaching a quick image (boats in a harbour) protects the word against it.

working-memory-s06-q02

The studied number was 58. Counting backwards floods the same verbal rehearsal loop the number lives in, which is exactly why distractor tasks make digits slip.

working-memory-s06-q03

The studied pair was CANDLE and ORANGE. The near-miss alternatives share sounds or meanings with the originals. Precise recall beats gist here.

working-memory-s06-q04

The sequence was 4, 9, 1, so the middle number was 9. Note how easily the 17 from the distractor task tries to intrude on recall, recognising intrusions is part of the skill.

working-memory-s06-q05

Of the held letters, T comes later in the alphabet than K. The counting task in between forces you to protect the letters while attention is elsewhere.

working-memory-s06-q06

The studied note was 3 lemons. Binding the number to the item as a single picture, three lemons in a row, keeps quantity and object from drifting apart.

working-memory-s06-q07

The studied order was 7, 2, 5. Order errors, recalling the right digits in the wrong sequence, are the most common failure once a distractor intervenes.

working-memory-s06-q08

The studied phrase was GREEN DOOR. Visualising an actual green door makes the pairing far more robust than rehearsing the two words separately.

working-memory-s06-q09

34 + 81 = 115. This item stacks interference and computation: the studied numbers must survive the multiplication before you can even start adding them.

working-memory-s06-q10

The studied allocation was Row F, Seat 12. The wrong options transpose or nudge one detail each. Exactly the errors interference tends to produce with letter-number pairs.

working-memory-s07-q01

One tea (£2) plus two scones (2 × £3 = £6) totals £8. The juice price is a deliberate extra load. Part of the skill is holding values you end up not needing.

working-memory-s07-q02

Substitute first, then compute: (5 × 2) + 8 = 10 + 8 = 18. Translating each symbol before starting the arithmetic keeps the two jobs from colliding.

working-memory-s07-q03

Red (4 kg) plus green (5 kg) makes exactly 9 kg; the other pairs give 11 kg and 12 kg. Testing pairs systematically stops you re-checking combinations you have already ruled out.

working-memory-s07-q04

From the studied values, 6 + 9 − 1 = 14. The recall and the arithmetic are separate steps: retrieve all three numbers first, then compute.

working-memory-s07-q05

Doubling each of 5, 3, 8 in turn gives 10, 6, 16. The challenge is keeping the already-transformed digits fixed while you work on the next one.

working-memory-s07-q06

The distances from 11 are: Anna 1, Ben 2, Chloe 4, so Anna is closest. Converting each held score into a distance is the manipulation step.

working-memory-s07-q07

Mentally re-ordering the times gives 09:20, 09:35, 09:45. The tram's 09:35 departure is second. The list arrives unsorted on purpose.

working-memory-s07-q08

The 22 tins split equally as 11 each, so shelf A must pass 3 of its 14 across. Equivalently, move half the difference: (14 − 8) ÷ 2 = 3.

working-memory-s07-q09

6 × 4 = 24, and the held 27 exceeds it by 3. The held number must survive the multiplication intact before the comparison can happen.

working-memory-s07-q10

Chain the conversions: 2 tokens = 6 stars, and 6 stars = 12 coins. Two-step unit chains require holding the middle quantity just long enough to convert it again.

working-memory-s08-q01

Substituting gives 4 + 7 + 4 = 15. Reading the symbols as their numbers in one smooth pass is quicker than translating each one separately.

working-memory-s08-q02

ALARM contains two As, in the first and third positions, and replacing both gives OLORM. Scanning for every occurrence, not just the first, is the point of the rule.

working-memory-s08-q03

Applying the mapping digit by digit, 3 becomes F, 1 becomes D, and 2 becomes B, so the decoded sequence is F, D, B, keeping the original order.

working-memory-s08-q04

Each letter moves forward once: B becomes C and each E becomes F, giving CFF. Apply the shift uniformly: every letter, exactly one place.

working-memory-s08-q05

Follow the symbols in order: 6 + 10 = 16, 16 − 4 = 12, 12 + 10 = 22. You are holding both the code and a running total at once. A genuine dual load.

working-memory-s08-q06

One application turns cat into dog; applying the mapping again turns dog into bird. Chained substitutions require re-consulting the held rule at every step.

working-memory-s08-q07

C is 3, A is 1, and B is 2, so CAB totals 3 + 1 + 2 = 6. Decoding and summing in a single left-to-right pass keeps the load manageable.

working-memory-s08-q08

2 is even (E), 5 is odd (O), and 8 is even (E), so the sequence becomes E, O, E. Judging each number afresh against the rule avoids drifting into alternation on autopilot.

working-memory-s08-q09

The chain runs 4 doubled to 8, plus 3 to 11, doubled again to 22. Keeping two named rules and a running value alive together is the heart of rule-based working memory.

working-memory-s08-q10

Stepping each coded letter back one place turns H into G, B into A, U into T, and F into E, spelling GATE. Decoding letter by letter while holding the partial answer is the exercise.

working-memory-s09-q01

Jar B receives 2 marbles, then 1 more from jar A, finishing on 3. A transfer changes both jars at once: update the two totals together.

working-memory-s09-q02

After Beth passes Amir the order is Beth, Amir, Cara; when Cara then passes Amir it becomes Beth, Cara, Amir. Re-stating the full order after every overtake prevents position slips.

working-memory-s09-q03

Home scores 2 + 1 = 3 goals and Away scores 1 + 2 = 3, so the match ends level at three each. Keeping two independent tallies is the load here.

working-memory-s09-q04

The kettle becomes 5 + 3 = 8 and the toaster becomes 2 × 2 = 4. Each value gets a different operation, so pairing the right rule with the right item is half the task.

working-memory-s09-q05

The first swap gives blue, red, green; the second swaps the middle and right cups to give blue, green, red. Visualising actual cups sliding makes each swap easier to hold than the colour names alone.

working-memory-s09-q06

SALT, STAR, and SOFT start with S (three words); SALT, NET, and SOFT end with T (three words). Note that SALT and SOFT legitimately count towards both tallies.

working-memory-s09-q07

After the first stop the cart holds 10 − 4 + 2 = 8 books; halving at the second stop leaves 4. The halving must apply to the updated total, not the starting one.

working-memory-s09-q08

Three steps in total move C3 to D4, then E5, then F6. Letter and number must advance in lockstep: updating one and forgetting the other is the classic error.

working-memory-s09-q09

Switch 1 is flipped twice, returning it to off, while switches 2 and 3 are each flipped once and stay on. An even number of flips always cancels out.

working-memory-s09-q10

The transfer leaves P with £30 and lifts Q to £35; Q's £15 payment then drops it to £20, so P holds more with £30. The transfer touches both balances: the payment only one.

working-memory-s10-q01

From the studied rules: 9 doubled is 18, minus 4 is 14, doubled again is 28. Everything (start value, both rules, and their order) had to be recalled before computing.

working-memory-s10-q02

Swapping the middle two gives 2, 3, 5, 6, and the first plus third of that new order is 2 + 5 = 7. The reordering must fully settle before the addition starts.

working-memory-s10-q03

316 reversed is 613, and the smallest digit of the original (1) brings it to 612. Both the reversed number and a fact about the original must be held simultaneously.

working-memory-s10-q04

PLANET without its last letter is PLANE, which reversed reads ENALP, and its second letter is N. Each transformation output becomes the next step's input.

working-memory-s10-q05

Monday's 4 plus Wednesday's 5 makes exactly 9; the other pairings give 8, 11, and 6. Four recalled values must all stay available while you test combinations.

working-memory-s10-q06

8 is even so it becomes 13; 13 is odd so it doubles to 26; 26 exceeds 20 so it drops to 25. Each condition tests the current value, so the chain must be walked strictly in order.

working-memory-s10-q07

Taking each digit from 10 gives 10 − 9 = 1, 10 − 2 = 8, 10 − 6 = 4, and 10 − 4 = 6, so the sequence becomes 1, 8, 4, 6. Transformed digits must not contaminate the ones still waiting.

working-memory-s10-q08

After the first swap the seats hold Kofi, Ben, Aisha, Lena; the second swap exchanges Ben and Lena, leaving Lena in seat 2. Re-listing all four seats after each swap keeps the state accurate.

working-memory-s10-q09

7 days × 3 = 21 and 4 sides × 2 = 8, so 21 − 8 = 13. Retrieving the everyday facts, computing both parts, and holding the first result through the second is the full layered load.

working-memory-s10-q10

The tokens total 2 + 5 + 7 = 14; halved that is 7, and adding the red token's value of 2 gives 9. The colour mapping must survive right to the final step, because red is needed again at the end.