How your reflex test score compares, what research says about reaction time and age, and how much your device adds to the result.
The first two numbers come from a lab study with precise timing equipment.[1] Online tests like VoltReflex also include delay from your monitor, mouse and browser, so most adults score around 250–300 ms here. All ratings on this page use the online-test scale.
Find your average score from the reflex test in the table. Percentiles are approximate and based on typical online-test results.
| Your score | Approx. percentile | Rating | Typical for |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 150 ms | Top 1% | Superhuman | Rare, even among pro gamers |
| 150 – 200 ms | Top 10% | Excellent | Trained gamers and athletes |
| 200 – 250 ms | Top 30% | Great | Regular gamers, alert young adults |
| 250 – 300 ms | Top 65% | Average | Most adults |
| 300 – 350 ms | Bottom 35% | Below average | Tired, distracted or slower device |
| > 350 ms | Bottom 15% | Slow | Often fatigue or device delay |
Reaction time gets faster through childhood and adolescence, is usually at its best in early adulthood, and slows gradually after that. Two large studies show how gradual the change is for simple reactions like this test:
In other words, age matters less than most people think. A well-rested 50-year-old on a good monitor can easily beat a tired 20-year-old on a slow laptop.
Several changes contribute, including slower nerve signalling as the myelin insulation around nerve fibres changes, and slower processing in the brain. Experience can partly make up for it: older adults often do well in familiar, predictable tasks.
People react faster to sound than to light, because sound signals reach the brain by a shorter route. In one small study, the same participants averaged about 331 ms to a visual signal and about 284 ms to a sound.[3]
This is why sprinters' reaction times are not comparable with this test: they react to the starting gun, not to a colour change. Under World Athletics rules, a reaction faster than 0.100 seconds counts as a false start, because it is treated as anticipation rather than a real reaction.[6]
Your screen only updates once per frame. When the test turns green, you may wait up to one full frame before you can see it. That delay is added to every score:
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Average added delay |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | ≈ 8 ms |
| 144 Hz | 6.9 ms | ≈ 3.5 ms |
| 240 Hz | 4.2 ms | ≈ 2 ms |
| 360 Hz | 2.8 ms | ≈ 1.4 ms |
On top of this, every monitor has its own processing delay, and wireless mice, touchscreens and busy browsers can add more. TVs in particular can add a lot unless game mode is turned on. For fair comparisons, always test on the same device and browser.
Sleep loss is one of the clearest influences on reaction time. Sleep-deprived people respond more slowly overall and have more "lapses", moments where they react very late or miss the signal.[4] If your score is far worse than usual, tiredness is the first thing to check.
Low to moderate doses of caffeine improve alertness, vigilance and reaction time, especially when you are tired.[5] If you want to track real progress, test under the same conditions each time, with or without your usual coffee.
Most people get faster over their first few rounds as they settle into the task. That is why VoltReflex averages 5, 10 or 20 rounds instead of using a single click.
Score ratings and percentiles are VoltReflex estimates for online tests. Results are for personal benchmarking, not medical diagnosis.
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