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Erudition
Quiz: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Basic math, laws of nature, and simple grammar often stump adults. This quiz will remind you what every 10-year-old schoolchild knows. The results may truly surprise you!
questions
25
Time
12 min
Method
School Quiz
Rating
5.0
What you'll learn
How much school knowledge you still remember
Your strongest and weakest subject areas
Detailed breakdown of every answer with explanations
Your personal rank among 10 achievement levels
Which basic facts you have forgotten
How you compare to other test-takers
Key facts
25
school questions
30 sec
per question
5
subject areas
10
achievement levels
History & development
1885
Hermann Ebbinghaus publishes his work on the forgetting curve: without repetition, information is lost within days
2007
'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?' premieres on FOX and becomes a global hit
2010+
The format is adapted in 40+ countries: from Germany to Japan, from Brazil to India
2020+
Online versions gain millions of completions annually as a viral educational format
About the methodology
The quiz concept is based on the TV show 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?', which has aired in dozens of countries since 2007. The format proved that adults systematically forget even basic school knowledge: arithmetic, simple physics laws, and elementary geography. This phenomenon is described in cognitive psychology as Hermann Ebbinghaus's 'forgetting curve' (1885).
Without periodic review, information is displaced from long-term memory within a few years. Questions cover five subject areas: mathematics, science, language, geography, and general knowledge. Each question matches the difficulty level of elementary school curricula accepted in most countries worldwide.
Only universal topics are used: basic arithmetic, the water cycle, planets of the Solar System, grammar fundamentals. The scoring system accounts for both correctness and speed. A base of 100 points per correct answer is supplemented by a speed bonus (up to 100 points). The final result is normalized by the percentage of correct answers and determines one of 10 ranks: from 'Newbie' to 'Legend'.
Scientific references
Ebbinghaus H. (1885)
Murre J. M. J., Dros J. (2015)
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All testsFrequently asked questions
What topics does the quiz cover?
The quiz includes 5 elementary school subjects: mathematics, science, language, geography, and general knowledge. All questions are at the 4th-5th grade level.
Is there a timer?
Yes, you have 30 seconds per question. Fast correct answers earn bonus points. If time runs out, the question counts as incorrect.
Why do adults get simple questions wrong?
This is related to Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve: without repetition, information is displaced from memory. Adults don't use school knowledge daily, so it gradually fades.
How is the result calculated?
Each correct answer earns 100 base points plus a speed bonus (up to 100 points). Your rank is determined by the percentage of correct answers: from 0-10% (Newbie) to 91-100% (Legend).
Can I retake the quiz?
Yes, you can take the quiz as many times as you like. Each result is saved, and you can track your progress.
Instructions
You will see 25 questions from the 5th-grade curriculum. You have 30 seconds per question. Choose one of four answer options. After finishing, you'll get a detailed breakdown of every answer with explanations and your personal rank.
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