Have you ever tried to catch a glass before it breaks? That little zap in your brain and the shock from your eyes to your hands are your response time conducting a victory lap. But how fast are you, really? Let’s do the reaction speed test to find out. Click for more.

Remember the old school game when you had to drop a ruler? Your friend lifts a ruler up and lets go without warning. You grab it in midair. The closer you get to their hand, the faster you respond. Not hard, yet strangely addictive. Some people still disagree over whether it measures pure response or anticipation. This is a fun party trick and a small psychology experiment all in one.

A reaction test is simple: you wait for a cue, such a light, a sound, or a flashing screen, and then you answer as quickly as your brain can handle it. It’s even easier online. If you look for “reaction time tester,” you’ll find a lot of games that you may click on. When the color flashes, you hit your mouse or screen with a hammer and hope you’re under 200 milliseconds. If you do more than that, let’s be honest, you’ll blame your Wi-Fi, not your brain.

Is there a way to earn a higher score? Not much, unless you count cheating by guessing. Some people swear by strange routines like cracking their knuckles, taking deep breaths, and looking with a hawk-like attention. But real tests don’t allow you become ready for the cue. That’s the key: surprise is the secret ingredient.

People usually take roughly 250 milliseconds to complete visual exams. Younger folks might do worse; age plays a role and adds a little time each year. Some athletes and gamers say they can get superhuman scores, but genetics and the environment can only help so much. Coffee can help a little, but getting enough sleep, working out, and not being stressed are more important.

Speaking of stress, it’s another thing that could go wrong. Have you ever noticed that when you’re under a lot of stress, your hands might not move as quickly as they should? Adrenaline can help, but too much of it might make your reflexes dull, like a butter knife.

Some reaction tests are auditory, like hearing a starting pistol or a quick honk. Sound goes to your senses faster than light, thus people sometimes react faster to what they hear than what they see. After someone claps, tap your finger on a table. Chances are, you’ll beat your own score by a small amount.

Now add some fun science to the mix. It’s not only a party trick to have a quick reaction time. Scientists can learn about things like how minds age, concussions, or even how distractions impact drivers by doing drills like these. A slow reaction time is linked to a higher risk of accidents. That’s why a lot of coaches use these games in sports or driver’s ed. If coaches had their way, everyone would have to do a few speed tests before they started warming up.

So, how fast do you think you are? Next time you’re bored, why not test yourself? You never know—you might surprise yourself and your pals. The next time you miss your timing, you’ll come up with a fresh excuse about “lag.” It’s all in good (and quick) fun, no matter what.