The Memory Championship at this year's Mind Sports Olympiad will
test memory skills in five disciplines. The tests will all
take place on the same day, but not necessarily in the
following order on the day:
- Binary Numbers
- Random Words
- Multiple Packs of Cards
- 1 Hour Numbers
- Speed Cards
Binary Numbers
Aim: To commit to memory as many Binary digits (101101 etc) as possible and recall them perfectly.
Time to memorise: 30 minutes.
Time to recall: 60 minutes.
Question Paper: Computer generated numbers are presented in rows of 30 digits with 25 rows per page. 4500 digits (6 sheets) are presented although more are available from the adjudicator if requested in advance of the competition.
Answer Paper: Contestants must write their recalled numbers in rows of 30 digits, either on the answer sheets provided or their own (as long as it has been cleared by the adjudicator before recall commences). It must be clear how the rows presented on the answer paper relate to the rows on the question paper; missing rows must be clearly indicated.
Scoring: 30 points (or, for the last row only, 1 point for each digit recalled) will be awarded for every complete row that is correctly recalled in order. Rows with a single mistake (including one missing digit) earn half that. Rows with two or more mistakes (including missing digits) earn no points.
Random words
Aim: To commit to memory as many random words (nouns, verbs and adjectives) as possible and recall them perfectly.
Time to memorise: 15 minutes.
Time to recall: 30 minutes.
Question Paper: A list of words is presented in columns of 25 words with 5 columns per page. 375 words (3 sheets) are presented although more are available from the adjudicator if requested in advance of the competition.
Answer Paper: Contestants must write down the list of words on the paper provided; blank paper may optionally be used but each word must be clearly numbered and the start and finish of each column of words easily identifiable.
Scoring: 25 points (or, for the last column only, 1 point for each word recalled) will be awarded for every column of words that is correctly recalled in order and properly spelt. Rows with a single mistake (including one gap) earn half that, rounding an odd half-point up if required. Rows with two or more mistakes (including missing digits) earn no points.
Multiple Packs of Cards
Aim: To commit to memory as many packs of cards as possible and recall them perfectly.
Time to memorise: 60 minutes.
Time to recall: 120 minutes.
1 Hour Numbers
Aim: To commit to memory as many random decimal digits (828302 etc) as possible and recall them perfectly.
Time to memorise: 60 minutes.
Time to recall: 120 minutes.
Question Paper: Computer generated numbers are presented in rows of 40 digits with 25 rows per page. 4000 digits (4 sheets) are presented although more are available from the adjudicator if requested in advance of the competition.
Answer Paper: Contestants must write their recalled numbers in rows of 40 digits, either on the answer sheets provided or their own (as long as it has been cleared by the adjudicator before recall commences). It must be clear how the rows presented on the answer paper relate to the rows on the question paper; missing rows must be clearly indicated.
Scoring: 40 points (or, for the last row only, 1 point for each digit recalled) will be awarded for every complete row that is correctly recalled in order. Rows with a single mistake (including one missing digit) earn half that. Rows with two or more mistakes (including missing digits) earn no points.
Speed cards
Aim: To commit to memory and recall a single pack (deck) of 52 playing cards in the shortest possible time.
Time to memorise: 5 minutes.
Time to recall: 5 minutes.
Note: There are two attempts at this event with a new dek each time.
Question Paper: This consists of a freshly shuffled pack (deck) of 52 playing cards. Contestants who expect to memorise the complete pack (deck) of cards in less than 5 minutes must inform the adjudicator so that a timekeeper with a stopwatch can be assigned. All contestants begin at the same time but must not begin recalling their pack until the adjudicator has announced that the 5 minute period is complete. Contestants who expect to complete their memorisation in less than 5 minutes must agree with their invigilator an appropriate signal that indicates they have finished memorising.
Answer Paper: Contestants must verbally recite the order of the pack to their allocated invigilator. No writing is allowed during recall. The invigilator checks the order of the pack, out of the contestant's sight. The contestant must make it clear to the invigilator when they believe that they have correctly recalled the pack of cards. At no time will the invigilator indicate to the contestant whether or not their recall is correct, until the contestant has made it clear to the invigilator that their recall is complete. If, during the recall, the contestant wishes to change their mind without having already declared their recollection complete, they must make it clear to the invigilator either by identifying the position of the card that they wish to be changed, or by identifying the card by name that they wish to change.
Scoring: The contestant who memorises all 52 cards in the quickest time and correctly recalls the pack, wins the event. In the event of no one correctly recalling their pack, the winner will be the contestant who recalled the most cards before their first mistake, irrespective of whether or not the pack was memorised in under 5 minutes. The better score from the two attempts will count.
Grand Master of Memory qualification criteria
Random Numbers: 713 digits.
Multiple Packs of Cards: 365 cards (7 packs + 1 card).
Speed Cards: 52 cards in 3 minutes or less.
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