The five second test is a simple usability test that helps you measure the effectiveness of your user interfaces.

We offer three versions of the five second test, the classic first devised by Jared Spool, and two new variants that we have devised.

Classic

The classic five second test asks people to list the things they can recall after viewing your interface for five seconds.

This test ideally suited for discovering the most prominent calls to action on pages, such as sign ups and order forms.

Compare

The comparison five second test asks people to choose their preferred interface after viewing each for two and a half seconds.

This test is ideally suited for assessing design variations when building new interfaces.

Sentiment

The sentiment five second test asks people to choose their most and least favourite elements after viewing your interface for five seconds.

This test is suitable for identifying strengths and weaknesses in the design of your interfaces.

Further Reading

• Usability Tools Podcast: 5-Second Usability Tests
  Christine Perfetti and Jared Spool discuss five second tests.
• 5-Second Tests: Measuring Your Site's Content Pages
  In depth article on five second tests by Christine Perfetti.
• Home Page Design
  Daniel Szuc discusses the use of the five second tests for landing page optimisation.