Zener Card Tests

Zener cards were invented by the parapsychologist J.B. Rhine in the 1920s. He named them after his associate, Doctor Karl Zener. You can learn more from Wikipedia, or you might visit the Rhine Research Centre site.

A Zener deck consists of 25 cards, five each showing a circle, square, star, wavy lines and an equal-armed cross. Someone guessing randomly would be expected to get a long-term average score near 20%. A much larger score might indicate psychic ability. A much lower score might indicate negative psychic ability: Perhaps the person "knows" the correct card but is intentionally guessing some other card.

To start a new test click on the Start New Test button, then choose the Clairvoyance Test or Precognition Test. The clairvoyance test chooses a card and then gives you a chance to guess it. The precognition test lets you guess and then chooses the card.

You should do many trials before looking at your score. I'd suggest at least 25 (a standard Zener run in the old days). The tester won't let you do fewer than 10. The more trials you do the more accurate the probability of your score.

When you think that you have done enough, click on the Score button. This will display how many cards you got right as well as how many you should have gotten right if you guessed randomly. It will also display the probability (as a percentage) of you getting your score and whether or not your score is statistically significant.

If you get really, really good at this you might want to try your luck with James Randi's Paranormal Challenge. Good luck!