Memory Competition Rules 

These rules are based around the rules used by the World Memory Championships.  

  

1.      Competition Rules: 

  

i.                    Heats will consist of two attempts to memorise a pack of 52 standard playing cards with five minutes memory time and five minutes recall time. 

  

ii.                  The final will consist of two attempts – one in the morning and one in the afternoon, again with five minutes or less memory time and five minutes recall time.  The best score from these two attempts will be counted towards the competition. 

  

iii.                All decks of cards for memorisation will be shuffled by a card shuffling machine. 

  

iv.                 Cards must be recalled verbally. 

  

2.      Once a competitor has memorised their cards, they signal to the adjudicator, at which point the adjudicator notes their time and the recall phase starts.  Once the competitor has successfully recalled the 52 cards in the deck (or portion thereof) their recall time will be recorded by the adjudicator along with the number of successfully recalled cards.  A 10 second time penalty will be enforced for every card incorrectly recalled. 

  

3.      All cards will be randomly shuffled using an automatic card shuffler.  Competitors must not change the order of the deck of cards they are given.  This will result in instant disqualification. 

  

4.      The maximum time for memorisation and recall allowed is ten (10) minutes in total.  This incorporates a maximum memorisation time of 5 minutes and a maximum recall of 5 minutes. 

  

5.      All competitors must wear short sleeved tops and no gloves may be worn during the competition. 

  

6.      The first answer you give for each card will be the only attempt each competitor will get for that card. 

  

7.      The scoring system will apply as follows: (in the case of tied winning scores, the score of the second trial will decide the winner.  The best score will be used otherwise).  The lowest score will be deemed the best for purposes of this competition.  Scores will be calculated by the time taken in seconds added to time penalties incurred to give a final score. 

  

It is important to note that if all 52 cards are not recalled correctly then a 10 second time penalty will be given for every error in recall and every card left in the pack. 

  

Example: Fred manages to correctly recall 15 cards correctly in 200 seconds: 

  

Freds Score is: (in seconds) 

200 + (37 mistakes x 10) 

200 + 370 = 570 

  

Daisy is able to correctly recall all 48 cards in a memorisation time of 300 secs: 

  

Daisy’s score is:  (in seconds) 

300 + (4 mistakes x 10) 

300 + 40 = 340 

  

All of the 5 minutes recall time may be used as necessary as this time will not affect the participants’ final score, unless the competition enters a tie-break situation. 

  

The purpose of this is to show that it is better to get more cards correct in a longer time than get less cards right in a shorter time. 

  

8.      The winner(s) will be presented with a cheque for £1000, paid in the name of the competition entry form received through the initial application.  This payment will be received within five working days of the competition finishing. 

  

9.       No memory aids may be used, mobile telephones or any other communication devices are not permitted whilst the competition is running. 

  

 10. Adjudicators’ decision on the day is final, there can be no appeal.  No correspondence will be entered into.