TMS memorising facts (Fakten lernen): free online practice with timer
Memorising facts (Fakten lernen) is the memory test in the TMS and in the new TMSnat: you memorise case descriptions of people and later answer questions about them, without notes. Here you practise it directly in your browser, with new people every round, a timer and instant scoring. No registration. Page status: 2 October 2026.
Choose a task group
Memorising facts at a glance
- Planned TMSnat: memorising phase 20 / 6 minutes, recall phase 20 tasks in 7 minutes (planning status 26.06.2026). The reading comprehension group with 50 minutes lies in between.
- Previous TMS: memorise 15 case descriptions in 6 minutes, later answer 20 questions in 7 minutes.
- No notes: According to the sample task collection, you may not take notes either while memorising or during the following subtests.
- What you memorise: for each person the name, age group, occupation (which also shows the gender), one further characteristic and the diagnosis.
The planning document does not say exactly what the number 20 in the TMSnat memorising phase counts. Our practice therefore stays with 15 people as in the previous TMS and uses the planned TMSnat times.
How the tasks are structured
According to the official sample task collection, the case descriptions are arranged in five groups. The people in a group are about the same age, work in similar occupations and have names that fit a common theme. Some characteristics, such as diagnoses, appear twice. In the recall phase, the people are asked about in a different order and via a different detail. An example from our practice:
List: Eichner: ca. 35 Jahre, Erzieher, ehrgeizig – Neurodermitis
Question: Der Patient mit der Diagnose Neurodermitis ist von Beruf … (A) Lehrer. (B) Erzieher. (C) Tischler. (D) Physiotherapeut. (E) Koch.
If a diagnosis appears twice, it is not enough on its own. The question then names a second detail, such as age, gender or the characteristic: „Der ca. 40-jährige Patient …“ (the male patient of about 40) is only unambiguous if you remember who in this age group is a man.
How the practice works here
- Memorise: You see 15 people in five groups. With the time limit you have 6 minutes, after which the list is hidden. You can also finish earlier.
- Gap: In the planned TMSnat, the 50 minutes of reading comprehension lie between memorising and recall. You decide when the recall starts. It becomes more realistic if you do something else in the meantime, for example a round of another task group in a second tab.
- Recall: 20 questions with five answers each in 7 minutes. Afterwards you see your score, the correct case description for each question and the whole list again.
Every round generates new people and new questions. Nothing is stored and nothing is sent.
Strategies for memorising
The official sample task collection gives advice on this, which we summarise here in our own words:
- Groups first, then cases: First get an overview of the five groups and their age order. Then memorise each case individually and pay attention to the differences within a group.
- Note duplicates deliberately: If a diagnosis or characteristic appears twice, make a point of remembering what distinguishes the two people.
- Learn the gender too: It follows from the German occupation title. Questions like „Die 20-jährige Patientin …“ (the female patient of 20) can only be answered with it.
- Build stories: Link name, occupation, characteristic and diagnosis into an image or a small scene. Where that is difficult, for example with names and ages, similar sounds can help.
Our addition, not a requirement of the test providers: practise regularly with a gap between memorising and recall. Straight after learning, recall almost always works; the gap is what makes the real difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is memorising facts part of the TMSnat?
Yes. According to the planning status of 26.06.2026, memorising facts is part of the TMSnat, with a 6-minute memorising phase and 20 tasks in 7 minutes. Memorising figures (Figuren lernen), on the other hand, is no longer planned, see Muster zuordnen & co.
How much time lies between memorising and recall?
In the planned sequence, the reading comprehension group with 50 minutes lies in between. The order of all groups is on the page TMSnat structure.
May I take notes?
No. According to the official sample task collection, notes are allowed neither while memorising nor during the following subtests. So practise without a pen here too.
Are these original tasks?
No. All people and questions are fictitious and generated automatically. You will find official sample tasks in the free collection on tms-info.org.
How can I practise the other groups?
On the home page you can choose all task groups available here. A plan for all groups is on the page TMS preparation.
Sources
- „Beispielaufgaben zur Vorbereitung“ (PDF, © 2025 ITB Consulting GmbH): description of memorising facts, times in the previous TMS, advice on memorising.
- „Geplante Zusammensetzung des TMSnat“ (PDF, status 26.06.2026): numbers of tasks, times and order in the TMSnat.
Checked on 2 October 2026. In case of discrepancies, the information in the sources always applies. The German version of this page is authoritative.