The aim of the study was to identify factors determining performance on the Rey - Osterrieth Complex Figure Test in a normal population, in terms of accuracy of initial copy and delayed recall. Both immediate copy and delayed recall were related to age, and especially to the strategy adopted at the initial copy. A regression equation was derived whereby delayed recall could be predicted from the strategy adopted at the initial copy and the subject's age. This should prove useful in the analysis of Rey - Osterrieth performance in individual cases.