How We Build And Review Our Tests

Two Kinds Of Tests

We publish two kinds of tests, and we label each one clearly.

Step 1: Choosing A Model

A psychology-based test starts with a model that has been published and discussed by researchers, such as Jung’s psychological types or John Alan Lee’s love styles. We read the original sources and later research before writing anything, and we note what the evidence supports and where it is weak. That summary appears on the test page under “The Model Behind It”.

We prefer models that are in the public domain or openly described in the literature. Where a well-known test is a commercial product, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, we build an independent test on the underlying public theory, give it a descriptive name and say clearly that we are not affiliated with the commercial product.

Step 2: Writing Original Questions

Almost every question is written by PrismaTest. We do not reuse items from commercial questionnaires or copy other websites. The one exception is published research items that their authors have placed in the public domain, such as the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) used in our Big Five personality test. Where we use them, we say so on the page and credit the source. Our guidelines for writing our own items:

• One idea per statement, in everyday language a teenager could understand.
• Balanced keying. On scales with two poles, half the statements point to each side, so someone who agrees with everything does not get a skewed result.
• No loaded wording. We avoid statements that make one answer look obviously better.
• Behaviour and motive, not labels. We ask about what you do and why, rather than asking you to rate yourself on a trait name.

Step 3: Scoring

Most psychology-based tests use a five-point agree-disagree scale scored 0 to 4. Scores for each scale are added and shown as a percentage of the maximum. Type tests convert scale totals into letters or types; trait tests show every scale.

Fun quizzes give points to one or two outcomes for each answer and show how close you came to each result. Every test page includes a sample question and a table explaining what different scores mean.

Step 4: Review Before Publishing

Before a test goes live, we:

1. Take the test ourselves several times with different answer patterns to check every result can be reached.
2. Check that no scale can be maxed out by one or two questions.
3. Read every result description to make sure it is specific to that result and not interchangeable with another.
4. Check the facts on the page, such as dates, names and research findings, against the original sources.
5. Make sure the page states its limits and, where relevant, that it is not a diagnosis.

Health-Related Topics

Some tests touch on mood, stress or other wellbeing topics. These follow extra rules: they use published screening scales where possible, cite the source, state clearly that the result is not a diagnosis, and point to professional help. We will only publish such tests once a qualified professional has reviewed them, and that reviewer will be named on the page.

Keeping Tests Up To Date

We revisit test pages when new research appears or readers report a problem.

Limits We Want You To Know

• Our tests have not been through formal validation studies with large samples, so we never call them clinical, certified or official.
• Self-report tests depend on honest answers and on how well you know yourself.
• A result describes tendencies, not fixed facts about you.

Use Of AI

We use AI tools in limited ways during research and drafting. Every question, result and page is written or edited by a person before publication. Read our AI use policy for details.

Report A Problem

If you find an error or a question that does not make sense, please tell us through the contact page. We read every message.