My12Axes Methodology
This page documents how the test is built and scored so you can evaluate it for yourself. We believe transparency is part of being neutral, and showing the math is the simplest way to earn your trust.
What the test measures
My12Axes measures self-reported preferences across 12 independent political-value dimensions. It does not measure personality, intelligence, or any fixed trait. Each axis is a separate scale between two descriptive poles, so the result is a pattern rather than a single label.
How questions are designed
The current version (1.1.0) uses 60 original statements. Each statement is written to be balanced and neutral, and each maps to exactly one axis. Questions are phrased in both directions so that agreeing and disagreeing both carry information, which reduces one-sided framing.
Answer scale
Respondents choose one of five options: Strongly Disagree (-2), Disagree (-1), Neutral (0), Agree (+1), Strongly Agree (+2). The Neutral option lets you opt out of a dimension without distorting the others.
Weighting
Every question currently carries an equal weight of 1. Future versions may assign different weights; any change is published here and reflected in the version number.
Score calculation
For each axis, we sum the contribution of its questions: (answer value) × (direction) × (weight). The raw sum is divided by the maximum possible sum for that axis and multiplied by 100, producing a score from -100 to +100. The sign indicates the pole; the magnitude indicates strength.
Neutral response handling
A Neutral (0) answer contributes nothing to the axis score. If a user answers all questions neutrally, or their agreeing and disagreeing answers cancel, the axis score is close to zero and shown as “Balanced.”
Version number
Current questionnaire and scoring version: 1.1.0. When the questions or scoring model change, this number increments and the change is noted on this page.
Known limitations
The test is short and self-reported, so it simplifies nuanced views into 12 numbers. Results can shift with mood and context. It is offered in English only in this first version, and it does not cover every political dimension.
Result interpretation
Scores are descriptive summaries of your answers. They are not political advice and do not endorse any party, candidate, ideology, or policy. Read each axis on its own rather than as a single label.
Transparency and updates
Because the method is published in full, anyone can reproduce a score from the same answers. When we change a question or the scoring, the version number on this page increments so older results stay interpretable. We prefer small, documented changes over silent edits.
Frequently asked questions
How is my 12 Axes score calculated?
For each axis we sum its questions as (answer value) × (direction) × (weight). The raw sum is divided by the maximum possible sum for that axis and multiplied by 100, giving a score from -100 to +100. The sign shows the pole; the magnitude shows the strength.
Are some questions weighted more than others?
In the current version (1.1.0) every question carries an equal weight of 1. Future versions may assign different weights, and any change is published here and reflected in the version number so results stay comparable within a version.
Is the My12Axes test scientific?
It is a transparent self-exploration tool, not a clinical or scientific instrument. It simplifies nuanced views into 12 numbers and is offered in English only in this first version. Read it as a conversation starter, not a measurement of fixed traits.