The Compatibility Quotient test

Will you and your partner live happily ever after?

16:18 05 August 2005

They say opposites attract, but according to recent studies, if your relationship is successful you may have more in common with your partner than you think.

In fact, the more similar you are to your loved one, the better.

Couples who last the distance share much more than just attraction - they like the same TV programmes and music and never squabble about which takeaway to order.

The problem is how to tell the difference between instant attraction and true love that will last the distance.

A psychologist has come up with a 25-question test that he thinks will solve this problem!

The Compatibility Quotient test covers big issues such as politics and religion as well as the daily mundanities of favourite TV shows, music and food.

"All of the things that lead to long-term compatibility depend on similarity and the more common ground you have the better," said Dr Glenn Wilson, who designed the test.

"You'll rub along as friends in the long term, after that early chemical attraction has burned out."

Take the CQ test

You and your partner should each pick one answer for each question:

1. How tall are you?
a) Quite tall
b) Above average
c) Average
d) Slightly below average
e) On the short side

2. Which best describes you?
a) Overweight
b) Slightly overweight
c) Average weight
d) Fairly slim
e) Rather skinny

3. How attractive are you?
a) Very attractive
b) Fairly attractive
c) Average
d) Rather plain
e) Very plain

4. How intelligent are you?
a) Bright
b) Brainier than average
c) Brighter than average
d) Average
e) A little below average

5. Which is your favourite type of music?
a) Heavy metal or rap
b) Pop
c) Easy-listening
d) Jazz
e) Classical or opera

6. Which TV shows do you like most?
a) Game shows
b) Soap operas
c) Cop shows or comedies
d) Serious dramas
e) News and documentaries

7. Do you like foreign food?
a) Really can't stand it
b) Prefer plain food
c) Okay for a change
d) Enjoy most foods
e) Prefer foreign food

8. What is your view of parties?
a) Prefer being alone
b) Small groups are okay
c) A few parties are okay
d) Enjoy parties
e) Love wild parties

9. What level of education have you reached/are you expected to reach?
a) My education ended when I was 16
b) Nothing after leaving school at 18
c) Some courses or qualifications after leaving school d) Degree or diploma
e) Post-graduate degree

10. What is your job?
a) Professional
b) Managerial
c) Clerical, admin or customer service
d) Skilled manual trades person
e) Non-skilled manual job

11. What type of relationship would you prefer?
a) Casual friendship
b) Lasting friendship
c) An exciting short-term affair
d) An intimate long-term relationship
e) Marriage

12. How sexually experienced are you?
a) Still a virgin
b) Rather inexperienced
c) Averagely experienced
d) More experienced than most
e) Very experienced

13. How would you describe your sex drive?
a) Almost nonexistent
b) Reasonably low
c) About average
d) On the high side
e) Insatiable

14. How important to you is sexual fidelity?
a) Essential
b) Very important
c) The odd lapse is forgivable
d) Affairs are expected
e) Would prefer an open relationship

15. How important is money?
a) Can't buy happiness
b) Just need enough to live
c) Want to be comfortable
d) Want to be rich
e) Want to be very rich

16. How would you describe your political views?
a) Far left
b) Left of centre
c) Neutral or not interested
d) Right of centre
e) Far right

17. How religious are you?
a) Active and committed
b) Go to church sometimes
c) Worship in private
d) Not really religious
e) Actively anti-religious

18. What is your view of astrology and fortune-telling?
a) A total waste of time
b) A bit sceptical
c) Harmless fun
d) Probably something in it
e) To be relied on

19. What is your view of chivalry?
a) Old-fashioned nonsense
b) Rather undesirable
c) Okay in its place
d) A desirable quality
e) An essential part of life

20. How should household chores be allocated?
a) Split equally between partners
b) Shared according to skill
c) If one partner works, they should do less
d) The main earner should hardly do any housework
e) If there is one main breadwinner, they should be exempt from chores

21. Do you expect to have more children?
a) Definitely not
b) No real interest
c) Maybe, one day
d) Definitely
e) Will do anything to have children, including adopting if necessary

22. How do you feel about keeping pets?
a) Hate them or allergic to them
b) Prefer not to lose independence
c) Some are nice
d) Would keep if practical
e) Can't imagine life without one

23. How close do you like to be to your family?
a) In constant touch
b) See them fairly regularly
c) Meet up occasionally
d) Talk now and then
e) Prefer to be self-contained

24. What is your attitude towards tidiness?
a) Happily live in chaos
b) A bit untidy
c) Take things as they come
d) Like to be organised
e) Like everything to be perfect

25. What is your view of smoking?
a) Intolerable
b) Fairly undesirable
c) It's okay for others to do
d) I'm a light smoker
e) I'm a heavy smoker

How to score: A score is calculated by counting the number of places between your answers. So, if you pick (a) and your partner picks(e), you score 4. If you answer the same, the score is zero. After 25 questions, the final score will be between 0 and 100. Scores of around or below 23 mean you are compatible.