How the Wabiro mental age is calculated

Principles

• The result is for fun. It is not an IQ, a “brain age”, a diagnosis or a psychological measurement, and it has not been validated on a population.
• The same answers with the same version always give the same result, in every language. There is no randomness and no hidden adjustment.
• Your real age is never used to calculate the number.
• A higher number does not mean more intelligent, more mature or better.

Four preferences

Each preference has two sides. By convention, the second side adds playful years.

• Plans: Improvisation ↔ Anticipation (weight 30%)−11 … +15
• Discoveries: Novelty ↔ Familiarity (weight 25%)−14 … +9
• Time: Here and now ↔ Long view (weight 25%)−8 … +13
• Pace: Full days ↔ Breathing room (weight 20%)−8 … +12

From answers to an age

1. Each answer adds between −2 and +2 to one or two preferences. The full table is in the public repository documentation.
2. For each preference, the total is placed between the lowest and the highest total this questionnaire can reach, giving a position from −1 to +1.
3. The four positions are combined with their weights (plans 30%, discoveries 25%, time 25%, pace 20%).
4. The combined value is turned into an age with: age = round(18 + (value + 1) ÷ 2 × 62). The result is a whole number from 18 to 80.

age = round(18 + (value + 1) ÷ 2 × 62) · 18–80

Method ma-1

1. 1. The restaurant you booked for tonight is closed when you arrive.

   • You wander the street and pick whatever looks good. Plans −2 · Discoveries −1
   • You already have a backup place in mind nearby. Plans +2
   • You suggest going home to cook something simple together. Discoveries +1 · Pace +1

2. 2. On a trip, one whole day has nothing planned.

   • You ask a local for their favourite spot and go. Plans −1 · Discoveries −2
   • The night before, you choose one place and leave the rest open. Plans +1 · Pace +1
   • You fit in as many sights as the day allows. Discoveries −1 · Pace −2

3. 3. Your group hesitates between the usual bar and a place none of you know.

   • You vote for the new place: it might make a good story. Discoveries −2
   • You vote for the usual: you know the evening will be good. Discoveries +2
   • You suggest one drink at the new place, then the usual. Plans +1 · Discoveries −1

4. 4. A friend invites you on a day trip tomorrow, leaving at 7 a.m.

   • Yes — you’ll figure out the details on the way. Plans −2 · Time −1
   • Yes, once you’ve checked how your week looks. Plans +1 · Time +1
   • Not this time: tomorrow was your quiet day. Pace +2

5. 5. You want to start a personal project: an instrument, a garden, a podcast…

   • You start tonight with what you have. Plans −1 · Time −2
   • You set yourself a small goal for the next three months. Plans +1 · Time +2
   • You block one evening a week for it, no more. Time +1 · Pace +1

6. 6. An outing runs longer than planned and someone suggests one more stop.

   • Let’s go: the best moments are often unplanned. Plans −1 · Pace −2
   • You join for a bit and leave at the time you had in mind. Plans +1 · Pace +1
   • You head home: tomorrow-you will thank you. Time +2

7. 7. You suddenly get a free week off.

   • You book something for the day after tomorrow. Discoveries −1 · Time −2
   • You keep it for rest, catch-ups and things you’ve put off. Discoveries +1 · Pace +2
   • You start something that will still matter next month. Time +2

8. 8. You’re cooking for friends.

   • You try a recipe you’ve never made. Discoveries −2
   • You make your signature dish. Discoveries +2
   • You prepare everything in advance so you can enjoy the evening. Plans +2

9. 9. Your ideal weekend looks like…

   • Something every half-day: brunch, an outing, a party. Pace −2
   • One nice plan, and lots of time around it. Pace +2
   • Decided on Saturday morning, depending on the mood. Plans −2

10. 10. Friends start a group chat to plan a holiday next summer.

    • You’re already looking at places and dates. Plans +1 · Time +2
    • You’re in, but next summer feels far away. Time −2
    • You suggest a weekend together sooner, to start with. Discoveries −1 · Time −1

11. 11. You have an appointment in a part of town you don’t know.

    • You leave with plenty of margin and check the route. Plans +2
    • You follow your phone and enjoy the trip there. Plans −2
    • You go early to explore the neighbourhood a little. Plans +1 · Discoveries −1

12. 12. You’re choosing a gift for a close friend.

    • Something they mentioned months ago and you noted down. Plans +1 · Time +1
    • A surprise outing you’ll do together. Discoveries −2
    • Their favourite treat — the one that always works. Discoveries +2

13. 13. A new app everyone is talking about comes out.

    • You try it the same day. Discoveries −2
    • You wait for a few opinions before switching. Plans +1 · Discoveries +1
    • You’ll see if it’s still around in six months. Time +2

14. 14. It’s Sunday evening.

    • You’re still out, or calling a friend for one last plan. Time −1 · Pace −2
    • You prepare the week a little so Monday feels lighter. Plans +1 · Time +1
    • You do nothing at all — and that’s the plan. Pace +2

Portraits and facets

• The portrait comes from your side on plans, discoveries and time (eight portraits), or “Kaleidoscope” when all three are balanced. Your pace chooses one of two closing sentences.
• A position between −0.2 and +0.2 counts as balanced.
• The two facets are the preferences that best explain the contrasts in your result. The two answers quoted under them are the ones of yours that pushed hardest in that direction.

Versions

• ma-1 (2 November 2026): first version, 14 situations, four preferences.

Results keep the version they were calculated with. If the method changes, old results are not recalculated, and results from different versions are not compared.

Privacy

Answers are scored in your browser and stay on your device. A share link stores only the playful age, the portrait, four rounded positions, the version and an optional nickname, for 30 days. You can delete it at any time.