Compare the tests
12 axes, 4 or 2?
Three ways to map your politics, from the classic two-axis compass to 12 separate axes. Here is what each one measures, what it misses and when to use which.
One person, three tests
Same answers. Three pictures.
The same example answers, drawn three ways. The more axes, the more of the person you can see.
- Economic10% EqualityEqualityMarkets
- Civil19% LibertyLibertyAuthority
- Society22% ProgressProgressTradition
- Diplomatic9% NationGlobalNation
How they connect
12 axes fold into two.
The three tests share the same four groups. The 12 Axes test splits each group into narrower axes. Average them and you get the four Values scores. Put Economy across and the average of State and liberty and Society up and down, and you get the compass.
- Ownership-22
- Markets+38
- Welfare-46
Economy-10Compass across (x)
- Authority-58
- Security+26
- Structure-24
State and liberty-18.7Compass up and down (y) averaged with Society
- Morality-36
- Religion-64
- Technology+44
- Culture-30
Society-21.5Compass up and down (y) averaged with State and liberty
- Trade+52
- Foreign policy-34
World+9Its own score
- Across (x)
- Economy is -10. Left is Equality, right is Markets.
- Up and down (y)
- (-18.7 + -21.5) ÷ 2 = -20. Up is Authority and Tradition, down is Liberty and Progress.
- World
- +9 has no place on a two-axis map, so it is shown as its own score.
Side by side
What each test does
Political Compass
- What it measures
- Economic left and right, plus one social axis (liberty to authority).
- Length
- 48 statements, about 6 minutes
- Your result
- A point on the map and a quadrant.
- Strength
- Fast, familiar and easy to compare with friends.
- Limit
- Two numbers hide a lot. Very different people can share a point.
- Best for
- A first look, a group chat, a classroom warm-up.
4-axis Values
- What it measures
- Economy, civil liberty, society and world, each scored on its own.
- Length
- 89 statements, about 12 minutes
- Your result
- Four scores and your closest ideologies.
- Strength
- Separates personal freedom from tradition and adds foreign policy.
- Limit
- Each axis still bundles several topics together.
- Best for
- A fuller picture in about ten minutes.
12 Axes
- What it measures
- 12 narrower axes in the same four groups, from ownership and welfare to religion, technology and trade.
- Length
- 36, 72 or 162 statements, about 5 to 25 minutes
- Your result
- 12 scores, closest ideologies, closest party per country, historical twin and your opposite.
- Strength
- Shows mixed views that averages hide, such as free markets with tariffs, or secular but cautious about technology.
- Limit
- Takes longer, and the Quick version has only three statements per axis, so single answers move it more.
- Best for
- Finding who you actually match and seeing exactly where you split from your side.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the 12 Axes test more accurate than a political compass?
It is more detailed rather than more correct. A compass puts you on two axes, so it is quick but loses information. The 12 Axes test keeps topics apart, so it can show combinations a compass averages away. With the Standard or Deep version, each axis rests on more statements, which makes the scores steadier.
Can I see my compass position from the 12 Axes test?
Yes. Your result projects the 12 scores onto the compass: across is the average of ownership, markets and welfare, and up and down is the average of your state and society scores.
Which test should I take first?
If you have five minutes, take the Political Compass Test or the Quick 12 Axes version. If you want to know which ideology, party or historical figure you match, take the Standard or Deep 12 Axes version.
Do the tests use the same questions?
They share a reviewed bank of plain statements. The Compass and Values tests score them on four broad axes. The 12 Axes test scores them on 12 narrower axes and adds statements on trade, technology, religion and structure of government.