This Test Lets You Know If You’re Ready For Marriage (Or Commitment!)


With a divorce rate hovering somewhere around 45 percent in the United States, it is obvious that not all people are cut out to get married. One couple decided to take this problem on as a challenge, and test their compatibility on important issues before they entered into a marriage.

Jill Andres and Brook Silva-Braga, the couple in question, has turned their “marriage test” into a book — The Marriage Test: Our 40 Dates Before “I Do” — with the aim of helping others figure out if they and their partner lineup on important life issues.

Andres and Silva-Braga had been dating for nearly six years, when they decided they needed to face the dreaded “next step” talk. Before they got engaged and moved into wedding planning, they went through a series of 40 tests to see if they were completely compatible.

Their book, which is currently available at all retailers, outlines forty different tests for couples to take part in. The goal is for the couple to gain a better understand of themselves and their partner, before they make a big move and commit to a complete life together.

The couple turned authors suggest the “Timeline test” first. For this test, they set a date and each wrote down their timeline for big life changes (getting married, moving to the suburbs, having children, owning a home, and so on). They then swapped papers and compared their timelines to see how close they were.

Another test, named the sex notes test, requires the couple to get frisky for seven days straight, putting in their best effort every night. After the seven days, the couple must then sit down and compare notes. The authors argue that this helps couples open up more about their sexuality and what they like and don’t like.

The newborn test is utilized to see how well partners can work together in the face of adversity. The authors advice a couple to spend several days dealing with the sleep deprivation they would experience when having a child, but setting an alarm for every three hours at night. When the alarm blares, both partners must get up an complete a chore together.

There are a plethora of other tests, including the “in-law check-in”, “facing your fears” and “pack for your partner.