Analytic or synthetic Mind?

Depending on your pattern, analytical or synthetical, you will cover data collection and
analysis of the problem differently, even radically different. You may also, depending on
your temperament, be lost in the infinity of detail or, conversely, just make a superficial
vision and information processing.

This little test will help you identify trends in your area and to rectify, if necessary, your
attitude towards a more complete understanding of information and a more balanced
treatment of problems and, therefore, a more efficient one.

1. First, fill in the questionnaire by answering yes or no

2. Then count your results by drawing a cross in front of your answer in the right column
3. Sum up your answers in each column
4. Check on the Comments page which category you belong to and follow our advice.

This test is an indication of your main trend. This does not mean that you always act this
way or that you cannot change your habits. If any of these trends is severe, you can restore
some balance by practicing exercises developing the opposite trend.
Techniques such as Mind Mapping support the overall use of the brain and mobilize all of
your intellectual and creative abilities. They can help you rebalance your approach to
information.

A final word for managers and team leaders: the most successful teams are those that
consist of a mix of the two trends. This way, you benefit from the rapid response of
synthetic people and depth of view of analytical ones.

In all cases: enjoy your discovery!

For the Lingua Franca Academy

Marco Bertolini.
 The Lingua Franca Academy

Test Yes No

1 Do you easily get rid of old newspapers and magazines?

2 Do you tend to pile up old clothes, objects, books and so on?

When studying a new topic, do you tend to read thin and easy books
3


first?
During a conference or an exposé, do you tend to jot down a lot of
4


notes?
Do you feel able to talk about a subject, even if you know only a few
5


elements of it?
At the movie, do you feel easily overwhelmed by the emotions and do
6


you cry easily?
7 Can you easily read thick books?

8 Can you stand long and detailed descriptions?

9 When you talk, do you tend to stray from the subject?

10 During your exams, do you often finish before the end of the session?

11 Do you think your writing style is often too direct or even dry?


Are you sensitive to clothing details, to the harmony of shapes and
12


colours?
When listening to a lecture, do you feel that some details or anecdotes
13


could get in the way of your understanding?
When learning a topic, do you tend to read a lot of books and articles
14


from the very beginning?
Usually, do you try to spare time by thinking about and organizing your
15


action in advance?
Do you feel the need to draw a structure of your paper before you start
16


writing them?

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Test Yes No

17 Are you attracted by documentaries?

You don’t anticipate situations, you prefer to discover everything at the
18


last minute
Starting a new job: are you immediately acknowledged by your new
19


colleagues, even if they don’t know much about you yet?
Are you able to make a quick abstract of exposé main ideas if you heard
20


it once?
When reformulating some topic, do you feel difficulties to select what is
21


relevant?
22 Do you always try to reach perfection in every detail?

23 When travelling, do you always bring a lot of luggage?

You would like to live in a very plain environment, without much
24


furniture or decoration
25 Do you tend to collect objects of the same kind?

26 Do you often feel the need to put your stuff in order?

27 Do you easily grow tired when having to learn one and only topic?

28 Do you often feel the need to move and to change activity?

29 Do you enjoy reading several books about the same topic?

When having an appointment, do you tend to come in advance and to
30


anticipate transport troubles?

Family name First name

Organisation Function

Date Training course

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Test results

After completing the test, draw a cross in front of your answer in the table below. Then add
the number of crosses in each column. The sum will give you an indication of your dominant
trend.

Analytic Synthetic
Your results Your results
1. No 1. Yes
2. Yes 2. No
3. No 3. Yes
4. Yes 4. No
5. No 5. Yes
6. Yes 6. No
7. Yes 7. No
8. No 8. Yes
9. Yes 9. No
10. No 10. Yes
11. No 11. Yes
12. Yes 12. No
13. No 13. Yes
14. Yes 14. No
15. No 15. Yes
16. No 16. Yes
17. Yes 17. No
18. No 18. Yes
19. No 19. Yes
20. No 20. Yes
21. Yes 21. No
22. Yes 22. No
23. Yes 23. No
24. No 24. Yes
25. Yes 25. No
26. No 26. Yes
27. No 27. Yes
28. No 28. Yes
29. Yes 29. No
30. Yes 30. No
TOTAL TOTAL

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Comments

BMI between 15 and 19 in any column: You are already in balance. You can be analytical or
synthetic depending on circumstances and needs of the situation. You are able to, both
analyze a problem in great detail, as to paint the general context of this problem in a few
words. Just Go On!

BMI between 19 and 25 in the Analytical column: You tend to dig the problem you are
analyzing. You spend lots of time to pursue the matter in detail, sometimes at the risk of
forgetting the key or forget the whole matter treated. Force yourself to go back to synthesis,
to consider the problem more comprehensively.

BMI between 19 and 25 in the Synthetic Column: you tend to consider information in a
comprehensive way and you get bored very quickly with details. You are able to understand
a problem from a glance or a few words, but you do not go into details. Force yourself to
the analysis, spend a little more time on the various elements of the situation.

BMI between 25 and 30 in the Analytical column: you are fiercely analytical. You are
literally obsessed with details and you usually have no overview of the situation or problem
to cope with. You can easily tire people around you by your thoroughness and your
exaggerated concern for accuracy. Just relax… Practice seriously : summarizing and
abstracting by limiting the number of words, etc.

BMI between 25 and 30 in the Synthetic Column: You are completely synthetic. You are
usually satisfied with a superficial glance, you hardly read the newspapers headlines. Details
literally make you sick; you do not understand that we can waste time on such trifles.
People around you sometimes complain of your shallowness. Practice the scrutiny of the
details, try to read every word and watch every corner of an image...