Report structure
After each diagnostic assessment you receive a results page with multiple sections. Below we explain each section, so you know exactly what the numbers and charts mean.
1. Main score
At the top you see your main score as a number (0–100) in a circle chart. The higher, the better your performance on the given assessment.
| Score | Band | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ≥ 85 | Excellent | You perform at the level of an experienced colour assessor. |
| 65 – 84 | Functional | You have functional colour discrimination ability. Suitable for most colour-critical tasks. |
| 40 – 64 | Developing | There is room for improvement. Targeted training can significantly raise your score. |
| < 40 | Reduced | You are performing below the functional level. Contact us for advice. |
Next to the score you may see your TES (Total Error Score), consistency index and session duration.
2. Age-normed bar
The norm bar shows where your score falls relative to your age group. Colour aptitude changes with age — the human eye reaches peak discrimination around age 27–30 and then gradually declines, particularly on the tritan axis (blue-yellow). The norming is based on Kinnear & Sahraie (2002).
The bar is divided into five percentile zones based on your age group:
- Far below norm — significantly below the group norm
- Below average
- Average — you perform comparably to peers of the same age
- Above average
- Far above norm — you perform significantly better than your age group
3. Competency matrix (3×3)
The heart of your colour profile is the 3×3 matrix that combines three colour dimensions with three competency layers:
| Discrimination | Attribution | Communication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hue | Can you see hue transitions? | Do you recognise it is hue? | Can you name the hue correctly? |
| Lightness | Can you see lightness differences? | Do you recognise it is lightness? | Can you describe the lightness correctly? |
| Chroma | Can you see chroma differences? | Do you recognise it is chroma? | Can you describe the chroma correctly? |
Each cell in the matrix is classified separately into one of six zones, using a Bayesian posterior (Beta distribution) with a 95% credible interval. The zones are evaluated in the order shown (Uncertain first):
- Uncertain — credible interval wider than 30 points (insufficient data for a confident classification)
- Master — posterior θ̂ > 80 and lower CI bound > 70
- Proficient — posterior θ̂ > 65 and lower CI bound > 55
- Functional — posterior θ̂ > 50 and lower CI bound > 40
- Developing — posterior θ̂ > 35 and lower CI bound > 25
- Below level — posterior θ̂ ≤ 35
Cells for which insufficient session data has been collected show “In development” As more sessions accumulate, these cells move automatically into one of the five graded zones.
4. Hue wheel (hue circle)
The hue wheel is a polar chart that shows in which zones of the colour spectrum your error concentrations are located. Larger protrusions mean more errors in that zone. The colour coding:
- Red — high error concentration (> 70%)
- Amber — moderate error concentration (> 40%)
- Green — low error concentration (≤ 40%)
This is particularly useful for determining whether you have a specific vulnerability (for example in the tritan axis with ageing, or in the red-green segment).
5. Error pattern bars
Below the hue wheel are horizontal bars showing the error magnitude per hue zone, sorted from large to small. This gives you a quick overview of your strong and weak zones.
6. Error classification
The report distinguishes three types of errors:
- Linear errors — consistent shift in one direction, indicating a systematic deviation (e.g. tritan axis).
- Cluster errors — errors that occur grouped in a specific part of the spectrum.
- Rotational errors — errors indicating that hue categories have shifted.
7. Training advice
Based on your results, the system generates targeted training recommendations. The recommendations are ranked by priority (1 = highest priority) and contain a link to the relevant training module.
Colour aptitude is trainable. The visual system learns through targeted attention with feedback to weigh distinctions it previously ignored.
8. Calibration level
Each report states the calibration level under which the test was administered:
- Tier 1 — Visually calibrated: the test was administered after the built-in visual calibration procedure. This is sufficient for most applications.
- Tier 2 — Hardware-calibrated: the test was administered on an externally calibrated screen with a colorimeter. This provides the highest reliability.
9. Norm data status
At the bottom of the report is a notice about the norm data status:
Discrimination scores are normalised in accordance with Kinnear & Sahraie (2002). For attribution and communication, norm data collection is currently underway — scores will be compared to the reference group as soon as the dataset is complete.
This means that the hue ordering scores are fully normed. For attribution and communication scores, data is currently being collected to establish reliable norms. As soon as the reference group is large enough, these will be automatically added to your profile.
10. Download certificate
If your score meets the certification threshold, you can download a ColorAptitude™ Certificate as PDF. The certificate states:
- Your name and assessment date
- The assessment type and achieved score
- The band classification (Excellent / Functional / Developing / Reduced)
- The calibration level (Tier 1 or Tier 2)