How Strong Are Your Communication Skills as a Couple? (Quiz)

1. When your partner talks to you, are you truly listening?

Yes, I’m fully engaged in what he or she is saying to me.
Usually, although sometimes my mind wanders.
Not really, I’m typically thinking of other things.
No, I’m way too busy with too much on my mind.

2. You had a hard day at work and are in a terrible mood. What do you tell your partner?:

I completely open up about what happened and why I’m so bummed.
I tell him or her a little about my day, but then I try to change the subject.
I hint that I had a bad day, but I don’t elaborate.
I don’t tell him or her anything. I don’t feel like getting into it.

3. When you’re eating a meal together, are you distracted by your phone?

No, I’m completely present and in the moment with my partner.
I have my phone next to me, but I try not to look at it.
I check my phone every few minutes of so.
I’m on my phone the whole time.

4. You ran into an ex and ended up grabbing coffee with him or her. Do you tell your partner?

Yes, he or she should know.
Yes, but I leave out most of the details.
No, it will just upset him or her.
No, it’s none of my partner’s business.

5. During a night out with friends, your partner insults you in front of everyone. How do you respond?

I have a convo with my partner later in private to explain how his or her comments made me feel.
I snap at him or her in front of everybody and think about storming out.
I don’t say anything, but I’m in a foul mood the rest of the night.
I never mention my feelings and hold my anger inside.

6. How much of your partner’s past do you know about?

I know pretty much everything.
I know the basic details and timeline.
I only know a couple of things.
I hardly know anything.

7. I am honest with my partner:

All of the time.
Some of the time.
When it’s convenient.
Hardly ever. I just tell my partner what he or she wants to hear.

8. Your partner is obsessed with baseball, but you can’t stand the sport. Do you tell him or her?

Yes, although I compromise and watch it with him or her from time to time.
Yes, but I don’t tell my partner the true extent to which I despise it.
I pretend I don’t have feelings for the sport one way or the other.
No, I fake a huge interest in order to appease my partner.

9. Your partner is always late, and it’s starting to really bug you. What’s your action plan?

I tell him or her how I feel, and we come up with a plan to fix the issue going forward.
I drop subtle hints that his or her tardiness annoys me.
I mention once in passing that I don’t like when he or she is late.
I don’t say anything and simply learn to live with it.

10. Do you find that you and your partner have many misunderstandings?

No, we’re basically always on the same page.
Not really, but every now and then I’m unclear as to what he or she wants.
Yes, my partner can sometimes be cryptic.
Yes, I never know what he or she is saying or asking me.

Quiz: How Strong Are Your Communication Skills as a Couple?

You got: You Are a Great Communicator

You and your partner have terrific communications skills, and your relationship is thriving as a result. The lines of communication between the two of you are open, and by being completely engaged in what your partner is expressing and staying in the moment, you’re able to truly listen to one another. You also place a great deal of emphasis on honesty, and you’re able to express your true feelings to your partner, even when it comes to difficult issues. Importantly, by being straightforward with your partner, you can work together to come up with compromises, and by doing so, the your connection will be that much stronger.

It’s important to continue on this path of truthfulness and sincerity with your partner. Even if situations arise when you’re tempted to fib, or avoid certain topics altogether, these choices in the short-term will only hurt you in the long run. If you commit to keeping your communication levels high, the success of your relationship will be high as well.

Quiz: How Strong Are Your Communication Skills as a Couple?

You got: You Have Good Communication Skills

You and your partner have good communication skills, but there’s room for growth. While it’s evident that you understand the importance of honesty, you sometimes feel compelled to hold back the full truth. However, you shouldn’t be afraid to tell your partner how you’re actually feeling. Instead of leaving subtle hints, commit to having an honest conversation. Remember, your partner isn’t a detective, so leaving these understated clues isn’t going to help, and on the flip side, having a full-blown screaming match with your partner is only going to shut down the communication lines altogether.

In the future, you and your partner should make a commitment to be more honest and present in the moment. Even if it feels unnatural to be so open and vulnerable with someone else, it’s the only way to truly get to know someone and build a real connection. Have the courage and conviction to express what’s on your mind in a calm and mature way—your relationship will mature as a result.

Quiz: How Strong Are Your Communication Skills as a Couple?

You got: Your Communication Skills Need Improvement

It’s apparent that you and your partner need to work on your communication skills, and the good news is that you can start now. At this point, you’re not making a real commitment to be honest with one another, you have misunderstanding after misunderstanding and you aren’t interested in telling your partner your actual feelings. In essence, you’re playing a role in your relationship, and you’re behaving in a way that you think is what your partner wants from you. However, if you’re truly interested in having a real relationship with this person, you have to be your real self.

With this in mind, it’s important to be honest with your partner, and this should begin right now. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions about your partner’s past, tell your partner what’s on your mind and let him or her know more about your true passions. You’re a unique and special person, and if you’re finding that you’re trying to play a certain part in a relationship, it might be time to part ways instead.

Quiz: How Strong Are Your Communication Skills as a Couple?

You got: Your Communication Skills Need Major Work

Your communication skills as a couple have vast room for improvement, but fortunately there are ways for you to make real progress. At this point, you’re not placing any importance on honesty, are content with hiding your true feelings and are committed to faking who you really are. However, your relationship will never be able to grow if you’re not your authentic self. You shouldn’t be afraid to express your real thoughts, and this change should start today. If you’re not happy with the way he or she is treating you, just say so. If you want to know about his or her past, you just have to ask.

It’s time to commit to expressing yourself—your true self—so that your partner isn’t left in the dark. Having the difficult discussions are part of being in a real relationship, so even if it’s hard, you both should face this challenge head-on. The key to improving your communication as a couple is by having more than a couple of conversations.