Personality quizzes. Love them or hate them, almost everyone can say they have taken one at one time or another. Whether it’s a classic from Buzzfeed like “What kind of cheese are you?” or the Seventeen’s time-honored “which prom dress matches your personality?”, personality quizzes can be accurate, self-fulfilling prophecies or all-out fails.

Phycologists however have been studying human personalities for centuries. Some have researched and developed scientific tests that are actually designed to categorize your personality. One of the most famous is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Test, based on the theory of psychological type researched by Carl G. Jung and created by Isabel Briggs Myers in the 1940s.

There are four categories each with two preferences. After taking the test you are assigned a letter for your preference in each category. This results in a combination that defines your type. There are 16 types total. No type is better than any other because the goal is, “to understand and appreciate differences between people,” according to The Myers & Briggs Foundation.

The first letter is defined by whether you prefer to focus on the outer world, Extroversion (E), or your personal inner world, Introversion (I). Next is information. You are either Sensing (S), you focus on the basic information, or Intuition (N), where you interpret and add meaning. The third letter is based on decision making: you are either Thinking (T) or Feeling (F). Finally, when dealing with Structure, you either prefer set rules and routines, known as Judging (J), or you are more spontaneous and go with the flow, known as Perceiving (P).

I was first introduced to the test by my brother, who was fascinated by how accurate he found his typing to be. Most students take the test in high school or college during entry-level psychology courses, but a number of websites are dedicated to the MBTI, with free tests and analysis available.

One of the most popular online tests is 16Personalities. The most important thing to remember when taking the MBTI or any personality inventory is to be completely honest with your answers. It can easy to answer what you wish you were like, rather than how you actually are like. The point of the test is to better understanding yourself. The more honest you are with yourself, the greater the opportunity to actually grow and learn from your results.

The interesting part about the test it only takes one letter difference to define a completely different personality. That’s because the test isn’t necessarily defined by the assigned letter per category, but rather how they interact. These are known as functions: primary, secondary and tertiary.

So how does a bunch of letter help you grow as a person? From my results I was defined as an INFP: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceptive. Also known as “The Mediator”, INFPs are altruistic idealists; basically considered the artsy free spirit of the MBTI World. After reading through my profile I found so many aspects of my type that resonated with me. After making my roommates take the test, they found the same.

The MBTI focuses not only on personal understanding and growth, but also relationships and interactions between the different types. It is one of the most popular test for engaged couples during pre-wedding counseling. One of my roommates is the complete opposite type: ESTJ, “The Executive”. According to most profiles, we shouldn’t really be friends. But the MBTI highlights how the types operate. When you better understand how and why people function the way they do.

So if your looking for a way to better understanding yourself, your friends or roommates, family or relationships, take 20 minutes to find out your Myers-Briggs Personality Type. The profile results break down your communication skills, your thought processes, possible careers options and more.

You’ll even find what historical and fictional characters are just like you. Are you more Shakespeare or Putin? Jon Snow or Joffrey Baratheon?

Of course the world’s population cannot be simply divided in 16 categories. INFJ, ESFP, ISTP, ENTJ or any of the rest: it does not define you as an individual. But it can guide you to a better understanding of yourself along the way.