What Happens During an EYQA Narrative Stress-Test
A complete walkthrough of the process — from selection to outcome. No ambiguity. No black box.
"The stress-test does not assume failure. It assumes examination. Those are different postures."
Before you read: The Narrative Stress-Test is free, anonymous, and takes 5 minutes. You do not need to submit any identifying information. Each test uses 6 questions — one per defensibility dimension — calibrated to your specific leadership context.
Phase 1 — Selection & Setup
Choose your role-specific instrument. Each is calibrated to a specific scrutiny context.
Phase 2 — Self-Assessment (6 Questions)
Answer 6 structured questions about your narrative — one per defensibility dimension: Evidence, Logic, Perspective, Risk, Context, Actionability.
Phase 3 — Scoring
Immediate results showing your narrative's vulnerability profile. Scores range from 0-100 across all six dimensions.
Phase 4 — Gap Identification
Specific recommendations on which dimensions require attention before institutional exposure, with severity indicators (Critical / Moderate / Low).
Phase 5 — Decision Point
Clear guidance on whether to proceed to Validation (Stage I) or strengthen evidence first, based on your gap severity.
Phase 6 — Conversion Pathway
If significant gaps are identified, the stress-test result includes specific next steps. For organisations approaching a fundraise, board review, or procurement cycle within 6 months, commissioning a formal Validation is the recommended next step. Contact validation@eyqa.org with your stress-test result and scrutiny context.
- Immediate defensibility score (no waiting, no email required)
- Dimension-by-dimension breakdown (all 6 dimensions)
- Gap severity indicators (Critical / Moderate / Low)
- Evidence type recommendations for each gap
- Clear next-step guidance including conversion pathway
The stress-test is self-administered and confidential. You are assessing your own narrative against the EYQA framework. No EYQA reviewer sees your answers unless you choose to submit for formal Validation.
The stress-test is a diagnostic tool. Validation is an institutional assessment. You use the first to prepare for the second.
Where the Stress-Test sits
The Stress-Test is not a stage — it is the free diagnostic entry point. Formal progression begins with Validation, which establishes the evidentiary baseline. Scrutiny then tests how the narrative holds under adversarial challenge. Governance authorises controlled release. Each stage depends on the artefacts produced by the previous one.
If your stress-test surfaces significant gaps
For organisations approaching a fundraise, board review, or major procurement within 6 months, commissioning a formal Validation is the recommended next step.
Contact Validation Team →Include your stress-test result and scrutiny context.
5 minutes · 6 questions · Immediate results
Want facilitated practice before Stress-Test? See Simulation →