Frequently asked questions

Psychologist John Holland's framework suggests people thrive when their personality aligns with their work environment. It categorizes both people and workplaces into six groups: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.

RIASEC is the acronym for the six interest types in Holland’s framework. Most people blend multiple themes, producing a three-letter code such as SEC.

The six types sit on a hexagon that shows how traits relate. Adjacent categories share characteristics, Social and Enterprising both emphasize working with people, while opposite corners represent contrasting preferences.

No. This is a personality and interest inventory, not a cognitive ability test. It maps your vocational identity rather than measuring intelligence or technical proficiency.

That is typical. Most profiles show primary, secondary and tertiary interests, an Artistic, Social blend, for example, might point toward teaching creative arts. Overlaps are what make your code personal.

There is no way to fail. No answer is incorrect. The only requirement is honesty: answer for the person you are, not the person you think you should be.

About 15 minutes. The questions are designed for quick, instinctive responses. Your first answer is usually your truest one.

The full Interest Profile Report is ₹500 one-time. That includes the 60-question assessment, your Holland code, a personalised narrative, location-aware pathways, and five questions with Dawn, our guide. Campus or promo codes may lower the price at checkout.

Yes, log in or sign up before you start. New accounts are created automatically when you first log in. Your answers and report are saved to that account so you can return later.

Credits are how you pay for tests. 1 credit is ₹1, and top ups of ₹1,000 or more include 20% extra. Rise costs 299 credits, Ascent 199 and a Daybreak interview 399. You can also earn credits: 50 for your feedback after a test, and Ramaiah students get 50 each when a classmate they invite tops up for the first time. Credits are valid for 45 days from your last top up.

Enter your campus or promo code on the assessment payment screen (or when unlocking Dawn) before you pay. Discount codes lower the checkout price; free-report codes unlock the assessment without payment. Codes are not entered on the pricing page.

Your credits arrive in your account straight away. Spend them on any test from your dashboard. After each test you get your report, and five questions with Dawn about your results.

Same assessment core, different audiences: Pathways is for school leavers, Rise for university students, and Evolve for working professionals. Pick the one that matches where you are now; the questions and scoring framework are the same.

Credits are not refundable once they are in your account, and they are valid for 45 days from your last top up. If you were charged but the credits never appeared, or you were charged twice, write to connect@shadowandsun.app within 7 days and we will put it right. The Refund Policy has the details.

No. Shadow & Sun is a decision-support tool meant to complement, not replace, formal counseling, coaching, or academic advising.

Each test uses credits: Rise 500, Ascent 300 and a Daybreak interview 1,000. If your college invited you, your invite includes welcome credits, and you can earn more from your dashboard. Round 1 of Daybreak is always free.

Take Pathways, our assessment for school-age students. It matches your interests to stream and subject choices such as Science, Commerce and Arts, and a parent or guardian confirms they are administering it alongside you.

Dawn is our AI guide. Every finished test includes five questions with Dawn to discuss your results, ask about career guidance, or ask how Shadow & Sun works. A Daybreak interview comes with its own five questions about that interview.

Dusk is me, the free assistant you are talking to right now. I answer general questions about pricing, codes, and how Shadow & Sun works, no login needed. For personalised answers about your own results, unlock Dawn.

Yes. A retake uses credits again: Rise 299 and Ascent 199. Your earlier reports stay on your dashboard.

Yes. Your answers are saved automatically on your device as you go, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off on the same browser and device.

Yes. Every finished report can be downloaded as a PDF, which you can keep or share with a parent, mentor, or counsellor.

Yes. Your data is processed under India’s DPDP Act 2023, and your assessment answers are never shared with analytics or third parties. Full details are in our privacy policy.

Yes. Contact us and we will erase your account, reports, and personal data on request, in line with the DPDP Act.

Pathways is for ages 5 to 17 and is administered by a parent or guardian. Rise and Evolve are for ages 18 and up.

The assessment is built on Holland’s RIASEC model, a well established framework in vocational psychology used worldwide. Your scores are compared against norm tables, and the report is transparent about confidence where results are provisional.

This is usually a temporary bank or gateway delay that resolves on its own. If it does not resolve shortly, contact us via the site with your payment details and we will sort it out.

Reach us at connect@shadowandsun.app, or use the contact details on the site. We are happy to help with payments, reports, or anything else.