Adulthood Qualifying Exams
Adulthood tests in the First Empire (and some subsequent societies) are neurological tests that determined the brain's ability to deal with adult issues & concepts - consequences for actions, mortality, the general constellation that falls under the heading of "maturity." The tests are age-independent. In many cases, especially among the Idara, chronological children received drugs and training to prepare them for their adulthood early.
After passing adulthood tests, newly-recognized adults could be fitted for neurological interfaces that enabled add-ons for enhanced memory, mental organization, etc.
Welcome to the Imperial Adulthood Qualifying Exams. These tests will determine your brain’s physical ability to deal with the constellation of adult concepts and issues that fall under the general heading of “maturity.” The tests will examine the electrical and chemical activity of your brain under certain conditions.
As the tests proceed, you will be presented with various virtreal scenarios so that the responses of your brain and nervous system can be determined. It is common to experience emotional and physiological changes during these scenarios. Do not be alarmed.
For your own safety and for testing accuracy, your body will be naturally immobilized during the tests. This is accomplished by the use of neural inhibitors that cause a temporary loss of muscle tone. This exact process occurs naturally whenever you are asleep and dreaming, and is called sleep paralysis. There is no cause for alarm. If you find that you cannot move at the end of a test session, just relax and the sensation will pass momentarily. An attendant is available and ready to assist you.
The tests usually take 3-5 hours. When your tests are complete, your results will be scored independently by at least three separate clusters of AIs. Results are usually available within 30 minutes.
Once you pass your adulthood tests, you will immediately be qualified for adult privileges and responsibilities in our society, including (but not limited to) rights to:
- Vote in all elections
- Sign and be party to legal contracts (including marriage)
- Make legal and medical decisions for yourself
- Participate in the workforce
- Apply for license to procreate and raise children
- Serve in the Imperial Navy or Marines
- Participate in maturity-restricted activities and access maturity-restricted content
- Possess and use maturity-restricted mind-altering substances
- Fully participate in the legal system
- Qualify for licenses to operate maturity-restricted equipment (including piloting)
- Further privileges and responsibilities are listed in the appendix.
You may also receive a “qualified pass,” which will allow you some but not all of the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. In that case, your status will be fully explained to you by a qualified advisor.
Do not be discouraged if your score is “fail” or “qualified pass.” Your have the right to re-take your tests after a period of 100 days. Subsequently, you have the right to re-take the tests every 100 days, up to three times in each calendar year.