If you’re reading this, chances are, you didn’t pass the tests. Well, no sweat. They’re not entirely accurate. For example, Bono, the lead singer from U2, will often be rated Mary Sue on these tests, and he’s an actual person! However, this does not mean the tests should be disregarded.

Attempt to better your score by changing a few things about your character. If you do that and still get a terrible score, fix your character in ways the test cannot measure.

If your OC is ridiculously powerful, you need to have a good explanation. Sure, bloodlines, inner demons, and just being naturally strong help, but they can do only so much. Power can be gained by earning it, and you can earn it in 3 ways: You have to work for it, you have to suffer for it or you have to bargain for it.

First, working for it: Look at Rock Lee. How many pushups and situps do you think he does in a day. I’ll bet it’s a very high number. No wonder he’s such a great taijutsu specialist!

Working for it usually means practice, practice, practice, or some other form of training. That could include any of the following:

• physical training and conditioning, usually includes martial arts, running and pushup type exercises, but can be extended to other skills. Use this to explain physical strength, speed, dexterity, endurance, etc.
• Rock Lee’s extreme training
• mental training, which is not necessarily limited to book smarts. It could be anything from reading foreign languages to memorizing points on a human body that will cause instant fatalities if struck. Use this to explain intelligence, cunning and high amounts of knowledge, as well as magic if you need to.
• Any character’s medical know how
• Skill training: self explanatory. Is usually a combination of mental and physical training to improve a skill (such as swordplay or hand to hand). Use this to explain mad skills.
• Ichigo’s bankai training
• Spiritual training: very difficult to define. Can include a combination of mental and physical training, chanting to hymns, meditation, and many others. Use this to explain phenomenal amounts of chakra/demonic power/spiritual energy/spiritual pressure/spiritual power/spiritual ability/magic/mojo
• Miroku’s spiritual powers
• Experience: while technically not training, experience is much better for learning things, especially if they are practical and often used by the person. Fighting skills work well here. Use this to explain skills, physical attributes, street smarts, etc.
• Zaraki Kenpachi grew up on the streets and learned every bit of sword skills he knows from himself and people he defeated