What does “ready” actually mean?
Being ready to start dialling down isn’t a test you pass or fail. It means knowing enough about your money, your time and your people to take a first, reversible step, such as working 80% instead of 100%, with your eyes open.
Most retirement checklists only look at money. Money matters, but people who struggle with working less often say the harder parts were losing a sense of who they were, not knowing what the time was for, or a partner who wasn’t on the same page. So this quiz looks at three areas, each worth 12 points:
- Head: what you know. Your State Pension age and forecast, your pension pots, what you’d spend, and how you’d cover the bridge years before your State Pension starts.
- Heart: how you feel. Who you are beyond work, what the extra time is for, how your partner or family feel, and how scared you are.
- Wallet: the numbers in practice. Your cash buffer, debts and mortgage, whether you’ve tried living on less, and whether you know what part-time pay would really be.
| Score | Band | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 11 | Just starting | Lots of people are here. You’ve plenty of time to find your footing, one small step at a time. |
| 12 to 20 | Getting there | You’ve made a real start. A few gaps to fill, and none of them are hard to begin. |
| 21 to 28 | Nearly ready | Most of the groundwork is done. A handful of loose ends and you’ll be ready to dial down with confidence. |
| 29 to 36 | Ready to glide | You know your numbers, your people and your why. Time to plan the first step down. |
A low area score isn’t a bad sign. It just tells you where a little attention will make the biggest difference. Many people find the heart questions are the ones that move last, and that’s fine.
Worked example
Jo is 57, works full-time and is thinking about dropping to 80%. Jo scores 18 out of 36, which is “Getting there”: 5 for head, 7 for heart and 6 for wallet. This is the example shown in the results panel before you answer.
| Area | Jo’s answers (points) | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Knows roughly when their State Pension starts (1); knows their pots roughly (2); has a rough guess at spending (1); knows about the bridge years but hasn’t planned (1) | 5 / 12 |
| Heart | Would have a few things to say beyond work (2); a few vague ideas for the time (1); partner mostly on board (2); more excited than worried (2) | 7 / 12 |
| Wallet | 3 to 6 months of savings (2); a mortgage with many years left (1); hasn’t tried living on less yet (1); has roughly worked out part-time pay (2) | 6 / 12 |
| Overall | Getting there | 18 / 36 |
Jo scored 1 on six questions, so “Where to start” suggests six small steps: estimate their State Pension with the State Pension calculator, turn the spending guess into a plan, sketch the bridge years in the glide planner, use the healthy years calculator to decide what matters first, add the mortgage on top of everyday spending, and work out part-time take-home with the part-time pay calculator before a three-month trial run.
How this quiz works
Each of the 12 questions has four answers worth 0, 1, 2 or 3 points, in the order shown. Your total out of 36 sets your band, and each area is out of 12.
- Where to start: every answer scoring 0 or 1 gets one specific next step, lowest scores first. If you scored 2 on the State Pension question, you’ll also see how to check your official forecast.
- No weighting: every question counts the same. Real life isn’t that tidy, so treat the score as a conversation starter rather than a measurement.
- Private: the quiz runs entirely in your browser. Your answers aren’t sent anywhere or saved, and they’re gone when you close the page.
Some useful facts behind the questions: the full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026 to 2027, the earliest age you can usually take a private pension is 55, rising to 57 from 6 April 2028, and the Retirement Living Standards put a moderate retirement at £32,700 a year for one person and £45,400 for a couple, assuming no rent or mortgage.
Questions people ask
How do I know if I'm ready to retire?
There is no single test. Most people feel ready when three things line up: they know their numbers (State Pension age and forecast, pension pots and spending), they have a sense of what the time is for, and the people around them are on board. Being ready to start working less usually comes well before being ready to stop altogether.
Am I ready to work part-time before retirement?
You are probably closer than you think if you know what part-time pay would leave you with after tax, have a cash buffer for the months that do not go to plan, and have a rough idea of how you would cover the years before your State Pension starts. Trying to live on the lower income for a few months is a gentle way to find out.
What should I do 5 years before retiring?
Check your State Pension forecast and any National Insurance gaps, track down and add up your pension pots, work out what you would spend in a year, and plan how you would cover the years before your State Pension starts. You can also book a Pension Wise appointment through MoneyHelper: free guidance for people aged 50 or over with a defined contribution pension.
Is this quiz a pass or fail test?
No. Your score is a snapshot of where you are today, not a verdict. A lower score simply shows where the most useful next steps are, and most people find their score rises quickly once they start.
Are my answers saved or shared?
No. The quiz is scored in your browser. Your answers are not sent anywhere or stored, and they disappear when you close the page.
Guidance, not advice. This quiz is a simple way to reflect on where you are. It is not financial advice, and your score doesn’t tell you what you should do. For free, impartial help, visit MoneyHelper or, if you’re 50 or over with a defined contribution pension, book a Pension Wise appointment for free guidance.
Sources: GOV.UK: The new State Pension · GOV.UK: Check your State Pension forecast · GOV.UK: Find pension contact details (Pension Tracing Service) · MoneyHelper: Pension Wise · Retirement Living Standards (Pensions UK, June 2026).
Last checked 9 October 2026 · How our tools work