Personality tests: what they can and cannot tell you

Personality tests are everywhere: in magazines, on social media, in job applications and in therapists' offices. Some are built on decades of research. Others are mainly for fun. They can look alike, so it helps to know the difference.

This page explains how researchers measure personality and which tests have strong evidence behind them. It also covers what studies say about popular type tests, like the Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram. Finally, it gives tips on reading your results wisely, staying safe with online quizzes, and handling tests at work.

How is personality measured?

Most personality tests are questionnaires. You read statements, such as "I get chores done right away," and rate how well each one describes you. Your answers are added up into scores for each trait.

Some research also asks people who know you well, such as a spouse or close friend, to rate you. In a study of 50 cultures, ratings by people who knew the person well showed the same five-trait pattern found when people rate themselves.¹¹ Looking at both views can give a fuller picture.

Two words matter most when judging any test:

• Reliability means the test is consistent. If you take it twice a few weeks apart, you should get about the same scores.
• Validity means the test measures what it claims to measure. Its scores should line up with how you act and with other good tests.

A test can be fun and still have poor reliability or validity. The test makers should be able to show published research on both.

Tests with strong research behind them

Our free personality test uses the 20 Mini-IPIP statements. Our MindCheck self-check uses the same 20 statements, but only to fit its advice to you. Neither one is a diagnosis. Learn what each trait means in The Big Five traits.

What about the Myers-Briggs?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the best-known personality tests. It sorts people into one of 16 four-letter types, such as "INTJ," based on four pairs of opposites.

Research raises serious doubts about the types:

• People often get a different type. A 1991 report from the National Research Council reviewed the research. Across studies, the share of people who got the same four-letter type when they retook the test ranged from about 1 in 4 to about 6 in 10. In one study, fewer than half kept the same type after only five weeks.⁵
• The scales are sliding scales, not boxes. A study of 468 adults found no support for the idea that the MBTI measures true either-or types. Instead, its four scales lined up with four of the Big Five traits.⁶
• Weak support for career advice. The 1991 report recommended that the MBTI not be used in career counseling until research supported its validity.⁵

The report suggested that much of the test's popularity comes from its generally positive feedback and strong marketing.⁵ That report is more than 30 years old. If you use any version of the MBTI, ask whether it has newer, independent research behind it. Many people enjoy talking about their type, and that is fine. Just do not use it to make big life choices or to judge others.

What about the Enneagram?

The Enneagram sorts people into nine types. It is popular in personal growth and faith settings. A 2021 review of 104 study samples found mixed evidence:⁷

• Some of its scales related to the Big Five in ways that made sense.
• Several studies found people felt it helped their personal or spiritual growth.
• But studies usually found fewer than nine separate patterns, and there was little support for extra ideas like "wings."

Color tests and fun quizzes

Quizzes that tell you your "color," animal or movie character are made for entertainment. Treat them that way unless the maker shows published research on reliability and validity. A good rule: the more a quiz flatters you, and the vaguer its description, the less it is likely to tell you.

Why types are tricky

Most people score near the middle on most traits. A type test draws a line down the middle and puts people on one side or the other. Two people with nearly the same score can end up with opposite labels. A small difference in how you answer on a given day can flip your type. That helps explain why type results often change on retesting.^5,6

Trait tests avoid this problem by giving you a score on a scale, so you can see if you are near the middle or near an end.

How to read your results wisely

1. Think "tendency," not "rule." A high score means you tend to act a certain way, not that you always will.
2. Check your mood. Depression is linked to changes in how people rate their own personality, such as higher neuroticism and lower extraversion.⁹ If you feel low right now, your scores may look different later.
3. Look at the middle, too. A middle score is common and normal. It may mean you can act either way.
4. Ask someone you trust. Compare your results with how a close friend or family member sees you.
5. Focus on what you can use. Ask: what does this suggest about how I handle stress, work best or connect with people?
6. Do not use it to diagnose. A trait score cannot tell you if you have a mental health condition. Only a trained professional can do that.
7. Retake it now and then. Traits are fairly stable, but they do shift over the years.

On our test, each bar shows where your answers fall on that trait's own scale. It is not a ranking against other people.

Online quizzes: protect your privacy

Personality quizzes can be a way to collect personal data. In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that a Facebook quiz app asked users personality questions. It gathered data from about 250,000 to 270,000 U.S. users, and also from tens of millions of their Facebook friends.¹⁰ The FTC said the data was used to build personality scores for targeted political ads, and that users were told their names would not be collected.¹⁰

Before you take an online quiz:

• Check who made it and whether it explains how your data is used.
• Be wary of quizzes that ask you to sign in with a social media account.
• Do not share health details, your full birth date or your address.
• Prefer tests that keep your answers on your own device. Our personality test runs privately in your browser, with no sign-up.

Personality tests at work

Some employers use personality tests in hiring or team-building. In the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) limits how they can be used:

• Before a job offer, an employer may not require a medical exam. A psychological test counts as a medical exam if it could identify a mental health condition.⁸
• A test that measures only things like truthfulness, tastes and habits is generally not a medical exam.⁸
• You may ask for a reasonable change, called an accommodation, for the hiring process itself, such as more time or a large-print version.⁸

Personality tests can be one piece of information among many. A 2022 review found that many hiring tools predict job performance less well than once believed. Structured interviews, which ask every applicant the same planned questions, came out on top.¹² If you are asked to take a test, it is fair to ask what it measures and how the results will be used. For more on work and well-being, see Work in midlife.

Notes for older adults

The same traits apply at every adult age. A few tips:

• Ask for large print or have someone read the items aloud. Take breaks.
• Answer for how you are now, as you generally are, not how you were years ago.
• Low mood can shape your answers.⁹ So can a bad day, pain or poor sleep.
• If a family member says you have changed a lot lately, take that seriously. A big new change can be a medical sign. See Personality in later life.

Common questions

Which free test should I take?

A Big Five test based on the IPIP is a good choice. The items are free and public domain, and the short Mini-IPIP version has good research support.^1,2 You can try ours at personality test.

Can a personality test tell me if I have a personality disorder?

No. Everyday trait tests describe normal personality. A personality disorder can only be diagnosed by a trained professional after a careful talk about your history. See Personality traits vs. personality disorders.

Why did my results change when I took the test again?

Small changes are normal. Your mood can play a part.⁹ So can stress, tiredness and how you read the items that day. Type tests change more often, because a small shift can push you across a dividing line.⁵

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.