🔖 Personality Assessments

Imposter Syndrome Test

✓ Research-Backed Scale ✓ Reviewed by Deen Mohd

Introduction to Imposter Syndrome Test

Number of Statements:20
Estimated Duration:3-5 Mintes
Type:Self-Screening Tool for Impostor Syndrome
Based On:Feigofsky S. (2022). Imposter Syndrome. HeartRhythm case reports, 8(12), 861–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrcr.2022.11.001
Publishing Year:2024
Available Languages:EN
Instructions:

Impostor Syndrome is a type of psychological tendency in which a person doubts their accomplishments and feels like a fraud, even when there is clear evidence of their success or competence. People with Impostor Syndrome often believe they do not deserve achievements and fear of being exposed as incompetent. Modern psychology emphasizes on studying Impostor Syndrome on spectrum by measuring facets of Impostor Syndrome and lookup for its impact on the daily functioning. This self-assessment test is designed to measure key 5 dimensions ( Doubt & Self-Perception, Attributing Success Externally, Fear of Failure/Exposure, Discounting Achievements, Perfectionism & Overwork ) often associated with impact on daily life. This online version has followed all the psychometric guidelines for scoring and interpreting the results but this quiz is NOT designed to make a professional diagnosis of Impostor Syndrome. Below are the statements related to your day-to-day experiences indicate your level of agreement.

Question 1 of 20

I question whether my work is as good as people think.

Question 2 of 20

Even when I do well, I worry it’s not enough.

Question 3 of 20

I feel I must know everything before I can be seen as competent.

Question 4 of 20

I often compare myself to others and feel they know more than me.

Question 5 of 20

When I succeed, I believe it was mostly luck or timing.

Question 6 of 20

I feel others have overestimated my skills.

Question 7 of 20

I think people will realize I’m not as capable as they assume.

Question 8 of 20

If praised, I believe others don’t see the “real” me.

Question 9 of 20

I avoid challenges because I might not meet expectations.

Question 10 of 20

I worry that mistakes will make people doubt me.

Question 11 of 20

I fear that one day people will “find out” I’m not as good as they think.

Question 12 of 20

I put off tasks because I’m scared I won’t do them perfectly.

Question 13 of 20

I downplay my accomplishments when others mention them.

Question 14 of 20

Even after success, I feel unsatisfied with myself.

Question 15 of 20

I feel my achievements don’t reflect true ability.

Question 16 of 20

If I receive recognition, I think I don’t fully deserve it.

Question 17 of 20

I believe I must work harder than others to prove myself.

Question 18 of 20

I push myself to achieve flawless results.

Question 19 of 20

I feel guilty if I don’t constantly perform at my best.

Question 20 of 20

I spend more time preparing than is really necessary.

Who the test is designed for

The scale is based on preliminary study which was conducted on college students aged 19 to 25. The main purpose of the study was to measure tendencies towards Impostor Syndrome subclinical traits.

  • The test is designed for only Adults (age 16+).
  • Individuals who want to access experiences of self-doubt, feeling inadequacy and fear of being exposed.
  • Students experiencing performance anxiety and People who often question their abilities.

    • Versions & Translations

    The test is provided in English version only and recently our German translators have translated the questionnaire and german version will be shortly available in digital format.

    Taking the Test

    The imposter syndrome test is a self-report instrument, statements are very easy to read and understand. Participant can use google translate for better understanding the items and can ask others for help to interpret items.The Impostorism test measure 5 dimensions of imposter syndrome.

  • Doubt & Self-Perception
  • Attributing Success Externally
  • Fear of Failure/Exposure
  • Discounting Achievements
  • Perfectionism & Overwork
    • The self-test accesses these above facets by providing 20 statements related participates behaviors and feelings. Each statement comes with Likert-type responses, Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree, Strongly agree. You need to indicate your level of agreement with each item.

    Scoring

    Thresholds

    The highest score a participant can collect is 80 and the lowest is 0, a score of 45+ indicates you are showing tendencies towards imposter syndrome. A score <45 indicates you are does not show tendencies towards imposter syndrome. However, no single test is 100% accurate so the accuracy of the results depends on how honestly you have provided the answers.

    ConstructThreshold scoreMaximum score
    Total Score4180
    Doubt & Self-Perception916
    Attributing Success Externally916
    Fear of Failure & Exposure916
    Discounting Achievements916
    Perfectionism & Overwork916

    Interpretation of Total Score

    Here’s a suggested breakdown:
  • 0–20 → Low → Few imposter tendencies
  • 21–40 → Moderate → Some imposter feelings, context-specific
  • 41–60 → High → Frequent imposter thoughts impacting confidence
  • 61–80 → Very High → Severe imposter syndrome, likely affecting daily functioning

    • Scoring methods

    This digital version is based on automatic scoring and if you need paper based scoring and keys please contact us.

    Scoring

    Each item is scored based on the points collected and there is no reverse scoring as the scale does not relay on negative statements:
  • Strongly Disagree = 0
  • Disagree = 1
  • Neutral = 2
  • Agree = 3
  • Strongly Agree = 4

    • Validity

    The scale is inspired by the study conducted Feigofsky S on Imposter Syndrome [1], this self-report test is not associated with the original research. Imposter Syndrome Scale is not formally validated on a real population. The tool provided is intended for personal insight and self-reflection, rather than formal psychological evaluation. However, preliminary steps has been taken to ensure the scale should measure each facet accurately.

    Face validity: In a small sample with Face validity testing the items were evaluated for clarity and relevance.

    Content review: The scale was reviewed by Prof. Aijaz Rasool - Clinical Psychologist, University of KU to ensure the items for clarity and relevance.

    Internal consistency check: The items in the scale were accessed for reliability and some relevant researchers were consulted for checking the internal constancy within each dimension.

    What do my scores mean

    Scores of 40 and higher may be considered indicative of Impostor Syndrome. The table shows general scoring interpretation of Impostor Syndrome traits. In the results page you will find percentage of score instead of direct scores for easy understanding of level of impostor tendencies.

    Meaning of impostor syndrome test scores
    ScoreInterpretation
    0–20Low → Few impostor tendencies.
    21–40Moderate → Some impostor feelings, often context-specific.
    41–60High → Frequent impostor thoughts impacting confidence.
    61–80Very High → Severe impostor syndrome, likely affecting daily functioning.
    If you have got a higher score it does not mean \\\"you have a problem\\\" with the personality. It reflects your current thoughts, feelings, and tendencies related to Impostor Syndrome. The higher score indicates likelihood of impact on daily functioning and overall wellbeing.

    Change Logs

    Updated statement 2: old (Even I do enough I feel worried.) to new (Even when I do well, I worry it’s not enough. ). 10/02/2025

    References

    1. Feigofsky S. (2022). Imposter Syndrome. HeartRhythm case reports, 8(12), 861–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrcr.2022.11.001 ↩ Back