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Personality

Perfectionism Test

Are you a perfectionist? See how high your standards are, how much mistakes worry you, and whether your perfectionism helps or holds you back.

  • 📝 24 questions
  • ⏱️ 5 min
  • ✨ New
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Free · No sign-up · Results instantly

What you'll learn

  • Your perfectionism score

    Where you fall from 0 to 100.

  • Four areas

    High standards, fear of mistakes, self-criticism and pressure from others.

  • Healthy or harmful

    Whether your perfectionism mostly helps you or holds you back.

  • Practical tips

    Ways to keep high standards while being kinder to yourself.

How the test works

  1. Answer 24 questions

    It takes about 5 minutes. Go with your first instinct: there are no right or wrong answers.

  2. Get your results instantly

    Your answers are scored right in your browser. You get a clear chart and a plain explanation of what it means.

  3. Save or share

    Keep your result with a free account or send a link to friends. You don't need to sign up to take the test.

What this test measures

  • High standards

    How high you set the bar for yourself and how much effort you put into details.

  • Fear of mistakes

    How much getting things wrong worries you, and whether that worry slows you down.

  • Self-criticism

    How harshly you judge yourself when you fall short.

  • Pressure from others

    How much you feel others expect perfection from you, and how much their judgment matters.

Possible results

  • Relaxed Achiever

    You're not much of a perfectionist. You care about doing things well enough, but you don't let high standards or fear of mistakes run your life.

  • Healthy Striver

    You have a moderate level of perfectionism. You care about quality and like to do things well, and most of the time you can still let go when it's good enough.

  • Strong Perfectionist

    You show strong perfectionism. You set very high standards and may find mistakes, criticism and 'good enough' really hard to live with.

How to read your results

Your overall score runs from 0 to 100. 65 or more suggests strong perfectionism, 41 to 64 a moderate, mostly healthy level, and 40 or less a relaxed approach to standards and mistakes.

Below your score you'll see four areas. High standards on its own is usually healthy. Fear of mistakes, self-criticism and pressure from others are the parts linked to stress, so your highest of those three shows where being kinder to yourself will help most.

About the method

Psychologists have studied perfectionism since the 1970s. In the early 1990s, two research teams — Randy Frost and colleagues, and Paul Hewitt and Gordon Flett — showed that perfectionism has several parts, such as high personal standards, concern over mistakes and the feeling that others demand perfection.

Later research grouped these parts into two sides. Perfectionistic strivings (aiming high and working hard) are often linked to motivation and achievement. Perfectionistic concerns (fear of mistakes, harsh self-criticism and worry about others' judgment) are more closely linked to stress, procrastination and low mood. This test measures one area from the strivings side and three from the concerns side, so your four scores matter as much as your total.

This test has 24 original statements written for TestMyPsyche. It isn't an official perfectionism scale and isn't affiliated with any researchers. It's for self-reflection, not a diagnosis. If perfectionism is causing you lasting stress, anxiety or low mood, please talk to a doctor or qualified professional.

Frequently asked questions

What is perfectionism?

Perfectionism is the tendency to set extremely high standards for yourself and to judge yourself harshly when you don't meet them. It often comes with fear of mistakes and worry about what others think.

Is perfectionism good or bad?

It depends on which side is stronger. Aiming high and working hard is often helpful. Fear of mistakes, harsh self-criticism and worry about others' judgment are linked to stress, procrastination and burnout.

What causes perfectionism?

Personality, family expectations, school and work pressure, and culture can all play a part. Research suggests perfectionism has been rising among young people in recent decades.

Can you stop being a perfectionist?

You don't need to stop caring about quality. Most people do best by keeping their high standards while practicing self-compassion, setting clear finish lines and treating mistakes as part of learning.

How long does the test take?

About 5 minutes for 24 statements.

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