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Achievement Motivation Test (MATS)

Achievement Motivation Test (MATS)

Understand whether you’re driven more by striving for success or avoiding failure in about 6 minutes. Get a clear, actionable snapshot to guide coaching, hiring, and personal growth.

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Questions: 326 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

16,133 views

1,399 completions

1,195 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

89/224

Achievement Motivation (AM)

Measures whether a person’s motivation is more oriented toward achieving success or toward avoiding failure.

Avoidance-dominant

Mixed/Moderate

Success-dominant

32 – 85: Avoidance-dominant | 86 – 172: Mixed/Moderate | 173 – 224: Success-dominant

A score of 89 falls in the Mixed/Moderate range, suggesting a relatively balanced orientation with a slight lean toward striving for success rather than primarily avoiding failure.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Career-driven professionals

41%OF USERS

They want to understand whether they’re pushed more by ambition and achievement or held back by fear of making mistakes at work.

Students and exam takers

34%OF USERS

They use it to see if their effort comes from striving to succeed or from anxiety about failing tests, grades, or admissions.

Managers and HR specialists

25%OF USERS

They take it to spot what motivates different people on a team and tailor goals, feedback, and roles accordingly.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

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Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Achievement Motivation Scale (AMS)

Average

102.3

Normal range

67.8 — 136.7

min.

max.

224

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the balance between striving for success and avoiding failure. Results indicate which tendency is more active in goal-directed situations.

How is it completed?

Each item requires choosing the response option that best matches typical behavior in achievement situations. Responses should reflect usual tendencies rather than a single recent event.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Estimated completion time is about 6 minutes. The questionnaire includes 32 items.

What versions are available and how do they differ?

One version uses a 7-point rating scale, and a later version uses yes/no responses. The yes/no format reduces response time and simplifies scoring.

What are the subscales in the updated version?

The updated version includes three subscales that reflect emotional and cognitive aspects of achievement motivation. Subscale results help clarify decision patterns and affective reactions linked to performance.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Achievement Motivation Test (MATS) - Symptoms and Signs

achieving success motivation

This brief self-report measure is designed to characterize achievement-related motivational orientation. The Achievement Motivation Test (MATS) focuses on the relative predominance of striving for success versus concern about failure, supporting clinical or consultative formulation around goal-directed behavior.

The instrument consists of 32 items and typically requires about 6 minutes to complete. Responses are used to describe an individual’s motivational tendencies in achievement contexts and may inform discussion of performance approach versus avoidance patterns, including in applied and research settings.

Interpretation of the Achievement Motivation Test (MATS) should be integrated with relevant history, context, and other assessment data rather than used in isolation.

Author: david-c-mcclelland, john-w-atkinson

Literature: Anastasi, A., & Urbina, S. Psychological testing. Prentice Hall. 1997.; Elliot, A. J., & McGregor, H. A. A 2×2 achievement goal framework. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2001.

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