School Attitude Scale (SESSW) Test

See how a teen views school, from genuine interest to obligation, in about 2 minutes. Nine quick items capture motivation and goals, helping educators tailor support fast.

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Questions: 92 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

10,725 views

1,219 completions

999 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

21/45

School Attitude Scale (SAS)

Measures how positively a student values school and views it as a meaningful place for learning.

Negative/indifferent

Neutral to moderately positive

Positive

9 – 21: Negative/indifferent | 22 – 35: Neutral to moderately positive | 36 – 45: Positive

A score of 21 falls in the Negative/indifferent range, suggesting school currently has low subjective value for the student and may be viewed more as an obligation than as meaningful.

example score

9/15

Personal Importance (PI)

Measures how personally important academic success and achievement goals are to the student.

Low importance

Moderate importance

High importance

3 – 7: Low importance | 8 – 11: Moderate importance | 12 – 15: High importance

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate importance range, suggesting academic success is somewhat meaningful to the student but not a strong personal priority.

example score

8/15

Usefulness (U)

Measures how useful the student believes school knowledge will be for their future.

Low usefulness

Moderate usefulness

High usefulness

3 – 7: Low usefulness | 8 – 12: Moderate usefulness | 13 – 15: High usefulness

A score of 8 indicates a moderate perception that school learning will be beneficial, with some practical value recognized but not strongly endorsed.

example score

10/15

Intrinsic Values (IV)

Measures how important and personally meaningful school feels to the student as a source of inner values and intrinsic learning motivation.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting school is seen as somewhat meaningful, with intrinsic motivation present but not consistently strong.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Teachers in mixed classrooms

41%OF USERS

Teachers use it to quickly see how students feel about school, what motivates them, and who may need extra support.

School psychologists and counselors

34%OF USERS

They take it to screen motivation, school engagement, and aspirations, especially when planning individual interventions for teens.

Migrant teens and families

25%OF USERS

They use it to understand a student’s attitude toward learning and adjustment after moving to a new school environment.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Attitude Towards School Scale (ATSS)

Average

20.5

Normal range

15.3 — 25.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Personal Importance (PI)

Average

10.3

Normal range

8.3 — 12.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Usefulness (U)

Average

8.1

Normal range

6.3 — 9.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Inner values (Iv)

Average

7.3

Normal range

5.5 — 9.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures attitudes toward school, intrinsic motivation to study, and academic aspirations. Results describe how learning is valued and how high academic goals are set.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for high school–age students. It is suitable for use in multicultural classrooms, including with migrant students.

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

Completion time is about 2 minutes. The questionnaire contains 9 items.

How should items be answered?

Select the response option that best matches typical feelings and behavior at school. Answer each item without spending much time on any one question.

How are results used?

Results support screening and guidance for educational or psychological planning. They may indicate a need for motivation support or work on aspirations and self-evaluation.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Attitudes Toward School Scale, SESSW Test

School Attitude Scale (SESSW) Test - Symptoms and Signs

ethnopsychology migrants sociocultural adaptation

This brief self-report measure is designed to characterize adolescents’ perceptions of school and related academic attitudes. The School Attitude Scale (SESSW) can be used in educational or clinical settings to support screening and treatment or intervention planning.

The instrument includes 9 items and typically requires about 2 minutes to complete. Items query attitudes toward school, intrinsic motivation for learning, and personal academic aspirations; results are interpreted as indicators of current stance toward school rather than as a diagnostic finding.

The School Attitude Scale (SESSW) was developed by Herbert W. Marsh. Scores may help identify students who could benefit from further assessment or targeted supports related to engagement, motivation, and goal setting.

Author: Herbert W. Marsh

Literature: Eccles, J. S., & Roeser, R. W. Schools as developmental contexts during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence. 2011.

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