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Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11)

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) Test

Understand your impulsivity profile in 6 minutes, including attention, acting without thinking, and planning. Get a clear, research-backed snapshot to guide goals, coaching, and treatment choices.

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Questions: 306 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

29,351 view

3,487 completions

2,990 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

44/100

Inconsistency (I)

Inconsistency measures motor impulsivity, reflecting how likely a person is to act quickly without thinking and to struggle with behavioral consistency.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 66: Moderate | 67 – 100: High

A score of 44 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional tendencies toward hasty actions and some inconsistency in behavior, especially under pressure or distraction.

example score

59/100

Attentional Distraction (AD)

This scale measures how well a person can sustain focus and resist distraction during tasks.

Low distractibility

Moderate distractibility

High distractibility

0 – 39: Low distractibility | 40 – 69: Moderate distractibility | 70 – 100: High distractibility

A score of 59 falls in the Moderate distractibility range, suggesting attention may drift at times and refocusing can require extra effort.

example score

93/100

Lack of Self-Control (LoSC)

Measures the tendency to act impulsively and experience difficulty with planning and self-regulation.

Strong self-control

Mixed self-control

Low self-control

0 – 33: Strong self-control | 34 – 66: Mixed self-control | 67 – 100: Low self-control

A score of 93 falls in the Low self-control range, suggesting a strong present-focused style with frequent difficulty inhibiting impulses and planning ahead.

example score

92/120

Impulsivity (I)

This scale measures overall impulsivity, including tendencies toward spontaneous actions, limited planning, and reduced self-control.

Low

Moderate

High

30 – 51: Low | 52 – 71: Moderate | 72 – 120: High

A score of 92 falls in the High range, suggesting a stronger tendency toward acting quickly, planning less, and finding it harder to pause before decisions compared with typical levels.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Self-improvement seekers

41%OF USERS

People who notice impulsive spending, snacking, procrastination, or emotional outbursts and want a clearer picture of their self-control patterns.

Therapy and coaching clients

34%OF USERS

Clients working on ADHD-like symptoms, addiction, mood issues, or risky behavior who take the test to guide goals and track change over time.

Students and researchers

25%OF USERS

Psychology students and researchers who use a validated questionnaire to measure attentional, motor, and planning impulsivity in studies or training.

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.

Inconsistency (I)

Average

Normal range

53.8 — 88.1

min.

max.

100

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.

Distraction of attention (Doa)

Average

62.7

Normal range

45.9 — 79.6

min.

max.

100

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.

Lack of self-control (Los)

Average

36.2

Normal range

19.3 — 53

min.

max.

100

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.

Impulsivity (I)

Average

58.1

Normal range

43.4 — 72.8

min.

max.

120

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 impulsivity as a set of traits related to attention, rapid action, and planning. It provides separate scores for key components rather than a single description.

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

Completion typically takes about 6 minutes. It includes 30 items.

What are the main areas assessed?

The items assess attentional impulsivity, motor impulsivity, and planning/self-control. These areas reflect distractibility, acting without thinking, and difficulty with organization or forethought.

How should items be answered?

Items should be answered honestly based on typical behavior over time. Responses should reflect usual patterns rather than a single recent event.

How are results typically used?

Results are used in clinical and research settings to describe impulsivity-related tendencies and compare groups or track change. Scores support case formulation and selection of self-control strategies, but they are not a standalone diagnosis.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) Test - Symptoms and Signs

impulsivity

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) is a self-report measure designed to assess trait impulsivity in clinical and research contexts. It characterizes impulsivity as a multidimensional construct with commonly described components related to attentional, behavioral (motor), and planning tendencies.

Respondents rate 30 items in about 6 minutes. Scores are typically interpreted to summarize an individual’s relative pattern of impulsive tendencies across domains, supporting case formulation, baseline characterization, and outcome monitoring when used alongside other clinical information. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) is not a standalone diagnostic instrument and should be interpreted within the broader assessment context.

Author: ernest-s-barratt

Literature: Whiteside, S. P., & Lynam, D. R. The five factor model and impulsivity: using a structural model of personality to understand impulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences. 2001.; Sharma, L., Markon, K. E., & Clark, L. A. Toward a theory of distinct types of “impulsive” behaviors: a meta-analysis of self-report and behavioral measures. Psychological Bulletin. 2014.; Patton, J. H., Stanford, M. S., & Barratt, E. S. Factor structure of the Barratt impulsiveness scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1995.

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