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Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) Test

See what drives a student’s learning in just 3 minutes, from genuine interest to rewards or pressure. With 16 quick items, it delivers a clear motivation profile you can use right away.
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Questions: 163 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
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Scale Explorer
How the Scales are Structured
example score
10/20
Intrinsic Motivation to Learn (IMtL)
Measures intrinsic curiosity and enjoyment in learning new material and understanding academic subjects.
Low
Moderate
High
4 – 9: Low | 10 – 14: Moderate | 15 – 20: High
A score of 10 indicates a moderate level of cognitive motivation, suggesting a present but not consistently strong curiosity-driven interest in learning.
example score
17/20
Achievement Motivation (AM)
Measures how strongly a student strives for high academic results and enjoys engaging with challenging learning tasks.
Low
Moderate
High
4 – 9: Low | 10 – 15: Moderate | 16 – 20: High
A score of 17 falls in the High range, suggesting a strong drive to achieve top results and a tendency to find challenging academic tasks rewarding.
example score
12/20
Introjected Motivation (IM)
Introjected motivation reflects studying driven by internal pressure such as guilt, shame, and a felt obligation to meet expectations.
Low
Moderate
High
4 – 9: Low | 10 – 14: Moderate | 15 – 20: High
A score of 12 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting studying is partly influenced by self-imposed pressure and concern about letting oneself or others down.
example score
12/20
External Motivation (EM)
This scale measures the extent to which a student’s learning is driven by external pressure, obligations, and avoiding negative consequences rather than personal choice.
Low external motivation
Moderate external motivation
High external motivation
4 – 9: Low external motivation | 10 – 14: Moderate external motivation | 15 – 20: High external motivation
A score of 12 indicates a moderate level of external motivation, suggesting that external requirements and avoiding problems play a noticeable but not dominant role in the student’s studying.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS
Who Usually Takes This Test?
University students
46%OF USERS
Students take it to quickly see whether their studying is driven more by interest, rewards, fear of consequences, or a sense of duty.
Academic advisors and counselors
32%OF USERS
Support staff use it as a fast check-in to understand a student’s dominant motives and choose better motivation strategies.
Education researchers and instructors
22%OF USERS
Faculty and researchers use it for quick data collection in classes or studies to map motivational profiles without lengthy surveys.
BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.
RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE
What You’ll See After You Finish the Test
Scale Results
— Explained Clearly
Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.
AI-Powered
Interpretation
A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.
Statistical
Comparison
See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.
Practical
Recommendations
Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.
AI-Detected
Insights
Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.
Discuss with
an AI Psychologist
Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.
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Used in 52+ countries
Benchmarking
See How You Compare
Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.
Cognitive Motivation (CM)
Average
14.7
Normal range
12.2 — 17.1
min.
4
max.
20
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Achievement Motivation (AM)
Average
10.7
Normal range
8.1 — 13.3
min.
4
max.
20
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Introjected motivation (Im)
Average
8.6
Normal range
6.1 — 11.1
min.
4
max.
20
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
External motivation (Em)
Average
12.1
Normal range
9.3 — 14.9
min.
4
max.
20
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?
It measures the dominant types of academic motivation. It distinguishes interest in learning from motivation tied to rewards, punishment avoidance, and perceived obligations.
Who can complete the questionnaire?
It is designed for students in postsecondary settings. It can also be used in older adolescent samples when the language and context fit the educational setting.
How long does it take and how many items are included?
Completion typically takes about 3 minutes. It contains 16 items.
How should items be answered?
Each statement is rated based on how well it matches the current reasons for studying. Responses should reflect typical motivation rather than a single recent event.
How are results interpreted?
Scores are reported for four motivation scales, with higher scores indicating stronger endorsement of that motive. Results describe motivational tendencies and do not provide a clinical diagnosis.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment
Brief Academic Motivation Scale, BAMS Test

Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) Test

self-determinationacademic motivation

This self-report measure is designed to assess motivational orientations related to academic engagement. The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) provides a brief snapshot of the types of motivation an individual endorses in relation to studying and academic tasks.

The instrument consists of 16 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. It is commonly used in educational and counseling contexts to support screening, research, or baseline characterization of academic motivation; interpretation should be integrated with relevant contextual and clinical information.

Originally developed within a self-determination theory framework (Deci and Ryan), the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) is intended to help differentiate broad patterns such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and reduced motivation toward academic activities.

Author: Edward L. Deci, Richard M. Ryan
Literature: Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., Blais, M. R., Brière, N. M., Senécal, C., & Vallières, E. F. The academic motivation scale: A measure of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation in education. Educational and Psychological Measurement. 1992.; Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Press. 1985.
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