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Index of Learning Styles (ILS)3

Index of Learning Styles (ILS) Test

Understand how you learn best in about 9 minutes across key learning preferences. Get clear, practical insights that help students study smarter and educators tailor instruction.

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Questions: 449 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

26,465 views

2,560 completions

2,044 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

-1/11

Analytic vs. Synthetic (AvS)

This scale measures whether you tend to process information by focusing on details (analytical) or by building an overall, integrated understanding (synthetic).

More analytical

Balanced

More synthetic

-11 – -3: More analytical | -2 – 4: Balanced | 5 – 11: More synthetic

A score of -1 falls in the Balanced range, suggesting you can shift between detail-focused analysis and holistic synthesis depending on the task.

example score

-1/11

Visual-Verbal (VV)

This scale measures whether you tend to absorb learning materials more effectively through visual information or through written and spoken language.

Visual-leaning

Balanced

Verbal-leaning

-11 – -3: Visual-leaning | -2 – 2: Balanced | 3 – 11: Verbal-leaning

A score of -1 falls in the Balanced range, suggesting you can use both visual and verbal materials effectively with a slight tilt toward visual input.

example score

6/11

Sensing–Intuition (SI)

This scale reflects whether you prefer concrete facts and precise data (Feeling) or abstract patterns and possibilities (Intuition) when learning and solving problems.

Fact-focused

Balanced

Intuition-focused

-11 – 0: Fact-focused | 1 – 4: Balanced | 5 – 11: Intuition-focused

A score of 6 indicates an intuition-focused preference, suggesting you tend to learn by spotting patterns and working with concepts, especially in ambiguous situations.

example score

2/11

Active-Reflective (AR)

This scale reflects whether you tend to learn more effectively through immediate action and interaction or through thoughtful reflection before applying information.

More reflective

Balanced

More active

-11 – -1: More reflective | 0 – 4: Balanced | 5 – 11: More active

A score of 2 falls in the Balanced range, suggesting you can benefit from both trying things out quickly and taking time to think through material before acting.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students boosting study results

44%OF USERS

High school, college, and adult learners take it to understand how they absorb information best and study more effectively.

Teachers and trainers

33%OF USERS

Educators use it to tailor explanations, activities, and materials to different learning preferences in a class or workshop.

Study groups and teams

23%OF USERS

Peers in group learning settings take it to coordinate roles and communication based on how each person processes information.

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

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.

Analytical Thinking – Synthetic Thinking (AT–ST)

Average

-1.3

Normal range

-4.6 — 2.1

min.

-11

max.

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.

Visual – verbal (V–v)

Average

1.8

Normal range

-1.2 — 4.9

min.

-11

max.

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.

Feeling – Intuition (F–I)

Average

4.2

Normal range

0.9 — 7.5

min.

-11

max.

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.

Activity – reflexivity (A–r)

Average

-2.5

Normal range

-6.1 — 1.2

min.

-11

max.

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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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- apply it in practice
- think it through carefully
- practical
- creative
- see mental images
- remember words

These are 3 of the 44 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Diagnosis of Learning Style Parameters, ILS Test

Index of Learning Styles (ILS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cognitive style

This self-report measure is designed to identify individual preferences in how information is perceived and processed. The Index of Learning Styles (ILS) yields profile scores across four learning-style dimensions commonly described in educational settings. It was developed by Linda K. Silverman and Richard M. Felder.

The instrument includes 44 items and typically takes about 9 minutes to complete. Results are intended to summarize relative preferences (e.g., active vs reflective, sensing vs intuitive, visual vs verbal, and sequential vs global) and may be used to support educational planning, study strategy discussions, or instructional design.

Interpretation of the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) is best considered within the broader context of the individual’s educational history, current learning demands, and other relevant assessment data; it is not a diagnostic tool for psychiatric or neurodevelopmental conditions.

Author: Linda K. Silverman, Richard M. Felder

Literature: Schraw, G., & Dennison, R. S. Assessing metacognitive awareness. Contemporary Educational Psychology. 1994.