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Error Orientation Motivation Scale (EOMS)3

Error Orientation Motivation Scale (EOMS) Test

Understand how you respond to mistakes and what keeps you motivated in just 4 minutes. Get clear, actionable insight into whether you avoid, push through, or learn from slip-ups.

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Questions: 214 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

15,909 views

996 completions

872 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

24/35

Error Concealment (EC)

Measures the tendency to hide mistakes in order to preserve an image of being error-free, which can reduce openness to reflection and learning.

Open about mistakes

Sometimes conceals

Often conceals

7 – 14: Open about mistakes | 15 – 25: Sometimes conceals | 26 – 35: Often conceals

A score of 24 falls in the “Sometimes conceals” range, suggesting you may occasionally hide errors to protect your image, which can limit feedback and growth opportunities.

example score

22/35

Anxiety (A)

Measures the tendency to feel anxious about making mistakes, which can lead to excessive checking and reduced creative flexibility.

Low anxiety

Moderate anxiety

High anxiety

7 – 13: Low anxiety | 14 – 27: Moderate anxiety | 28 – 35: High anxiety

A score of 22 falls in the Moderate anxiety range, suggesting noticeable worry about errors that may increase double-checking and dampen spontaneity at times.

example score

10/35

Learning From Mistakes (LFM)

Measures willingness to acknowledge mistakes, look for their causes, and use them for learning and personal growth.

Low learning focus

Developing learning focus

Strong learning focus

7 – 17: Low learning focus | 18 – 27: Developing learning focus | 28 – 35: Strong learning focus

A score of 10 falls in the Low learning focus range, suggesting a limited tendency to actively analyze mistakes and extract lessons from them.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

High achievers under pressure

41%OF USERS

People who set ambitious goals take it to see whether mistakes make them shut down, push harder, or learn and adjust.

Students and early-career professionals

34%OF USERS

People in learning-heavy stages use it to understand their default reaction to slip-ups and build better study or work habits.

Coaches, psychologists, and HR

25%OF USERS

Professionals take it to quickly map a client’s or employee’s error response style and tailor development recommendations.

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.

Concealing mistakes (Cm)

Average

22.9

Normal range

19.3 — 26.5

min.

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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.

Anxiety (A)

Average

27.4

Normal range

22.8 — 32

min.

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.

Learning Lessons (LL)

Average

27.1

Normal range

23.6 — 30.7

min.

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

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 21 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

Error Orientation Motivation Scale (EOMS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

motivation

This measure assesses how individuals are motivated and respond after making mistakes. The Error Orientation Motivation Scale (EOMS) is designed to capture common patterns of engagement with errors in contexts such as learning, performance, and goal pursuit.

The instrument consists of 21 items and typically requires about 4 minutes to complete. Items assess motivational orientations that may reflect tendencies to avoid errors, persist through them, or analyze them for information. Results can be used to inform clinical formulation, coaching, or organizational consultation by clarifying how error-related experiences may influence effort, self-regulation, and learning behaviors.

Interpretation should consider the assessment context, response style, and other relevant clinical or performance data. The Error Orientation Motivation Scale (EOMS) is intended to support understanding of error-related motivation rather than serve as a stand-alone diagnostic tool.

Author: Amy C. Edmondson, Michael Frese

Literature: Rybowiak, V., Garst, H., Frese, M., & Batinic, B. Error orientation questionnaire (EOQ): Reliability, validity, and different language equivalence. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 1999.