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Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IAS)

Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IAS) Test

Learn how you handle uncertainty and ambiguity in just 3 minutes. This 16 item check offers fast insight for coaching, therapy, and teams working under change and risk.

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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

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

19,535 views

1,909 completions

1,632 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

5/21

Unresolvability (U)

Measures discomfort and rigidity when facing unsolvable, contradictory, or unclear situations.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 8: Low | 9 – 14: Moderate | 15 – 21: High

A score of 5 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively little discomfort with unresolved or contradictory situations and less tendency to avoid them.

example score

38/63

Complexity (C)

Measures how difficult a person finds complex, ambiguous situations and decisions.

Low difficulty

Moderate difficulty

High difficulty

9 – 26: Low difficulty | 27 – 44: Moderate difficulty | 45 – 63: High difficulty

A score of 38 falls in the Moderate difficulty range, suggesting a mixed comfort level with ambiguity and occasional hesitation in complex decisions.

example score

15/28

Novelty (N)

Measures how comfortable you feel when encountering new and unfamiliar situations.

Comfort with novelty

Mixed response

Discomfort with novelty

4 – 12: Comfort with novelty | 13 – 20: Mixed response | 21 – 28: Discomfort with novelty

A score of 15 falls in the Mixed response range, suggesting you may sometimes feel uneasy with novelty but can adapt depending on context.

example score

68/112

Intolerance of Uncertainty (IoU)

Measures how strongly a person tends to feel discomfort and seek control when faced with uncertain or ambiguous situations.

Low

Moderate

High

16 – 39: Low | 40 – 50: Moderate | 51 – 112: High

A score of 68 falls in the High range, suggesting a stronger tendency to experience tension in uncertainty and to prefer clear rules and predictable situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Anxious overthinkers

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand why uncertainty triggers worry and how strongly they try to avoid ambiguous situations.

Career changers and job seekers

33%OF USERS

They use it to gauge how well they cope with unclear expectations, new roles, and unpredictable outcomes during transitions.

Leaders in fast-change teams

26%OF USERS

They take it to see whether they stay calm in unstable conditions and how they make decisions when information is incomplete.

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.

Intractability (I)

Average

15.3

Normal range

12 — 18.6

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.

Difficulty (D)

Average

47.4

Normal range

40.3 — 54.4

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.

Novelty (N)

Average

17.4

Normal range

13.1 — 21.6

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.

Intolerance of Uncertainty (IoU)

Average

63.1

Normal range

51.2 — 75

min.

max.

112

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 reactions to uncertainty and unclear situations. Scores reflect the degree of discomfort, avoidance, or acceptance of ambiguity.

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

Completion typically takes about 3 minutes. It includes 16 statements.

How should the items be answered?

Select the response that best matches typical thoughts or behavior, not a single unusual event. Answer all items without spending long on any one statement.

How are results interpreted across versions?

One version reports a single continuum from tolerance to intolerance. Another version reports two separate scores that describe intolerance and tolerance as independent traits.

In what settings are results commonly used?

Results can support psychological assessment, counseling, and coaching when response to uncertainty is clinically or practically relevant. They may also inform team or role decisions in contexts that involve unstable or high-risk conditions.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IAS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

uncertainty tolerance

This self-report measure assesses individual differences in responses to ambiguity and uncertain situations. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IAS) is commonly used to characterize discomfort with uncertainty and related cognitive-emotional reactions in clinical and research settings.

It consists of 16 items and typically requires about 3 minutes to complete. Developed by R. N. Carleton, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IAS) can support case conceptualization and outcome monitoring when intolerance of uncertainty is relevant to presenting concerns, with interpretation guided by the scoring procedures for the version in use.

Author: R. N. Carleton

Literature: Carleton, R. N. The intolerance of uncertainty construct in the context of anxiety disorders: Theoretical and practical perspectives. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2012.; Dugas, M. J., & Robichaud, M. Cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice. Routledge. 2007.; Budner, S. Intolerance of ambiguity as a personality variable. Journal of Personality. 1962.

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