Locus of Control Scale Test

Understand whether you feel in control of outcomes or shaped by outside forces in about 7 minutes. A quick 44 item check-in that supports motivation, resilience, and targeted coaching.

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Questions: 447 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

25741 view

1314 completions

1051 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

8/12

Business Relationships (BR)

Measures whether a person attributes outcomes in business relationships to their own actions (internality) versus external circumstances (externality).

More external

Balanced

More internal

-12 – -1: More external | 0: Balanced | 1 – 12: More internal

A score of 8 falls in the “More internal” range, suggesting you tend to see successes and setbacks in business relationships as influenced mainly by your own decisions and efforts.

example score

-8/12

Health (H)

Assesses whether you attribute health outcomes more to your own actions (internality) or to external factors (externality).

More external

Balanced

More internal

-12 – -1: More external | 0: Balanced | 1 – 12: More internal

A score of -8 falls in the “More external” range, suggesting you more often see health outcomes as shaped by circumstances or other influences rather than primarily by your own efforts.

example score

-3/12

Personal Relationships (PR)

Measures whether a person tends to attribute outcomes in personal relationships to their own actions (internal) or to external circumstances (external).

More external

Balanced

More internal

-12 – -1: More external | 0: Balanced | 1 – 12: More internal

A score of -3 suggests a mildly more external orientation in personal relationships, meaning relationship outcomes are more often linked to circumstances or other people than to one's own influence.

example score

-1/12

Family Relationships (FR)

Assesses whether a person attributes outcomes in family relationships more to their own actions (internality) or to others and circumstances (externality).

More external

Balanced

More internal

-12 – -1: More external | 0: Balanced | 1 – 12: More internal

A score of -1 suggests a slightly more external orientation in family relationships, with outcomes more often seen as shaped by others or circumstances than by one’s own influence.

example score

-10/12

Failures (F)

This scale measures whether a person tends to attribute failures to external circumstances versus their own actions and effort.

External attribution

Balanced attribution

Internal attribution

-12 – -1: External attribution | 0: Balanced attribution | 1 – 12: Internal attribution

A score of -10 indicates a strong tendency to explain failures mainly through external factors rather than personal actions.

example score

3/12

Achievement Domain (AD)

Measures whether achievements are attributed more to one’s own efforts (internality) or to external circumstances (externality).

More external

Balanced

More internal

-12 – -1: More external | 0: Balanced | 1 – 12: More internal

A score of 3 falls in the “More internal” range, suggesting you tend to see your achievements as influenced mainly by your own actions and effort.

example score

20/44

Internality–Externality (I)

Measures whether a person generally attributes life events to their own actions (internality) versus external circumstances (externality).

Externality

Balanced

Internality

-44 – -1: Externality | 0: Balanced | 1 – 44: Internality

A score of 20 falls in the Internality range, suggesting a tendency to see outcomes as more influenced by personal effort and decisions than by external factors.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students and teens

42%OF USERS

They take it to understand whether they credit school successes and setbacks to their own effort or to luck, teachers, and circumstances.

Coaches and counselors

33%OF USERS

They use it as a quick screen to guide goal-setting, motivation work, and responsibility skills in sessions or workshops.

Adults in transition

25%OF USERS

They take it during career, relationship, or life changes to see how their sense of control affects decisions, stress, and follow-through.

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.

Business Relationships (BR)

Average

-4.5

Normal range

-8.1 — -0.9

min.

-12

max.

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.

Health (H)

Average

-2.9

Normal range

-7.3 — 1.5

min.

-12

max.

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.

Personal Relationships (PR)

Average

-1.7

Normal range

-5.2 — 1.9

min.

-12

max.

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.

Family Relationships (FR)

Average

2.4

Normal range

-1.8 — 6.6

min.

-12

max.

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.

Area of Failure (AoF)

Average

2.8

Normal range

-0.9 — 6.5

min.

-12

max.

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.

Field of Achievements (FoA)

Average

1.9

Normal range

-1.3 — 5

min.

-12

max.

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.

Externality – Internality (E–I)

Average

8.6

Normal range

-3.3 — 20.4

min.

-44

max.

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 perceived control over life events and outcomes. It indicates whether outcomes are more often attributed to personal actions or to external factors.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It was adapted for use with high school students. It is also used in educational, counseling, and research settings with older respondents when appropriate.

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

Completion typically takes about 7 minutes. The questionnaire includes 44 items.

How should items be answered?

Select the response that best matches what is usually true, not what seems socially desirable. Answer all items using the first impression when possible.

How are results interpreted?

Higher internal control reflects a tendency to link outcomes to effort and decisions, while higher external control reflects a tendency to link outcomes to circumstances or chance. Results describe patterns of attribution and do not diagnose mental health conditions.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Locus of Control Scale Test

locus of control

This measure assesses generalized expectancies regarding the degree to which individuals perceive outcomes as contingent on their own behavior versus external forces. The Locus of Control Scale is commonly used to characterize an internal versus external orientation in perceived control, which can inform case conceptualization and intervention planning. It was developed by J. B. Rotter.

The instrument consists of 44 items and typically requires about 7 minutes to complete. Results from the Locus of Control Scale are generally interpreted as reflecting the respondent’s tendency to attribute successes and setbacks to personal effort, chance, or powerful others, and should be considered alongside clinical interview findings and other assessment data.

Author: J. B. Rotter

Literature: Rotter, J. B. Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied. 1966.

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