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Metacognitive States Questionnaire (SMI)

Metacognitive States Questionnaire (SMI) Test

In 4 minutes, understand how you monitor your thinking, focus, and progress during studying or exams. This 20 question snapshot pinpoints strengths and weak spots so support can be targeted fast.

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Questions: 204 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

20,827 views

2,039 completions

1,717 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

13/20

Self-Monitoring (SM)

Assesses how well a person monitors and evaluates their own actions during task performance.

Low self-check

Moderate self-check

High self-check

5 – 9: Low self-check | 10 – 15: Moderate self-check | 16 – 20: High self-check

A score of 13 falls in the Moderate self-check range, indicating a generally consistent ability to track and adjust performance with occasional lapses under demand.

example score

13/20

Task Engagement (TE)

Measures how engaged and focused a person is on the task they are currently performing.

Low engagement

Moderate engagement

High engagement

5 – 10: Low engagement | 11 – 15: Moderate engagement | 16 – 20: High engagement

A score of 13 indicates moderate engagement, suggesting generally adequate focus with occasional lapses in concentration.

example score

13/20

Use of Strategies (UoS)

Assesses how actively a person applies deliberate strategies to solve problems and reach goals during task performance.

Limited strategy use

Moderate strategy use

Strong strategy use

5 – 9: Limited strategy use | 10 – 15: Moderate strategy use | 16 – 20: Strong strategy use

A score of 13 indicates moderate strategy use, suggesting you apply some effective approaches but not consistently across tasks.

example score

11/20

Action Planning (AP)

Action Planning measures how well a person pre-plans their actions and anticipates likely outcomes while working on tasks.

Low planning

Moderate planning

High planning

5 – 9: Low planning | 10 – 14: Moderate planning | 15 – 20: High planning

A score of 11 indicates a moderate level of action planning, suggesting some advance planning is present but may be inconsistent under task demands.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Exam and test takers

44%OF USERS

Students and applicants use it to see how well they monitor focus, control problem-solving, and stay on track under exam pressure.

Teachers and academic tutors

31%OF USERS

Educators take or assign it to quickly spot where learners lose self-control during studying and adjust support strategies.

Educational psychologists and coaches

25%OF USERS

Specialists use it to assess momentary self-regulation and awareness during learning tasks and guide targeted skill-building.

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.

Self-check (S)

Average

12.3

Normal range

9.7 — 15

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.

Engagement in activity (Eia)

Average

Normal range

6.7 — 11.4

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.

Using Strategies (US)

Average

Normal range

10.3 — 15.6

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.

Action Planning (AP)

Average

13.8

Normal range

11.8 — 15.7

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures momentary metacognitive states during studying or test taking, including monitoring, planning, and self-checking. It provides an estimate of how well thinking and attention are being regulated while working on tasks.

When should it be administered?

It is intended for completion during or immediately after a learning or assessment activity. It is most informative when the situation is specific and recent.

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

Completion time is about 4 minutes. The questionnaire includes 20 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best matches what was happening during the activity being evaluated. Respond to all items and avoid spending excessive time on any single item.

How should scores be interpreted?

Higher scores generally indicate stronger awareness and regulation of cognitive activity in the assessed situation, while lower scores suggest weaker monitoring and control. Results are typically used to identify patterns and targets for skills training rather than to assign a diagnosis.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Metacognitive States Questionnaire (SMI) Test - Symptoms and Signs

metacognition self-regulation

This self-report measure assesses metacognitive states during task performance, such as monitoring and regulating one’s thinking while learning or completing evaluative activities. The Metacognitive States Questionnaire (SMI) is intended to capture momentary aspects of cognitive self-awareness and self-control in achievement-related contexts.

The instrument includes 20 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. It can be used in educational, coaching, or clinical-adjacent settings to support discussions about attention regulation, perceived cognitive control, and self-evaluative processes during performance demands. The Metacognitive States Questionnaire (SMI) is attributed to Adrian Wells.

Author: Adrian Wells

Literature: Flavell, J. H. Metacognition and cognitive monitoring: A new area of cognitive-developmental inquiry. American Psychologist. 1979.; O’Neil, H. F., Jr., & Abedi, J. Reliability and validity of a state metacognitive inventory: Potential for alternative assessment. CRESST, University of California, Los Angeles. 1998.

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