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University Students' Achievement Motivation Scale

University Students' Achievement Motivation Scale Test

Understand what drives a student’s academic success in just 7 minutes. This 36 item check-in clarifies key motivators to guide targeted support, boost engagement, and remove roadblocks.

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Questions: 367 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

22,608 views

1,649 completions

1,401 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

16/20

Calling (C)

Measures how strongly a student experiences their future professional activity as personally meaningful and vocation-like.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 13: Low | 14 – 17: Moderate | 18 – 20: High

A score of 16 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a fairly developed sense of meaningful professional direction, though not consistently experienced as a clear vocation.

example score

13/20

Overcoming Obstacles (OO)

Measures persistence and readiness to overcome difficulties in pursuit of academic success goals.

Lower persistence

Moderate persistence

High persistence

4 – 13: Lower persistence | 14 – 17: Moderate persistence | 18 – 20: High persistence

A score of 13 falls in the Lower persistence range, suggesting obstacles may more often reduce drive to keep working toward goals.

example score

9/20

Mental State (MS)

Measures the emotional tone and satisfaction a student experiences in connection with perceived academic success.

Low positive tone

Moderate positive tone

High positive tone

4 – 13: Low positive tone | 14 – 17: Moderate positive tone | 18 – 20: High positive tone

A score of 9 falls in the Low positive tone range, suggesting comparatively limited satisfaction and positive emotional uplift associated with success experiences right now.

example score

13/20

Personal Success (PS)

Measures how strongly a student’s motivation is driven by self-evaluation of achievements and aspirations for personal growth.

Low personal-success focus

Moderate personal-success focus

High personal-success focus

4 – 13: Low personal-success focus | 14 – 17: Moderate personal-success focus | 18 – 20: High personal-success focus

A score of 13 falls in the low range, suggesting personal growth and self-respect motives are present but are not the primary drivers of academic effort compared with other motivators.

example score

13/20

Results of One's Own Performance (RoOOP)

Measures how strongly a student is oriented toward achieving concrete, efficient results through their own actions.

Low result focus

Moderate result focus

High result focus

4 – 13: Low result focus | 14 – 17: Moderate result focus | 18 – 20: High result focus

A score of 13 falls in the low result focus range, suggesting results and productivity are a less central driver in the student’s own activity compared with other motives.

example score

43/100

Success Internalization (SI)

Measures the degree to which striving for success is driven by internal values, self-development, and personal standards rather than external rewards.

Low internalization

Moderate internalization

High internalization

20 – 65: Low internalization | 66 – 89: Moderate internalization | 90 – 100: High internalization

A score of 43 indicates low internalization of success, suggesting motivation is less consistently anchored in personal growth and internal standards and may rely more on external factors or situational prompts.

example score

17/20

Power (P)

Measures the strength of the student’s need to influence, lead, and control others as part of achievement motivation.

Low power drive

Moderate power drive

High power drive

4 – 13: Low power drive | 14 – 17: Moderate power drive | 18 – 20: High power drive

A score of 17 suggests a moderately strong drive for leadership and influence, with control and dominance motives present but not at the highest level.

example score

11/20

Recognition (R)

Measures how strongly a student seeks social approval and recognition as part of their sense of academic success.

Low need for recognition

Moderate need for recognition

High need for recognition

4 – 13: Low need for recognition | 14 – 17: Moderate need for recognition | 18 – 20: High need for recognition

A score of 11 suggests a relatively low emphasis on others’ approval, with motivation and self-evaluation less dependent on social recognition.

example score

7/20

Material Standard of Living (MSoL)

Measures how strongly material achievements and wealth are viewed as indicators of success in academic and life goals.

Low material focus

Moderate material focus

High material focus

4 – 13: Low material focus | 14 – 17: Moderate material focus | 18 – 20: High material focus

A score of 7 falls in the Low material focus range, suggesting material rewards are a relatively minor driver of this student’s motivation for success.

example score

6/20

Luck (L)

Measures how strongly a student attributes academic success to luck or random circumstances rather than personal effort and stable factors.

Low reliance on luck

Mixed attribution

High reliance on luck

4 – 13: Low reliance on luck | 14 – 17: Mixed attribution | 18 – 20: High reliance on luck

A score of 6 falls in the Low reliance on luck range, suggesting the student tends to see achievement as less dependent on chance and more on controllable factors.

example score

63/100

Externalization of Success (EoS)

Measures the extent to which academic success is driven by external rewards and social approval such as luck, status, recognition, and power.

Low external focus

Moderate external focus

High external focus

20 – 65: Low external focus | 66 – 89: Moderate external focus | 90 – 100: High external focus

A score of 63 falls in the Low external focus range, suggesting achievement motivation is less centered on recognition, material gains, or outward status cues.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students feeling stuck

41%OF USERS

University students who are procrastinating, underperforming, or burned out take it to pinpoint what really motivates them and how to regain momentum.

Career-focused achievers

34%OF USERS

Ambitious students use it to clarify whether grades, professional growth, recognition, or personal satisfaction most drives their effort and choices.

Advisors and counselors

25%OF USERS

Academic advisors, tutors, and psychologists administer it to quickly map a student’s motivation profile and tailor support strategies.

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.

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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.

Calling (C)

Average

10.6

Normal range

8.1 — 13.1

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.

Overcoming Obstacles (OO)

Average

8.7

Normal range

6.2 — 11.3

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.

Mental state (Ms)

Average

13.3

Normal range

11.2 — 15.4

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.

Personal Success (PS)

Average

15.2

Normal range

12.9 — 17.5

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.

Result of own activity (Rooa)

Average

Normal range

5.2 — 10.8

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.

Internalization of Success (IoS)

Average

46.2

Normal range

33.3 — 59.1

min.

max.

100

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.

Power (P)

Average

13.1

Normal range

10.5 — 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.

Admission (A)

Average

12.3

Normal range

9.4 — 15.1

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.

Material standard of living (Msol)

Average

12.9

Normal range

10.8 — 14.9

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.

Luck (L)

Average

14.4

Normal range

12.2 — 16.6

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.

Externalization of success (Eos)

Average

58.9

Normal range

48 — 69.8

min.

max.

100

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 the relative importance of common motives linked to academic achievement and goal pursuit in higher education. It identifies which values and incentives most strongly support sustained effort and results.

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

The questionnaire takes about 7 minutes to complete. It includes 36 items.

How should responses be selected?

Each item should be rated based on how well it matches typical preferences in the university setting. Responses should reflect usual behavior rather than a preferred image.

What areas of motivation are covered?

Content includes the importance of academic results, career and professional growth goals, self-esteem and internal satisfaction, and social recognition. Scores indicate which areas carry the most weight for achievement.

How are results used?

Results are used to summarize a motivational profile and guide targeted support strategies. Findings may inform planning, counseling goals, and interventions to reduce motivational barriers.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Motivation for Academic Success Among University Students Test

University Students' Achievement Motivation Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

achieving success motivation

This measure is designed to assess achievement-related motivation in college or university settings. The University Students' Achievement Motivation Scale is intended to help characterize the relative importance of academic outcomes, career-oriented goals, self-evaluative satisfaction, and social recognition as drivers of student effort. It is commonly used to support motivational profiling in educational or counseling contexts.

The instrument includes 36 items and typically takes about 7 minutes to complete. Response patterns may be interpreted to describe an individual’s achievement motivation profile and to inform case formulation, goal setting, or intervention planning. The University Students' Achievement Motivation Scale is attributed to John W. Atkinson and David C. McClelland.

Author: David C. McClelland, John W. Atkinson

Literature: Elliot, A. J., & McGregor, H. A. A 2×2 achievement goal framework. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2001.

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