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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Questions367 minutes
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08:30
October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
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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
413Low1417Moderate1820High
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
413Lower persistence1417Moderate persistence1820High 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
413Low positive tone1417Moderate positive tone1820High 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
413Low personal-success focus1417Moderate personal-success focus1820High 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
413Low result focus1417Moderate result focus1820High 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
2065Low internalization6689Moderate internalization90100High 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
413Low power drive1417Moderate power drive1820High 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
413Low need for recognition1417Moderate need for recognition1820High 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
413Low material focus1417Moderate material focus1820High 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
413Low reliance on luck1417Mixed attribution1820High 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
2065Low external focus6689Moderate external focus90100High 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
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.
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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.
Calling (C)
Average
10.6
Normal range
8.113.1
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Overcoming Obstacles (OO)
Average
8.7
Normal range
6.211.3
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Mental state (Ms)
Average
13.3
Normal range
11.215.4
min.
4
max.
20
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 Success (PS)
Average
15.2
Normal range
12.917.5
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Result of own activity (Rooa)
Average
8
Normal range
5.210.8
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Internalization of Success (IoS)
Average
46.2
Normal range
33.359.1
min.
20
max.
100
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.
Power (P)
Average
13.1
Normal range
10.515.7
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Admission (A)
Average
12.3
Normal range
9.415.1
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Material standard of living (Msol)
Average
12.9
Normal range
10.814.9
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Luck (L)
Average
14.4
Normal range
12.216.6
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Externalization of success (Eos)
Average
58.9
Normal range
4869.8
min.
20
max.
100
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 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

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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