Need for Achievement Scale Test

Understand how strongly you’re driven to reach goals and improve performance in just 5 minutes. Get a quick, research-based snapshot to support coaching, training, and academic planning.

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Questions: 235 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

21988 views

2562 completions

2161 likes

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

22/100

Need for Achievement (NfA)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated to achieve success, overcome challenges, and reach concrete goals.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 66: Moderate | 67 – 100: High

A score of 22 falls in the Low range, suggesting a comparatively reduced focus on achievement-driven goals and measurable outcomes.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students and applicants

41%OF USERS

They want to understand how driven they are to set goals, compete, and improve performance in study.

Educators and psychologists

34%OF USERS

They use it to assess learners’ motivation and tailor teaching, mentoring, or development plans.

Career-oriented professionals

25%OF USERS

They take it to gauge how strongly achievement goals shape their work habits, persistence, and results focus.

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.

Need for Achievement, NA (NfAN)

Average

46.7

Normal range

31.9 — 61.4

min.

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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Trusted by 22k+ Users Worldwide

CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the strength of achievement motivation, including persistence, goal focus, and preference for measurable results.

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

Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. It includes 23 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best reflects typical behavior or attitudes rather than an ideal response. Answer all items without spending excessive time on any single item.

How are results interpreted?

Scores reflect relative intensity of achievement motivation, from lower to higher levels. Interpretation is most informative when combined with other relevant information such as academic or work context.

For what purposes are the results commonly used?

Results are used to describe motivational profiles, support goal-setting and self-regulation work, and inform the design of training or educational supports.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Need for Achievement Scale Test

aesthetics

This measure is designed to assess individual differences in achievement motivation and goal-directed striving. The Need for Achievement Scale provides a brief self-report index of the extent to which a person is oriented toward attaining standards of excellence and improving performance over time.

It consists of 23 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Items are intended to capture preferences for challenging goals, persistence, and the personal importance of measurable accomplishment.

Scores from the Need for Achievement Scale may be used in educational, vocational, or research settings to inform discussions of motivational style and achievement-related behavior; results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical judgment and relevant contextual information. Authorship is commonly attributed to David C. McClelland and John W. Atkinson.

Author: David C. McClelland, John W. Atkinson

Literature: Atkinson, J. W. An introduction to motivation. Van Nostrand. 1964.; McClelland, D. C. The achieving society. Van Nostrand. 1961.; Schmitt, N., & Chan, D. The Oxford handbook of personnel assessment and selection. Oxford University Press. 2014.

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