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

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

24,859 views

2,965 completions

2,364 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

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.

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.

Need for Achievement, NA (NfAN)

Average

46.7

Normal range

31.9 — 61.4

min.

max.

100

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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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

You are asked to describe your interests and opinions. The items are phrased as first-person statements. If a statement accurately describes you and your views, select “Yes, true”; if it does not, select “No, not true.” When completing the questionnaire, keep in mind that: • The statements are too brief to include all necessary details; consider typical situations without focusing on specifics. • Do not spend time deliberating; respond quickly. Each response should take no more than five seconds. • Do not skip any items. Answer every item by selecting one of the two available responses. In some cases, it may be difficult to relate a statement to yourself; even then, try to provide either a “Yes” or “No” response. When responding, do not attempt to create an intentionally favorable or unfavorable impression. There are no “good” or “bad” answers; the primary goal is to express your opinion freely.

- Yes, true
- No, not true
- Yes, true
- No, not true
- Yes, true
- No, not true

These are 3 of the 23 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Need for Achievement Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

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.