Adolescent Perseverance Scale Test

Understand how a teen stays on track with goals and handles setbacks in about 3 minutes. Quick, 12-item results flag strengths and where they may get stuck, guiding targeted support.

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Questions: 123 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

14,774 views

1,051 completion

872 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

22/28

Inappropriate Perseverance (IP)

Measures a teenager’s tendency to keep pushing in situations where changing approach or stopping may be more effective.

Flexible persistence

Occasional getting stuck

Frequent inappropriate persistence

4 – 15: Flexible persistence | 16 – 20: Occasional getting stuck | 21 – 28: Frequent inappropriate persistence

A score of 22 falls in the “Frequent inappropriate persistence” range, suggesting the teen may often continue with ineffective strategies instead of adapting to changing circumstances.

example score

17/28

Perseverance in Overcoming Difficulties (PiOD)

Measures how consistently a teenager continues working through setbacks and obstacles instead of giving up.

Low perseverance

Moderate perseverance

High perseverance

4 – 16: Low perseverance | 17 – 22: Moderate perseverance | 23 – 28: High perseverance

A score of 17 falls in the Moderate perseverance range, suggesting the teen generally persists through difficulties but may not sustain effort when obstacles become more demanding.

example score

11/28

Goal Persistence (GP)

This scale measures how consistently a teenager keeps working toward set goals despite obstacles and delays.

Low goal persistence

Moderate goal persistence

High goal persistence

4 – 16: Low goal persistence | 17 – 23: Moderate goal persistence | 24 – 28: High goal persistence

A score of 11 falls in the Low goal persistence range, suggesting the teen may have difficulty sustaining effort toward goals when progress is slow or challenges arise.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Parents of struggling teens

41%OF USERS

Parents take it to understand whether their teen gives up too quickly, pushes through challenges, or gets stuck repeating unhelpful strategies.

School counselors and psychologists

34%OF USERS

Professionals use it as a quick screening to spot persistence strengths and problem areas that can guide support plans and counseling goals.

Motivated teens and students

25%OF USERS

Teens take it to see how they handle long-term goals, setbacks, and effort, and to find concrete areas to improve self-organization.

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.

Inappropriate Persistence (IP)

Average

18.5

Normal range

14.3 — 22.8

min.

max.

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.

Persistence in Overcoming Difficulties (PiOD)

Average

16.8

Normal range

13.3 — 20.3

min.

max.

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.

Persistence in Achieving Goals (PiAG)

Average

15.2

Normal range

11.8 — 18.5

min.

max.

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

How do you typically behave in different situations? For each statement below, indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree. When responding, consider your behavior in general rather than how you think you should behave or would like to be. There are no right or wrong answers; please respond honestly.

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- It depends
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Disagree more than agree
- Sometimes yes, sometimes no
- Agree more than disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree rather than agree
- It depends
- Somewhat agree rather than disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 12 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

Adolescent Perseverance Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

persistence

This measure assesses perseverance-related tendencies in adolescents, including goal pursuit and persistence when facing setbacks. The Adolescent Perseverance Scale is intended to support a brief appraisal of how a youth typically responds to challenging tasks and obstacles.

The instrument includes 12 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Items sample adaptive persistence as well as potentially maladaptive overpersistence (e.g., continuing ineffective approaches), which may help identify areas of strength and targets for support in educational or clinical contexts.

The Adolescent Perseverance Scale is attributed to Angela L. Duckworth and Roy F. Baumeister. Results are generally used to inform discussion, screening, or monitoring over time and should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical judgment and relevant contextual information.

Author: Angela L. Duckworth, Roy F. Baumeister

Literature: Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2007.