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Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS)3

Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) Test

Understand your wisdom strengths in about 8 minutes, from openness to emotional balance and reflection. Get clear, practical results that guide growth goals for coaching, therapy, or research.

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Questions: 408 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

25,406 views

2,702 completions

2,214 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

20/48

Reminiscence/Reflection (R)

Measures how well a person reflects on and learns from past experiences to guide present and future decisions.

Low

Moderate

High

8 – 25: Low | 26 – 40: Moderate | 41 – 48: High

A score of 20 falls in the Low range, suggesting reflection on past experiences is less frequent or less structured as a source of guidance.

example score

26/48

Experience (E)

Experience measures how well a person understands and applies lessons learned from both positive and difficult life events.

Developing

Strong

Highly Developed

8 – 29: Developing | 30 – 41: Strong | 42 – 48: Highly Developed

A score of 26 falls in the Developing range, suggesting you are still building consistency in turning life experiences—especially challenging ones—into practical guidance for decisions.

example score

27/48

Humor (H)

Measures the tendency to use humor to keep perspective and maintain emotional balance when facing difficulties.

Lower humor use

Typical humor use

High humor use

8 – 26: Lower humor use | 27 – 42: Typical humor use | 43 – 48: High humor use

A score of 27 falls in the Typical humor use range, suggesting you generally can find lightness in challenging moments and use humor to maintain perspective.

example score

25/48

Emotion Regulation (ER)

Measures how well a person recognizes, accepts, and manages their emotions to stay balanced under stress.

Lower regulation

Moderate regulation

Higher regulation

8 – 26: Lower regulation | 27 – 39: Moderate regulation | 40 – 48: Higher regulation

A score of 25 falls in the Lower regulation range, suggesting emotional management skills may be less consistent, especially in challenging situations.

example score

30/48

Openness (O)

Openness measures readiness to accept new ideas and experiences, tolerate diverse perspectives, and flexibly relate to one’s inner and outer world.

Lower openness

Moderate openness

Higher openness

8 – 27: Lower openness | 28 – 40: Moderate openness | 41 – 48: Higher openness

A score of 30 falls in the Moderate openness range, suggesting a generally receptive attitude to new experiences and viewpoints with some selectivity or caution in unfamiliar situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Self-development seekers

41%OF USERS

People exploring personal growth use it to understand their openness, emotional balance, and reflective habits.

Therapy and coaching clients

34%OF USERS

People in counseling or coaching take it to pinpoint strengths and gaps in emotional regulation, humor, and learning from experience.

Psychology students and researchers

25%OF USERS

Students and researchers use it for quick screening of wisdom-related traits in studies, training, or assessments.

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.

Memories/Reflection (M)

Average

37.8

Normal range

30.8 — 44.9

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.

Experience (E)

Average

Normal range

13.5 — 28.5

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.

Humor (H)

Average

22.4

Normal range

14.9 — 29.9

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.

Emotion Regulation (ER)

Average

26.4

Normal range

21.5 — 31.3

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.

Openness (O)

Average

28.5

Normal range

21.4 — 35.7

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

This brief questionnaire was developed to examine how people in different age groups perceive themselves in relation to their life experiences, and whether these experiences change with age. You are asked to rate a series of statements. Please note that there are no right or wrong answers. Do not rush; however, it is important to indicate your first impression for each item.

- Strongly disagree
- Moderately disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Moderately agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Moderately disagree
- Partly disagree
- Partly agree
- Moderately agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Moderately disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Moderately agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 40 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

Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

wisdom

This measure is a brief self-report instrument designed to assess perceived wisdom-related characteristics in adults. The Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) asks respondents to rate statements reflecting how they typically think, feel, and behave.

The measure includes 40 items and typically takes about 8 minutes to complete. Content coverage is commonly described in terms of openness, emotional regulation, humor, life experience, and reflective reminiscence/insight; scores are intended to support a structured discussion of strengths and areas for further development. In clinical and research contexts, the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) may be used as one component of a broader assessment battery, with results interpreted in conjunction with clinical history and other data. Ardelt is cited in related scholarship on wisdom and its measurement.

Author: Monika Ardelt, Paul B. Baltes

Literature: Ardelt, M. Empirical assessment of a three-dimensional wisdom scale. Research on Aging. 2003.; Webster, J. D. An exploratory analysis of a self-assessed wisdom scale. Journal of Adult Development. 2003.