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State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)3

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Test

Understand current and ongoing anxiety in about 8 minutes. Backed by long clinical use, it offers clear, comparable results for tracking change and planning support.

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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

18,258 views

2,656 completions

1,705 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/10

Trait Anxiety (Sten) (TA)

This scale measures the level of trait (personal) anxiety as a stable tendency toward anxious reactions using standardized sten norms.

Low

Average

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Average | 7 – 10: High

A score of 3 falls in the Low range, suggesting a relatively low predisposition to anxious reactions compared with normative groups.

example score

2/10

State Anxiety (STEN) (SA)

This scale measures the intensity of anxiety a person is experiencing in the current moment relative to normative data (STEN).

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Moderate | 7 – 10: High

A score of 2 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively low situational anxiety at the time of assessment.

example score

35/80

Trait Anxiety (TA)

Measures trait (personality) anxiety as a stable tendency to perceive situations as threatening and respond with anxiety.

Low

Moderate

High

20 – 30: Low | 31 – 45: Moderate | 46 – 80: High

A score of 35 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting an average, stable tendency toward anxious responses to perceived stressors.

example score

58/80

State Anxiety (SA)

Measures the intensity of anxiety a person is experiencing right now in response to current circumstances.

Low

Moderate

High

20 – 30: Low | 31 – 45: Moderate | 46 – 80: High

A score of 58 falls in the High range, indicating a currently elevated level of situational tension and worry that may be noticeably influenced by present stressors.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Stressed students and teens

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand how anxious they feel right now and how much anxiety is a stable pattern during school pressure, exams, or social stress.

People with ongoing worry

34%OF USERS

They use it to separate temporary stress from a more persistent tendency to anxiety and track changes over time.

Clients in counseling or care

25%OF USERS

They complete it as part of psychological or clinical work to get a clear baseline and compare results with norms.

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.

Personal Anxiety Scale (sten) (PAS()

Average

7.2

Normal range

5.9 — 8.6

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.

Situational Anxiety Scale (sten) (SAS()

Average

5.7

Normal range

4 — 7.3

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.

Personality Anxiety Scale (PAS)

Average

45.4

Normal range

34.8 — 55.9

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.

Situational Anxiety Scale (SAS)

Average

50.6

Normal range

42.4 — 58.7

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

Below is a series of statements that people commonly use to describe how they are feeling. Please read each statement carefully and select the response option that most accurately describes your current state at this time. Do not spend too much time thinking about each item, as there are no right or wrong answers. Choose the responses that you feel best describe how you are feeling right now.

- Not at all
- Somewhat
- True
- Very much so
- Not at all
- Moderately so
- Somewhat
- Very much so
- Moderately so
- Somewhat
- Not at all
- Very much so

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

Spielberger-Hanin Anxiety Scale, STAI Test

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Test - Symptoms and Signs

uneasiness

This self-report measure is designed to assess anxiety in both the moment and as a more stable disposition. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is commonly used to differentiate current, situational anxiety from trait-like anxiety patterns.

It consists of 40 items and typically takes about 8 minutes to complete. Responses are used to generate separate scores reflecting state and trait anxiety, which can support clinical screening, treatment planning, and research when interpreted in the context of relevant norms and other assessment data. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is intended to be used by trained professionals and should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic instrument.

Author: Charles D. Spielberger

Literature: Spielberger, C. D. Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). Consulting Psychologists Press. 1983.; Muris, P., Merckelbach, H., Ollendick, T., King, N., & Bogie, N. Three traditional and three new childhood anxiety questionnaires: Their reliability and validity in a normal adolescent sample. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2002.; Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. Manual for the Beck anxiety inventory. Psychological Corporation. 1993.; Taylor, J. A. A personality scale of manifest anxiety. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 1953.