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Three-Factor Perfectionism Questionnaire3

Three-Factor Perfectionism Questionnaire Test

Understand how perfectionism shows up for you in just 4 minutes. Get fast, clear insights on striving, mistake concerns, and self-criticism to guide healthier goals and lower stress.

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Questions: 184 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

30,844 views

3,551 completion

2,932 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

13/24

Negative Selectivity (NS)

Negative Selection measures how strongly a person tends to focus on mistakes and flaws and respond with self-critical thinking.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 8: Low | 9 – 16: Moderate | 17 – 24: High

A score of 13 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable tendency to dwell on imperfections and engage in self-criticism, though not at the highest intensity.

example score

14/20

High Standards (HS)

This scale measures the extent to which a person sets very high, perfection-oriented standards for their own performance.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 14 falls in the High range, suggesting a pronounced tendency to set very demanding standards for oneself that can support achievement but may also increase dissatisfaction when outcomes feel imperfect.

example score

25/28

Concern About Evaluations (CAE)

Measures how strongly a person worries about others’ judgments of their performance and fears negative evaluation related to grades or outcomes.

Low concern

Moderate concern

High concern

0 – 9: Low concern | 10 – 18: Moderate concern | 19 – 28: High concern

A score of 25 falls in the High concern range, suggesting strong sensitivity to others’ opinions and a heightened fear of being evaluated negatively based on grades or results.

example score

35/72

Perfectionism Scale (PS)

This scale measures the overall intensity of perfectionist tendencies, including high standards, sensitivity to mistakes, and self-critical evaluation.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 28: Low | 29 – 43: Moderate | 44 – 72: High

A score of 35 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a generally balanced perfectionism level with some sensitivity to performance standards and errors.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Anxious high achievers

41%OF USERS

People who set very high standards and feel tense, guilty, or never satisfied with their performance use it to see whether fear of mistakes or self-criticism is driving them.

Students and early-career pros

34%OF USERS

Those facing exams, evaluations, or new responsibilities take it to understand how perfectionism affects procrastination, burnout risk, and confidence.

Therapy and coaching clients

25%OF USERS

People already working on anxiety, depression, or self-esteem use it to pinpoint which perfectionism factor to target in counseling or personal development.

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.

Negative Selection (NS)

Average

Normal range

5.7 — 12.2

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.

High standards (Hs)

Average

6.4

Normal range

3.8 — 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.

Concern About Grades (CAG)

Average

Normal range

4.9 — 15.1

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.

Perfectionism Scale (PS)

Average

34.4

Normal range

22.7 — 46.1

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

- Definitely yes
- Probably yes
- Probably not
- Definitely not
- Definitely yes
- Probably yes
- Probably no
- Definitely no
- Definitely yes
- Probably yes
- Probably not
- Definitely not

These are 3 of the 18 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

Three-Factor Perfectionism Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

perfectionism

Perfectionism is commonly conceptualized as a multidimensional trait pattern associated with self-evaluative concerns and performance standards. The Three-Factor Perfectionism Questionnaire is a brief self-report measure designed to characterize perfectionism across three related domains.

The instrument consists of 18 items and typically requires about 4 minutes to complete. Respondents rate statements reflecting perfectionistic standards, concern over mistakes, and self-critical evaluation, yielding scores that can support clinical formulation and research screening. Authors: Paul L. Hewitt and Gordon L. Flett.

Interpretation should consider the assessment context and relevant clinical history, and results are best integrated with other sources of information rather than used in isolation. The Three-Factor Perfectionism Questionnaire may be useful for monitoring change over time when administered repeatedly under comparable conditions.

Author: Gordon L. Flett, Paul L. Hewitt

Literature: Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 1990.