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Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale3

Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Test

Understand how you handle uncertainty across thoughts, feelings, and actions in about 5 minutes. This 24 item check-in pinpoints where stress hits so you can target support and build resilience.

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Questions: 245 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

14,771 view

1,088 completions

894 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

39/56

Behavioral Component (BC)

Measures how readily you take action and stay engaged when situations are uncertain.

Avoidant / Passive

Mixed Response

Active / Mobilized

8 – 23: Avoidant / Passive | 24 – 39: Mixed Response | 40 – 56: Active / Mobilized

A score of 39 suggests a mixed behavioral response to uncertainty, with some ability to act but a tendency to hesitate or wait in more ambiguous situations.

example score

84/168

Affective Component (AC)

Measures the emotions uncertainty tends to evoke, from fear and anxiety to interest and acceptance.

Negative emotional response

Mixed / neutral response

Positive emotional response

24 – 71: Negative emotional response | 72 – 119: Mixed / neutral response | 120 – 168: Positive emotional response

A score of 84 falls in the Mixed / neutral response range, suggesting uncertainty is likely met with a blend of manageable discomfort and occasional curiosity rather than consistently strong fear or acceptance.

example score

74/168

Cognitive Component (CC)

Measures how flexibly a person perceives and thinks when faced with uncertainty, including recognizing multiple possibilities and complexity.

Rigid thinking

Some flexibility

Flexible, nuanced thinking

24 – 72: Rigid thinking | 73 – 120: Some flexibility | 121 – 168: Flexible, nuanced thinking

A score of 74 falls in the Some flexibility range, suggesting you can consider more than one option under uncertainty but may still prefer clear, structured answers.

example score

157/168

Tolerance of Uncertainty (ToU)

This scale measures how well a person can accept and function in ambiguous or unpredictable situations without excessive stress.

Low tolerance

Moderate tolerance

High tolerance

24 – 71: Low tolerance | 72 – 119: Moderate tolerance | 120 – 168: High tolerance

A score of 157 indicates high tolerance for uncertainty, suggesting strong mental flexibility and comfort navigating ambiguous situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Anxious overthinkers

41%OF USERS

People who feel stressed when plans are unclear and want to understand whether their reactions are mostly in thoughts, feelings, or actions.

Change and transition seekers

34%OF USERS

People facing a new job, move, breakup, or major life shift who want to see how well they cope with not knowing what comes next.

Coaches and therapists

25%OF USERS

Professionals who use a quick check-in to identify where a client struggles with uncertainty so support can be more targeted.

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.

Behavioral Component (BC)

Average

33.7

Normal range

27.7 — 39.6

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.

Affective component (Ac)

Average

74.2

Normal range

50.2 — 98.3

min.

max.

168

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.

Cognitive component (Cc)

Average

126.9

Normal range

104.5 — 149.3

min.

max.

168

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.

Tolerance for Uncertainty (TfU)

Average

85.3

Normal range

59.5 — 111.1

min.

max.

168

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

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Completely agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- I don't know / neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Completely agree

These are 3 of the 24 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

Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

uncertainty

tolerance

This self-report measure assesses an individual’s tendency to respond negatively to uncertain situations and outcomes. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale is commonly used to characterize uncertainty-related distress and its potential relevance to anxiety and worry processes. It was developed by Michel Dugas and Robert Ladouceur.

The instrument consists of 24 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Respondents rate statements describing cognitive appraisals, emotional reactions, and behavioral responses when faced with ambiguity or unpredictable events. Scores from the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale can be used to support clinical formulation and to monitor change over time when uncertainty intolerance is a treatment or coaching target.

Author: Michel Dugas, Robert Ladouceur

Literature: Budner, S. Intolerance of ambiguity as a personality variable. Journal of Personality. 1962.; Carleton, R. N. The intolerance of uncertainty construct in the context of anxiety disorders: Theoretical and practical perspectives. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2012.