Hey there! I’ve always thought that understanding yourself is like unlocking a treasure chest. One excellent tool for this journey is the Multi-Factor Personality Questionnaire, more commonly known as the 16PF, created by the influential psychologist Raymond Cattell, a Briton who spent much of his career in America. This test helps you see what traits shape your character and how you behave in different situations. Don’t worry, it’s not some complicated instrument only for experts—I’ll keep it simple so you can take the test yourself and easily understand the results.

First, a bit about how it works. The Cattell test consists of questions about your preferences, thoughts, and behaviors. The original has 187 questions and takes about 20-25 minutes to complete, but I’ve created a shorter version so you don’t get tired. This one has 32 questions, two for each of the 16 personality traits. Answer honestly, without overthinking. For each question, pick one option: 'a' (if you agree with the first description), 'b' (if you agree with the second), or 'c' (if you’re somewhere in between or unsure).

After the test, I’ll explain how to score it and what your results mean. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Test: Discover Your 16 Traits

1. Do you enjoy being around lots of people or prefer quiet time alone?
   • a) Alone.
   • b) With people.
   • c) In between.
2. At a party, do you easily make new friends or stick to people you know?
   • a) Stick to people I know.
   • b) Easily make new friends.
   • c) In between.
3. Do you quickly solve simple tasks or enjoy diving into details and abstract ideas?
   • a) Quickly, simply.
   • b) Details and ideas.
   • c) In between.
4. Is it easy for you to understand complex theories, or do you prefer practical things?
   • a) Practical things.
   • b) Complex theories.
   • c) In between.
5. In stressful situations, do you stay calm or get nervous quickly?
   • a) Get nervous quickly.
   • b) Stay calm.
   • c) In between.
6. Is your mood stable or does it change often due to small things?
   • a) Changes often.
   • b) Stable.
   • c) In between.
7. In conversations, do you let others lead or take charge?
   • a) Let others lead.
   • b) Take charge.
   • c) In between.
8. In a group, do you give in or stand up for your opinion?
   • a) Give in.
   • b) Stand up.
   • c) In between.
9. Are you serious in life or do you like to joke and have fun?
   • a) Serious.
   • b) Have fun.
   • c) In between.
10. Do your friends call you reserved or energetic?
    • a) Reserved.
    • b) Energetic.
    • c) In between.
11. Do you follow rules strictly or sometimes bend them?
    • a) Bend them.
    • b) Follow strictly.
    • c) In between.
12. Is conscientiousness flexible or strict for you?
    • a) Flexible.
    • b) Strict.
    • c) In between.
13. In a new group, are you shy or bold?
    • a) Shy.
    • b) Bold.
    • c) In between.
14. Do you avoid attention or enjoy being in the spotlight?
    • a) Avoid attention.
    • b) Enjoy the spotlight.
    • c) In between.
15. Are you practical in decisions or sensitive to feelings?
    • a) Practical.
    • b) Sensitive.
    • c) In between.
16. Is beauty for you in useful things or in art?
    • a) Useful things.
    • b) Art.
    • c) In between.
17. Do you trust people easily or check them first?
    • a) Trust easily.
    • b) Check first.
    • c) In between.
18. In relationships, are you open or cautious?
    • a) Open.
    • b) Cautious.
    • c) In between.
19. Are you grounded in reality or do you often dream?
    • a) Grounded.
    • b) Dream.
    • c) In between.
20. Are your thoughts practical or abstract?
    • a) Practical.
    • b) Abstract.
    • c) In between.
21. Are you open with people or do you keep some things to yourself?
    • a) Open.
    • b) Keep to myself.
    • c) In between.
22. Is sharing secrets easy or hard for you?
    • a) Easy.
    • b) Hard.
    • c) In between.
23. Are you confident or do you often worry?
    • a) Confident.
    • b) Worry.
    • c) In between.
24. Do failures scare you or make you doubt yourself?
    • a) Don’t scare me.
    • b) Make me doubt.
    • c) In between.
25. Do you like traditions or change?
    • a) Traditions.
    • b) Change.
    • c) In between.
26. Do new ideas scare you or excite you?
    • a) Scare me.
    • b) Excite me.
    • c) In between.
27. Do you work in a team or alone?
    • a) In a team.
    • b) Alone.
    • c) In between.
28. Is help from others important or do you rely on yourself?
    • a) Important.
    • b) Rely on myself.
    • c) In between.
29. Can you tolerate mess or does everything need to be perfect?
    • a) Tolerate mess.
    • b) Needs to be perfect.
    • c) In between.
30. Is your planning flexible or strict?
    • a) Flexible.
    • b) Strict.
    • c) In between.
31. Are you relaxed or tense in everyday life?
    • a) Relaxed.
    • b) Tense.
    • c) In between.
32. Do you handle stress easily or does it build up?
    • a) Easily.
    • b) Builds up.
    • c) In between.

You’re done! Now, let’s figure out your score. Each of the 16 traits corresponds to a pair of questions. For each answer, give yourself points as follows: 'a' gets 1 point, 'c' gets 2 points, and 'b' gets 3 points. Add up the points for each pair of questions to get a total score from 2 to 6 for each trait.

How to Score and What It Means

Here is the list of the 16 personality traits, sometimes called factors. Each is tied to a pair of questions from the test. I will explain what your total score for each pair (ranging from 2 to 6) means about your personality.

1. Warmth (Introversion vs. Sociability) (Questions 1-2): A score of 2-3 suggests you are more introverted and reserved, enjoying your own company. A score of 4 indicates you are in between, comfortable in social and solitary settings. A score of 5-6 suggests you are more sociable and outgoing, thriving on interaction with others.
2. Reasoning (Concrete vs. Abstract Thinking) (Questions 3-4): A score of 2-3 points to concrete thinking, meaning you are practical and focus on the here and now. A score of 4 suggests a balance. A score of 5-6 indicates a preference for abstract thinking, showing you enjoy complex ideas and theories.
3. Emotional Stability (Reactive vs. Stable) (Questions 5-6): A score of 2-3 signifies you are more emotionally reactive, meaning your moods can shift in response to situations. A score of 4 indicates you are in between. A score of 5-6 shows high emotional stability, meaning you tend to stay calm and composed, even under stress.
4. Dominance (Submissive vs. Dominant) (Questions 7-8): A score of 2-3 suggests a more submissive or cooperative style; you are likely agreeable and prefer to avoid conflict. A score of 4 is a balance. A score of 5-6 indicates a more dominant personality; you are assertive, take charge, and stand up for your opinions.
5. Liveliness (Serious vs. Lively) (Questions 9-10): A score of 2-3 means you are generally more serious, thoughtful, and reserved. A score of 4 indicates you are in between. A score of 5-6 shows you are lively, spontaneous, and fun-loving.
6. Rule-Consciousness (Flexible vs. Conscientious) (Questions 11-12): A score of 2-3 suggests you are more flexible and expedient, sometimes willing to bend the rules. A score of 4 indicates a balance. A score of 5-6 means you are highly conscientious and dutiful, preferring to follow rules strictly.
7. Social Boldness (Shy vs. Bold) (Questions 13-14): A score of 2-3 indicates you are more shy and timid in social situations. A score of 4 means you are in between. A score of 5-6 points to being socially bold; you are adventurous and enjoy being in the spotlight.
8. Sensitivity (Practical vs. Sensitive) (Questions 15-16): A score of 2-3 suggests you are practical and tough-minded, focusing on utility and logic. A score of 4 suggests a balance. A score of 5-6 indicates you are more sensitive and aesthetic, attuned to emotions and artistic beauty.
9. Vigilance (Trusting vs. Vigilant) (Questions 17-18): A score of 2-3 shows a trusting nature; you tend to be open and accept people as they are. A score of 4 is in between. A score of 5-6 indicates vigilance; you are more cautious, private, and may question others' motives.
10. Abstractedness (Grounded vs. Imaginative) (Questions 19-20): A score of 2-3 suggests you are grounded and practical, focused on reality. A score of 4 indicates a balance. A score of 5-6 shows you are imaginative and idea-oriented, often absorbed in thought.
11. Privateness (Forthright vs. Private) (Questions 21-22): A score of 2-3 suggests you are forthright and open, readily sharing information about yourself. A score of 4 is in between. A score of 5-6 indicates you are more private and discreet, keeping personal matters to yourself.
12. Apprehension (Confident vs. Apprehensive) (Questions 23-24): A score of 2-3 points to being self-assured and confident, rarely troubled by self-doubt. A score of 4 indicates a balance. A score of 5-6 suggests you are more apprehensive, prone to worry and self-doubt.
13. Openness to Change (Traditional vs. Open) (Questions 25-26): A score of 2-3 suggests you are more traditional and attached to the familiar. A score of 4 is in between. A score of 5-6 indicates a strong openness to change; you are experimental and embrace new ideas.
14. Self-Reliance (Group-Dependent vs. Independent) (Questions 27-28): A score of 2-3 means you are more group-dependent, preferring to work and make decisions with others. A score of 4 is a balance. A score of 5-6 shows you are highly independent and self-reliant, preferring to work alone.
15. Perfectionism (Tolerant of Disorder vs. Perfectionist) (Questions 29-30): A score of 2-3 shows you are tolerant of disorder and flexible in your planning. A score of 4 is in between. A score of 5-6 indicates a tendency toward perfectionism; you are self-disciplined and value organization and detail.
16. Tension (Relaxed vs. Tense) (Questions 31-32): A score of 2-3 suggests you are generally relaxed and patient. A score of 4 indicates a balance. A score of 5-6 means you are more tense and driven, often feeling a sense of urgency or restlessness.

Now, look at your overall profile. Remember, this is not a clinical diagnosis—it’s a mirror to help you better understand your personality. If you have many "in between" scores, you are likely a very adaptable and flexible person. If you scored high on sociability, boldness, and liveliness, you’re probably the life of the party. Use this knowledge to better understand yourself in your work, relationships, and personal hobbies. If this sparked your interest and you want to go deeper, you can explore the full, official 16PF Questionnaire. For now, enjoy this fun, simplified tool for self-reflection. It's pretty cool, right?

References

• Cattell, R. B., & Schuerger, J. M. (2003). Essentials of 16PF Assessment. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  Annotation: This book provides a comprehensive overview for professionals on how to administer, score, and interpret the official 16PF Questionnaire, detailing the psychological theory and research behind each of the 16 factors.
• Russell, M. T., & Karol, D. L. (2002). The 16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual. Institute for Personality and Ability Testing.
  Annotation: This is the official manual that accompanies the fifth edition of the test. It contains the technical data, validity studies, and guidelines necessary for the ethical and accurate use of the assessment in clinical, organizational, and research settings.