Free Locus of Control Test
"Locus of control" is where you tend to place the cause of what happens to you: mostly your own actions (internal), or mostly luck, timing, and other people (external). This test scores where you land.
Answer each statement on a 5-point scale, from strongly disagree to strongly agree. There's no right answer, just react honestly.
This is a self-report measure of a general belief pattern, not a personality type or a judgment of how much control you actually have.
No sign-up. No email. Results in your browser.
What This Locus of Control Test Measures
You'll get one score on a spectrum from external locus of control (outcomes feel driven by luck, timing, or other people) to internal locus of control (outcomes feel driven mainly by your own effort and choices).
This is the "Internality" component of Levenson's classic 3-part model, isolated so this test gives one clear score instead of three overlapping ones.
How It Works (10 questions, 5 minutes)
Answer 10 short statements about yourself on a 5-point scale. One question per screen, with a progress bar so you always know how far you are.
Several statements are reverse-worded, so straight-line answering doesn't produce a misleading score.
What Your Results Include
A 0-100-style score, which of three bands you land in (more external, balanced, or more internal), a plain-language explanation with no value judgment attached, and a shareable link, no account needed to save or revisit it.
Your result also links back to the other tests on this site if you want a fuller picture alongside your Big Five or Self-Esteem profile.
The Science Behind This Test
These 10 items come from the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP), a public-domain item bank, proxying Levenson's (1981) Internality scale. Read more on our Methodology page. Read the full methodology
Levenson's original model splits locus of control into 3 parts (Internality, Powerful Others, Chance). We use only Internality here to keep this test a single, clear score, that choice is our own, not an official Levenson composite.
Treat your result as a reflection of a general belief pattern, not a fixed trait or a measure of how much control you actually have in your life.
FAQ
Is this locus of control test really free?
Yes. Every question and your full results are free, with no sign-up or email required.
What instrument is this based on?
The International Personality Item Pool's proxy of Levenson's (1981) Internality scale, a public-domain item bank, the same kind of source that backs our Big Five test.
Is an internal or external locus of control better?
Neither is simply "better." An internal locus tends to fuel persistence but can mean over-blaming yourself; an external locus can make setbacks easier to shrug off but can obscure the steps you do control.
How long does this test take?
Most people finish in about 5 minutes.
Can this score change over time?
Yes, beliefs about control can shift with life circumstances and self-awareness, especially for scores close to a band boundary.
Is this the same as an IQ or personality-type test?
No. It measures one specific belief pattern, not cognitive ability or an overall personality type like our 16 Types or Enneagram tests.
Is locus of control scientifically validated?
Levenson's original scales have published reliability data, but as with any self-report measure, treat your score as a starting point for reflection, not a clinical or definitive measurement.
Do you sell or share my answers?
No. Your answers are scored entirely in your browser and are never sent to a server, so there is nothing about your responses for us to sell or share.