How You Can Use A Free Personality Test

Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant, LMHC
Updated July 2, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

According to the American Psychological Association, personality is “the enduring configuration of characteristics and behavior that comprises an individual’s unique adjustment to life, including major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional patterns.” 

Our personalities help shape who we are, often playing a significant role in determining our interests, actions, and career decisions. Because of the extensive influence of your personality, a better understanding of it may provide you with insights that help you make fulfilling choices in multiple areas of life, from academics and career to love and friendship. 

Below, we’re going to discuss personality tests you can take for free and how they may help you personally and professionally. This article will also explore the potential benefits of taking free enneagram tests and how you can use knowledge of personality types to better care for your mental health.

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A therapist can help you learn more about your personality

Common personality tests

There are many different personality tests available, and some of the most well-known include the options listed below.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

One of the most well-known personality tests, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has four distinct personality categories, with two subtypes within each category. In all, there are 16 possible combinations of personality types. The categories, along with their subcategories, are listed below:

  • Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)

  • Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)

  • Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)

  • Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

Knowing whether you are extraverted or introverted, how you make decisions, or how you interpret information may help you in a variety of areas, including the workplace. Many employers use the Myers-Briggs test to fill roles and form teams.

To take the official MBTI, you likely have to pay a fee at www.mbtionline.com. However, you can find an online personality test based on the MBTI through Truity.

Enneagram test

Free Enneagram personality tests that you can find online often categorize individuals into distinct Enneagram types, each representing unique patterns of behavior and motivations. Getting an accurate assessment of Enneagram-types information and understanding Enneagram wings (the secondary personality type that reflects adjacent personality traits) may help enhance the depth of self-awareness and interpersonal dynamics.

The Enneagram test provides individuals with one of nine personality types based on questions regarding fears, motivations, communication type, and a variety of other characteristics. Research suggests that this personality test may lead to growth in participants’ personal and spiritual lives. There are several outlets that offer free Enneagram tests, including Truity, which asks a series of questions to help determine your personality type.

The Big Five

One of the most well-researched inventories, the Big Five measures personality across five different traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, which might be remembered by the acronym OCEAN. When taking a Big Five test, you’ll likely answer questions centered on how you process emotions, solve problems, and interact with others. A test that measures the Big Five traits may help test takers better understand their learning style, how they develop relationships, and even the ways they manage money. You can take a free Big Five-based personality test online through Truity.

How free personality tests may benefit you

Beyond providing a better understanding of your qualities, motivations, and interests, personality tests may help you build healthy relationships, develop a successful career, and perform well academically. The following are some potential benefits of free personality tests in different aspects of life. 

In personal relationships

Understanding who you are as an individual may influence how you interact with those who are closest to you. The self-directedness that often accompanies an understanding of your personality may help you communicate better with friends and family. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses may also be helpful in a partnership. 

In the classroom

Students who have a more developed sense of who they are may become more invested in their education. Taking a personality test may help students develop a better understanding of what to major in at the undergraduate level. For example, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) may help elucidate what specific area a student may be most successful in, whether it be medicine, education, business, law, etc.

Also, teachers at all levels may effectively use free personality tests within their classrooms and throughout their curriculum to allow students to discover who they are. They can take the results of the personality tests into consideration as they work toward effective classroom management, which can be a challenge for even the most experienced teachers. Teachers may be able to use personality information to tailor instruction and help foster a productive learning environment.

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In the workplace

Performing a job in an industry you aren’t interested in or filling a role that does not suit your abilities can be frustrating. Your personality can play a significant part in determining which career path might be the most fulfilling for you. Taking a free career personality test may help you find out more about the different facets of your personality that apply to certain job skills. For example, if you know that you’re passionate about the environment and you have strong writing skills, becoming a journalist who specializes in climate policy might be a fulfilling choice. In addition to your aptitudes and interests, there are several other aspects of personality that may indicate a good career choice for you, including the way you communicate, whether you work well in teams, and how you solve problems.

For those who want to use personality tests to illuminate their ideal career path, tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram test may be helpful. Some free tests may even provide you with a section that discusses common jobs for the different personality types. After getting your results, you may find that you are well suited for a career that you’d never even considered before.

In addition to personal use, personality assessments have been used for decades to help managers make personnel decisions. The personality traits are considered instructive for employers who want to use personality tests to evaluate candidates for specific positions, such as customer-facing positions or management roles.

For personal growth

In additional to the above reasons for utilizing a free personality test, you might also take one to help improve your overall well-being. Knowing more about your personality may help you better manage your emotions and understand what tends to make you feel fulfilled. A personality test may also provide greater self-awareness, which may lead to more self-control. For example, through a free personality test, you may find that you are more empathetic than you realize, which means that other people’s feelings may affect you easily. Knowing this, you may benefit from avoiding situations in which strong emotions could overwhelm you.

A personality test may also help you determine how much socializing is optimal for you. People who are extroverted often feel energized when they spend time around others, while those who are introverted often feel happiest when they are able to spend time on their own. Depending on the questions a specific test asks, you might gain insight into the best way for you to organize your time, practice self-care, and get things done.

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A therapist can help you learn more about your personality

Understanding personality with online therapy

For further support and advice regarding your personality, it may help to speak with a licensed therapist. They may be able to help you interpret the results of a personality test and use it to make decisions that lead to greater personal fulfillment. If you don’t have time for traditional in-office therapy, you may benefit from online therapy, which many studies have demonstrated to be just as effective as in-person therapy

In one study, for example, researchers studied the use of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) and changes in personality dimensions. They found that participants who participated in ICBT  experienced a reduction in depression, which researchers believe helped with the personality dimensions of harm avoidance and self-directedness.  

Online therapy may help you better understand your personality and how it can contribute to your mental wellness. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can be matched with a licensed therapist who has experience with personality tests. You can communicate with your therapist via live chat, phone, video chat, or in-app messaging at a time that works for you.

Takeaway

A personality test may provide you with insight into how you think, feel, and behave, in addition to helping you understand your motivations, likes, dislikes, and aptitudes. There are a variety of free personality tests that can measure different traits and help you on your path to self-discovery. 

If you would like further help exploring your personality, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist online. BetterHelp has a network of more than 25,000 licensed therapists, so you can choose a therapist who has knowledge of personality tests and personality theory. Take the first step to learning more about yourself and reach out to BetterHelp today.

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