Self-Assessment
Impostor Syndrome Test
Do you feel like a fraud despite your achievements? This research-based assessment measures the intensity of impostor feelings and helps you understand where you stand.
What is Impostor Syndrome?
First described by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, impostor phenomenon is a pattern where capable people doubt their achievements and fear being exposed as a "fraud."
How to answer: Think about how you generally feel about your achievements and abilities. For each statement, indicate how true it is for you. There are no right or wrong answers.
Your Results
Based on your responses
What This Means
Key Insights
What You Can Do
- Not a diagnosis: Impostor syndrome isn't a clinical disorder. These feelings are common and don't mean something is wrong with you.
- Feelings ≠ facts: High scores reflect how you feel, not your actual competence. Many highly capable people score high.
- Context matters: Scores can vary based on life circumstances, new roles, or stressful periods.
- Change is possible: With awareness and practice, impostor feelings can be reduced significantly.
The Science of Impostor Syndrome
From the Research
"Despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the impostor phenomenon persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise."
— Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women . Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice.
The Three Dimensions of Impostor Feelings
Research has identified three core aspects of the impostor phenomenon:
- Feeling like a fake: The persistent fear that others will discover you're not as capable as they think. You feel like you're wearing a mask of competence.
- Discounting achievements: Difficulty internalizing success. Compliments feel uncomfortable, and achievements are dismissed as "not a big deal."
- Attributing success to external factors: Crediting luck, timing, connections, or extra effort rather than your own ability and talent.
From the Research
"Clance and Imes specifically avoided the word 'syndrome' because it's not a psychological diagnosis... The person who experiences impostor phenomenon is not diseased or broken."
— Summary of Clance's position on terminology
From the Research
"Among the 11 CIPS studies reviewed, overall Cronbach alphas ranged from 0.85 to 0.96, indicating high internal consistency."
— Mak, K. K. L., Kleitman, S., & Abbott, M. J. (2019). Impostor Phenomenon Measurement Scales: A Systematic Review . Frontiers in Psychology.
Key Findings
- The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) is the most widely used measure in research, appearing in the majority of impostor syndrome studies
- Impostor feelings are found across genders, ages, and professions. Early research focused on women, but later studies show comparable rates in men
- Higher impostor scores correlate with anxiety, perfectionism, and lower self-esteem, though impostor phenomenon is distinct from these constructs
- Impostor feelings often intensify during transitions: starting new jobs, entering competitive environments, or achieving recognition
From the Research
"The impostor phenomenon has been linked to higher perceived stress, general anxiety, and depressive symptoms in multiple studies."
— Summary from systematic reviews on impostor phenomenon correlates
How This Assessment Was Built
This assessment is inspired by the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), developed by Dr. Pauline Rose Clance in 1985. We created original question wording that measures the same three dimensions while respecting intellectual property.
Important: This is not the official Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale. The CIPS is copyrighted by Dr. Pauline Rose Clance. Our questions are original adaptations based on the published scientific framework. We are not affiliated with Dr. Clance.
Scoring Method
- 20 items covering all three dimensions of impostor phenomenon
- 5-point response scale from "Strongly Disagree" (1) to "Strongly Agree" (5)
- Total score range: 20-100 (higher scores indicate more impostor feelings)
- Score interpretation bands follow Clance's published guidelines
Score Interpretation
Sources
- Clance, P. R. (1985). The Impostor Phenomenon: When Success Makes You Feel Like a Fake
- Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women
- Mak, K. K. L., et al. (2019). Impostor Phenomenon Measurement Scales: A Systematic Review
- Chrisman, S. M., et al. (1995). Validation of the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Impostor syndrome is not a mental disorder or diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. It's a psychological pattern that many people experience, especially high achievers. Dr. Clance deliberately avoided calling it a "syndrome" because it's not pathological. However, persistent impostor feelings can contribute to anxiety or stress, so if they're causing significant distress, speaking with a professional can help.
Impostor feelings often stem from difficulty internalizing success. Each achievement creates a new "standard" to maintain, leading to fear of not living up to expectations. Perfectionism plays a role: if you believe you should know everything or never struggle, any gap feels like proof of inadequacy. Competitive environments, being in a minority group, and family expectations can also contribute.
Yes, with awareness and practice. Strategies include keeping a record of achievements, reframing negative thoughts, accepting compliments, and talking about these feelings with trusted people. Cognitive-behavioral approaches are particularly effective. While you may still have occasional doubts, their intensity and frequency can decrease significantly. Many people find that naming the pattern helps reduce its power.
Understanding This Tool
Research Basis
This assessment adapts the methodology from Dr. Pauline Rose Clance's Impostor Phenomenon Scale, published in her 1985 book "The Impostor Phenomenon: When Success Makes You Feel Like a Fake." The scoring ranges (few, moderate, frequent, intense) follow her published interpretation guidelines. Our question wording is original, not reproduced from the copyrighted CIPS.
Limitations
- Not the official CIPS: The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale is copyrighted. This is a research-inspired adaptation for educational self-reflection, not the exact validated instrument.
- Self-report only: Results reflect your self-perception and can be influenced by current mood or circumstances.
- Not a diagnosis: This cannot diagnose any condition. Impostor feelings exist on a spectrum and are not a clinical disorder.
If Results Concern You
If your impostor feelings cause significant distress, interfere with work, or occur alongside persistent anxiety or low mood, consider speaking with a mental health professional. They can provide personalized strategies and support.