Self-Assessment
Procrastination Scale
Measure your tendency to put things off with the General Procrastination Scale, the most widely used and validated measure of everyday procrastination. 20 questions, about 3 minutes.
Your Results
Based on your 20 responses
Score range: 20 to 100
How you compare to the average
Average based on international GPS samples (Svartdal & Steel, 2017). Most people score between 55 and 75.
What your answers suggest
What you can do
All score ranges
This is not a diagnosis. The General Procrastination Scale is a self-report research tool, not a clinical assessment. If procrastination significantly affects your daily life, consider speaking with a psychologist or counselor.
Understanding the Procrastination Scale
The General Procrastination Scale (GPS) measures your tendency to delay starting or completing everyday tasks. Developed by psychologist Clarry Lay in 1986, it captures procrastination as a stable personality trait rather than a temporary state.
The 20 items cover common situations: meeting deadlines, handling daily responsibilities, making decisions, responding to social obligations, and completing routine tasks. Half the items describe procrastination directly; the other half describe prompt behavior (reverse-scored).
- About 20% of adults are chronic procrastinators (Steel & Ferrari, 2013)
- Around 50% of students procrastinate at problematic levels (Pychyl & Flett, 2012)
- Procrastination is more about managing emotions than managing time (Sirois & Pychyl, 2013)
- It is associated with lower wellbeing but is not a clinical disorder on its own
From the Research
"The General Procrastination Scale is the most widely used and validated measure of trait procrastination in the research literature."
Sirois, F. M., Molnar, D. S., & Hirsch, J. K. (2019). A meta-analytic and conceptual update on the associations between procrastination and multidimensional perfectionism. European Journal of Personality, 33(4), 515-533.
Since its publication, the GPS has been used in hundreds of studies across dozens of countries. Key findings from the research:
- Internal consistency: Cronbach's alpha of approximately 0.82 (Lay, 1986), indicating good reliability.
- Test-retest reliability: Approximately 0.80 over several weeks (Ferrari, 1989), meaning scores remain stable over time.
- Cross-cultural validation: Confirmed across 24 countries with consistent psychometric properties (Svartdal & Steel, 2017).
- Correlates: Higher GPS scores are associated with lower conscientiousness, higher neuroticism, reduced wellbeing, and poorer academic and work outcomes (Steel, 2007).
Original Study
"Procrastination is a trait or behavioral disposition to postpone or delay performing a task or making decisions."
Lay, C. H. (1986). At last, my research article on procrastination. Journal of Research in Personality, 20(4), 474-495.
Each of the 20 items is rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (extremely uncharacteristic of me) to 5 (extremely characteristic of me). Ten items describe prompt behavior and are reverse-scored before summing.
Reverse scoring: For items that describe prompt behavior (e.g., "I usually make decisions as soon as possible"), a response of 1 becomes 5, 2 becomes 4, 3 stays 3, 4 becomes 2, and 5 becomes 1. This ensures all items point in the same direction: higher values mean more procrastination.
The total score ranges from 20 (no procrastination) to 100 (extreme procrastination). There is no official clinical cutoff because the GPS is a research tool, not a diagnostic instrument. The four bands used on this page are based on common interpretive guidelines in the literature.
| Score | Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 20-40 | Low | You rarely put things off. Strong self-regulation. |
| 41-60 | Moderate | You sometimes delay tasks. Typical of most people. |
| 61-80 | High | You frequently procrastinate. It likely affects daily productivity. |
| 81-100 | Very High | Chronic procrastination. Significant impact on multiple life areas. |
Citation: Lay, C. H. (1986). At last, my research article on procrastination. Journal of Research in Personality, 20(4), 474-495. The GPS is in the public domain for non-commercial use with citation.
How It Compares to Other Procrastination Measures
Several validated scales measure procrastination. Here is how the GPS compares.
| Scale | Author | Year | Items | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Procrastination Scale (GPS) | Lay | 1986 | 20 | Everyday procrastination tendencies |
| Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS) | Steel | 2010 | 12 | Irrational delay behavior |
| Tuckman Procrastination Scale | Tuckman | 1991 | 35 | Academic procrastination |
| Academic Procrastination Scale | Solomon & Rothblum | 1984 | 27 | Procrastination on academic tasks |
| Adult Inventory of Procrastination | McCown & Johnson | 1989 | 15 | Chronic delay in adults |
| Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) | Steel | 2010 | 9 | Core irrational procrastination |
The GPS is highlighted because it is the assessment used on this page. It is the most widely cited general-purpose procrastination measure in the literature.
Important Information
No. The General Procrastination Scale is a self-report measure designed for research and self-awareness. It is not a diagnostic tool. Procrastination is not classified as a mental health disorder, though it can be associated with conditions like ADHD, depression, or anxiety. If procrastination significantly affects your daily life, consider speaking with a psychologist or counselor.
The GPS has strong psychometric properties. Its internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) is approximately 0.82, and test-retest reliability is about 0.80. It has been validated across 24 countries and multiple languages. However, like all self-report measures, results depend on honest and thoughtful responses. Your score reflects how you see yourself, which may differ from how others see you.
Your responses are processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers, stored, or shared with anyone. Your results are not saved after you leave this page.
The General Procrastination Scale is in the public domain for non-commercial use. If you use it in research, please cite: Lay, C. H. (1986). At last, my research article on procrastination. Journal of Research in Personality, 20(4), 474-495.