In 1978, psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes described the "imposter phenomenon": the persistent feeling of not deserving one's own achievements, paired with the fear that at some point others will discover you're "not as good" as they think, despite objective evidence of competence.
- Low: you attribute your achievements to your own ability without much difficulty.
- Moderate: there are situations (a promotion, a new challenge) where doubt shows up, without being a constant pattern.
- High: the feeling of not deserving what you've achieved shapes much of how you experience your accomplishments.
15 statements, about 3-4 minutes. Think about your usual pattern around your achievements, not a one-off moment of insecurity.
All possible results
Low Imposter Phenomenon
You attribute your achievements to your own ability without much difficulty, and a one-off mistake doesn't make you question your overall competence.
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“The imposter phenomenon, according to Clance and Imes, doesn't depend on a person's actual competence: many of those who experience it have plenty of objective credentials.”
What this score means
Your answers don't show the persistent-doubt-about-your-own-merit pattern the imposter phenomenon describes. You accept recognition for your work without needing to play it down, and you attribute your achievements mainly to your own ability.
How it shows up day to day
- You accept a compliment about your work without discomfort.
- A one-off mistake doesn't make you question your overall competence.
- You share your achievements without fear that it'll look like you're "bragging" about something undeserved.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by the imposter phenomenon described by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes (1978): it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace a professional psychological assessment.
Moderate Imposter Phenomenon
There are situations (a promotion, a new challenge) where doubt about whether you deserve to be there shows up, without it being a constant pattern.
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“Clance and Imes described the imposter phenomenon, not a clinical ‘syndrome’: a common experience, especially when taking on a new role or entering an unfamiliar environment.”
What this score means
Your answers show some doubt about your own merit, likely more pronounced in new or higher-exposure situations (a promotion, a higher-visibility project) than in your everyday routine.
How it shows up day to day
- You over-prepare in situations that make you feel more insecure than usual.
- A compliment about your work feels comfortable in some contexts and more uncomfortable in others.
- The feeling of "not being up to it" shows up in specific moments, not constantly.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by the imposter phenomenon described by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes (1978): it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace a professional psychological assessment.
High Imposter Phenomenon
The feeling of not deserving what you've achieved, and the fear of being found out, shape much of how you experience your accomplishments.
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“Clance and Imes originally documented this pattern in high-achieving academic and professional women, but later research has found it in people of any gender and across virtually any high-pressure field.”
What this score means
Your answers show a sustained pattern: you credit your successes to outside factors more than to your own ability, you over-prepare out of fear that people will notice you don't "really know" the subject, and you rarely fully enjoy an achievement without immediately thinking about what could go wrong.
How it shows up day to day
- It's hard for you to believe you deserve recognition, even when you've objectively earned it.
- You still feel like a beginner, even with the training or experience you need.
- You avoid sharing your achievements, afraid it'll look like you're bragging about something undeserved.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by the imposter phenomenon described by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes (1978): it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace a professional psychological assessment. If this feeling is causing you significant or ongoing distress, working with a professional can help address it in depth.
Indicative result, not a diagnosis. It describes how you described yourself today, not a disorder or a clinical condition, and it does not replace assessment by a mental health professional. If what you are feeling overwhelms you or persists over time, consider talking it through with a professional.
How this test was built
Your level of the imposter phenomenon : the persistent feeling of not deserving one's own achievements and the fear of being found out.
Imposter syndrome is not a recognized disorder in the DSM-5 nor a clinical diagnosis: it's a described and studied psychological phenomenon, not a medical category.
This is a popular-audience adaptation of 15 statements, self-administered, and not the validated clinical instrument (the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, CIPS).
See the full methodology
What it measures
Your level of the imposter phenomenon: the persistent feeling of not deserving one's own achievements and the fear of being found out.
What model it uses
Based on the imposter phenomenon described by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, with three levels of intensity.
- Low: you attribute your achievements to your own ability without much difficulty.
- Moderate: doubt shows up in specific situations, without being a constant pattern.
- High: the feeling of not deserving what you've achieved shapes much of your day to day.
Where that model comes from
Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes described the phenomenon in 1978, based on their clinical work with high-achieving women in academic and professional settings, in an article published in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice.
How the result is calculated
Each of the 15 statements scores the three levels based on your degree of agreement. The scores for each level are added up, and the combined result places your pattern as low, moderate, or high.
What your result means
A high level points to a sustained pattern of doubt about one's own merit, present even in people with real, objective achievements. A low level indicates that pattern doesn't show up markedly in you.
What it does NOT mean
Imposter syndrome is not a recognized disorder in the DSM-5 nor a clinical diagnosis: it's a described and studied psychological phenomenon, not a medical category. This result doesn't replace the assessment of a mental health professional.
Limitations
This is a popular-audience adaptation of 15 statements, self-administered, and not the validated clinical instrument (the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, CIPS). It depends on your own perception at the moment of answering, not on a clinical interview.
Academic references
- Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241-247.
Frequently asked questions
Is imposter syndrome a clinical diagnosis?
No. Clance and Imes described it as a "phenomenon," not a disorder listed in diagnostic manuals. It's a common psychological experience, not a clinical category.
Does it only affect people who aren't very competent?
No, it's actually the opposite of what you'd expect: it tends to show up in people with real, objective achievements who still can't internalize that evidence of competence.
Does it only show up at work?
Not necessarily, though that's where it's studied most often. It can also show up in school, in parenting, or in any role where a person feels they have to "prove" they deserve to be there.
Is this test reliable?
It's an orientation-only, informational approximation, not a validated clinical instrument like the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). For a deeper look, that questionnaire and support from a professional are the recommended path.
How long does the test take?
Between 3 and 4 minutes: 15 statements with five response options each.
See all 6 questions
Is it free?
Yes, it's completely free: no sign-up or payment needed to take the test and see your result.
