Personality tests are popular introspective tools that can help you better understand yourself and how you relate to others. They can provide useful insights into your core personality traits that can help you make better career decisions, enhance your personal growth and improve your relationships.
It is important to remember that not all personality tests are created equal! We’ve examined the accuracy of personality tests (and how the most popular ones compare) elsewhere. In this article, we’ll cover all the personality types in three of the most well known tests – the Big Five, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Enneagram – as well as our own Ultimate Personality Test, created by combining the traits in all three.
List of Personality Types of The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
When you take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), you’ll be assigned one of 16 personality types. MBTI personality types are made up of four letters. Each letter shows which of two opposite characteristics you lean toward:
Introversion (I) vs Extroversion (E): Are you energized by others, or by your inner world?
Sensing (S) vs Intuition (N); Do you take in information through direct experience and observation, or through extrapolating out to the big picture?
Thinking (T) vs Feeling (F): Do you make decisions using objective analysis, or based on personal values and considerations?
Judging (J) vs Perceiving (P): Do you organize your life through structure and planning, or do you prefer to be flexible and spontaneous?
Of course, most people will fall somewhere on a continuum between each of these opposing traits. Your MBTI result simply indicates which way you gravitate, rather than categorising you as strictly one or the other.
Full list personality types in the MBTI
ISTJ: You’re quiet, practically-minded and work through tasks carefully and methodically. You can be depended on to deliver on time and stay grounded in stressful situations.
ISFJ: You’re reliable, hardworking and possess impressive attention to detail. You are unfailingly loyal to those you care about, and make decisions with others front-of-mind.
INTJ: You’re a strategic thinker with insatiable intellectual curiosity, who tackles problems with skepticism and rationality, while questioning conventional wisdom.
INFJ: You’re a principled idealist who seeks fulfilment in making a difference. You’re troubled by injustice and seek to remedy it wherever you can.
ISTP: You’re a skilled troubleshooter who values a hands-on approach and direct, efficient communication.
ISFP: You’re kind, sensitive, and dislike conflict. You value self-expression and open-mindedly seek out novel experiences.
INFP: You’re empathetic and sentimental, seeking out deep connection with others and often feeling a strong sense of nostalgia and attachment to people, places and things.
INTP: You’re endlessly curious and possess a vigorous intellect. You prefer solitude as you have your best insights when left to your own devices.
ESTP: You’re spontaneous, competitive and forward-looking, and tend to make spur-of-the-moment decisions.
ESFP: You live to entertain others and are very comfortable in the spotlight. You’re attentive to the emotions of others and excel at providing advice and support.
ENFP: You’re outgoing, open-minded and lively. Despite being the life of the party, you’re motivated by a desire to form meaningful connections with others.
ENTP: You’re rebellious, quick-witted and not opposed to some verbal sparring. Your contrarian streak often leads you to question the status quo.
ESTJ: You value tradition, strong social norms and a solid sense of community. You often take on a mentorship role, and will diligently lead the way in times of difficulty.
ESFJ: You’re community-oriented, feel a sense of duty towards others and pride yourself on your manners and hospitality.
ENFJ: You’re a charismatic, natural-born leader who feels called to serve a purpose, and isn’t afraid to stand up for your values.
ENTJ: You’re efficient, decisive and quick to assume a leadership role. You enjoy long-term planning and goal setting, and are quick to detect and overcome inefficiencies.
List of Personality Types of The Big Five Personality Types
The “Big Five” is a personality model that measures five traits:
Openness to experience: If you’re high on openness, this means that you’re more likely to seek out novel experiences and ideas. Willingness to try new problem-solving approaches means that openness is often correlated with creativity – and some studies have even tied it to better job performance. If you’re low on openness, this may mean you prefer familiarity and routines, or that you’re resistant to change.
Conscientiousness: Being high on conscientiousness means you’re hard-working, reliable and self-regulated. Some studies have associated conscientiousness with longevity. This may be because conscientious individuals are more likely to follow healthier diets, exercise regularly and avoid drug use, excessive alcohol consumption and risky behavior.
Extroversion: If you’re extroverted, you draw energy or ‘recharge’ by being around other people. This usually means that you’re talkative, outgoing and energetic, although it’s possible to be energized by the company of others despite being shy and reserved. Conversely, introverted people draw energy from spending time alone.
Agreeableness: Being highly agreeable means you’re friendly and cooperative, and highly concerned with the feelings of others. Agreeable people tend to be more altruistic, and being especially high on this trait may mean you struggle to put yourself first, even when necessary.
Neuroticism: Neuroticism can be broadly defined as a tendency towards negative emotions. If you’re high on neuroticism, you might be emotionally volatile, worry a lot, often feel sad or have low self esteem. Neuroticism has been associated with a higher risk of mental illness, and even some physical health conditions.
List of Personality Types of The Enneagram
The Enneagram is a model of personality describing nine, interconnected types, represented by the points of a geometric figure:
Each of the types is defined by a basic desire and a basic fear, which are the core motivators of behavior.
Full list of personality types in the Enneagram
Basic desire | Basic fear | Description | |
Type 1 – The Perfectionist | To be good and to have integrity | To be bad or corrupt | You’re principled, self-controlled and responsible. You often have a loud inner critic. |
Type 2 – The Helper | To be loved and needed | To be unworthy/ unwanted | You’re generous, people-pleasing and altruistic. You may be easy to manipulate or struggle to advocate for yourself. |
Type 3 – The Achiever | To be valued | To be worthless or to disappoint others | You’re hard-working, competitive and concerned with image. You appear self-assured and charming to others but may find it difficult to express vulnerability. |
Type 4 – The Individualist | To be unique and authentic | To lack identity and significance | You’re introspective and expressive, concerned with being authentic. You may have a tendency to withdraw from others. |
Type 5 – The Investigator | To be capable and competent | To be incompetent or helpless | You’re insightful, curious and can become deeply absorbed in contemplating complex ideas. You may have a tendency to self-isolate. |
Type 6 – The Loyalist | To be secure and supported | To be unprepared or defenceless | You’re loyal, reliable and seek a strong social safety net. You’re very attuned to risk and are always on the lookout for what could go wrong. |
Type 7 – The Adventurer | To be satisfied and content | To be bored or miss out on new experiences | You have a wide range of personal interests and spontaneously seek out novel experiences. You may be impatient or impulsive. |
Type 8 – The Protector | To be in control of their own life | To be harmed by others | You’re self-confident and assertive, and will always stand up for yourself and others. You may sometimes be overly-confrontational. |
Type 9 – The Peacemaker | To have peace of mind | To be lost or separated | You’re self-effacing, agreeable and avoid conflict. You strive to bring people together and create harmony in your environment. |
List of Personality Types of The Clearer Thinking Ultimate Personality Test
We developed our own Ultimate Personality Test, to give you a comprehensive view of your personality. This assessment combines your Big Five, Enneagram, and Jungian (inspired by MBTI/Myers-Briggs) traits into a singular Ultimate Personality Type.
There are 16 distinct types available, which you can browse through in the list below. If you haven't yet done so, we recommend you take our free personality test as well.
1) CEO
You're assertive, data-driven, and born to lead. You value logic over emotion and freely express your opinions. Simply put, you're the captain of your own ship, sailing through storms without asking for directions.
2) Charismatic
You're a social magnet who loves the spotlight and navigates social circles with ease. The perfectionist in you needs every detail taken care of, and you’re generally happy about who you are. Your charm and creative expression make you unforgettable.
3) Critical Thinker
You prize logic and data more so than emotions, making decisions with the precision of a surgeon. Your love for planning and order rivals that of a chess grandmaster. In the game of life, you're the one who reads the rulebook while others wing it.
4) Free Spirit
You dance to the beat of your own drum, valuing emotion and creativity over cold, hard facts. A natural empath, you feel deeply, both for yourself and others. Forget the rulebook—you're the artist splashing colors on a canvas while others draw inside the lines.
5) Rational Optimist
Your interactions are as free-flowing as they are uplifting. At ease in a crowd and humble in demeanour, you naturally draw people toward you. While some chase perfection, you savor the present, enriching each moment with your most valuable asset—trust.
6) Humble
You're the type who would rather direct the spotlight toward others than stand in it. In a world shouting 'Look at me,' you whisper, 'How can I help?'—and that makes all the difference.
7) Introspector
You navigate life with a rich inner compass while others skim the surface. Social interactions may not be your playground, but the depths of your own mind offer endless fascination. In a world addicted to the spotlight, you find sanctuary in introspection—where true self-discovery unfolds.
8) Loner
Life's a simple equation for you, more about careful analysis rather than emotional engagement. You might skip the party, but that's because you've got your own plans. In a world that often feels overwhelmingly loud, you seek the quiet corners, finding your own version of peace in the eye of the storm.
9) Nonconformist
You dance to the beat of your own drum. While some cling to tried-and-true methods, you're out there testing the waters of innovation. In a world that loves its boundaries, you're the one expanding them—and that's where the magic happens.
10) Passionate Dreamer
Your world isn't just black and white—it's painted in hues of emotion and daydreams. In a landscape ruled by logic, you're the one lighting fireworks of feeling—and that's when the sky really comes alive.
11) Social Perfectionist
Your quick wit and empathetic nature make you a highly sought-after companion, someone who thrives in the spotlight yet deeply values helping others. Your vibrant presence and leadership quickly draw people to you, making you a central figure in any social setting.
12) Quiet Soul (previously Sidekick)
You may not crave the spotlight, but your support makes others shine. While the idea of leadership may make you uneasy, your knack for diffusing tension is invaluable. Amid the roar of heroes and ego, you're the quiet harmony that brings the whole song together.
13) Captivator (previously Social Butterfly)
You effortlessly capture attention, transforming casual interactions into compelling exchanges. Although your relationships may, at times, have their share of drama, it contributes to the dynamic and vibrant tapestry of your life. You thrive in the spotlight, masterfully navigating the give-and-take of social exchanges.
14) Soft-hearted
You're the tender touch in a world too often rough around the edges. Where others might dash ahead, you thoughtfully pause to pick up the pieces, be it a friend's broken spirit or a stranger's lost smile. In a world dominated by debate and division, your careful approach is the gentle breeze that calms the storm—and we could all use a bit more of that.
15) Truth-seeker
In a world awash with half-truths and easy answers, your dedication shines as you dive deep for pearls of wisdom. Where others nod and accept, you raise an eyebrow and manage challenges with an efficient, structured approach. Not prone to anxiety, you embrace complexities with a calm outlook, questioning the existing paths and daring to carve out new ones.
16) Turbulent Spirit
You're a complex puzzle: a serene surface sometimes hiding turbulent rapids below. Your empathy shines through, but you also hold others to high standards and may grow frustrated when they fall short. You're like a sailboat on calm seas that occasionally encounters raging storms.
How we developed the personality clusters for the our personality test
We initially used Positly.com to recruit 560 U.S. participants to complete the 120 personality questions in the test. Then, using cluster analysis, we (entirely empirically) divided them into 16 groups so that people's responses within a group resembled each other's responses, yet diverged from people in other clusters. We then calculated the average responses for each question within each cluster, so that we could understand how clusters diverged from each other. For example, one cluster notably disagrees with the statement 'I make an effort to follow the rules,' setting it apart from the rest, which contributed to our naming this group 'Nonconformist'.
That means that all of the 16 clusters were automatically chosen via a clustering algorithm, but the naming and description of each cluster, while heavily informed by data, involved making some subjective choices about how to describe the ways that the clusters differ from each other.
Since then, we’ve updated the test using data gathered from over 24,000 global users. We’ve also renamed some personality types and changed their descriptions to better reflect this data.
Frequent answers and questions about Personality Tests
Your personality impacts every area of your life, including your career, relationships and wellbeing. Improving your self-understanding through taking a personality test can help you decide which career paths and relationship styles you’d be best suited to, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and communicate better with others.
Our Ultimate Personality Test takes just 12 minutes, and provides you with a personalized report based on the three most popular personality frameworks! If you’re keen to learn more, check out our FAQ section below.
What are the most popular personality tests?
Some of the most popular personality tests are the The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Big Five and the Enneagram, all of which we have explained in detail above.
Others include CliftonStrengths, which provides test-takers with their top five strengths and advice on how to use them in their career, and the DISC assessment, which breaks down your personality according to four core behavioral styles – dominance, influence, steadiness and conscientiousness.
How accurate are personality tests?
The accuracy of personality tests varies considerably, and depends on how you define ‘accuracy’. One possible measure is how well they predict life outcomes. We studied how well the Jungian (based on MBTI), Big Five and Enneagram tests performed according to this measure, and found that the Big Five significantly outperformed the other two.
We also found that tests scoring participants on a continuous scale (such as the Big Five), rather than using binaries (such as MBTI-style tests), tend to have better accuracy. This may be because most traits form bell curves, with many people falling near the middle – a nuance that is lost when they are placed on either side of a binary distinction.
Can personality types change over time?
Personality tests can give different results over time, but a test’s consistency (or its ‘retest reliability’) tends to be a good indicator of its accuracy. Research suggests that life events can have real effects on personality, though these are generally small – meaning that large variability in personality test results is more likely due to issues with the test itself.
What do the results of personality tests mean?
Personality test results can be viewed as frameworks to help you understand your behavioral tendencies, preferences and strengths. They can help you identify unhelpful patterns, or be one of the many tools you use to make decisions about your career or relationships, but shouldn’t be taken as absolute truths.
How can I find my personality type?
You can take several personality tests to find your personality type, including the Big Five, MBTI-inspired tests, and the Enneagram, all of which we’ve explained above. You can also take our Ultimate Personality Test, which was created using aspects of all three.
Are personality tests scientifically validated?
The Big Five is the personality test best supported by empirical evidence. It was created using factor analysis to study relationships between thousands of personality-descriptive words and identify five factors that explain most variation in people's self-reported traits. It has been repeatedly validated through peer-reviewed studies, shown consistency across languages and cultures, and has a good track record in predicting life outcomes.
Others such as MBTI-style tests and the Enneagram tend to perform less well, likely because they work by classifying people according to binaries. Since personality traits tend to fall on a spectrum, this can lead to less useful or predictive results. Neither are considered to have the same level of empirical backing as the Big Five.
How do personality tests benefit relationships?
Taking a personality test can give you insights into your traits and preferences that you can then communicate with other people in your life to help them understand you better, and vice versa. Better understanding your own and others’ communicative styles may help you avoid or more easily resolve conflict.
What is the difference between MBTI and the Big Five
MBTI-style tests assign you a personality type composed of four letters, each showing which of two opposite characteristics you lean toward, whereas the Big Five scores you on five core traits. The key difference is that the Big Five tells you precisely where you fall on the sliding scale of each trait, whereas MBTI-style tests place you on either side of a binary (this is one of the reasons why the Big Five is generally considered more accurate).
The Big Five also includes neuroticism, which has no equivalent in the MBTI. This makes the Big Five more comprehensive than the MBTI – though we also found that it makes participants feel more negatively towards their Big Five score.
Can I use personality tests for career planning?
While they shouldn’t be the sole tool you use to choose a career path, personality tests can provide some helpful insights that may help you narrow down your options. People in certain roles may benefit from particular personality traits – for example, high levels of conscientiousness may set you up well for a career in law. Some tests, such as the DISC Assessment, are specifically designed to help improve job performance through insights into workstyle preferences and habits.
Are there any free personality tests available online?
There are many free personality tests available online (such as the Clearer Thinking Ultimate Personality Test), as well as plenty of paid ones. There is not one ‘official’ Big Five test that you need to pay for – rather there are many tests you can take online that use the Big Five model, many of which are free. The same is true for the Enneagram.
There is an official MBTI test, which charges a fee. There are free, MBTI-style tests online, but the original test is copyrighted and only available to paid users.