How creative are you? The following test helps you determine if you have the personality traits, attitudes, values, motivations, and interests that characterize creativity. It is based on several years' study of attributes possessed by men and women in a variety of fields and occupations who think and act creatively.


Follow these instructions:

    For each statement, select the appropriate response:
  • A. Agree
  • B. Undecided or Don't Know
  • C. Disagree
When you are finished answering all the questions, press the button at the bottom of the exercise to tabulate your scrore.

Be as frank as possible. Try not to second guess how a creative person might respond. Consult the scoring key in the How Creative Are You? Section of the answers page to form a basis for comparing your scores with others.


Please choose the approriate alternative:

(Choose A., B. or C. for Questions 1-39
And check ten characteristics for question 40)

1. I always work with a great deal of certainty that I am following the correct procedure for solving a particular problem.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

2. It would be a waste of time for me to ask questions if I had no hope of obtaining answers.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

3. I concentrate harder on whatever interests me than most people.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

4. I feel that a logical step-by-step method is best for solving problems.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

5. In groups I occasionally voice opinions that seem to turn people off.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

6. I spend a great deal of time thinking about what others think of me.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

7. It is more important for me to do what I believe to be right than to try to win the approval of others.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

8. People who seem uncertain about things lose my respect.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

9. More than other people, I need to have things interesting and exciting.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

10. I know how to keep my inner impulses in check.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

11. I am able to stick with difficult problems over extended periods of time.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

12. On occasion I get overly enthusiastic.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

13. I often get my best ideas when doing nothing in particular.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

14. I rely on intuitive hunches and feelings of "rightness" or "wrongness" when moving toward the solution of a problem.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

15. When problem solving, I work faster when analyzing the problem and slower when synthesizing the information I have gathered.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

16. I sometimes get a kick out of breaking the rules and doing things I am not supposed to.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

17. I like hobbies that involve collecting things.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

18. Daydreaming has provided the impetus for many of my more important projects.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

19. I like people who are objective and rational.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

20. If I had to choose from two occupations other than the one I now have, I would rather be a physician than an explorer.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

21. I can get along more easily with people if they belong to about the same social and business class as myself.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

22. I have a high degree of aesthetic sensitivity.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

23. I am driven to achieve high status and power in life.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

24. I like people who are sure of their conclusions.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

25. Inspiration has nothing to do with the successful solution of problems.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

26. When I am in an argument, my greatest pleasure would be for the person who disagrees with me to become a friend, even at the price of sacrificing my point of view.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

27. I am much more interested in coming up with new ideas than in trying to sell them to others.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

28. I would enjoy spending an entire day alone, just "chewing the mental cud."
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

29. I tend to avoid situations in which I might feel inferior.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

30. In evaluating information, the source is more important to me than the content.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

31. I resent things being uncertain and unpredictable.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

32. I like people who follow the rule, "business before pleasure."
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

33. Self-respect is much more important than the respect of others.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

34. I feel that people who strive for perfection are unwise.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

35. I prefer to work with others in a team effort rather than solo.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

36. I like work in which I must influence others.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

37. Many problems that I encounter in life cannot be resolved in terms of right or wrong solutions.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

38. It is important for me to have a place for everything and everything in its place.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

39. Writers who use strange and unusual words merely want to show off.
A. Agree
B. Undecided or Don't Know
C. Disagree

40. Below is a list of terms that describe people. Choose ten words that best characterize you.
energetic alert
persuasive curious
observant organized
fashionable unemotional
self-confident clear-thinking
persevering understanding
original dynamic
cautious self-demanding
habit-bound polished
resourceful courageous
egotistical efficient
independent helpful
stern perceptive
predictable quick
formal good-natured
informal thorough
dedicated impulsive
forward-looking determined
factual realistic
open-minded modest
tactful involved
inhibited absent-minded
enthusiastic flexible
innovative sociable
poised well-liked
acquisitive restless
practical retiring


After you have answered ALL 40 questions, please press the button to tabulate your scores.
Press to clear the page.

Creativity Score


Find your score in the table below.


Comparison Data
95-116 Exceptionally creative
65-94 Very creative
40-64 Above Average
20-39 Average
10-19 Below average
Below 10 Noncreative




To see how these scores were computed, you can go to How Creative Are You? Section of the answers page.

"Solving Problems Creatively" exercises taken from Developing Management Skills by David A. Whetton and Kim S. Cameron