Free self-tests · 3 min · 10 questions
Self-Esteem Test (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale)
This free self-esteem test uses the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, written by the sociologist Morris Rosenberg in 1965 and still one of the most widely used measures of how people feel about themselves overall. It has ten short statements about your general feelings towards yourself.
It takes about three minutes. There are no right answers, so go with your first response. Everything is scored in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. The result is a starting point for reflection, not a diagnosis.
Free, no sign-up. Your progress is saved only in this browser on this device, so you can stop and come back later. Nothing is sent to anyone.
Below is a list of statements dealing with your general feelings about yourself. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.
Your results
This is a self-report questionnaire, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can assess you properly.
Talk it through: book a session
The PDF is created on your device. Your saved answers stay in this browser until you start again or clear them.
What your score means
Your score is the total of ten answers, from 0 to 30. Five statements are worded negatively and scored in reverse, so a higher total always means higher self-esteem.
There's no official pass mark. The University of Maryland, where Rosenberg worked, says there are no discrete cut-off points for high and low self-esteem. The bands here simply split the 0 to 30 range into lower, middle and upper sections, so read them as a rough guide to where your answers sit on the scale, not as a judgement or a comparison with other people.
Self-esteem is often shaped by the messages we grew up with. If you were raised to put others first, or you've moved somewhere you feel less capable than you did at home, a lower score can make a lot of sense. You might find the pages on people-pleasing or feeling stuck useful.
In person-centred counselling, the aim is to offer the kind of acceptance that can make it easier to accept yourself. If that appeals, read about online counselling for women or book a session. If you're feeling hopeless or thinking about harming yourself, please contact your local emergency number (112 across the EU) or a crisis line now; counselling isn't an emergency service.
How the RSES score works
10 questions, scored by adding up your answers; 5 are reverse-scored. These are the score ranges this page uses to describe your result. Where the questionnaire's authors publish official cut-offs, the ranges follow them; the sources are listed below.
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Lower end of the scale | 0 to 10 |
| Middle of the scale | 11 to 20 |
| Upper end of the scale | 21 to 30 |
About this questionnaire
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) by Morris Rosenberg (1965).
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press.
Used in line with the published terms of use.
Questions people ask
What does the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale measure?
It measures global self-esteem, meaning your overall sense of your own worth, rather than confidence in one area such as work or looks. Morris Rosenberg first developed it in the 1960s with high school students in New York State, and it has since been used with adults in many countries and languages.
What is a normal score?
There isn't an official normal range. The University of Maryland's guidance says there are no discrete cut-off points and suggests looking at research on groups similar to your own. Averages differ between countries, ages and samples, so it's more useful to notice what your answers say to you than to compare yourself with a number.
Are my answers stored anywhere?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and score aren't saved on a server, sent to me, or shared with anyone. If you close or refresh the page they're gone, so jot down your score if you'd like to compare it with a later attempt.
Can self-esteem change?
It can and often does. Self-esteem tends to move with relationships, achievements, setbacks and the way we talk to ourselves. A score taken during a difficult period may look very different a year later. If it feels stuck low, talking with someone who listens without judging can be a good place to start.