The Triadic Enneagram Test

Written and programmed by Fergus Duniho

Questions Last Revised: 2 April 2002

What

This is a short, 21-question test for finding out your Enneagram personality type. This test attempts to identify your Enneagram type by identifying which triadic groups your type belongs to. As a virtually new endeavor, it comes with no guarantee of reliability. Take it with a healthy dose of skepticism. If you use it only as a tool for suggesting what type you might be, then you will be using it responsibly.

Begun in January 2001, it will be regularly updated in an evolutionary manner. When anyone reports his or her Enneagram type while taking this test, data is recorded for statistical evaluation of how accurate each question is. For your privacy, this data does not identify who you are. At each update, the most accurate questions will be kept, and the least accurate will be replaced with new questions.

The Triadic Enneagram Test is the successor of the Duniho Enneagram Test. The TET tests for four triads rather than two, and it identifies your type by an overall score, rather than by consulting a table. The TET is rooted in my own Enneagram theory, which is based on the work of Riso & Hudson, Hurley & Dobson, and others. So that it doesn't influence your test results, I will provide you with a link to the theory only after you take the test.

How to Take the Test

You will be asked a few background questions (which are purely for statistical purposes) and a set of 28 multiple choice questions with 3 answers each. If you already know your Enneagram type, it will help me out a lot if you indicate in the background questions what your Enneagram type is. This is essential information for evaluating the accuracy of each question.

After you answer all the questions, press the submit button to find out how you scored. Bear in mind that only you, and not this or any test, can best identify your Enneagram type. To use this test responsibly, you should use it as a tool for helping your figure out what your Enneagram type might be, not as an infallible oracle that will tell you who you are.

How Reliable is this Test?

1. This test is experimental. It goes through new trials periodically. With each trial, several of the weakest questions are replaced with new questions that are completely untested and have no record of reliability. The general aim is to replace bad questions with better questions, but sometimes the bad questions are replaced with even worse questions. Fortunately, these get weeded out quickly, but it can sometimes take a while to find the better questions. Statistics on this and all previous trials are found on the Statistics page.

2. No personality test can claim infallibility. Your personality type is not how you score on a test. Even if the test gets it right, which it may, it is up to you to confirm whether it is right. Any personality test is nothing but a diagnostic tool, and it is up you to use it responsibly. No personality test is a substitute for looking into yourself and finding out who you are.

3. Even assuming that questions are well-chosen, the accuracy of your results will depend on the accuracy of the information you supply about yourself. If you don't already have some awareness and understanding of your personality, you may well score as a type you're not.

With these caveats mentioned, take a few moments to take the test and find out what you may be. The test is very short, one of the shortest personality tests ever. So it won't take long to take. The order of the questions is randomized, and your results will be automatically calculated for you.

Background Questions

Please answer these background questions if you can. Your answers will be used to help me evaluate the accuracy of the questions, so that I may make future versions of the TET more reliable.

Enneagram Type:

Do you already know your Enneagram type? If you tell me what it is, your scores will be saved as data I can use for weeding out the less accurate questions, which should help me in making more accurate trials of this test. Identifying information about you will not be saved. If you aren't sure of your type, you will help me most by saying so.

No, I do not know my Enneagram type.

Yes, I am a One Two Three Four
Five Six Seven Eight Nine

How strong are your reasons for identifying this as your type? Levels of strength are listed in descending order, with examples provided underneath each level. The lowest level is checked by default. Be sure to correct this if your reasons are better. If you don't know your Enneagram type, just skip this part.

Strong

1) I have studied all nine Enneagram types and have self-identified myself as this type. AND/OR

2) My recognition that I am this type has greatly improved my self-understanding.

Moderate

1) An Enneagram expert has identified me as this type. AND/OR

2) I have tested as this type on several other Enneagram tests.

Weak

1) This is what I scored as on another Enneagram test.

Flimsy

1) This is how I have previously scored on the Triadic Enneagram Test, and I have very little basis besides that.

MBTI type:

Unknown

ISTJ	ISFJ	INFJ	INTJ
ISTP	ISFP	INFP	INTP
ESTP	ESFP	ENFP	ENTP
ESTJ	ESFJ	ENFJ	ENTJ

The Enneagram Test

Please try to answer every question according to your best estimate of how you actually are, as distinguished from how you would like to be. You may skip a question if you really have no preference, but try to give an answer for every question.

1. Which best describes you?: I tend to flaunt fashion.; I tend to keep up with fashion.; I either set fashion or ignore it.

2. Which best describes you?: Easy-going; Objective; Temperamental

3. Which do you most agree with?: Nobody likes a smart alec.; Crying is for sissies.; Physical needs are such a nuisance.

4. How do you tend to deal with life?: By taking action.; With my feelings and emotions.; With knowledge and information.

5. How do you usually handle your anger towards someone?: I try to avoid the person who has made me angry.; I confront the person with my anger.; I usually try to avoid letting it show.

6. Which best describes you?: Reflective; Outspoken; Supportive

7. Which do you most agree with?: I can easily put my feelings aside when I need to.; I can easily put aside logic when the moment calls for it.; I can easily forget about my physical needs when I'm focused on something.

8. Which do you most typically feel?: Afraid.; Ashamed.; Angry.

9. Which do you seem to use most frequently?: My intellect; My gut instincts; My emotional sensitivity

10. Assuming that education is not an issue, which kind of work would you be best at?: Management; Science; Marketing

11. Which best characterizes you?: Happy optimism.; Prepared realism.; Wary pessimism.

12. Which best describes how you live your life?: I live up to ideals to avoid feeling frustrated with myself.; I stay in control of relationships to avoid rejection.; I maintain harmony to keep people close to me.

13. Which are you generally most aware of?: How I feel about something.; My gut reactions.; What I think about something.

14. Which best describes you?: I tend to keep my feelings to myself.; I tend to be very warm and friendly.; Whether good or bad, I tend to share what I'm feeling.

15. Which best describes your emotional life?: My emotions tend to be light and positive.; I am not very well in touch with my emotions.; My emotions tend to be dark and negative.

16. Which do you tend to focus on most?: The task at hand; Other people; My reactions

17. Which best describes your leadership style?: I lead by helping people choose the best course of action.; I lead by blazing a trail for others to follow.; I lead by appealing to shared goals and values.

18. Which best describes you?: Emotional; Instinctual; Intellectual

19. Assuming that ability is not at issue, which newspaper position would best suit you?: Editing the paper; Writing my own column; Reporting news stories

20. Which best describes you?: Emotionally volatile; Optimistic; Level-headed

21. Which best describes you?: Independent; Cooperative; Idealistic

22. Which best describes you?: I like to follow established procedures.; I like to do things my own way.; I like to evaluate different ways of doing things, so that I can choose the best way.

23. Which best describes you?: Leader; Team player; Loner

24. Assuming that ability is not at issue, which government position would best suit you?: Writing legislation; Enforcing the law; Judging legal cases

25. Which is usually the biggest hurdle for you?: Overcoming my fears.; Overcoming my anger.; Overcoming my shame.

26. Which best describes you?: Conscientious; Solitary; Self-confident

27. Which do people admire most about you?: My imagination.; My confidence.; My loyalty.

28. Which best describes you?: I keep a level head and approach things rationally.; I have strong reactions to things.; I generally keep a positive outlook on things.