Types of Psychological Testing

Five core types of psychological testing can provide new insights and helpful suggestions in many aspects of your life. We list them below. The types of psychological tests we give are also covered in other places in different ways. There are also more specific types of psychological assessment tests which we list below and on our “Assessment Specialties” page.

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IQ and Cognitive Types of Psychological Testing

One of the most common types of psychological testing.

An IQ evaluation involves many short measures that provide an overall score, scores grouped regarding significant aspects of intelligence, and individual scores across many domains. The result is that you will know more about your potential within large categories of intelligence (e.g., verbal, visual-spatial, and speed of processing) and specific areas (e.g., visual scanning, planning, word knowledge). With this information, you should be able to decide how to better your performance at work, make career decisions in general, choose an educational path, or even what hobbies and side gigs you might excel at.

Personality and Projective Types of Psychological Testing

Also one of the more common types of psychological testing.

Personality measures come in many forms, all designed to answer questions about how your unique and dynamic personality affects you in your worlds. Personality assessments can help determine the roots of stress, anxiety, depression, or general malaise. They can help determine when you are happiest and most content. It can also clarify how you work best with others, what kind of people affect you positively, and the type of work situation most suited to your happiness. Personality assessments can also help you know whether you have a specific mental health diagnosis. As a result of a Personality evaluation, you should come away with new insights and suggestions you may not have thought of to help you live a more fulfilled life.

Executive Functioning Types of Psychological Testing: ADHD and Learning Differences

One of the most common types of psychological testing for children, and for adults who have never been diagnosed.

A learning style evaluation can uncover how you learn most effectively and give clues on understanding and retaining information fully. It can also determine whether you have an undiagnosed learning difference or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and if you do, how you can manage the symptoms so you still achieve your full potential. A learning style assessment can be helpful whether you are still in school or want to grow and achieve more in your career. This is a common type for children and adolescents, but it can also be very helpful for adults who have never been diagnosed.

Career and Vocational Types of Psychological Testing

Common for young adults and career-changers.

Different types of psychological assessment tests for career and vocational exploration helps you understand your cognitive strengths and weaknesses, as well as your interests and hopes, in a way that can help you choose a career path. Even if you might not want to leave your current job or change careers, career and vocational assessments can help you learn to find more enjoyment, greater satisfaction, and success in what you do now. This is one of the most common types of psychological testing for young adults, but career-changers or possible career-changers later in life can benefit too. Learn more about career and vocational assessments

Mental Health, Autism, and Other Diagnostic Assessments

Tailored to people who have a specific question about their mental health.

A battery of psychological assessment tests can help you determine whether you have a mental health diagnosis and uncover the unique aspects of your diagnosis. This, in turn, can help you find the best path to decreasing your symptoms and overcoming challenges. Psychological assessment of mental health goes beyond merely describing symptoms and can give you a deeper understanding of the roots of your diagnosis and what is maintaining it today.

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Types of Psychological Tests

These types of psychological assessment tests are used to measure individuals’ cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and personality traits. These vary depending on what they aim to assess, and they can be categorized into several types.

Types of Psychological Tests: Intelligence

These measure intellectual abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding.

Examples:

Types of Psychological Tests: Personality

These assess personality traits, behavioral tendencies, and emotional patterns.

Examples:

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Big Five Personality (OCEAN)

Types of Psychological Assessments Tests: Neuropsychological

These evaluate cognitive functioning, typically after brain injury or neurological conditions.

Examples:

Wisconsin Card Sorting
Trail Making
Boston Naming

Types of Psychological Assessment Tests: Achievement

Measure a person’s current knowledge and proficiency in specific subject areas.

Examples:

Aptitude and Interest

Assess potential abilities and talents in specific areas or skills.

Examples:

General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB)
Strong Interest Inventory
Kuder Career Interests Assessments

Types of Psychological Tests: Projectives

These types of psychological assessment tests are designed to uncover unconscious thoughts, emotions, and motivations through ambiguous stimuli.

Examples:

Rorschach Inkblot
Thematic Apperception (TAT)

Behavioral and Social Functioning Assessments

These focus on observing and measuring behaviors in specific contexts, often for diagnosis or treatment planning.

Examples:

Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)
Conners’ Rating Scales (for ADHD)
Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i)
Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS)