Judging vs. Perceiving Test: Discover Your Approach to Life

How do you want to live? Do you want your life to be planned and organized, with fast and confident decisions? If the answer is yes, you are likely a Judger. Or perhaps you prefer a more spontaneous lifestyle, where plans get adjusted as your mood changes and new information comes in. If this sounds more appealing than the first option, then in all likelihood, you are a Perceiver.

The Judging vs. Perceiving preference is particularly interesting because it reflects our natural inclination when deciding what matters to us and what we should or should not do. Perceivers tend to get stuck in information-gathering mode, while Judgers tend to decide quickly — sometimes before they have enough information.

As with other preferences, one is not better than the other. Each preference is more appropriate in certain situations. And both ways of being — Judging and Perceiving — can sometimes cause problems if they get out of control. Still, we tend to lean toward one or the other, and this is what the test below is designed to identify.

I want to make the most of my day, and I plan everything in advance.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I don’t like stressing over schedules; I just start my day and see how it goes.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I make decisions based on my objectives.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I let things happen and figure everything out as I go.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I am a result-oriented person.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I am relatively comfortable with the unknown.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

My home and office are clean and organized.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I deal with problems as they arise.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I aim to finish everything before the deadline.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I don’t pressure others. I live and let live.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I love the feeling of a job well done and goals accomplished.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I do things at the last minute.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I take time to collect a lot of information before making a decision.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

Because I don’t like having open questions in my mind, I try to get answers as soon as possible.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I hold others to the same standards I hold myself.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I want to feel like I am in the driver’s seat of my life.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I need a certain level of predictability and stability to feel comfortable.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I want to keep my options open; you never know what’s next.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I plan every day of my vacation in advance.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I don’t mind spontaneous changes in plans.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I am often accused of being rigid.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I enjoy new ideas and starting new projects.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I have trouble throwing things away in case I need them later.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I adapt to whatever comes along.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I want my life to feel settled, and I want to know where I am going.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I make fast decisions.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I avoid commitment because I don’t want to miss any opportunities.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

I don’t see any problem with postponing tasks when I need to.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Not sure
Disagree slightly
Disagree
Disagree strongly

GET RESULTS

0–55

If you scored in this range, you are a Perceiver, which means:

• You are spontaneous.
• You often get sidetracked.
• You adapt easily.
• You enjoy exploring new options.
• You postpone decisions until you have enough information.
• You are comfortable with uncertainty and change.
• You want to keep your options open.
• You are open to new experiences and ideas.

56–111

If you scored within this range, you probably show traits of both preferences. This is common, especially when your score is close to the middle. Generally, if you scored less than 84, you are closer to Perceiving. If you scored 84 or more, you are closer to Judging. Still, it may help to observe yourself for a few weeks.

Ask yourself:

• Do you make fast decisions?
• Do you tend to give your opinions all the time?
• Is it important to you to feel productive?
• Do you tend to postpone and cancel things?
• Do you always feel like you need more information before deciding?
• Do plans and schedules stress you out?

If you are trying to identify your four-letter type and you know your other three preferences, you can read through the relevant personality profiles to see what describes you better. For example, if you know your other preferences are I, S, and T, you can read through the ISTJ and ISTP personality profiles.

112–168

If you scored in this range, you are a Judger.

• You enjoy having a clear plan in place.
• You make to-do lists and enjoy checking off tasks.
• You make decisions quickly because you need closure. Similarly, you want quick answers from others.
• You are very organized.
• You are always on time.
• You want to see results.
• You are focused and efficient.
• You want to know what is next.
• You are very reliable and dependable.

Identify your other preferences:

Introvert, Extrovert, Ambivert Test
Thinking vs. Feeling Test
Sensing vs. Intuition Test

16 Personalities