The Keirsey Temperament Sorter

Circle the choice that best describes you. You must circle one choice for each item.

1. At a party do you 12. In approaching others is your inclination to be

a. interact with many, including strangers somewhat
b. interact with a few, known to you a. objective
b. personal
2. Are you more
a. realistic than speculative 13. Are you more
b. speculative than realistic a. punctual
b. leisurely
3. Is it worse to
a. have your “head in the clouds” 14. Does it bother you more having things
b. be “in a rut” a. incomplete
b. completed
4. Are you more impressed by
a. principles 15. In your social groups do you
b. emotions a. keep abreast of others’ happenings
b. get behind on the news
5. Are you more drawn toward the
a. convincing 16. In doing ordinary things are you more likely to
b. touching a. do it the usual way
b. do it your own way
6. Do you prefer to work
a. to deadlines 17. Writers should
b. just “whenever” a. “say what they mean and mean what they say”
b. express things more by use of analogy
7. Do you tend to choose
a. rather carefully 18. Which appeals to you more
b. somewhat impulsively a. consistency of thought
b. harmonious human relationships
8. At parties do you
a. stay late, with increasing energy 19. Are you more comfortable in making
b. leave early, with decreased energy a. logical judgments
b. value judgments
9. Are you attracted to
a. sensible people 20. Do you want things
b. imaginative people a. settled and decided
b. unsettled and undecided
10. Are you more interested in
a. what is actual 21. Would you say you are more
b. what is possible a. serious and determined
b. easy-going
11. In judging others are you more swayed by
a. laws than circumstances 22. In phoning do you
b. circumstances than laws a. rarely question that it will all be said
b. rehearse what you’ll say
23. Facts a. definite
a. “speak for themselves” b. open-ended
b. illustrate principles
36. Does new and non-routine interaction with others
24. Are visionaries a. stimulate and energize you
a. somewhat annoying b. tax your reserves
b. rather fascinating
37. Are you more frequently
25. Are you more often a. a practical sort of person
a. a cool-headed person b. a fanciful sort of person
b. a warm-hearted person
38. Are you more likely to
26. Is it worse to be a. see how others are useful
a. unjust b. see how others see
b. merciless
39. Which is more satisfying
27. Should one usually let events occur a. to discuss an issue thoroughly
a. by careful selection and choice b. to arrive at agreement on an issue
b. randomly and by chance
40. Which rule you more
28. Do you feel better about a. your head
a. having purchased b. your heart
b. having the option to buy
41. Are you more comfortable with work that is
29. In company do you a. contracted
a. initiate conversation b. done on a casual basis
b. wait to be approached
42. Do you tend to look for
30. Common sense is a. the orderly
a. rarely questionable b. whatever turns up
b. frequently questionable
43. Do you prefer
31. Children often do not a. many friends with brief contacts
a. make themselves useful enough b. a few friends with more lengthy contact
b. exercise their fantasy enough
44. Do you go more by
32. In making decisions do you feel more comfortable with a. facts
a. standards b. principles
b. feelings
45. Are you more interested in
33. Are you more a. production and distribution
a. firm than gentle b. design and research
b. gentle than firm
46. Which is more of a compliment
34. Which is more admirable a. There is a very logical person.
a. the ability to organize and be methodical b. There is a very sentimental person.
b. the ability to adapt and make do
47. Do you value in yourself more that you are
35. Do you put more value on the a. unwavering
 b. devoted
60. Which seems the greater error
48. Do you more often prefer the a. to be too passionate
a. final and unalterable statement b. to be too objective
b. tentative and preliminary statement
61. Do you see yourself as basically
49. Are you more comfortable a. hard-hearted
a. after a decision b. soft-hearted
b. before a decision
62. Which situation appeals to you more
50. Do you a. the structured and scheduled
a. speak easily and at length with strangers b. the unstructured and unscheduled
b. find little to say to strangers
63. Are you a person who is more
51. Are you more likely to trust your a. routinized than whimsical
a. experience b. whimsical than routinized
b. hunch
64. Are you more inclined to be
52. Do you feel a. easy to approach
a. more practical than ingenious b. somewhat reserved
b. more ingenious than practical
65. In writings do you prefer
53. Which person is more to be complimented: one of a. the more literal
a. clear reason b. the more figurative
b. strong feeling
66. It is harder for you to
54. Are you inclined to be a. identify with others
a. fair-minded b. utilize others
b. sympathetic
67. Which do you wish more for yourself
55. Is it preferable mostly to a. clarity of reason
a. make sure things are arranged b. strength of compassion
b. just let things happen
68. Which is the greater fault
56. In relationships should most things be a. being indiscriminate
a. renegotiable b. being critical
b. random and circumstantial
69. Do you prefer the
57. When the phone rings do you a. planned event
a. hasten to get to it first b. the unplanned event
b. hope someone else will answer
70. Do you tend to be more
58. Do you prize more in yourself a. deliberate than spontaneous
a. a strong sense of reality b. spontaneous than deliberate
b. a vivid imagination

59. Are you drawn more to

a. fundamentals
b. overtones
Directions for Scoring
1. Locate the item number on the scoring sheet. If you circled the “a” response, place a check
in the “a” column; if you circled the “b” response, place a check in the “b” column.
2. Count the number of checks in each column, and place the number in the last square at the
bottom of the column (see the next page for illustration). Each of the 14 boxes should have
a number in it.
3. Transfer the number in the box No. 1 of the answer sheet to box No. 1 below the answer
sheet. Do this for box No. 2 as well. Note, however, that you have two numbers for
boxes 3 through 8. Bring down the first number for each box beneath the second, as
indicated by the arrows. Now add all the pairs of numbers and enter the total in the boxes
below the answer sheet, so each box has only one number.

a b a b a b a b a b a b a b

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40 41 42

43 44 45 46 47 48 49

50 51 52 53 54 55 56

57 58 59 60 61 62 63

64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Total Total Total

Copy
E I numbers S N T F J P
above to the
cells to the
right and
one row
below
4. Now you have four pairs of numbers. Circle the letter below the larger number of each
pair (see the answer sheet below for illustration). If the two numbers of any pair are equal,
then circle neither, but put a large X below them and circle it. You have now identified your
“type.”