PrismaTest
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Locus Of Control Test: Internal Or External?

Twenty statements reveal whether you believe your life is shaped mainly by your own actions or by luck, fate and other people, across work, relationships, health and life.

  • 20 questions
  • About 4 min
  • Free, no sign-up
  • Based on Julian Rotter's locus of control

20 questions, about 4 min

Think about what you believe shapes the outcomes in your life: your own actions, or forces outside your control.

20 statements, 5 answer options. You find out whether your locus of control is internal, external or balanced, across four life areas.

What This Test Measures

Your locus of control is how much you believe outcomes in your life depend on your own actions (internal) versus outside forces such as luck, fate or powerful people (external). This test measures it overall and in four areas of life:

AreaInternal beliefExternal belief
Work and study“Effort brings results.”“It is who you know.”
Relationships“How I treat people matters.”“It is fate.”
Health“My habits shape my health.”“It is down to genes and chance.”
Life in general“I shape my own future.”“Things just happen to me.”

How The Test Works And How It Is Scored

You rate 20 statements from “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree”. Eleven point to an internal belief and nine to an external one, so agreeing with everything lands you near the middle.

Your score shows how internal your locus of control is, from 0% (fully external) to 100% (fully internal).

Internal scoreResult
0% to 30%External
31% to 45%Leaning external
46% to 60%Balanced
61% to 75%Leaning internal
76% to 100%Internal

All statements were written by PrismaTest. They follow Rotter’s concept but are not copied from his Internal-External Scale.

The Model Behind It

American psychologist Julian Rotter introduced locus of control in 1954 as part of his social learning theory and published his Internal-External Scale in 1966. It became one of the most studied ideas in psychology.

Research has found that a more internal locus is linked with:

  • Higher academic and work achievement.
  • Healthier behaviour, such as exercising and not smoking.
  • Better coping with stress.

But a fully internal view is not always better. People facing real barriers, such as discrimination or illness, may be harmed by believing everything is their fault. Psychologist Hanna Levenson later split the external side into “chance” and “powerful others”, recognising that some outside forces are real.

All Possible Results

  • External: life feels shaped by luck and others. Small wins help rebuild a sense of control.
  • Leaning external: some sense of influence, often overshadowed by circumstances.
  • Balanced: a realistic view of personal effort and outside forces.
  • Leaning internal: strong belief in your own influence.
  • Internal: you see yourself as in charge; watch out for self-blame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an internal locus of control better?

It is linked with many good outcomes, but a balanced view is often healthiest, because it recognises real outside limits.

Can locus of control change?

Yes. Experiences of success and support can make it more internal; repeated setbacks can make it more external.

How is this different from self-esteem?

Self-esteem is how you value yourself. Locus of control is what you believe causes outcomes in your life.

Related Tests

Try the self-esteem test or the Type A or B personality test.

For self-reflection only. Not a psychological assessment. See how we build our tests.