Should You Trust Enneagram Tests?
I’m a sucker for personality tests. So when I first heard about the Enneagram a few years ago, I quickly found a free Enneagram test online and thought it would be fun to discover my “number.”
I went into it not knowing anything about the Enneagram. I just knew I liked taking personality tests to see what they would tell me about myself.
I googled “free Enneagram test” and clicked on the first website in my search results. I took the Likert scale-type test, and my final result told me I was an Enneagram Type One - “The Perfectionist.”
I have perfectionistic tendencies, so I thought this was an apt title and henceforth labeled myself as such without really reading what it meant to be a Type One.
Spoiler alert - I am not a Type One. I had been mistyped and didn’t even know it.
After calling myself a Type One for the next couple of years, when it would come up in conversation, I decided to take a different test, and guess what? Type One didn’t even come up in my top three matches.
I soon discovered that I was actually a Type Nine, and this ultimately set me on the path of self-discovery that would be life-changing. (Read my personal story of my Enneagram journey here.)
Unfortunately, it seems most people taking free Enneagram tests are going through the same thing I did all those years ago. People will mistype themselves based on what the results tell them.
Why You Should Use Caution When Taking a Free Enneagram Test
As humans, we want quick fixes or answers to our problems without taking the time to look into them and see if the answers are accurate. We live in a world of immediate gratification.
I’ve been guilty of this, but I want to caution you that when taking free Enneagram tests, remember that you shouldn’t take the results to heart. These tests are just a jumping-off point to discovering what your Enneagram Type is.
Here are three things to keep in mind when taking free Enneagram typing tests:
1. Subtypes Aren’t Usually Factored Into the Typing Process
Enneagram tests are usually based on the nine main Enneagram Types without mentioning subtypes. There are three subtypes to every Type, meaning there are 27 personality types. (Learn more about subtypes here.)
The chances a test will accurately tell you your Type, especially if you’re a countertype, are slim. Subtypes are significant when processing and doing inner growth work. It's something that will be beneficial to look into.
2. Just Because It’s Free Doesn’t Mean It’s Best
It’s easy to take a "free" test and trust what it tells you. But the price you pay for being mistyped will be higher in the long run. You lose the opportunity to start the self-development process when mistyped.
There are some Enneagram tests you can pay for that will give you more accurate results. (I recommend the Enneagram Compass Test created by Enneagram experts Beatrice Chestnut, Uranio Paes, and Fergus Sullivan). However, you’ll still have to do your own research to really narrow down your Type.
3. If You’re Serious About Discovering Your Type, Talking to an Enneagram Expert Will Give You More Accurate Results
Enneagram practitioners are the best resource to help you accurately find your Type and subtype. These experts are trained in the typing interview process and know the right questions to ask to help figure out your main Type.
Trying to discover your Type on your own can be a potential headache, especially when you’re ready to dive into inner work.
Talking to an expert will cost you a fee (typing interviews range from $20 to $100). But talking to someone well-versed in the Enneagram system can be well worth the cost.
So, Should You Take a Free Enneagram Test?
Taking a free Enneagram test can be a great jumping-off point for anyone interested in learning their Type, but remember to take your results with a grain of salt.
Know that the Enneagram isn’t just another fun personality test. Its primary purpose is to help people develop and break out of the personality that’s been holding them back their whole lives.
Make sure to do your research because, ultimately, you are the one who knows yourself best.