Methodology and Reliability of the Enneagram Test (2024)
By reading this study, you'll gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by Enneagram tests in general, as well as the methodology and work that went into making enneagram-personality.com possibly the most reliable online Enneagram test available today.
Summary
Introduction
The Enneagram test enneagram-personality.com (formerly enneagram.bz) has been around since 2018. It was designed to be as reliable as possible after its creators noticed that most popular online Enneagram tests weren't reliable enough. As a result, many people were missing out on the Enneagram's potential because they received a result that didn't truly fit them—even though these tests were widely available and popular.
A reliable Enneagram test requires precise questions specifically tailored to each Enneagram type, as well as a complex algorithm. Each response helps favor certain types while disadvantaging others.
A Refined Algorithm and Its Facets
In the years since its launch, over 1,500,000 people have taken the Enneagram test offered by enneagram-personality.com. This large user base has allowed the test's administrators to fulfill their goal of refining the test's algorithm to the fullest extent possible.
The test's algorithm is quite complex. For each question, certain types are favored, while others are disfavored. To refine it effectively, each question was carefully studied by analyzing the average response from each type (among users with reliably confirmed results) across large data samples and adhering to the core theory of the Enneagram. Sometimes questions had to be replaced if they were too relevant to multiple types, ensuring they were as targeted as possible for the specific type in question and reducing the chance that multiple types would strongly identify with that same statement.
For instance, consider the test statement "By nature, I'm adaptable and sociable; I blend easily into any social circle I want to join" (Type 3). This statement is very pertinent. An internal analysis of average responses by type might look like this (out of 10,730 results):
Where users could respond as follows:
- 2/2 = "This is very true"
- 1/2 = "This is true"
- 0/2 = Neutral
- -1/2 = "This is false"
- -2/2 = "This is very false"
You can see that Type 3 scores 1.7/2, meaning a strong majority of Type 3s rate this statement as "very true." Most other types respond neutrally or negatively (for example, Type 5 at -1.1/2, due to their more introverted nature), with the exception of Type 7 (0.7/2)—slightly leaning toward "true," since 7s are known for being outgoing and adaptable.
But how do we differentiate between Type 3 and Type 7 when they can sometimes appear similar? That's exactly the challenge of a well-refined Enneagram test. For example, here's another statement that targets Type 3:
"I often represent what success looks like to others, and that motivates me."
In this case, most types respond neutrally or negatively (Type 7 is around 0/2 on average), while Type 3 is at 1.1/2, and Type 8 is slightly higher at 0.6/2 because they are drawn to power. However, it's easy to exclude Type 8 from Type 7 using the earlier statement: Type 8 was at 0.3/2, whereas Type 7 was at 0.7/2!
Following this principle, each statement is carefully chosen so it may favor certain types or disfavor others (thereby adjusting their scores) to maximize the test's reliability.
Of course, not everyone of the same Enneagram type will respond favorably to all statements designed for that type. However, a good Enneagram test should prioritize the statements that most accurately reflect each type.
Tight Results
Even with all these measures in place, sometimes results can be tight, particularly when the margin is under 12% (for example, 80% Type 8, 70% Type 7, 35% Type 3, etc.). In such instances, the test notifies the user that their result is close (e.g., between Type 8 as the primary type and Type 7 as the secondary possibility with only a 10% gap). It encourages them to read about each dominant type to determine which description fits best, ensuring they aren't misled by a narrow margin.
This aspect is very important. Most other Enneagram tests don't offer this kind of analysis or warn users when they have a tight result. Because of this, many people end up missing out on the Enneagram's potential by discovering a type that doesn't truly fit them. Their actual type might be among the other top scorers, but not flagged as the "primary" type by the test they took.
User Evaluation
When it displays a candidate's results, the Enneagram test enneagram-personality.com specifies whether it believes it identified a clear primary type (i.e., at least a 12% difference from other types). If not, it clearly indicates the other likely possibilities while highlighting the one it considers most probable.
To further refine its algorithm and measure effectiveness, the test invites users to rate their results on a scale from 1 to 5 after reading about the type it suggests:
- 5/5 - "This definitely seems like my main Enneagram type"
- 4/5 - "It looks like me, but I don't think it's my type"
- 3/5 - "I can see some similarities"
- 2/5 - "This doesn't really fit me"
- 1/5 - "That's not me at all"
The latest major update to the algorithm and its questions took place in February 2023. From March 1, 2023, up to the date of this study (December 15, 2024), 1,923 users have rated their results. (These ratings are publicly accessible at this link, sorted by language.) The difference between total users and total evaluators reflects the fact that most users do not leave a rating.
Current overall results from these evaluators show:
| Type |
Evaluators |
1/5 |
2/5 |
3/5 |
4/5 |
5/5 |
| 1 |
136 |
0.74% (1) |
0.74% (1) |
9.56% (13) |
5.88% (8) |
83.09% (113) |
| 2 |
243 |
2.88% (7) |
2.47% (6) |
9.88% (24) |
7.00% (17) |
77.78% (189) |
| 3 |
245 |
3.67% (9) |
6.12% (15) |
14.29% (35) |
11.02% (27) |
64.90% (159) |
| 4 |
272 |
0.74% (2) |
0.74% (2) |
10.66% (29) |
7.35% (20) |
80.51% (219) |
| 5 |
216 |
0.46% (1) |
0.93% (2) |
4.63% (10) |
10.19% (22) |
83.8% (181) |
| 6 |
111 |
1.8% (2) |
0.9% (1) |
9.01% (10) |
12.61% (14) |
75.68% (84) |
| 7 |
190 |
1.58% (3) |
3.68% (7) |
7.89% (15) |
9.47% (18) |
77.37% (147) |
| 8 |
224 |
4.02% (9) |
0.00% (0) |
7.14% (16) |
8.04% (18) |
80.8% (181) |
| 9 |
286 |
2.1% (6) |
1.4% (4) |
6.29% (18) |
7.34% (21) |
82.87% (237) |
| Total |
1923 |
2.08% (40) |
1.98% (38) |
8.84% (170) |
8.58% (165) |
78.52% (1510) |
Out of 1,923 evaluators, 1,510 believe the test correctly identified their main Enneagram type—about 80%, or 4 out of 5 people.
Most Enneagram types, examined individually, also indicate an 80% satisfaction rate. The only slight exception is Type 3, at around 65%, which remains positive but is lower compared to the other types. This may be because Type 3 is often described as the "chameleon" or "performer." Despite highly targeted questions for Type 3, theoretically it's the type that has the hardest time accepting itself—seeking admiration is not always easy to admit, especially for those highly mindful of their public image.
Conclusion
Thanks to years of effort refining its questions and calculation algorithm—and as the only test with a relatively transparent study outlining its internal processes—enneagram-personality.com may well be the most reliable Enneagram test on the internet.
Roughly 80% of its evaluators (4 out of 5) believe the test accurately identified their type. While ideally it would come closer to 100%, there are user-related biases that complicate achieving a perfect score:
- Difficulty in Self-Acceptance: Unlike other personality tests that often highlight mainly positive traits (thereby triggering the Barnum effect), Enneagram theory digs into deeper compulsions and acknowledges areas of "imbalance." Many people struggle with recognizing their flaws or understanding "imbalance," which implies that negative traits don't always appear but show up during less harmonious times, when compulsion takes the lead.
- Difficulty in Answering Objectively: Some users respond with what they believe or wish to be true rather than how they truly behave.
The theory itself may have limitations or need further contributions and development to be more inclusive or adaptable to different profiles. It's worth remembering that important contributions to the modern Enneagram theory are relatively recent—like the influence of psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo in the 1980s, with the introduction of integration and disintegration types—compared to the ancient origins of the Enneagram, whose exact date of origin remains unclear but is often said to span thousands of years.
Lastly, keep in mind the Enneagram was never intended solely as a test but rather as a theory. It's recommended to discover your type by learning more about it independently. An Enneagram test like enneagram-personality.com can be very useful and effective as an introduction—roughly 80% of the time, it may help people find their main type straight away. Nonetheless, even if you believe you've found your type, exploring different resources is always wise. This ensures you've accurately identified your Enneagram type and can get the most out of the theory in terms of personal development.