Why do I get different results on different Enneagram tests?

You take an Enneagram test and get one result. You decide to confirm that result by taking a different Enneagram test but instead end up with a different result. What started off as your attempt to confirm the type suggested by the first test instead leads to more confusion about your type.

What's the reason behind these different results? Is it the tests? Is it you? Is it both?

Differences between Enneagram tests

You might believe that all Enneagram tests are interchangeable and that it doesn't matter so much which one you take because they all test for the same thing. But there are reasons that may not be true.

Different Interpretations

On the surface it can seem that everyone is talking about the same thing when they mention the Enneagram types, but digging a little deeper you'll find that everyone has their own interpretation of the types. The differences may be subtle or profound.

These differences often become obvious when trying to determine the type of well known people or characters. Even when there's a majority consensus of someone's type, there's bound to be someone that sees a different typing. With some famous people there's no obvious consensus of their type at all.

Enneagram tests are also using their own interpretation of the types when trying to determine your type. As such, it shouldn't be much of a surprise when two tests type you differently.

Different Emphasis

Even when two different interpretations of the types are in general agreement, there may be a difference about which characteristics, traits, or core elements is considered most important.

The corresponding tests may then be a reflection of these differences. One test may place greater emphasis on one set of characteristics while another test emphasizes a different set of characteristics.

At first glance that may not seem like a big difference but know that not everyone of particular type identifies with all characteristics of that type. The effect is that you might strongly identify with the characteristics of a type on one test but not the characteristics of that same type on another test.

Poor Wording

Most tests present statements or words that you respond to by agreeing or disagreeing with them. If you can't figure out what the question is asking or the statement is saying then how can you give a response that will help determine your type?

The problem here often has to do with the conciseness and relevance of the wording used.

If there are multiple ways the statement can be interpreted or misinterpreted then there won't be the exactness needed to determine type. If the statement is not relevant to the type then it's at best not usable and at worst leads to the wrong typing.

Testing Method

Many tests use some form of Likert scale for the responses. This gives you a range of responses such as strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree.

The choices you're given range from two (i.e., yes/no, agree/disagree, etc.) all the way up to seven levels of agreement/disagreement. Up to a point, the more choices you have the more of a distinction that can be made between types and the more weight can be given to a response.

When you only have two choices then there is no distinction between a strong response and a mild one. With too many choices it might become a challenge to respond consistently across all test items (e.g., strongly agree, agree, somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree, disagree, strongly disagree).

Some tests take more of a forced-choice approach where you're choosing between two or more types. They can compare words, statements, paragraphs, or even images. Your likely type "bubbles up" because you choose it more often.

One problem with the forced-choice method is that each response has the same weighting. You may not feel strongly toward either type in one question but your response is given the same weighting as a response where you do feel strongly about a type in another question.

Consistency of test responses

Although different Enneagram tests on their own can lead to different results for you, there also might be some things that you can do differently to have more consistent results.

Answer how you've been most of your life

We aren't exactly the same person everyday. We shift moods and state of mind. We're influenced by what happens to be going on in our lives at the moment. We have our good days and bad days. This can influence the responses given on an Enneagram test.

One way to compensate for these shifts is take the test as you've been most of your life.

This not only takes into consideration times in your life when your type may have been more obvious but also minimizes the effect of the day to day influences, allowing your test responses to be more consistent between tests.

Take multiple tests on the same day

While answering as you've been most of your life can minimize how much changes in day to day curcumstances might affect your test responses, actually taking the test on the same day can reduce that effect even further.

You'll likely remain in the same mindset when taking a second test as you were when you took the first test.

You may want to take a pause between tests so that you can take each test with a fresh mind. Without that pause you may feel a bit fatigued or even find yourself rushing through the test items on automatic without thoroughly reading and understanding them.

Be consistent with the testing environment

If you take the first test by yourself and a second test with a friend then the second test responses will be influenced in a way that weren't on the first test. Either take both tests alone or both with the same friend if you want more consistency between the tests.

If you are able to avoid distractions on one test then find a time when you can do the same with another test. These distractions might have to do with noise, multi-tasking, intrusions, etc.

A pause in a test can also have an effect. You may take part of the test before being interrupted to do something else. When you come back to the test you may be in a different state of mind or mood and respond differently then you would have if you weren't interrupted. It may be better to just start over later if the interruption put you in a different mental space.