Most people take an Enneagram test thinking it will tell them which Enneagram type or variant they are. Many end up disappointed when they realize the test result was wrong. Experienced Enneagram enthusiasts will often tell someone new to the system not to waste their time with tests.
So, are there good reasons for taking Enneagram tests? Yes, just not what most people might think.
The first and most obvious way to try to find your type is to simply read Enneagram type descriptions and see which one stands out for you. For some people their type is obvious. For others it's not.
Three common reasons people can't find their type in the type descriptions.
This is where the tests can be useful.
It's common to see yourself in more than one type because you are more than one type. "Your Enneagram type" is the type that's most dominant.
One problem when using type descriptions to discover your Enneagram type is that it's not always clear which characteristics in the description are most important. They can all seem to have equal weighting.
While you might identify with characteristics from two different types the characteristics from one type might be core to the type but the characteristics from the other type could be of a less important or secondary nature.
One thing a good Enneagram test does is try to get at what's most central to a type by placing greater emphasis on the core characteristics.
If you don't see yourself in any type description it could simply be that you don't identify with everything about that type.
Type descriptions often attempt to describe personality. The problem is not everyone will express Enneagram type in exactly the same way because there are many other influences upon personality besides Enneagram type.
It's easy to overgeneralize or even stereotype the types by not considering the unique individuality of people's life experiences and influences.
Again, what's important with determining type is to look at what's core to that type. The secondary type characteristics, traits, and behaviors won't be true for everyone. Those are only possible expressions of type.
Although a test may include some references to secondary characteristics, a good test will place much more emphasis on what's core to type.
When you're first learning about the Enneagram types it may not be obvious to you the precise differences between certain types. It may take time seeing the types in action to bring the written type descriptions off the page into real life.
You might be on the fence about which of two or three types best fit for you and not know how to decide between them.
Some tests compare two or more types at a time to force you into making a clear choice between types. Other tests give weighting to a type by offering responses along the lines of strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly diagree.
The biggest reason that people become disappointed with Enneagram tests is that their looking for a shortcut to finding their type.
Don't expect a test to tell you you're Enneagram type. It's your job to discover that for yourself.
An Enneagram test can suggest types for you to explore on your journey to discovering your type. Some of these suggestions may not lead to your type in the end. Other suggestions may offer possibilities you haven't thought of. For those lucky enough, the first suggestion will lead right to your type.
It's a learning process and one of self-discovery that requires time. You'll probably have to try on a few types before you find the best fit.