On a Scale of 1-10, How Much of an Overachiever Are You?

By: Jennifer Post
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
On a Scale of 1-10, How Much of an Overachiever Are You?
Image: Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Being an overachiever is used a lot as an insult when kids are growing up, as if it's something to be ashamed of. Trying hard wasn't cool. Wanting to get good grades and get along with your teacher wasn't cool. So what was cool? Slacking off, not doing homework, skipping class or talking through class, etc. But that was never your style. You didn't care if you were "cool" and you wore your overachiever badge proudly.

Of course, though, there are those who don't, those who hide behind a blasé attitude to fit in, even though they're dying for that A. Then there are those who unsubscribe from overachieving altogether and either become average, or dare it be said, an underachiever. Whichever path you chose in life, there is a scale of achievement. It's not the classic grading scale you remember from school, or the corporate ladder so often used to measure success, but a simple, 1-10 scale to tell how much of an overachiever you really are. If you get all of your assignments and everything on your to-do list completed very early, you might be at an 8. But if you do all of that plus get a head start on the next day's work, well, you might be off the charts! So how much of an achiever are you on a scale of 1-10? Take this quiz to find out!

How many hours a day do you spend on work?
About four, all said and done
A full six, if I had to guess
The normal eight-hour workday
I pretty much work around the clock

Advertisement

What were your grades like when you were in school?
I passed just fine.
I was slightly above average.
Mostly 'A's, but I struggled with a couple of classes
I graduated in the top 10, of course.

Advertisement

Do you pick out your outfits the night before?
Nope
If I have a big meeting or something
I try to, but I don't always remember.
My outfit and my accessories

Advertisement

Do you consider yourself competitive?
Not really, I'm a team player.
I can be competitive if it's something I really care about.
About most things, yes
Everything is a competition to me.

Advertisement

Are you the kind of person to blaze your own path or follow the lead of others?
I have no problem following the lead.
It depends on the situation or task at hand.
I do prefer to be the leader but I'm not above letting others do the same.
I don't do what has already been done.

Advertisement

Do you feel like you're never satisfied?
I'm pretty pleased with things.
I go through phases of that.
I worry I never will be satisfied.
I'll only be satisfied when I'm at the top of my game.

Advertisement

Are you more of a macro or micro thinker?
I find it hard to plan too far ahead.
I do tend to focus too much on the details.
I can see the bigger impact of things.
I love to look at the big picture.

Advertisement

Would you say you are particularly persuasive?
I don't try to be.
I can be, for sure.
I always nailed my persuasive essays in school.
Persuasion is all about being a good salesman, and I think I am.

Advertisement

How do you react if you don't get something done by the time you set out to complete it?
If it was my own schedule it doesn't matter.
I try to be better next time.
I get anxious.
That doesn't happen to me.

Advertisement

Do you think you are the only one responsible for your success?
I know some things are out of my control.
I know I'm not, but sometimes I still feel that way.
Success can come at random times.
I know I'm responsible.

Advertisement

Is failure an important part of life?
If you don't fail, you can't grow.
It's a crucial part of life, but that doesn't make it fun.
I enjoy failing. It makes me stronger.
Yes, but I don't like experiencing it.

Advertisement

Do you think your time is more important than another person's time?
No, that would be really narcissistic.
I don't, but if others do, that's their prerogative.
Sometimes, if I really know what I'm doing and someone else doesn't
Yes, I do.

Advertisement

Does every decision you make impact your life in a serious way?
I don't think success rests on what I watch on TV.
Not every decision, but ones related to my goals
It may not seem like it, but most do
Literally every single one

Advertisement

Can everyone teach you something, even if it's unrelated to your area of focus?
I don't really believe that
They can try!
I'm sure people think they can.
Even someone with the most unrelated goals can teach you something about something.

Advertisement

With what kind of people do you choose to surround yourself?
My friends from school and work
Anyone I feel I connect with
Cool people who I can just hang with
Very likeminded people

Advertisement

How into reading are you?
I read when I have to.
It's a good hobby, but I don't always feel like doing it.
I try to read on the weekends.
I read every day.

Advertisement

Do you have a mentor?
That's kind of lame.
I had a mentor when I was in college, but not anymore.
I've been trying to find the right one.
My boss is my mentor.

Advertisement

Are you still unhappy even when you achieve a goal?
No, I celebrate every achievement.
Only if that goal was a small one
I think putting your happiness on the completion of goals is a slippery slope.
Yes, because after I achieve one goal, I already have another.

Advertisement

Do you push yourself to see what you're capable of, or do you work with what you know you have?
I know what I'm capable of.
If it's something I'm somewhat familiar with, I'll go a little further.
I'm really working on that.
I try to push myself with everything.

Advertisement

Would you step over someone to get to where you want to be?
No, I don't think I could do that.
I have done that before, but I didn't feel good about it.
I will if I have to, but don't go out of my way to do so
It's a dog eat dog world.

Advertisement

Do you feel burnt out a lot?
I try to pace myself.
Only when I'm doing something I don't want to be doing
I do feel like that occasionally, and I know I need a break.
Pretty much all the time

Advertisement

Have you ever been called a workaholic?
I've never been called that, thank goodness.
Not often, no
When I'm working on an important project, yes
All the time. People think it's a bad thing but I am proud of it.

Advertisement

Is it hard for you to enjoy where you're at in life right now?
Not at all, I love my life right now.
I make a point of being mindful and present.
I'll enjoy the right now when I've accomplished everything I want to.
I do find that I'm always looking ahead at what's next.

Advertisement

How easy is it for you to accept help from others?
I'm always open to suggestions.
It used to be really hard, but I've gotten better.
Some people just know more than me, and that's OK.
It's hard, but I do it reluctantly.

Advertisement

Are you a mental list maker or do you write everything down?
Neither, I use my phone.
Definitely mental
I have to write everything down.
Literally crossing things off my to-do list is a great pleasure.

Advertisement

Have you always known what you wanted?
No way
I thought I did, but then I changed my mind about 12 times.
Since high school, I've known.
I can't remember not knowing what I wanted.

Advertisement

What does procrastination look like to you?
Cleaning, cooking, organizing
I'll go for a walk or do random exercises.
I'll make a cup of coffee for a little break.
Procrastinators don't accomplish anything.

Advertisement

Are you a generally positive person?
I'm not unhappy.
I have my moments.
I like to think so, yes.
Yes! I'm usually always positive.

Advertisement

Would you rather do a task you know you can complete easily, or a demanding task that you know will be a challenge?
I like a mix of both.
I prefer a challenge.
When I'm feeling lost, I go for the easy win.
I think it's good to switch it up to keep things interesting.

Advertisement

Do you enjoy working as hard as you do, or do you feel burdened by it?
I do feel the burden sometimes.
I absolutely love it.
I do enjoy it, but I know it can be straining.
When I start to feel burdened, I know it's time for a break.

Advertisement

You Got: