Multiple intelligences test: Howard Gardner's eight areas and choosing your direction
In 1983 the psychologist Howard Gardner put forward the theory of multiple intelligences: instead of a single IQ score, each person has several distinct areas of ability, with a mix of strengths and weaknesses that is unique to them. The test at the top of this page has 40 statements that you rate from 1 to 5 according to how true they are of you, and the result appears as a chart of eight areas. The sections below explain each area, how to rate yourself honestly and how to read the chart when weighing up careers.
What the eight intelligences are
| Area of ability | Common signs | Jobs that draw on it |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistic | Common signsEnjoys reading, writing and storytelling; remembers words well | Jobs that draw on itEditing, content, law, teaching |
| Logical-mathematical | Common signsEnjoys patterns, numbers and step-by-step reasoning | Jobs that draw on itAccounting, data analysis, programming |
| Visual-spatial | Common signsVisualises well, remembers maps, likes sketching | Jobs that draw on itDesign, architecture, 3D modelling |
| Musical | Common signsSensitive to rhythm, pitch and sound | Jobs that draw on itMusic, sound engineering, arts teaching |
| Bodily-kinaesthetic | Common signsLearns fast by doing, good with their hands | Jobs that draw on itTechnician roles, sport, nursing |
| Interpersonal | Common signsReads other people's emotions, connects easily | Jobs that draw on itSales, HR, customer service |
| Intrapersonal | Common signsUnderstands themselves well, sets their own goals | Jobs that draw on itResearch, counselling, entrepreneurship |
| Naturalistic | Common signsNotices and classifies living things and the environment | Jobs that draw on itAgriculture, environment, veterinary work |
How to rate the 40 statements honestly
- Rate what you usually doA 5 is for statements that are true of you almost all the time, a 1 for those that are rarely true. Do not rate yourself on what you would like to be good at.
- Use all five levelsRating everything 3 or 4 flattens the chart and makes it hard to read; do not hesitate to choose 1 or 5 when it applies.
- Think of evidenceFor each statement, try to recall a recent time you did it. If you cannot think of an example, lower the score.
Reading the chart and choosing a direction
Your two or three highest areas show how you learn and work most effectively. Putting them together points to a clearer direction than any single area: logical plus interpersonal suits financial advice or project management; spatial plus bodily suits product design or installation engineering; linguistic plus intrapersonal suits writing and research.
Low areas are not weaknesses to hide but places where you can lean on colleagues or tools. When writing your CV, choose experience that illustrates your strong areas; for example, someone strong in logic should lead with figures and processes, while someone strong in interpersonal skills should highlight results achieved with clients and teams.
Frequently asked questions
IQ mainly measures verbal and logical ability with a single number, whereas Gardner's theory divides ability into eight independent areas. A person may not stand out in logic yet be very strong in spatial or interpersonal intelligence.
Yes. Your areas of ability develop as you learn and practise, so if you retake the test after one to two years or after changing jobs, you will see the chart change.
Yes. The MBTI tells you how you prefer to work, while multiple intelligences show which areas of ability are your strongest; putting the two results side by side helps you choose a career more precisely.