Fatigue Test: Measure Your Physical, Mental and Motivational Fatigue
A screening for physical, mental, and motivational fatigue over the past two weeks, using sixteen statements. Get an educational breakdown and an optional PDF, and see a doctor if fatigue persists.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
Fatigue Test is a free, confidential 16-question self-assessment, original items · Fatigue and daily impact. It takes about 6 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 4 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
Put the experience of fatigue into clearer words
Fatigue can affect movement, thinking, starting activities, and the tasks you can complete. This questionnaire separates those descriptions without assuming a physical or psychological cause.
Different expressions of fatigue
Physical fatigue, mental fatigue, motivational fatigue, and functional impact each receive four original statements. These are our educational groupings, not validated subscales. They help describe the experience rather than assigning a cause to each bar.
A recent window
Answer for the past two weeks in relation to activities that are ordinary for you. Compare with your own baseline and available energy. Fatigue during illness or disability should not be judged against another person’s activity level.
Impact without blame
Questions about starting or completing tasks refer specifically to depleted energy. They are not a measure of laziness, discipline, or work ethic. A practical account of what has changed can make a medical appointment more useful than a label alone.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | May ask only whether you feel tired | Physical, mental, motivational, and functional experiences |
| Cause | May assume fatigue means stress | Physician first for persistent unexplained fatigue |
| Instrument identity | May present original questions as the FSS | Explicitly not the Fatigue Severity Scale |
| Grouping | May imply custom categories are validated | Four balanced educational groupings |
| Cutoffs | May borrow thresholds from another scale | Educational quarters of the original 0 to 64 range |
| Activity advice | May recommend pushing through exhaustion | Respect limits and discuss delayed worsening with a physician |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–64 in total. Your result falls into one of 4 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–15 | Limited reported fatigue | Few of these fatigue experiences described your past two weeks strongly. |
| 16–31 | Noticeable reported fatigue | Fatigue appears to be affecting some aspects of ordinary activity. |
| 32–47 | Substantial reported fatigue | Several forms of fatigue or daily interference are prominent in your answers. |
| 48–64 | Extensive reported fatigue | Your answers describe a heavy fatigue burden with meaningful daily effects. |
Who This Test Is For
This screening works well for any adult who has noticed reduced energy, whether that shows up as heavy limbs during ordinary movement, difficulty concentrating, trouble getting started on tasks, or having to scale back daily responsibilities. It can help you organize your observations before a medical appointment or a conversation with a therapist.
It is not designed for children, and it does not replace a medical work-up for new, severe, or rapidly worsening fatigue. If low mood or loss of interest is your main concern rather than physical depletion, the Depression Test may be a more direct starting point, and the Psychology.com therapist directory can help you find a therapist if emotional support alongside medical care would help.
How Fatigue Differs From Normal Tiredness
Everyone feels tired sometimes, usually after a late night, a demanding day, or intense exercise, and that kind of tiredness typically lifts with rest. Fatigue, as this page uses the term, describes a more persistent depletion that does not fully resolve with a good night's sleep and that starts to interfere with tasks you would normally manage without difficulty.
A useful test is whether ordinary rest restores you. If a full night's sleep and a quieter weekend leave you close to your usual self, that points toward everyday tiredness. If depleted energy persists despite adequate rest, shows up across physical, mental, and motivational areas, or keeps shrinking what you can accomplish, it is worth describing to a physician rather than waiting for it to pass on its own. Reviewing Sleep Hygiene basics is a reasonable first check while you wait for that appointment, though it will not resolve fatigue caused by a medical condition.
Methodology & sources
Fatigue research, including Krupp and colleagues’ work on the Fatigue Severity Scale, highlights the importance of severity and interference with daily life. This page is an independent questionnaire with sixteen original statements; it does not reproduce the FSS or its response scale. Four statements each concern physical fatigue, mental fatigue, motivational fatigue, and functional impact. These are our own educational groupings, not validated subscales and not categories that identify separate illnesses. Motivational fatigue refers to difficulty initiating wanted activities because of depleted energy; it does not imply unwillingness or a psychological explanation. The timeframe is the past two weeks, and responses should be interpreted in relation to the person’s usual activities and health context.
Responses use an agreement scale from Strongly disagree, 0, to Strongly agree, 4. All items score in the same direction, producing a total of 0 to 64 and four area scores of 0 to 16. Higher means more reported fatigue or impact. Bands of 0 to 15, 16 to 31, 32 to 47, and 48 to 64 are educational quarters, not clinical cutoffs, FSS conversions, or criteria for ME/CFS. Agreement does not measure precise symptom frequency. The questionnaire has not been validated and cannot separate anemia, thyroid problems, sleep disorders, medication effects, depression, or other causes. Persistent or unexplained fatigue needs a physician’s assessment; psychological support can complement that care without replacing it.
References
- Krupp LB, LaRocca NG, Muir-Nash J, Steinberg AD. (1989). The fatigue severity scale: Application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Archives of Neurology, 46(10), 1121–1123. doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1989.00520460115022
- NHS. Tiredness and fatigue. nhs.uk/symptoms/tiredness-and-fatigue/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2021). Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: Assessment and management recommendations, NG206. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng206/chapter/Recommendations
- National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 15). Fatigue Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/fatigue
Fatigue Test FAQ
Is this the Fatigue Severity Scale?
No. The FSS is a specific nine-item measure introduced by Krupp and colleagues and studied in conditions including multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. This page uses sixteen original statements and four educational groupings. Its 0 to 64 total is not an FSS score. Published FSS thresholds and averages must not be applied to it.
Can a fatigue test tell me why I am always tired?
No. Persistent fatigue can have several contributors, including anemia, thyroid problems, sleep disorders, medications, and emotional difficulties. A physician can take a history, examine you, and decide whether tests are appropriate. Your score describes the experience, not the cause. Bring the timing, associated symptoms, and impact on your usual activities to the appointment.
Does fatigue mean I am depressed?
Not necessarily. Low energy can occur with depression, but it also occurs independently of it. Persistent low mood or loss of interest is worth discussing alongside physical symptoms. Our Depression test can provide a separate educational lens. A high fatigue score alone is not a reason to assume a mental-health explanation or skip medical evaluation.
Is this a chronic fatigue syndrome test?
No. ME/CFS involves a specific clinical pattern, including post-exertional worsening, that this questionnaire cannot establish. A two-week fatigue score cannot determine a long-term condition. If activity causes a delayed increase in symptoms or a prolonged recovery, tell your physician. Do not start a program of fixed exercise increases based on an online fatigue result.
How is fatigue different from burnout or poor sleep?
Burnout concerns a work-related pattern, while fatigue can affect every setting and have medical causes. Poor sleep can contribute, but feeling tired does not identify the reason sleep may be unrefreshing. Our Burnout Test and Sleep Quality Test explore related experiences. They should add context rather than replace a physician’s assessment.
Should I exercise more to raise my energy?
This score cannot prescribe an activity plan. What helps depends on the cause, your baseline, and whether exertion worsens symptoms later. Avoid pushing through marked worsening and discuss it with a physician. For people with ME/CFS, NICE advises against fixed incremental exercise programs. An individualized plan should account for your symptoms and current energy limits.
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