Big Five (OCEAN) Personality Test vs 16 Factor Personality Assessment

Cattell's 16PF predates the Big Five and decomposes personality into 16 narrower traits. Both are reputable — this comparison helps you decide between depth and breadth.

personality

Big Five (OCEAN) Personality Test

Measure your personality across five major dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Based on the IPIP public domain item pool.

Questions
50
Time
~10 min
Dimensions
5
Tier
Free
Take Big Five (OCEAN) Personality Test
personality

16 Factor Personality Assessment

Explore 16 primary personality factors including warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, dominance, and more. Based on Cattell's factor-analytic model of personality.

Questions
48
Time
~15 min
Dimensions
16
Tier
Free
Take 16 Factor Personality Assessment

What each one measures

Big Five (OCEAN) Personality Test

  • Openness to Experience — Imagination, curiosity, and openness to new ideas and experiences
  • Conscientiousness — Organization, dependability, and self-discipline
  • Extraversion — Sociability, assertiveness, and positive emotions
  • Agreeableness — Cooperation, trust, and consideration for others
  • Neuroticism — Emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness

16 Factor Personality Assessment

  • Warmth (A) — Reserved vs. warm and outgoing
  • Reasoning (B) — Concrete vs. abstract thinking
  • Emotional Stability (C) — Reactive vs. emotionally stable
  • Dominance (E) — Deferential vs. dominant
  • Liveliness (F) — Serious vs. lively and enthusiastic
  • Rule-Consciousness (G) — Expedient vs. rule-following
  • Social Boldness (H) — Shy vs. socially bold
  • Sensitivity (I) — Tough-minded vs. sensitive
  • Vigilance (L) — Trusting vs. vigilant
  • Abstractedness (M) — Practical vs. imaginative
  • Privateness (N) — Forthright vs. private
  • Apprehension (O) — Self-assured vs. apprehensive
  • Openness to Change (Q1) — Traditional vs. open to change
  • Self-Reliance (Q2) — Group-oriented vs. self-reliant
  • Perfectionism (Q3) — Tolerates disorder vs. perfectionist
  • Tension (Q4) — Relaxed vs. tense and driven

Take both?

Taking both gives you two angles on the same person — you. Many users find the discrepancies more interesting than the agreements.

Start with Big Five (OCEAN) Personality TestOr try 16 Factor Personality Assessment