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1
Even in situations for which I am well-prepared (e.g., studied very hard and long for an examination or worked tirelessly on a project), I still have doubts about my ability to perform well.
2
I often feel that I have to work harder than others to achieve all that I do.
3
I often get “down on myself” when I perform less than perfectly on a task or a problem.
4
I often worry about not succeeding on a task, even though others around me have considerable confidence that I will do well.
5
I often find myself putting more effort into tasks compared with others.
6
When it comes to achieving and attaining goals, I suppose one might call me a “perfectionist.”
7
Others have told me that I often do more than necessary when it comes to completing a task.
8
I often compare my ability to those around me and believe they are more intelligent than I am.
9
When people praise me for something I've accomplished, I'm afraid I won't be able to live up to their expectations of me in the future.
10
When I've succeeded at something and received recognition for my accomplishments, I have doubts that I can keep repeating that success.
11
I often feel like I have to put more effort into my tasks because I am not as smart as those around me.
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I'm often afraid that I will fail at a new assignment or undertaking even though I generally do well at what I attempt.
13
I often find myself spending more time than necessary in completing tasks or assignments.
14
When I'm praised for something, I sometimes wonder if I will be able to do as well the next time.
15
I feel discouraged if I'm not “the best” or at least “very special” in situations that involve achievement.
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I often worry about whether others will view me as a success or a failure.
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I tend to remember the incidents where I have not done my best more than those times that I have done my best.
18
I often foresee failure when entering new situations that require a demonstration of my abilities.
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I avoid evaluations if possible and have a dread of others evaluating me.
20
I try not to get too involved in competitive environments, so it won't hurt so much if I lose or do poorly.
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I am often surprised when I perform well on a project or a test.
22
When I receive a compliment, I find it difficult to accept the compliment, and often explain it away or give credit to others.
23
When I receive a compliment about my academic or professional abilities, I sometimes find myself making excuses for explaining away the compliment.
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I'm afraid people important to me may find out that I'm not as capable as they think I am.
25
Even though I feel that I have a lot of potential, I sometimes feel like an intellectual “fraud” or “phony.”
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If I'm going to receive a promotion or gain recognition of some kind, I hesitate to tell others until it is an accomplished fact.
27
I often achieve success on a project or test when I have anticipated that I would fail.
28
I feel that I have attained my present academic or professional position through “pulling strings” or “having connections.”
29
I sometimes think I obtained my present position or gained my present success because I happened to be in the right place at the right time or knew the right people.
30
I often feel I receive praise or grades that I don't deserve.
31
If I get a high grade on a work assignment, I tend to feel that I've fooled my teacher or supervisor.
32
I obtained my present position because of something about me that I didn't work for (e.g., coming from an underrepresented group).
33
Sometimes, I believe that my success in my life or in my job has been the result of some kind of error.
34
At times, I have felt I am in my present position or academic program through some kind of mistake.
35
I often feel that my success has been due to some kind of luck.
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My achievements have been due more to external factors, such as luck or effort, rather than to my own inherent abilities.
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On some occasions when someone has praised me for something, I tend to feel that I fooled them.
38
In some situations, I feel like a “great pretender”: that is, I'm not as genuine as others think I am.
39
Sometimes, I am afraid I will be discovered for who I really am.
40
I obtained my present position solely because of an affirmative action policy.
41
I often feel I am concealing secrets about my abilities from others.
42
I sometimes feel there's something false or misleading about me that others don't notice.
43
I feel that there is a significant disparity between the “intellectual self” that others perceive and the “intellectual self” that I really am.
44
I have sometimes convinced an important person that I am brighter or more talented than I really am.
45
People tend to believe I am more competent than I really am.
46
At a social event, I sometimes feel that I try to impress people by acting more intelligently than I really feel I am.
47
Significant people in my life tend to believe that I am more academically or professionally competent than I really am.
48
I find myself often leaving tasks to the last minute.
49
In preparing for deadlines, I often waste time doing other things.
50
I typically delay getting started on tasks because I worry that I'm not up to the challenge.
51
I worry about my ability to complete a task, and often end up delaying making decisions about the task until it is too late.
52
Mostly, I find that I measure up to the standards that I set for myself.
53
My public and private self are the same person.
54
I rarely do a project or task as well as I'd like to do it.