--- title: "Free Stress Test (PSS): How Stressed Are You? 2-Minute Check" url: "https://www.ellomind.com/tools/stress/" description: "Take a free, private stress test based on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the most widely used stress measure. Get your validated stress score in 2 minutes. Not a diagnosis." --- Free stress test # How stressed are you? A 2-minute stress test (PSS). This free stress test uses the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the most widely used measure of how stressful you find your life. It asks how often, over the last month, you've felt overwhelmed or in control. You get a validated stress score from 0 to 40\. It's a self-reflection, not a diagnosis. **This is a self-reflection check, not a diagnosis.** Your answers stay on your device. Nothing is saved unless you choose to share or book. ## Get your detailed report by email Add your name and email and, after you finish, a psychologist will send a detailed written breakdown of your result and what helps next. Your result also shows on screen right away. Name Email Email me the detailed report Skip, just show my result If you skip, you'll still see your result on screen, but you won't get the detailed written analysis by email. This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The PSS measures how stressful you perceive your life to be. If you're struggling, talking to a professional helps. Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1983;24(4):385-396\. The PSS is in the public domain. ## What this stress test measures This free stress test uses the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), developed by Sheldon Cohen, the most widely used psychological measure of stress. It doesn't ask about specific events; it asks how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded your life has felt over the last month. That 'perceived' part is the point, the same situation stresses people differently. Your answers produce a score from 0 to 40\. Some questions are reverse-scored, so the tool does the maths for you. It takes about two minutes and is a self-reflection, not a diagnosis. ## What your stress score means The PSS sorts your total into three bands. There's no clinical cut-off, but higher scores mean more perceived stress and a bigger case for protecting your recovery. __PSS-10 score ranges__ | Score | Level | What it usually means | | ----- | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0–13 | Low stress | You're managing the pressures on you reasonably well. | | 14–26 | Moderate stress | A noticeable load. Worth tending before it builds. | | 27–40 | High stress | A heavy load that's worth real support, the kind therapy helps with. | ## Common questions What is the PSS stress test? The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a validated 10-question measure of how stressful you find your life, developed by Sheldon Cohen and colleagues in 1983\. It scores from 0 to 40\. It is in the public domain and is the most widely used stress measure in research. What is a high PSS score? Roughly, 0 to 13 is low stress, 14 to 26 is moderate, and 27 to 40 is high. There is no fixed clinical cut-off, but higher scores mean more perceived stress and a stronger case for support. What's the difference between stress and anxiety? Stress is usually a response to an external pressure and tends to ease when the pressure does. Anxiety is more internal and can persist without an obvious trigger. They overlap, and ongoing high stress can feed anxiety. Is this stress test a diagnosis? No. The PSS is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It runs in your browser and your answers are not saved unless you choose to get in touch. ## More free self-checks * [Anxiety test (GAD-7)](/tools/anxiety/) * [Depression test (PHQ-9)](/tools/depression/) * [Burnout self-check](/tools/burnout/) * [Attachment style quiz](/tools/attachment/) * [Adult ADHD test (ASRS-v1.1)](/adhd-screening/) * [Loneliness test](/tools/loneliness/) * [Situationship quiz](/tools/situationship/) * [Overthinking test](/tools/overthinking/) * [Imposter syndrome test](/tools/imposter-syndrome/) * [Should I see a therapist?](/tools/should-i-see-a-therapist/) * [Self-esteem test](/tools/self-esteem/) * [Anger style test](/tools/anger/) * [Why am I always tired?](/tools/sleep/) * [Relationship health check](/tools/relationship-health/) Ready to talk to someone? [Book a session](/book/?ref=tools) with a Malayalam-speaking psychologist, or see our [individual therapy](/services/individual-therapy/) options. ### Sources * Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1983;24(4):385-396. * The PSS is in the public domain. ElloMind reproduces the PSS-10 without modification.