You took the IPIP-50 and got five scores—one for each of the Big Five personality traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN). With 50 items—10 per trait—this assessment strikes a good balance between brevity and reliability. Here's what your scores actually mean.
The quick answer
Each trait is scored from 10 to 50 (sum of 10 items):
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 10-25 | Low on this trait |
| 26-35 | Moderate (average range) |
| 36-50 | High on this trait |
Most people score in the moderate range on most traits. Scores at the extremes (below 20 or above 45) are relatively uncommon.
Understanding your five scores
Openness to Experience
What it measures: Intellectual curiosity, creativity, preference for novelty, appreciation of art and beauty.
High scorers (36-50) are typically curious about abstract ideas, drawn to artistic expression, and willing to question conventional thinking. They often have active imaginations and varied interests.
Low scorers (10-25) tend to prefer the familiar and practical. They may be more focused, concrete in their thinking, and comfortable with routine.
Career connections: High openness correlates with creative fields, research, and entrepreneurship. Low openness may suit more structured, practical roles.
Conscientiousness
What it measures: Organization, self-discipline, reliability, goal-directed behavior.
High scorers (36-50) are typically organized, dependable, and achievement-oriented. They plan ahead, meet deadlines, and prefer clear structure.
Low scorers (10-25) tend to be more spontaneous and flexible. They may struggle with follow-through but adapt easily to changing circumstances.
Life outcomes: This trait has the strongest relationship to workplace success, health behaviors, and longevity across the Big Five.
Extraversion
What it measures: Sociability, assertiveness, positive emotionality, energy level.
High scorers (36-50) enjoy social interaction, feel energized around others, and often take charge in group settings. They tend to experience more positive emotions.
Low scorers (10-25) prefer quieter environments, smaller social circles, and more solitary activities. They need time alone to recharge.
Note: Introversion isn't shyness (that's more about social anxiety). It's about where you get energy and how much stimulation you prefer.
Agreeableness
What it measures: Cooperation, trust, empathy, concern for social harmony.
High scorers (36-50) are typically compassionate, trusting, and helpful. They value getting along with others and may sacrifice their own interests to avoid conflict.
Low scorers (10-25) tend to be more competitive, skeptical, and willing to challenge others. They prioritize directness over diplomacy.
Trade-offs: High agreeableness predicts better relationships but may also mean difficulty setting boundaries. Low agreeableness correlates with leadership and negotiation success.
Neuroticism
What it measures: Tendency to experience negative emotions—anxiety, sadness, irritability, emotional reactivity.
High scorers (36-50) experience more frequent negative emotions, are more reactive to stress, and take longer to recover from setbacks. They may be more prone to anxiety and depression.
Low scorers (10-25) tend to be calm, emotionally stable, and resilient under pressure. They bounce back quickly from difficulties.
Mental health connection: This is the personality trait most strongly linked to mental health outcomes. High neuroticism is a risk factor for mood and anxiety disorders.
What the scores don't tell you
Facet-level differences. Each Big Five domain contains multiple facets. Within Conscientiousness, for example, you might be highly organized but struggle with self-discipline. The IPIP-50 gives you the overall domain score but can't distinguish facets. For that, you'd need the IPIP-NEO-120.
Situation-specific behavior. Your traits describe your general tendencies, not how you'll act in every situation. An introvert can be socially skilled when needed; a disorganized person might be meticulous about things they care about.
Values and interests. Personality traits and personal values are different. Two people with identical personality profiles might have completely different goals and priorities.
Making sense of your profile
No profile is "better"
Every trait level has advantages and disadvantages:
- High openness enables creativity but may cause impracticality
- High conscientiousness brings achievement but can mean rigidity
- High extraversion provides social energy but may cause restlessness
- High agreeableness builds relationships but can enable exploitation
- Low neuroticism brings stability but might mean underreacting to real problems
The question isn't whether your traits are good or bad, but whether they're serving you well in your current life.
Profile patterns
Some combinations are particularly common or consequential:
High Conscientiousness + Low Neuroticism: The "resilient achiever" pattern—organized, calm under pressure, reliably productive.
High Openness + High Neuroticism: Creative and emotionally sensitive—may experience both intense inspiration and intense distress.
Low Extraversion + High Agreeableness: Quietly supportive—may be underestimated in group settings despite strong contributions.
High Extraversion + Low Conscientiousness: Energetic but scattered—starts many things, may finish fewer.
If a score concerns you
High neuroticism (above 40) combined with emotional distress is worth taking seriously. Consider:
- Taking the PHQ-9 (depression) or GAD-7 (anxiety)
- Speaking with a therapist
- Building stress management skills
Very low conscientiousness (below 18) causing life problems—missed deadlines, disorganization, unfinished projects—might indicate ADHD or other issues worth exploring with a professional.
Extreme scores in general (above 45 or below 15 on any trait) are uncommon. If your score seems not to match your lived experience, consider whether your current mood affected your answers or whether you might benefit from retaking it another day.
Can personality change?
Yes, but slowly. Research shows:
- Traits can shift over months or years, especially through major life experiences
- People generally become more conscientious and agreeable with age
- Therapy can modestly shift traits, especially reducing neuroticism
- Intentional effort can change behavior, though underlying tendencies change more slowly
Trying to fundamentally change who you are is usually less effective than learning to work with your personality and finding environments that fit it.
When to take the IPIP-50 again
Personality changes slowly—much slower than mood or symptoms. Useful intervals:
- Annual check-ins during stable periods
- Before and after major life transitions (new job, relationship changes, therapy)
- Not weekly or monthly—there's no meaningful change to detect at that frequency
For tracking things that change faster (mood, anxiety, stress), use symptom measures like the DASS-21 instead.
The bottom line
Your IPIP-50 scores give you a reliable picture of where you fall on the Big Five personality traits. These are tendencies, not destiny—they describe your typical patterns but don't determine specific behaviors. For even more detailed insight into the facets within each domain, consider the comprehensive IPIP-NEO-120.
Related assessments
TIPI — Quick 2-minute version when you need just a rough estimate
IPIP-NEO-120 — Deep dive with 30 facet subscales for detailed personality mapping
DASS-21 — If high neuroticism is concerning, this measures depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms
RSE — Self-esteem, which relates to personality traits but is measured separately