You took the IPIP-NEO-120—the most detailed free personality assessment available—and got scores for 5 domains and 30 facets. This comprehensive profile reveals nuances that shorter tests miss entirely. Here's how to make sense of all those numbers.
Understanding the structure
The IPIP-NEO-120 measures personality at two levels:
1. Five domains (the Big Five): Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness
2. Thirty facets: Six facets within each domain, giving you the detailed picture
This matters because two people with identical domain scores can look completely different at the facet level.
Domain score interpretation
Each domain score ranges from 24-120 (sum of 24 items):
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 24-56 | Low |
| 57-87 | Moderate |
| 88-120 | High |
Facet score interpretation
Each facet score ranges from 4-20 (sum of 4 items):
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 4-9 | Low |
| 10-14 | Moderate |
| 15-20 | High |
The five domains and their facets
Neuroticism (N)
The tendency to experience negative emotions. High neuroticism doesn't mean something is wrong with you—but it does predict greater emotional reactivity and vulnerability to stress.
| Facet | High scorer | Low scorer |
|---|---|---|
| N1: Anxiety | Worry, nervousness, apprehension | Calm, relaxed about the future |
| N2: Anger | Frustration, irritability, quick temper | Even-tempered, slow to anger |
| N3: Depression | Sadness, hopelessness, low mood | Positive mood, optimistic |
| N4: Self-Consciousness | Embarrassment, social sensitivity | Comfortable in spotlight |
| N5: Immoderation | Difficulty resisting urges | Self-controlled around temptation |
| N6: Vulnerability | Overwhelmed under stress | Handles pressure well |
Why facets matter here: Someone might be high on anxiety but low on anger—worried but not irritable. Another person might have high immoderation but low vulnerability—impulsive but handles stress well. The overall Neuroticism score would miss these distinctions.
Extraversion (E)
Social orientation and positive emotionality. This isn't just about being "outgoing"—it's a complex dimension with multiple facets that don't always go together.
| Facet | High scorer | Low scorer |
|---|---|---|
| E1: Friendliness | Warm, approachable, enjoys intimacy | Reserved, emotionally private |
| E2: Gregariousness | Loves crowds, parties, group activities | Prefers solitude, small gatherings |
| E3: Assertiveness | Takes charge, speaks up, leads | Hangs back, lets others lead |
| E4: Activity Level | Fast-paced, busy, high energy | Relaxed pace, low-key lifestyle |
| E5: Excitement-Seeking | Craves thrills, stimulation, adventure | Prefers calm, routine |
| E6: Cheerfulness | Optimistic, joyful, laughs easily | Serious, subdued in expression |
An introvert (low overall Extraversion) might still be high on Friendliness—they genuinely enjoy close one-on-one connections but find group settings draining.
Openness to Experience (O)
Intellectual and aesthetic orientation. This isn't about being "open-minded" in the casual sense—it's about specific preferences for novelty, abstraction, and complexity.
| Facet | High scorer | Low scorer |
|---|---|---|
| O1: Imagination | Active fantasy life, daydreamer | Practical, focused on reality |
| O2: Artistic Interests | Appreciates art, music, beauty | Uninterested in aesthetic experiences |
| O3: Emotionality | In touch with feelings, values emotional depth | Disconnected from inner emotional life |
| O4: Adventurousness | Seeks new experiences, variety | Prefers routine, familiar |
| O5: Intellect | Curious about ideas, enjoys thinking | Prefers practical over abstract |
| O6: Liberalism | Questions convention, open to change | Traditional, respects authority |
Note on Liberalism: This facet is about openness to questioning established ways of doing things, not political party affiliation (though they're correlated).
Agreeableness (A)
Interpersonal style—how you relate to others and handle conflict.
| Facet | High scorer | Low scorer |
|---|---|---|
| A1: Trust | Believes others have good intentions | Suspicious, cynical about motives |
| A2: Morality | Straightforward, dislikes manipulation | Willing to use deception strategically |
| A3: Altruism | Generous, helpful, selfless | Self-focused, less concerned with others |
| A4: Cooperation | Avoids conflict, accommodates | Confrontational, competitive |
| A5: Modesty | Humble, self-effacing | Confident in abilities, self-promoting |
| A6: Sympathy | Compassionate toward suffering | Unmoved by others' hardships |
Trade-offs: High agreeableness builds relationships but can mean difficulty with boundaries or negotiation. Low agreeableness may strain relationships but can be advantageous in competitive environments.
Conscientiousness (C)
Self-regulation and achievement orientation—how you approach goals and responsibilities.
| Facet | High scorer | Low scorer |
|---|---|---|
| C1: Self-Efficacy | Confident in abilities | Doubts own competence |
| C2: Orderliness | Organized, neat, structured | Messy, disorganized, hates planning |
| C3: Dutifulness | Strong sense of obligation | Unreliable, ignores commitments |
| C4: Achievement-Striving | Ambitious, driven to excel | Laid-back about accomplishments |
| C5: Self-Discipline | Stays on task, follows through | Procrastinates, easily distracted |
| C6: Cautiousness | Thinks before acting | Impulsive, acts without planning |
Someone can be high on C4 (Achievement-Striving) but low on C5 (Self-Discipline)—driven to succeed but struggling to put in the work. The overall Conscientiousness score would average these together, hiding the internal conflict.
Reading your profile: Examples
Example 1: The anxious achiever
- High N1 (Anxiety) + High C4 (Achievement-Striving): Driven to succeed but worries constantly about failure
- Might have moderate Neuroticism and moderate Conscientiousness overall—but these specific facets tell the real story
Example 2: The friendly introvert
- Low E2 (Gregariousness) + High E1 (Friendliness): Drained by parties but deeply values close relationships
- Might score moderate on Extraversion overall—which completely misses this pattern
Example 3: The creative procrastinator
- High O1 (Imagination) + Low C5 (Self-Discipline): Full of ideas but struggles to execute them
- Understanding both facets points toward solutions: structure and accountability for creative work
What to do with this information
For self-understanding
Your facet profile shows where your domain scores come from—and often reveals internal tensions (like high ambition with low follow-through, or warmth with low trust).
For career decisions
Some facets are more relevant than others for specific work:
- C2 (Orderliness) matters more for administrative roles
- E3 (Assertiveness) matters more for leadership
- O5 (Intellect) matters more for research
- A4 (Cooperation) matters for team-dependent work
For relationships
Facet differences between partners can explain friction:
- Mismatched E2 (Gregariousness) causes social conflict
- Mismatched C2 (Orderliness) causes household conflict
- Mismatched N1 (Anxiety) levels affect how couples handle stress
For mental health
Specific facets are particularly relevant:
- N1 (Anxiety) + N6 (Vulnerability) = high anxiety disorder risk
- N3 (Depression) = depression risk factor
- N5 (Immoderation) = impulse control issues, addiction risk
- A1 (Trust) being very low may indicate past trauma affecting relationships
If you're concerned about mental health, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 can help screen for depression and anxiety.
Limitations to keep in mind
Self-report limitations. You answered based on how you see yourself, which may differ from how others see you or how you actually behave.
Situational variation. Your scores reflect general tendencies, not behavior in every situation.
Current mood effects. How you felt while taking the assessment could have affected answers, especially on Neuroticism facets.
Not clinical diagnosis. High Neuroticism facets suggest vulnerability but don't diagnose a disorder.
Can facets change?
Like domain scores, facets can shift—but slowly and unevenly. Research suggests:
- N facets may decrease with effective therapy for anxiety/depression
- C facets can increase with habit-building and skill development
- A facets may shift based on relationship experiences
- E facets are among the most stable
- O facets remain relatively stable through adulthood
Trying to change facets directly is hard. It's often more effective to:
1. Understand your profile and stop fighting it
2. Choose environments that fit your profile
3. Build compensating skills for problematic areas
4. Address underlying issues (like anxiety) that may be affecting multiple facets
When to retake this assessment
The IPIP-NEO-120 is detailed enough that yearly retesting is reasonable—more often isn't likely to show real change versus measurement noise.
Consider retaking:
- After major life transitions
- After extended therapy
- When checking whether intentional changes have taken hold
The bottom line
Your IPIP-NEO-120 profile gives you the most detailed view of your personality available from a free, public-domain assessment. The 30 facet scores reveal nuances that domain-level scores miss entirely. Use this profile for self-understanding, career reflection, and relationship insight—but remember that personality is a tendency, not a destiny.
Related assessments
TIPI — When you just need a quick snapshot (2 minutes)
IPIP-50 — Solid reliability without the facet detail (10-15 minutes)
PHQ-9 — If high Neuroticism facets concern you, screen for depression
GAD-7 — Screen for anxiety if N1 (Anxiety) or N6 (Vulnerability) are high
RSE — Self-esteem measurement, which relates to personality but is a separate construct