Terman Sample
Trait	Description
Amount of physical energy	High = Extraordinary amount of energy, pep, and animation. Dynamic & tireless. Low = Extreme physical inertia & lack of pep. Sluggish and easily fatigued.
Appreciation of beauty	High = Extraordinary appreciation of beautiful colors, landscapes, forms, sunsets, flowers, etc. Has natural “taste.” Low = practically no appreciation of beauty in things seen. No “taste.”
Cheerfulness & optimism	High = Extraordinarily cheerful and optimistic. Never sees dark side. Never worries. Low = Usually extremely depressed and pessimistic. Looks on dark side of everything. Worries constantly.
Common sense	High = Possesses common sense and judgment to an extraordinary degree. His advice always highly valuable. Low = extreme lack of common sense and judgment. Opinions not taken seriously by anyone.
Conscientiousness	High = Extraordinarily conscientious. Keen sense of duty. Does right for right’s sake. Always dependable. Low = Extreme lack of conscientiousness. No sense of duty. Does wrong for any advantage. Not dependable.
Desire to excel	High = Extraordinary pride in accomplishment and desire to excel. Does his upmost to stand first. Low = No pride in accomplishment. No ambition to excel. Almost never does his best.
Desire to know	High = Extraordinarily strong intellectual curiosity, and broad interests. Insistent on knowing. Low = Extreme lack of intellectual curiosity. Mentally inert. Few interests. Rarely asks questions.
Fondness for large groups	High = Extraordinary fondness for large groups. Unhappy alone. Devoted to parties, picnics, etc. Low = invariably avoids groups. Always prefers to be either alone or with one or two close chums.
Freedom from vanity and egotism	High = Extraordinarily free from egotism or vanity. Shrinks from praise and admiration. Low = Extremely egotistical and vain. “Fishes” for praise. Always showing off.
General intelligence	High = Extraordinary all-around intelligence. Low = general intelligence extremely inferior. Almost feeble-minded.
Generosity and unselfishness	High = Extraordinarily generous, unselfish, and fair-minded. Low = Extremely selfish. Cares only for own pleasures. Takes unfair advantage.
Health	High = Extraordinary good health, almost never sick, vigorous. Low = Extremely weakly and sickly. Extreme lack of vigor
Leadership	High = Extraordinary qualities of leadership. Gets others to do his will. Not easily influenced. Low = Always a follower. Never takes initiative. Suggestible and easily influenced.
Mechanical ingenuity	High = Extraordinary mechanical ingenuity. Likes and understands machinery, apparatus, etc. Clever at “fixing” things. Low = Extreme lack of mechanical ingenuity. Cares nothing for machinery. A blunderer with tools.
Musical appreciation	High = Extraordinary musical appreciation. Low = No musical appreciation whatever.
Originality	High = Extraordinary ability to think things through for self. Original, resourceful, and inventive. Excels in reasoning. Low = Extreme lack or originality and resourcefulness. Always depends on teacher or book.
Permanency of moods	High = Moods extraordinarily permanent. Almost never goes quickly from joy to sadness or sadness to joy. Low = Moods extremely changeable. Always alternating between extreme joy and extreme sadness.
Popularity with other children	High = Extraordinarily popular. Universal favorite. Is sought after and has many friends. Low = extremely unpopular. Disliked and shunned. A social outcast.
Prudence and forethought	High = Extraordinarily prudent. Always looks ahead. Never sacrifices future goods for present pleasure. Low = extreme lack of prudence. Never looks ahead. Lives wholly in the present.
Self-confidence	High = Extreme self-confidence and self-reliance. Always relies on own judgments. Courts responsibility. Low = Extreme lack of self-confidence. Distrusts own judgment. Afraid of responsibility.
Sense of humor	High = Extraordinarily keen sense of humor. Witty. Appreciates jokes. See the funny side in everything. Low = Extremely lacking in sense of humor. Serious and prosy. Never sees the funny side.
Sensitiveness to approval or disapproval	High = Extraordinary sensitiveness to approval or disapproval of other children. Can’t endure to be disliked. Low = utterly indifferent to opinion of other children. Does not care in the least to be liked.
Sympathy and tenderness	High = Extraordinarily tender and sympathetic. Kind on principle. Abhors cruelty. Low = Extreme lack of tenderness or sympathy. Rarely does a kind act. Tendency to cruelty.
Truthfulness	High = Extraordinarily truthful, honest, and frank. Never misleads or misrepresents, however great the temptation. Low = Extreme tendency to lying, deceitfulness, and evasiveness. Lies for the slightest advantage.
Will power and perseverance	High = Extraordinary will power. Persistent in overcoming difficulties. Extremely steadfast. Never gives up. Low = Extreme lack of will power. Easily discouraged and gives up at slightest difficulty.