Official MBTI Tests

The Myers-Briggs Company offers two official MBTI tests: Step I and Step II. Step I identifies each letter preference. Step II also does this but breaks the letter preferences down further, into big 5 style facets. The facets are scored individually, and the average result indicates the subject's overall letter preference. Neither test uses cognitive functions. The publicly available sample reports do not even mention functions anywhere within their 45 pages. Tests are typically administered by licensed practitioners and require a fee. Unlike most MBTI tests, the official MBTI tests are not freely available online.

Step I Descriptions

Extraversion
People who prefer Extraversion like to focus on the outer world of people and activity. They direct their energy and attention outward and receive energy from interacting with people and from taking action.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Extraversion:
• Attuned to external environment
• Prefer to communicate by talking
• Work out ideas by talking them through
• Learn best through doing or discussing
• Have broad interests
• Sociable and expressive
• Readily take initiative in work and relationships

Introversion
People who prefer Introversion like to focus on their own inner world of ideas and experiences. They direct their energy and attention inward and receive energy from reflecting on their thoughts, memories, and feelings.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Introversion:
• Drawn to their inner world
• Prefer to communicate in writing
• Work out ideas by reflecting on them
• Learn best by reflection, mental “practice”
• Focus in depth on their interests
• Private and contained
• Take initiative when the situation or issue is very important to them

Sensing
People who prefer Sensing like to take in information that is real and tangible—what is actually happening. They are observant about the specifics of what is going on around them and are especially attuned to practical realities.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Sensing:
• Oriented to present realities
• Factual and concrete
• Focus on what is real and actual
• Observe and remember specifics
• Build carefully and thoroughly toward conclusions
• Understand ideas and theories through practical applications
• Trust experience

Intuition
People who prefer Intuition like to take in information by seeing the big picture, focusing on the relationships and connections between facts. They want to grasp patterns and are especially attuned to seeing new possibilities.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Intuition:
• Oriented to future possibilities
• Imaginative and verbally creative
• Focus on the patterns and meanings in data
• Remember specifics when they relate to a pattern
• Move quickly to conclusions, follow hunches
• Want to clarify ideas and theories before putting them into practice
• Trust inspiration

Thinking
People who prefer to use Thinking in decision making like to look at the logical consequences of a choice or action. They want to mentally remove themselves from the situation to examine the pros and cons objectively. They are energized by critiquing and analyzing to identify what’s wrong with something so they can solve the problem. Their goal is to find a standard or principle that will apply in all similar situations.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Thinking:
• Analytical
• Use cause-and-effect reasoning
• Solve problems with logic
• Strive for an objective standard of truth
• Reasonable
• Can be “tough-minded”
• Fair—want everyone treated equally

Feeling
People who prefer to use Feeling in decision making like to consider what is important to them and to others involved. They mentally place themselves in the situation to identify with everyone so they can make decisions based on their values about honoring people. They are energized by appreciating and supporting others and look for qualities to praise. Their goal is to create harmony and treat each person as a unique individual.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Feeling:
• Empathetic
• Guided by personal values
• Assess impacts of decisions on people
• Strive for harmony and positive interactions
• Compassionate
• May appear “tenderhearted”
• Fair—want everyone treated as an individual

Judging
People who prefer to use their Judging process in the outer world like to live in a planned, orderly way, seeking to regulate and manage their lives. They want to make decisions, come to closure, and move on. Their lives tend to be structured and organized, and they like to have things settled. Sticking to a plan and schedule is very important to them, and they are energized by getting things done.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Judging:
• Scheduled
• Organize their lives
• Systematic
• Methodical
• Make short- and long-term plans
• Like to have things decided
• Try to avoid last-minute stresses

Perceiving
People who prefer to use their Perceiving process in the outer world like to live in a flexible, spontaneous
way, seeking to experience and understand life, rather than control it. Detailed plans and final decisions feel confining to them; they prefer to stay open to new information and last-minute options. They are energized by their resourcefulness in adapting to the demands of the moment.
Characteristics associated with people who prefer Perceiving:
• Spontaneous
• Flexible
• Casual
• Open-ended
• Adapt, change course
• Like things loose and open to change
• Feel energized by last-minute pressures

Step II Descriptions

E/I

E: INITIATING: Sociable, genial, introduce people
I: RECEIVING: Reserved, low-key, are introduced

E: EXPRESSIVE: Demonstrative, easier to know, self-revealing
I: CONTAINED: Controlled, harder to know, private

E: GREGARIOUS: Seek popularity, broad circle, join groups
I: INTIMATE: Seek intimacy, one-on-one, find individuals

E: ACTIVE: Interactive, want contact, listen and speak
I: REFLECTIVE: Onlooker, prefer space, read and write

E: ENTHUSIASTIC: Lively, energetic, seek spotlight
I: QUIET: Calm, enjoy solitude, seek background

S/N

S: CONCRETE: Exact facts, literal, tangible
N: ABSTRACT: Figurative, symbolic, intangible

S: REALISTIC: Sensible, matter-of-fact, seek efficiency
N: IMAGINATIVE: Resourceful, inventive, seek novelty

S: PRACTICAL: Pragmatic, results-oriented, applied
N: CONCEPTUAL: Scholarly, idea-oriented, intellectual

S: EXPERIENTIAL: Hands-on, empirical, trust experience
N: THEORETICAL: Seek patterns, hypothetical, trust theories

S: TRADITIONAL: Conventional, customary, tried-and-tested
N: ORIGINAL: Unconventional, different, new and unusual

T/F

T: LOGICAL: Impersonal, seek impartiality, objective analysis
F: EMPATHETIC: Personal, seek harmony, central values

T: REASONABLE: Truthful, cause-and-effect, apply principles
F: COMPASSIONATE: Tactful, sympathetic, loyal

T: QUESTIONING: Precise, challenging, want discussion
F: ACCOMMODATING: Approving, agreeable, want harmony

T: CRITICAL: Sceptical, want proof, critique
F: ACCEPTING: Tolerant, trusting, give praise

T: TOUGH: Firm, tough-minded, ends-oriented
F: TENDER: Gentle, tender-hearted, means-oriented

J/P

J: SYSTEMATIC: Orderly, structured, dislike diversions
P: CASUAL: Relaxed, easygoing, welcome diversions

J: PLANFUL: Future-focused, advance planner, like firm plans
P: OPEN-ENDED: Present-focused, go with the flow, make flexible plans

J: EARLY STARTING: Motivated by self-discipline, steady progress, find late starts to be stressful
P: PRESSURE-PROMPTED: Motivated by pressure, bursts and spurts, early start unstimulating

J: SCHEDULED: Want routine, make lists, procedures help
P: SPONTANEOUS: Want variety, enjoy the unexpected, procedures hinder

J: METHODICAL: Plan specific tasks, note subtasks, organised
P: EMERGENT: Plunge in, let strategies emerge, adaptable

Sources:
MBTI Step II Interpretive Report (themyersbriggs.com)
MBTI_Personal_Impact_Report_Verification_English.pdf (themyersbriggs.com)