Self-check

Burnout self-check

This free self-check uses the 12 questions of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT-12), a questionnaire developed by researchers at KU Leuven. Answer how often each statement applies to your work. Your score is calculated in your browser, with no email, sign-up or saving. It’s a reflection, not a diagnosis: only a professional can assess burnout.

The following statements are related to your work situation and how you experience this situation. Please state how often each statement applies to you.

  1. At work, I feel mentally exhausted
  2. After a day at work, I find it hard to recover my energy
  3. At work, I feel physically exhausted
  4. I struggle to find any enthusiasm for my work
  5. I feel a strong aversion towards my job
  6. I'm cynical about what my work means to others
  7. At work, I have trouble staying focused
  8. When I'm working, I have trouble concentrating
  9. I make mistakes in my work because I have my mind on other things
  10. At work, I feel unable to control my emotions
  11. I do not recognize myself in the way I react emotionally at work
  12. At work I may overreact unintentionally
0 of 12 answered

How the score works

Each answer is scored from 1 (never) to 5 (always), and your score is the average of all 12. The BAT’s authors set these ranges for the 12-item version:

ScoreWhat the authors call it
1.00 to 2.53No increased risk
2.54 to 2.95At risk of burnout
2.96 to 5.00Very high risk of burnout

The ranges come from a working population in Belgium (Flanders); norms for other countries are still being developed. The questions cover the four core parts of burnout the BAT measures: exhaustion, mental distance from work, trouble concentrating, and trouble controlling emotions.

What burnout is (and isn’t)

The World Health Organization describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon that results from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. It is not classified as a medical condition, and it’s specifically about work, which is why every question here is about your job. If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with stress or burnout, read stress vs burnout.

Exhaustion has many possible causes, from sleep problems to physical illness to depression. That’s why the BAT’s own authors stress that a questionnaire alone can’t diagnose burnout: that takes a conversation with a trained professional.

When to talk to someone

Talk to your doctor if exhaustion has lasted for weeks, you’re struggling to get through the working day, or rest no longer helps. If you ever think about harming yourself or feel you can’t go on, call your local emergency number straight away.

SourcesSchaufeli, Desart & De Witte · IJERPH, 2020 (BAT)World Health Organization · ICD-11, 2019
Questions

Is this burnout test free and anonymous?

Yes. There’s no email, sign-up or payment. Your answers are scored in your browser and are never sent or stored.

What is the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)?

The BAT is a burnout questionnaire developed by Wilmar Schaufeli, Hans De Witte and Steffie Desart at KU Leuven, published in 2020. This page uses its 12-question short form, unmodified, under the authors’ free-use terms.

Can a test tell me if I have burnout?

No. A questionnaire can show how strongly you recognize the signs right now, but only a professional can assess burnout, and they’ll also look at other possible causes of exhaustion.

What should I do if my score is high?

Take it as a signal, not a verdict. Talk to your doctor, and look at what’s draining you at work and what helps you recover. If your employer has an occupational health service, it may also help.

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