Almost Perfect Scale-Revised

The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) is a multidimensional instrument designed to measure the core components of perfectionism in adults and adolescents.

Questions: 23
Duration: 10 min
Original title: APS-R — Almost Perfect Scale
Adaptation: Almost Perfect Scale-Revised
Authors: Slaney, R. B., Rice, K. G., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J. S.
Created: 2001

The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) is a multidimensional instrument designed to measure the core components of perfectionism in adults and adolescents. Developed to distinguish between the adaptive pursuit of excellence and the paralyzing distress of perfectionistic failure, it separates personal standards from the critical self-evaluation that drives psychological distress, often acting as a bridge to identifying perfectionism and working with it in session.

In clinical practice, the APS-R is a valuable tool for understanding a patient's internal rules and the distress they cause. By untangling a preference for order, high standards, and the perceived discrepancy between expectations and performance, clinicians can better challenge demanding standards. It provides a repeatable metric to monitor how rigid inner rules soften and self-criticism decreases over the course of treatment, offering clear insights into the cognitive mechanisms maintaining anxiety or low self-worth.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

The APS-R is a 23-item self-report questionnaire assessing three dimensions of perfectionism: High Standards, preference for Order, and Discrepancy, which refers to the perceived gap between the standards individuals set for themselves and their actual performance. The combination of Standards and Discrepancy scores allows distinguishing between adaptive perfectionism (high standards + low discrepancy), maladaptive perfectionism (high standards + high discrepancy), and non-perfectionists. It is used with adults and adolescents in clinical and research settings to clarify the links between perfectionism, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and academic/occupational functioning.

Discrepancy (Discrepancy)

47/ 84

Discrepancy is defined as the perceived difference between the standards one has for oneself and one's actual performance.

items 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23

1284

Order (Order)

16/ 28

Order represents a preference for organization and neatness, a secondary positive aspect of perfectionism.

items 2, 4, 7, 10

428

High personal standards (High Standards)

24/ 49

High standards captures the essential and defining positive aspects of perfectionism, representing the positive striving and expectations one has for oneself.

items 1, 5, 8, 12, 14, 18, 22

749

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What the test measures

The APS-R assesses three distinct facets of perfectionistic thinking, helping clinicians map the cognitive structures driving a patient's behavior and self-evaluation.

High Standards: The degree to which an individual expects excellent performance and sets demanding personal goals.
Order: A preference for neatness, organization, and a disciplined approach to tasks and environments.
Discrepancy: The distressing gap between one's expectations and one's actual performance, capturing the chronic dissatisfaction often fueled by disqualifying the positive.

This measure is intended for adults and adolescents capable of self-reflection, particularly those presenting with anxiety, depression, or burnout.

When and why to use it

Clinicians typically deploy the APS-R to map the patient's internal demands, clarify the source of their distress, and monitor cognitive flexibility throughout therapy.

Clinical Indication	Rationale for Use
Intake baseline	To establish a detailed profile of a patient's perfectionistic traits, separating healthy ambition from punitive self-evaluation.
Monitoring change	To track shifts in the perceived gap between standards and performance, measuring whether the patient is successfully restructuring distressing automatic thoughts.
Targeting interventions	To focus therapeutic work precisely where it is needed—often on the distress of discrepancy rather than the mere preference for order.
Cognitive defusion	To help patients objectify their self-criticism, moving them away from harmful rumination and toward flexible evaluation.

Using this validated metric allows clinicians to objectify the specific dimensions of perfectionism, going beyond the vague clinical impression of a patient being overly harsh on themselves.

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The questions

Respond to each of the items using the scale below to describe your degree of agreement with each item.
1. I have high standards for my performance at work or school.
Probes the expectations the patient holds for their own achievement in structured environments.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
2. I am an orderly person.
Evaluates the patient's general preference for structure and methodical approaches.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
3. I often feel frustrated because I can't achieve my goals.
Explores the emotional reaction to falling short of personal objectives.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
4. Order and cleanliness are important to me.
Assesses the personal value placed on a clean and tidy environment.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
5. If you don't expect much from yourself, you will never succeed.
Examines the belief that high self-expectations are a strict prerequisite for success.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
6. My best never seems good enough.
Probes the chronic sense that maximum effort still fails to meet internal criteria.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
7. I think that everything should be in its proper place.
Evaluates the patient's rigidity regarding physical organization.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
8. I have high expectations for myself.
Assesses the general magnitude of demands the patient places on themselves.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
9. I rarely manage to live up to my own high standards.
Explores the perceived frequency of failing to meet personal requirements.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
10. I like to always be organized and disciplined.
Measures the affective preference for discipline and planning.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
11. Doing my best never seems to be enough.
Examines the persistent dissatisfaction with one's own maximum effort.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
12. I set very high standards for myself.
Probes the intentional establishment of demanding personal criteria.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
13. I am never satisfied with my accomplishments.
Assesses the inability to feel contentment or pride upon completing tasks.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
14. I expect the best from myself.
Evaluates the internal demand for peak performance at all times.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
15. I often worry about not living up to my own expectations.
Explores the anticipatory anxiety related to falling short of internal demands.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
16. My performance rarely lives up to my standards.
Measures the perceived gap between actual output and self-imposed rules.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
17. I am not satisfied even when I know I've done my best.
Probes the lack of emotional reward even when objective effort is maximized.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
18. I try to do my best in everything I do.
Assesses the generalized commitment to optimal effort across diverse domains.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
19. I rarely manage to meet my own high performance standards.
Evaluates the frequency of perceived failure in reaching one's own performance criteria.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
20. I am almost never satisfied with my performance.
Explores the chronic lack of fulfillment regarding personal output.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
21. I rarely feel that what I have done is good enough.
Measures the pervasive feeling of inadequacy regarding completed actions.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
22. I have a strong need to strive for excellence.
Assesses the internalized compulsion to achieve top-tier results.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
23. I often feel disappointed after finishing a task because I know I could have done better.
Probes the retrospective regret and self-criticism triggered by task completion.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Slightly disagree
- Neutral
- Slightly agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree