Grit Scale Scoring

A deep dive into the Grit Assessment Scale and how it's being used to measure mental toughness and predict success, particularly in sports.

Origins & Background

• Created by Angela Duckworth
• Formula: Ability × Zeal (passion/enthusiasm) × Capacity for hard labor = Success
• Used by 200 federal agencies including EPA (on 25% of 20,000 employees)
• West Point uses it as predictor of cadet success
  • Better predictor than SAT scores, high school rank, or leadership interviews
  • Used during their 7-week "Beast" orientation program
  • 20% drop out rate even after intense selection process

Assessment Structure

• Questions focus on:
  • Handling distractions from new projects
  • Response to setbacks
  • Goal persistence
  • Work ethic
  • Long-term focus
  • Interest consistency
  • Project completion rate

Sample Questions

• "New ideas and projects sometimes distract me from previous ones"
• "Setbacks don't discourage me, I don't give up easily"
• "I set a goal but later choose to pursue a different one"
• "I am a hard worker"
• "I finish whatever I begin"
• "I have difficulty maintaining focus on projects that take more than a few months"

Scoring System

• Scale is 0-5 (not 0-10 as initially thought)
• 3.5 score puts you in 40th percentile
• Lower scores (like 2.5) put you in bottom 10th percentile
• Measures both perseverance and passion equally

Current Usage

• Sports teams using it to assess mental makeup of players
• Being explored as predictor of athletic success
• Complementing physical metrics and performance data
• Used alongside other performance metrics in professional sports