MBI versions, questions, and answer scale
The MBI comes in versions of 16 or 22 items for different kinds of work, answered on a seven-point frequency scale from "never" to "every day". [1][3] The general survey (MBI-GS) has 16 items: 5 on exhaustion, 5 on cynicism, and 6 on professional efficacy. [3]
Which versions are there?
Mind Garden lists five. The questions themselves belong to the authors and publisher, and are shown to you when you take it.
How many questions are in each scale?
In the 22-item human services version, emotional exhaustion has 9 items, depersonalisation 5, and personal accomplishment 8. In the 16-item general survey, exhaustion has 5, cynicism 5, and professional efficacy 6. [3]
| Version | Scale | Items |
|---|---|---|
| MBI-HSS (22) | Emotional exhaustion | 9 |
| MBI-HSS (22) | Depersonalisation | 5 |
| MBI-HSS (22) | Personal accomplishment | 8 |
| MBI-GS (16) | Exhaustion | 5 |
| MBI-GS (16) | Cynicism | 5 |
| MBI-GS (16) | Professional efficacy | 6 |
What is the answer scale?
Answers are a frequency from 0, "never", to 6, "every day". [1][3] That gives seven steps. The publisher's page does not describe the answer labels in between, so you will see them in the survey itself.
What time period should I think about?
The pages we read do not state a time period. Follow the instructions at the top of the survey, and answer for the period it names.
How is the survey delivered?
For an individual, Mind Garden sends an email invitation after you buy the "Report About Me". You complete the survey online, then receive a second email with instructions for accessing your report. [4] The MBI manual is a separate purchase, which the publisher refers to for item-level detail, response labels, and full scoring procedures. [2][4]
Sources and further reading
These links open external research and health-information websites.
- Mind Garden: Maslach Burnout Inventory (the publisher's MBI page)
The versions and item counts, the three dimensions, the seven-point frequency scale, the five burnout profiles, the advice against a single burnout score, and the statement that cut-offs were removed from the fourth edition. Read on 2 November 2026. - Mind Garden: MBI General Survey (MBI-GS)
The 16-item general survey, its three scales and what each describes, the occupations it is meant for, and the profile classification. Read on 2 November 2026. - Efremova et al. (2025): Burnout scales used in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and their psychometric properties: a systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health
An open-access review that compares the MBI, CBI, and OLBI. First 100,000 of about 165,000 characters read through Europe PMC; the rest not read. - Mind Garden: Report About Me, MBI-GS
The single-use report for an individual, how the survey is delivered by email after purchase, what the report contains, and the prices listed. Read on 2 November 2026.
This page is educational. A questionnaire score cannot establish a diagnosis or explain the cause of your symptoms. If you are struggling, speak with a doctor or mental health professional, whatever your score. Read when to get help for work stress or find a helpline in your country.