Personality Types

What the two terms mean

An introvert is a personality type that tends to be inward-looking. Introverts generally prefer their own company or small groups, are quieter and more reserved, and prefer a calmer, less stimulating environment.

An extrovert is a personality type that tends to be outward-looking. Extroverts generally enjoy being with other people, are more talkative and sociable, and seek out stimulation, excitement and activity.

These are the only two personality types the syllabus names, and they describe a tendency — most people sit somewhere between the two.

• Introvert — inward-looking, prefers own company or small groups, calm environment
• Extrovert — outward-looking, outgoing and sociable, seeks stimulation and company
• A performer can show characteristics of both at different times

Typical characteristics of an introvert

Introverts are usually described through how they behave with other people and how they react to a busy environment. Learn the characteristics as a set so you can pick two or three for any question.

• Quiet and reserved — does not seek attention or the spotlight
• Prefers their own company or a small group of close friends
• Thinks carefully before acting; more reflective and analytical
• Better at concentrating for long periods on their own
• Prefers a calm, less crowded, less noisy environment
• Less confident in front of a large crowd or audience
• Often prefers to compete against themselves or their own standards

Typical characteristics of an extrovert

Extroverts are described in the opposite way: they are energised by other people and by stimulation, and they show it in how they perform and behave.

• Outgoing, sociable and talkative — enjoys being with others
• Seeks stimulation, excitement and arousal
• Confident in front of an audience and happy to be noticed
• Enjoys teamwork and being part of a group
• Acts and reacts quickly, sometimes without thinking it through
• Can become bored easily when the activity is quiet or repetitive
• Often motivated by competition against others

Physical activities usually adopted by each type

Cambridge asks you to suggest activities for each type — which means you name an activity and justify it from the characteristics. An activity name on its own is only part of the answer.

Introverts are usually drawn to individual activities where they can work alone, set their own standards and avoid a large audience — for example golf, cross-country running, hill walking or orienteering, cycling and competitive swimming.

Extroverts are usually drawn to team games and activities with an audience or an opponent, where there is lots of social contact and stimulation — for example rugby, netball, volleyball, hockey and basketball.

A tendency, not a rule about individuals

These descriptions are generalisations. They describe what a typical introvert or extrovert tends to choose, not what every individual must do.

An introvert can be an outstanding rugby player and an extrovert can be a dedicated distance runner. What the syllabus asks for is the tendency, and the justification for it.

If a question asks you to suggest activities, phrase your answer as a tendency — 'an introvert is usually drawn to…' — and back it with a characteristic rather than treating the activity as fixed.

Using this in an exam answer

Most questions on this subtopic are worth 1–4 marks and follow the pattern: name the type, give a characteristic, apply it to an activity.

Suggest and explain questions need the link: characteristic → what the performer prefers → the activity that provides it.

For example: 'An extrovert is outgoing and enjoys being with others so they usually choose a team game such as netball, where they get constant social contact and communication with teammates.' The word so is doing the work in that answer.