When someoneuses anunfamiliar word,I assumeeveryone elseunderstandsI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI tend toremember timeswhen I have notdone my bestmore than times Ihave done mybestI avoidchallengingmyself toomuchI qualify questionsor comments bysaying things like,"This may not beright, but..."I should feellucky to havegotten intoschool, thejob, etc.I assume Iwill fail so Iwill not bedisappointedwhen I doI do not makedeclarativestatementslike "I knowthe answer"I hold backwhenworking in agroup orteamI assumethat otherpeopleare rightI have adread ofothersevaluatingmeI should beable to doeverythingmyselfI alwaysshare creditwith others(even if I didall the work)I think I washired oradmittedbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI panicbefore a test,presentation,or interviewI shouldsucceed ateverythingI doI shouldautomat-ically"get it"I do notvoice myrealopinionsI avoid expressingconfidencebecause I thinkpeople will see itas obnoxious orovercompensatingEventuallypeople willrealize I amunderqualifiedfor my roleWhen peoplepraise me for anaccomplishment,I’m afraid I won’tbe able to live upto theirexpectationsThe only way Iwill make it inSTEM is byworking harderthan othersI have oftensucceeded in atask even though Iwas afraid that Iwould not do wellI never let onthat I do notknow how todosomethingI assumewhen peoplecomplimentme, they arejust being niceI struggle tofind studybuddies asothers aresmarter thanmeI explain whyI do notdeserve thecomplimentI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI remindothers ofhow much Ido not knowI should be ableto anticipateproblemsbefore theyoccurI hide myaccomplish-mentsI do not tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI attribute myaccomplish-ments tosomethingother thanmyselfIt was afluke. I canonly be thatgood onceI do not letpeople seeme studyingor workingtoo hardI procrastinatestartingimportant tasks,as they makeme feel anxiousI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly dopeople won'tnotice if I'm notthat goodI don'tfeel like IbelongWhen someoneuses anunfamiliar word,I assumeeveryone elseunderstandsI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI tend toremember timeswhen I have notdone my bestmore than times Ihave done mybestI avoidchallengingmyself toomuchI qualify questionsor comments bysaying things like,"This may not beright, but..."I should feellucky to havegotten intoschool, thejob, etc.I assume Iwill fail so Iwill not bedisappointedwhen I doI do not makedeclarativestatementslike "I knowthe answer"I hold backwhenworking in agroup orteamI assumethat otherpeopleare rightI have adread ofothersevaluatingmeI should beable to doeverythingmyselfI alwaysshare creditwith others(even if I didall the work)I think I washired oradmittedbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI panicbefore a test,presentation,or interviewI shouldsucceed ateverythingI doI shouldautomat-ically"get it"I do notvoice myrealopinionsI avoid expressingconfidencebecause I thinkpeople will see itas obnoxious orovercompensatingEventuallypeople willrealize I amunderqualifiedfor my roleWhen peoplepraise me for anaccomplishment,I’m afraid I won’tbe able to live upto theirexpectationsThe only way Iwill make it inSTEM is byworking harderthan othersI have oftensucceeded in atask even though Iwas afraid that Iwould not do wellI never let onthat I do notknow how todosomethingI assumewhen peoplecomplimentme, they arejust being niceI struggle tofind studybuddies asothers aresmarter thanmeI explain whyI do notdeserve thecomplimentI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI remindothers ofhow much Ido not knowI should be ableto anticipateproblemsbefore theyoccurI hide myaccomplish-mentsI do not tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI attribute myaccomplish-ments tosomethingother thanmyselfIt was afluke. I canonly be thatgood onceI do not letpeople seeme studyingor workingtoo hardI procrastinatestartingimportant tasks,as they makeme feel anxiousI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly dopeople won'tnotice if I'm notthat goodI don'tfeel like Ibelong

Impostor Syndrome Bingo - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.


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  1. When someone uses an unfamiliar word, I assume everyone else understands
  2. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  3. I tend to remember times when I have not done my best more than times I have done my best
  4. I avoid challenging myself too much
  5. I qualify questions or comments by saying things like, "This may not be right, but..."
  6. I should feel lucky to have gotten into school, the job, etc.
  7. I assume I will fail so I will not be disappointed when I do
  8. I do not make declarative statements like "I know the answer"
  9. I hold back when working in a group or team
  10. I assume that other people are right
  11. I have a dread of others evaluating me
  12. I should be able to do everything myself
  13. I always share credit with others (even if I did all the work)
  14. I think I was hired or admitted because of some kind of mistake
  15. I panic before a test, presentation, or interview
  16. I should succeed at everything I do
  17. I should automat-ically "get it"
  18. I do not voice my real opinions
  19. I avoid expressing confidence because I think people will see it as obnoxious or overcompensating
  20. Eventually people will realize I am underqualified for my role
  21. When people praise me for an accomplishment, I’m afraid I won’t be able to live up to their expectations
  22. The only way I will make it in STEM is by working harder than others
  23. I have often succeeded in a task even though I was afraid that I would not do well
  24. I never let on that I do not know how to do something
  25. I assume when people compliment me, they are just being nice
  26. I struggle to find study buddies as others are smarter than me
  27. I explain why I do not deserve the compliment
  28. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  29. I remind others of how much I do not know
  30. I should be able to anticipate problems before they occur
  31. I hide my accomplish-ments
  32. I do not tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  33. I attribute my accomplish-ments to something other than myself
  34. It was a fluke. I can only be that good once
  35. I do not let people see me studying or working too hard
  36. I procrastinate starting important tasks, as they make me feel anxious
  37. I try to be really personable and friendly do people won't notice if I'm not that good
  38. I don't feel like I belong