The role of achievement needs in self-evaluation has been relatively neglected. To examine ability evaluation through social comparison when achievement or self-esteem needs are salient, students (N=102) were given bogus (favorable or unfavorable) ability feedback to manipulate the need for self-esteem maintenance. Achievement motivation was invoked by varying subjects' expectation that they would or would not participate in a group task and be evaluated on social sensitivity by group members. A third level had no expectation of a subsequent task. Subjects then selected a packet of social sensitivity scores and a personality profile of a previously tested subject, choosing one whose score was near the top, better than theirs, just above theirs, below or much below theirs, or near the bottom. Social comparison measures after the feedback and before the group task indicated the strength of the various motivations. Subjects who expected to be evaluated by others chose top level comparison others. Findings also partly replicated the self-esteem maintaining effect of downward comparison following negative feedback. However, use of downward comparison was limited to a situation where future performance demands were low. (JAC)