This research investigates whether self-assessments related to information literacy (IL) (a) may be considered valid measures of information literacy and (b) contribute to performance in scholarly information search tasks over and above standardized information literacy tests. We hypothesized that, first, self-assessments of IL would be more accurate when measured after the administration of IL related tasks (literature searches or standardized tests) due to “intrinsic feedback” associated with task completion that provides information about individual ability (Ackerman & Wolman, 2007). Second, we assumed that self-assessments would explain incremental variance in information search tasks due to the fact that adequate information searching requires both objective skills (as measured by an IL test) and cognitions about individual experiences and abilities that enable students to develop their potential while working on the tasks (e. g. confidence or self-efficacy; Bandura, 1994). A study with N = 82 German psychology students was carried out in order to verify these assumptions. Self-assessments related to IL were gathered by (a) a set of three questions about scholarly information search experiences, and (b) an information self-efficacy scale which was applied twice (at the beginning of the test battery as well as at its very end). Additionally, an IL test measuring procedural knowledge about information searches, and three standardized information search tasks were included. Regarding the first hypothesis, correlations between the self-efficacy scale and scores on the search tasks as well as on the IL test are higher when self-efficacy is measured after the information search tasks. This increase in accuracy of self reports is due to subjects’ performance in these tasks: Changes in self-efficacy scores correlated with search task performance (search tasks and difference variable: r = .29; p < .01; IL test and difference variable: r = .16; p < .05). As for the second hypothesis, hierarchical regression analyses showed that search experience as well as self-efficacy (measured after task completion) have incremental validity over the IL test in the prediction of search task performance (search experience: ΔR2 = .04; p < .05; self-efficacy: ΔR2 = .05; p < .05). Based on these findings, we recommend to include self-assessments in IL test batteries to assess IL i...