diff --git a/.rubocop.yml b/.rubocop.yml
index 29d6341570..9a3abf924a 100644
--- a/.rubocop.yml
+++ b/.rubocop.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Metrics/LineLength:
 
 # This should go down over time.
 Metrics/MethodLength:
-  Max: 37
+  Max: 39
 
 # This should go down over time.
 Metrics/CyclomaticComplexity:
diff --git a/features/metadata/current_scope.feature b/features/metadata/current_scope.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..853ea3c1b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/metadata/current_scope.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+Feature: RSpec provides the current_scope as RSpec::current_scope
+
+  You can detect which rspec scope your helper methods or library code is executing in.
+  This is useful if for example, your method only makes sense to call in a certain context.
+
+  Scenario: Detecting the current scope
+    Given a file named "current_scope_spec.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      unless RSpec.current_scope == :suite
+        raise "bad current scope: #{RSpec.current_scope.inspect}"
+      end
+
+      RSpec.configure do |c|
+        c.before :suite do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_suite_hook)
+        end
+
+        c.before :context do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_context_hook)
+        end
+
+        c.before :example do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_example_hook)
+        end
+
+        c.around :example do |ex|
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_example_hook)
+          ex.run
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_example_hook)
+        end
+
+        c.after :example do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_example_hook)
+        end
+
+        c.after :context do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_context_hook)
+        end
+
+        c.after :suite do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_suite_hook)
+        end
+      end
+
+      RSpec.describe "RSpec.current_scope" do
+        before :context do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_context_hook)
+        end
+
+        before :example do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_example_hook)
+        end
+
+        around :example do |ex|
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_example_hook)
+          ex.run
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_example_hook)
+        end
+
+        after :example do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_example_hook)
+        end
+
+        after :context do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:after_context_hook)
+        end
+
+        it "is :example in an example" do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:example)
+        end
+
+        it "works for multiple examples" do
+          expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:example)
+        end
+
+        describe "in nested describe blocks" do
+          it "still works" do
+            expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:example)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    When I run `rspec current_scope_spec.rb`
+    Then the examples should all pass
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core.rb b/lib/rspec/core.rb
index 2f10014b2e..fd20f21156 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core.rb
@@ -129,6 +129,31 @@ def self.current_example=(example)
     RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_example] = example
   end
 
+  # Set the current scope rspec is executing in
+  # @api private
+  def self.current_scope=(scope)
+    RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_scope] = scope
+  end
+  RSpec.current_scope = :suite
+
+  # Get the current RSpec execution scope
+  #
+  # Returns `:suite` while loading your tests (as soon as RSpec has loaded)
+  #
+  # Returns `:before_example_hook`/`:before_context_hook`/`:before_suite_hook`/
+  # `:after_example_hook`/`:after_context_hook`/`:after_suite_hook` in the respective hooks
+  #
+  # Returns `:before_example_hook`/`:after_example_hook` inside an `around :each` hook,
+  # before and after you call `example.run` respectively.
+  #
+  # Returns `:example` inside it/example blocks
+  #
+  # Returns `nil` after your suite and all hooks are done
+  # @return [Symbol/nil]
+  def self.current_scope
+    RSpec::Support.thread_local_data[:current_scope]
+  end
+
   # @private
   # Internal container for global non-configuration data.
   def self.world
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb b/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
index bb38a8de4f..bad82e8ebd 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
@@ -2063,10 +2063,13 @@ def with_suite_hooks
         return yield if dry_run?
 
         begin
+          RSpec.current_scope = :before_suite_hook
           run_suite_hooks("a `before(:suite)` hook", @before_suite_hooks)
           yield
         ensure
+          RSpec.current_scope = :after_suite_hook
           run_suite_hooks("an `after(:suite)` hook", @after_suite_hooks)
+          RSpec.current_scope = nil
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/example.rb b/lib/rspec/core/example.rb
index d3b891fa92..eb061ee8fa 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/example.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/example.rb
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ def run(example_group_instance, reporter)
             with_around_and_singleton_context_hooks do
               begin
                 run_before_example
+                RSpec.current_scope = :example
                 @example_group_instance.instance_exec(self, &@example_block)
 
                 if pending?
@@ -278,6 +279,7 @@ def run(example_group_instance, reporter)
               rescue AllExceptionsExcludingDangerousOnesOnRubiesThatAllowIt => e
                 set_exception(e)
               ensure
+                RSpec.current_scope = :after_example_hook
                 run_after_example
               end
             end
@@ -462,6 +464,7 @@ def hooks
       end
 
       def with_around_example_hooks
+        RSpec.current_scope = :before_example_hook
         hooks.run(:around, :example, self) { yield }
       rescue Support::AllExceptionsExceptOnesWeMustNotRescue => e
         set_exception(e)
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/example_group.rb b/lib/rspec/core/example_group.rb
index f53e897db0..87f30c3ded 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/example_group.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/example_group.rb
@@ -608,6 +608,7 @@ def self.run(reporter=RSpec::Core::NullReporter)
 
         should_run_context_hooks = descendant_filtered_examples.any?
         begin
+          RSpec.current_scope = :before_context_hook
           run_before_context_hooks(new('before(:context) hook')) if should_run_context_hooks
           result_for_this_group = run_examples(reporter)
           results_for_descendants = ordering_strategy.order(children).map { |child| child.run(reporter) }.all?
@@ -620,6 +621,7 @@ def self.run(reporter=RSpec::Core::NullReporter)
           RSpec.world.wants_to_quit = true if reporter.fail_fast_limit_met?
           false
         ensure
+          RSpec.current_scope = :after_context_hook
           run_after_context_hooks(new('after(:context) hook')) if should_run_context_hooks
           reporter.example_group_finished(self)
         end
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb
index 085acbbbab..d9a02e97e7 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core_spec.rb
@@ -129,6 +129,20 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe ".current_scope" do
+    before :context do
+      expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_context_hook)
+    end
+
+    before do
+      expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:before_example_hook)
+    end
+
+    it "returns :example inside an example" do
+      expect(RSpec.current_scope).to eq(:example)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe ".reset" do
     it "resets the configuration and world objects" do
       config_before_reset = RSpec.configuration