There are different kinds of Wonderlic tests but the most common is the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT-R). If you’re given no other details, it’s safe to assume that’s the one you’ll be taking.
When Might You Expect to Take a Wonderlic Test?
You can expect to take a Wonderlic test early in the recruitment process. It’s designed to be a quick and easy test to give out to a mass of candidates, with results that can be used to narrow the field down fast. Depending on the employer, you might take the test online at the very start of the recruitment process, or it could be taken in-person at an assessment centre or before an interview. Typically, Wonderlic tests are used for graduate-level roles. And they’re extremely common. If you’re applying for several jobs at that level, you are almost certain to come across a Wonderlic test at some point.
Suffice to say, this guy would probably have got a good score in a Wonderlic test.
What Does the Test Aim to Measure?
As a cognitive ability test, the Wonderlic tests have similar aims to most IQ tests. The producers of the test say that it helps to measure “general mental ability”, including “a candidate’s ability to understand instructions, learn, adapt, and solve problems”. So the test’s aims are quite general, and the questions are abstract to reflect that. You’ll work on some language and word problems, some abstract pattern recognition, and logic and fact recognition, among other things. With all that said, don’t think that because the test aims to measure ‘intelligence’ that practice won’t help. Being familiar with the format and practising the questions will absolutely bring your scores up. It is not the case that failing the test means you’re ‘not intelligent’, or that passing it means you are. There is no single test out there that gives an entirely unbiased, definitive measure of intelligence, partly because intelligence itself is extremely difficult to define.
Wonderlic Practice Test
Try this practice test before reading on: The test has 20 questions and you should aim to complete the test within 10 minutes. All questions are multiple-choice. Make sure you read a question in full before answering. Answers and explanations to the questions are provided at the end of the test. (Source: wonderlictestsample.com) For this section, you will really benefit from practice. Get used to the kinds of patterns you’ll need to recognise (such as these folding patterns) and you’ll get much better and quicker at doing them. (Source: wonderlictestsample.com) The example below has two steps. First, you must rearrange the sentence, and then you must decide whether the statement is true. You shouldn’t have too much trouble answering most of these questions. Again, the issue here is doing it quickly. Practise to get used to the questions and you’ll get much faster. (Source: wonderlictestsample.com) Essentially, your job is to use the words to work out what each of the numbers are, and then perform the necessary mathematical operations on those numbers to arrive at the answer. (Source: wonderlictestsample.com) The Wonderlic company says that the average score is 21. The score you will need to have a good chance at the job you’re applying for will depend entirely on the role. Lower-skilled jobs, such as working in a warehouse, might only require 15. Something more highly skilled, such as working in data analytics, will probably require a score of 30 or more. Depending on the benchmark for the role, the employer will receive your score alongside a label that’s based on that benchmark. For instance, if the benchmark is 32, a score of 34 would label you as ‘pursue’. Slightly lower than the benchmark will be marked as ‘cautionary’, while much lower will be ‘not recommended’. If you receive the ‘not recommended’ label, it is almost certain that you will not progress any further in the recruitment process.
How to Prepare for the Test
The Wonderlic test can be crucial – you need to pass it to move on to the next stage. But it’s also tough, so you need to be ready. Practice is absolutely vital. Practice not only helps you answer the questions more accurately, but it also builds your confidence, speed and mindset. You can read as many articles about the Wonderlic test as you like, but the only real way to improve significantly is to practise. So, how should you prepare for the Wonderlic test? While the test is supposed to not rely too much on your knowledge (as it’s a cognitive ability test), some general knowledge and aptitudes will be required. Make sure nothing catches you out.
2. Timed Practice Tests
Find as many online [Wonderlic practice tests] as you can and take them in as close to test conditions as possible. That means set everything up as if you’re just about to take the test for real. Stick rigidly to the rules (such as no calculator, no googling, and so on) and the time limit. Keep practising this to get used to the timer and to answering the questions under pressure.
3. Remember to Review
As part of your practice, it’s also very important to review your practice tests. Every time you take a practice test, don’t just look at your score and move on. Look through your answers. Start with the incorrect answers. For each of these, ask yourself why you got it wrong. Were you unfamiliar with the format? Rushed it due to the time constraints? Made a silly mistake in your working? Just didn’t get it? This will help you to pinpoint where you need to improve; whether that’s going faster or becoming better at a particular type of question. Next, glance through your correct answers. Congratulate yourself if you can see a marked improvement - it’s always worthwhile to see your progress, but also be honest with yourself. If you guessed any of the answers and happened to get them right, consider why you guessed. Finally, look at the test as a whole. How many questions did you manage to get through? Remember that only around 2% of candidates actually finish the test, so it’s very normal to have missed some. To work out how many questions you should be answering, try and find out what rough benchmark score you need. Depending on your average accuracy, you’ll need to be able to answer that many questions plus around 6 to 12 more as a buffer for incorrect answers.
Key Tips
Here are a few key tips to help you succeed alongside regular practice:
Do Your Research
The best place to start is with articles like this one. Figuring out what the Wonderlic tests are all about is the first step.
Gear Up
While you’re not allowed a calculator, you are allowed other things that might help you. A piece of scrap paper and a pencil, for instance, can be incredibly useful. On the mathematical questions it can be used for calculations and remembering numbers. On the logic and pattern recognition questions it can be used to sketch out patterns if you’re more of a visual thinker. Also, remember to bring water with you. Being thirsty can be highly distracting and staying hydrated helps your brain stay sharp.
Get Plenty of Sleep and a Good Breakfast
Don’t stay up all night practising just before the test. That will only harm your performance. It’s really important for your brain that you are well rested and well fed, so try to make sure you get eight hours of sleep the night before and have a good, healthy meal before you leave for the test.
Process of Elimination
Working out the answers to some questions can take valuable time. To answer the questions fast enough, you’ll probably need to use some shortcuts. One thing that can be useful is to eliminate answers as soon as you approach the question. For example, say you’re given a mathematical question like 39 x 24. You begin by doing 9 x 4 which is 36. This immediately tells you that the answer ends in 6. So, you can now cross out any answer that doesn’t end in 6. If you’re very lucky, there’ll only be one left. But otherwise, you might be able to quickly ascertain something like, “B is definitely too high, and C is the only other answer that ends in a 6, so that must be it”. So, if you’re someone who gets very stressed, or even panicked, by tests, it is a good idea to practise staying calm. Some good ways to stay calm can be to do breathing exercises, listening to a particular kind of music just before you go into the test, as well as meditation or physical exercise. Try some different things and see how you feel.
