Wonderlic Test
How do you pass a behavioral assessment test?
How do you pass a behavioral assessment test?
To succeed in a behavioral assessment test, answer honestly and consistently to reflect your true work style. Employers use these tests to evaluate traits like teamwork, reliability, and leadership potential. Review the job description and align your responses with the role’s expectations, but avoid overthinking or trying to game the system. Authenticity and self-awareness are key.
The Wonderlic Test is a widely used pre-employment assessment that measures a candidate’s cognitive ability, personality traits, and motivational drivers. It is designed to help employers make better hiring decisions by evaluating how well a candidate can think, solve problems, adapt to new information, and fit within a company’s culture.
Wonderlic assessments are used across many industries, including healthcare, education, technology, and manufacturing.
Types of Wonderlic Assessments
1. Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT)
This is the most recognized Wonderlic test. It measures general cognitive ability through a combination of:
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Problem Solving
Logical Thinking
General Knowledge
Format:
50 questions
12-minute time limit
Increasing difficulty
Designed to assess problem-solving speed and accuracy
2. Wonderlic Personality Test
This untimed assessment evaluates personality traits relevant to workplace performance. It’s based on validated psychological frameworks and measures traits such as:
Dependability
Achievement orientation
Interpersonal style
Stress tolerance
Adaptability
Employers use this to predict how well a candidate may behave in various work situations, including team collaboration, communication, and leadership.
3. Wonderlic Motivation Assessment
This assessment helps employers understand what drives and motivates a candidate. It reveals preferences in work environment, management style, reward systems, and growth opportunities.
Motivation scores can be compared against a job profile to ensure the candidate is aligned with the company’s culture and the role’s demands.
Wonderlic Personnel Test vs. Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE)
| Feature | Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) | Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Hiring & workforce placement | Academic admissions, trade schools, training |
| Time Limit | 12 minutes | 12–30 minutes (varies by version) |
| Question Types | Cognitive (verbal, math, logic) | Scholastic aptitude, learning ability |
| Common Use | Pre-employment testing | Admissions for career & technical schools |
| Score Range | 0–50 | 0–50 |
While both tests measure general mental ability, the WPT is more job-focused, while the SLE is designed to assess readiness for academic or vocational training.
Wonderlic Test Preparation Strategies
Practice Under Timed Conditions
The Wonderlic is extremely time-sensitive. Practicing with a timer helps improve both speed and decision-making.Sharpen Your Basic Math and Logic
Brush up on arithmetic, number patterns, word problems, and logical reasoning. These skills are heavily tested.Read Quickly and Carefully
Many questions are short but tricky. Training your brain to read fast and accurately is crucial.Don’t Get Stuck
Skip difficult questions and return if time allows. Answering more questions increases your potential score.Use Personality and Motivation Sample Tests
For non-cognitive assessments, review typical work personality profiles and think about your own work style and preferences. Be consistent and authentic.
Understanding Wonderlic Test Scores and Results
The Wonderlic Test provides valuable insights into a candidate’s cognitive ability, personality traits, and motivational drivers. While the format and scoring differ depending on the test type, all results are designed to help employers make confident, data-driven hiring decisions.
1. Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) Scoring
Score Range: 0 to 50 points
Time Limit: 12 minutes
Scoring Method: One point for each correct answer. No penalty for wrong answers.
Score Benchmarks:
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | Below average – may struggle in complex roles |
| 20–29 | Average – capable of performing most job tasks |
| 30–40 | Above average – strong reasoning and problem-solving skills |
| 40–50 | Exceptional – top-tier cognitive ability |
Employers may set a minimum score based on job requirements. For example, a technical role may require 30+, while a clerical role may require only 20+.
2. Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) Scoring
Also scored on a 0–50 scale
Often used in academic admissions and vocational training programs
Some versions may provide a percentile rank or learning readiness score
A higher SLE score suggests better academic potential and ability to succeed in structured learning environments.
3. Wonderlic Personality Test Results
This test does not use a numerical score. Instead, it provides a personality profile across key behavioral dimensions such as:
Drive and motivation
Sociability and communication style
Reliability and consistency
Adaptability and stress response
Results are compared to the desired personality traits for the role. Candidates are typically categorized as strong fit, moderate fit, or low fit based on their behavioral alignment with job expectations.
4. Wonderlic Motivation Assessment Results
Like the personality test, this assessment generates a motivation profile, showing what type of work environments, leadership styles, and reward systems the candidate prefers.
The employer can compare this profile to the role’s motivational environment to predict long-term engagement and satisfaction.
Free Wonderlic Test – Sample Questions
1. Numerical Reasoning
Question:
What is the next number in the sequence?
2, 4, 8, 16, ?
A) 18
B) 24
C) 30
D) 32
Correct Answer: D) 32
Explanation: Each number is doubled.
2. Verbal Reasoning
Question:
Which word is most similar in meaning to “Cautious”?
A) Brave
B) Careful
C) Fast
D) Bold
Correct Answer: B) Careful
3. Logical Reasoning
Question:
All apples are fruits. Some fruits are red.
Which statement is definitely true?
A) All apples are red
B) Some apples are red
C) Some fruits are red
D) All fruits are apples
Correct Answer: C) Some fruits are red
4. General Knowledge
Question:
Which of the following months has 28 days?
A) February
B) All of them
C) June
D) November
Correct Answer: B) All of them
Explanation: Every month has at least 28 days.
5. Wonderlic Personality Test Sample
Statement:
“I prefer following routines over unpredictable tasks.”
Options:
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
There are no right or wrong answers. This helps measure your structure and adaptability.
6. Wonderlic Motivation Assessment Sample
Question:
Which of the following is most important to you in a job?
A) Clear advancement opportunities
B) Flexible schedule
C) Recognition for good work
D) Working independently
FAQ
There are three main types of Wonderlic assessments:
Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) – Measures problem-solving, logic, math, verbal reasoning, and general knowledge.
Wonderlic Personality Test – Evaluates traits such as reliability, sociability, and adaptability.
Wonderlic Motivation Assessment – Identifies what drives a person’s performance and engagement in the workplace.
The Wonderlic Personnel Test contains 50 questions and must be completed in 12 minutes. Personality and motivation assessments vary in length and are usually untimed.
Yes, the Wonderlic Personnel Test is strictly timed (12 minutes total). Other Wonderlic assessments, like the personality and motivation tests, are not timed.
A score of 20–29 is considered average, while 30+ is above average. Scores of 40 and above are excellent. The ideal score depends on the job and employer requirements.
Technically, no. The test isn’t pass/fail. However, your score is compared against the employer’s benchmarks. A low score may reduce your chances of being selected for the role.
No. The Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) is a related test used in academic admissions, especially in technical and vocational schools.
You can practice Wonderlic-style cognitive, personality, and motivation questions for free on our website to improve your performance and build confidence before taking the real test.
