How to Prepare for an Amazon Assessment in 2024 (Study Guide)
Congratulations – you’ve made the first step to further your career by applying for a role at one of the leading retail giants in the world!
With over 700,000 employees, the opportunities (and competition) for a place at Amazon are high.
Amazon Assessments: A Quick Overview & Practice Tests |
Before being offered an interview with Amazon, you’ll be given one of Amazon’s online assessments to complete. With the right practice and mindset, there is no need to stress over these assessments!
In this guide, we will help you prepare for the Amazon assessment so that you can go in confident. We will cover:
- What the Amazon Assessment Test is
- Answers to common Amazon assessment test questions
- How the recruitment process works
- How to prepare for the Amazon work simulation test
- The most common Amazon assessment tests
- Common mistakes to avoid.
Let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
What is the Amazon Assessment Test?
When you apply for a role at Amazon, you will likely be sent one or more Amazon online assessments as part of the recruitment process. This helps the company identify the candidates most well-suited to each role. It also aims to give everyone a fairer chance in the hiring process from day one.
The amazon assessment tests are designed to evaluate your characteristics and skills. They will be sent to you during the application process or after you have applied and usually have a time limit in which to complete them.
The two most common types of assessment are the following. Whichever role you apply for your assessment will likely include one or both.
- Workstyle assessment
- Work sample simulation
The work style assessments usually take 10 to 20 minutes to complete and are centered around Amazon’s leadership principles. You can expect to be asked to rank to what extent certain phrases describe you.
The work sample simulation usually takes 20 minutes to an hour and relates to the specific role you are applying for. It may ask you to make decisions based on Amazon’s leadership principles.
Find Answers to Common Amazon Assessment Questions
You will find that there are commonly used questions in the Amazon assessment tests. One of the best ways to prepare for the test is to be aware of what questions recur, and regular themes.
Practice assessments use these recurring questions and allow you to think about your answers well before taking the real test. There are various tests available on Job Test Prep, including:
- Amazon Work Style Assessment – A personality test sent to almost all applicants
- Amazon Work Simulation Assessment – A test that looks at your analytical skills, decision-making ability, and leadership skills.
- Amazon Area Manager Assessment– A practice test covering a wide range of tested topics
Other Amazon Tests-Including Pathway Tests, MBA Assessments, Financial Analytics, and more.
How Does the Amazon Recruitment Process Work?
How does the recruitment process for Amazon work as a whole? Let’s dissect it so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.
- Application form and resume screening
- Assessment test or tests
- Phone Interview
- Virtual interview or on-site assessment center
- Job offer
The recruitment process is fairly long, but also methodical and predictable. If you prepare yourself at each stage and align yourself with Amazon’s core values throughout the Amazon assessment process, you will boost your chances of success.
Prepare for the Amazon Work Simulation Assessment
The Amazon Work Simulation Assessment is considered one of the hardest Amazon tests. The assessment is unique in the fact that it puts you in the shoes of someone who works at Amazon and asks you to resolve various scenarios that may occur.
There are various practice tests that can help you become familiar with the types of questions asked. You can expect 5 modules, which take 50 minutes to complete.
Each module will test your decision-making skills, reasoning, and alignment with Amazon’s Leadership Principles.
Taking a couple of practice tests, and familiarizing yourself with these leadership principles, are some of the best ways to prepare for the assessment.
What is Amazon looking for?
Ok, so we have seen Amazon’s recruitment process, but what are they looking for in their candidates? Amazon calls itself ‘earth’s most customer-centric company,’ therefore whatever the role, Amazon always highly rates customer-obsessed workers. Of course, the necessary skills will vary depending on the role, but a good rule of thumb is to become very familiar with Amazon’s leadership principles. Amazon uses these principles as the underlying framework against which they evaluate every new hire.
Amazon’s Leadership Principles are:
- Customer Obsession
- Ownership
- Invent and Simplify
- Are Right, A Lot
- Learn and Be Curious
- Hire and Develop the Best
- Insist on the Highest Standards
- Think Big
- Bias for Action
- Frugality
- Earn Trust
- Dive Deep
- Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
- Deliver Results
Amazon’s Most Common Assessment Tests
Let’s take a look at Amazon’s most popular assessment tests. We will go through what to expect with each one and how best to prepare.
Amazon Work Style Assessment
Amazon’s work style assessment is Amazon’s most common assessment. It is designed to assess the personality of the candidate and judge the way that they work. Amazon uses this test to determine how well the candidate will fit in with the company’s unique workplace culture.
You can expect to see a number of pairs of statements and you will be asked to indicate the one that most represents you. Here’s an example of the kind of statements you might see.
a) I am happy to ask for help as soon as I encounter a problem.
b) I am happy to ask for help once I have first attempted all ways of resolving the issue myself.
The work style test is judged entirely against Amazon’s leadership principles. Amazon looks for people that will take on and apply the principles in their work. While you should be honest when answering the questions, it can be very helpful to keep your answers aligned to these principles.
Can you prepare for the personality test? Yes, you can certainly familiarize yourself with the formats of pre-employment personality tests. This will help you feel prepared and answer in line with what employers are looking for. Learn more about pre-employment personality tests from Job Test Prep and get in-depth practice, tips, and analysis.
Amazon SDE Online/Coding Assessment
The Amazon Software Development Engineering online test is the exam you will be given for technology-based and coding roles. These can be for internship positions, new graduates or experienced roles. The test usually includes a technical section on coding as well as behavioral assessments.
For the more junior roles like internships and graduates, the assessment usually includes code debugging, a coding test, a technical problem-solving test that simulates hypothetical role-specific situations, as well as a personality test. More experienced software developers will instead be asked to solve two coding questions, a coding approach questionnaire, as well as a work style personality test.
How to prepare? The best way to be fully prepared is to check out some similar practice questions, prep advice, and tips. Check out this prep guide, tips, and inside info by taking the test below to boost your chances of passing the Amazon coding and behavioral assessments. Make sure to learn Amazon’s leadership principles as these will be used to judge the behavioral tests.
Amazon Area Manager Assessment (Manager In Operations)
The assessment for area managers, also known as the Manager in Operations Virtual Job Tryout, is aimed to determine how well-suited your skills, experience, and personality would be to perform in the role. There are 5 different sections to the test which are the following:
- Work scenarios – this section is a situational judgment test that presents you with hypothetical situations you might face in the role. You will need to indicate what you would be most likely to do in response.
- Manage your day – this section involves prioritizing tasks based on their importance.
- Run your area – specific to the area manager role, you will need to answer questions based on information or reports provided.
- Tell us your story – this section is about getting to know you and your past experience and how relevant it is for the role.
- Describe your approach – this section evaluates your personality where you are asked to indicate which statements represent you the most.
The area manager assessment takes around 45 minutes to complete. Some questions can be tricky, for example, work scenario questions may not always have one clear correct choice.
Make sure to be well versed in Amazon’s leadership principles as they will use these to grade your responses. If you would like to see how a real exam looks and do some practice questions with solutions, check out this sample test.
Amazon Maintenance Technician Test
If you are looking to work in a maintenance role, you will probably be given the Amazon maintenance test. It was developed by the Ramsay Corporation, the creator of two of the industry’s most popular mechanical skills tests.
It covers a range of technical topics such as electrical theory and control circuits, tools and equipment, power transmission, preventative maintenance, and print reading. There are 75 questions that are asked back to back so you need to be ready to work under pressure.
It is a tough test that needs highly specialized knowledge, and from when you receive the test invitation you only have 5 days to prepare. Therefore it is vital to prepare well and become totally familiar with the exam format and question types beforehand.
The best way to do this is by taking some simulation practice exams. The Amazon maintenance test PrepPack from Job Test Prep includes very realistic practice questions, exam time limits, and in-depth solutions and descriptions that can help get you ready in no time.
Amazon Control Systems Tech/Lead Test
The Amazon Control Systems Tech/Lead Test is very similar to the Maintenance Technician Test. This exam, however, has a heavier focus on electricity, electronics, and robotics. It is given to candidates applying to be systems technicians and team leads.
The test is a professional knowledge test conducted by Ramsay Corporation, the world’s top provider for technical exams. It tests the technical skills of candidates in a number of different topics listed here:
- Schematics, Electrical Print, Logic Reading
- Mechanical Elements
- Process Control
- Electrical Theory
- Computers, PLCs, DCS
- Power Distribution
- Automation and Robotics
- Motors
The test generally lasts around 90 minutes and you have five days to complete it after receiving the actual test invitation. The questions will be multiple choice with 4 options each. Learn more about the test here and check out the free sample questions to make sure you are ready to pass with flying colors.
Amazon Financial Analyst Excel Test
Want to become a financial analyst at Amazon? First, you must pass the Excel assessment. This assessment will be sent to you after the initial resume screening or during the interview phase. You will need to show your skills and prove your competency in different features of excel. These include:
- Formulas
- Macro creation
- Formatting
- Document properties
As well as the excel exam, you will also need to do some behavioral and case study interviews. These can be either virtual or in person. The case study interview involves being presented with a hypothetical, realistic workplace dilemma or task. You will need to think about and suggest a solution while explaining the thought process behind your answer.
How do you prepare for the excel exam? It is a good idea to study the features and areas of excel listed above. Make sure you are well versed in formulas and formatting as well as the layout of the program. You can also get specific practice questions and study guides for the Excel assessment for financial analysts with Job Test Prep’s PrepPack.
Amazon Hiring Simulation
This online assessment is about giving you a realistic look at the actual experience of an Amazon employee. You will be given some context into what your simulation will look like, and then be presented with emails and instant messages from your virtual team.
You will be given the information necessary to solve the problems you are given, such as charts, data or spreadsheets. Using this, along with your skills, you will need to answer questions and solve the issues that arise in the simulation.
The questions you are given will usually come with a set of different responses to choose from. You will be evaluated on your skillset and ability to multitask, prioritize and put Amazon’s leadership principles into action.
Amazon Solutions Architect & Cloud Support Associate Assessment
So this exam is for candidates applying for solution architect roles at Amazon Web Services. You will be evaluated on both specific technical skills as well as on behavioral competencies and preferences. The exam has five different sections which are the following:
- Hiring simulation – this section of the exam includes real-life simulation scenarios in the workplace.
- Amazon work style assessment – covered previously this is the personality test in the exam.
- General technical knowledge – this part is to evaluate your role-specific technical skills.
- Proficiency interest survey – here you show your proficiency in four different areas of technology.
- Technical indicator assessment
How do the technical assessments work? The general text focuses on system design, compute, cloud migration, and cloud design and will assess your proficiency across the areas. Proficiency interest will include multiple-choice questions which are objective and situational-based questions.
While the behavioral tests are graded against Amazon’s leadership principles. The Cloud Support Associate assessment follows almost exactly the same format. The exam takes a total of 75 to 90 minutes.
Amazon MBA Online Assessment
If you are an MBA or masters level graduate applying for a full-time role, you will likely be given the Amazon MBA online assessment. This may also be applicable for some internships. The online MBA assessment is broken down into three different sections, each with different question types. These are:
- Work simulation – this section will present you with simulation business cases that you may face when working at Amazon.
- Work style assessment – this section of the exam is a personality test that measures how well suited your characteristics, attitude, and way of working are for the role.
- Career experience survey – this is a questionnaire where you must give your preferences for the MBA roles available.
As always make sure you know Amazon’s leadership principles inside out as your answers will be measured against these.
Amazon Assessment Test for Warehouse
With more than 175 fulfillment centers worldwide, there are a vast variety of jobs to be found in the Amazon warehouse. If you are applying for one of these roles you will probably be asked to take an online exam called the Amazon Associate Game On Virtual Job Tryout.
This assessment is designed to evaluate how effectively you could perform in one of these roles. It also reviews how much your attitude and approach align to Amazon’s core values. The assessment is usually split into two sections which are the following:
- Tell us your story – this part of the test asks candidates about their past personal and professional experiences. It will dig into your background, work ethic, personality, and workplace approach. It consists of 22 questions, each with multiple choice answers. You will also see statements to which you must choose how far you agree or disagree.
- Stow Pro – if you like games, you might enjoy this part of the test. It focuses on the type of work a warehouse associate might do such as packing, sorting, and stocking. The format is three simulation games within a warehouse.
You might have to virtually pack items on shelves, place items into a shopping bag, or load up the correct packages.
Is it possible to prepare for this test? Make sure you have accurately read the job description so you know what kind of tasks you would be expected to do. Make sure you are familiar with Amazon’s leadership principles and think about how your past experience is relevant to the role.
You can find online practice tests to prepare for behavioral & personality assessments. Job Test Prep is also working on a PrepPack practice test and study guide which is coming soon.
Tips for Preparing for the Amazon Assessment
Luckily, there is plenty you can do to prepare for the Amazon Assessment. Here are some of the best ways to prepare for the test, so that you are confident on the day:
1. Research company values:
Amazon has various company values. Knowing what these are, and how to naturally weave these into your answers, is a great place to start.
Amazon is looking for people who will fit their ethos and will be assessing you to see if you are a good fit.
Company values include:
- Customer obsession rather than competitor focus
- Passion for invention
- Commitment to operational excellence
- Long-term thinking.
2. Practicing Behavioral Questions
One of the most challenging assessment questions in the Amazon hiring process are the behavioral questions.
Behavioral questions are designed to assess how candidates have handled specific situations in the past. These questions are based on the belief that past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior.
Amazon is guided by a set of leadership principles. The questions used in the test often align and reflect them. Practicing these questions in practice tests and learning their guiding Leadership Principles are great things to do in preparation.
3. Time Management
Oftentimes, the Amazon Assessments will have some component of time pressure to them. Taking practice tests is a great way to learn how to manage your time, and know when to skip over a question that is taking too long.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are undoubtedly some commonly made mistakes that can cost securing an interview at Amazon. Luckily, you can learn from the mistakes of others and ensure you do not repeat them!
Some Common Mistakes to Avoid include:
- Not Reading Instructions Thoroughly: One of the most common mistakes is rushing through instructions. Take the time to read and understand each question or task before attempting to answer! Taking practice tests is a great way to know what to expect, and gauge how much time you have.
- Poor Time Management: Amazon assessments often have time constraints.
Failing to manage your time properly during the assessments can leave you with incomplete sections or rushing answers at the end.
Practice time management with timed tests well in advance to avoid this.
- Lack of Preparation: Some candidates underestimate the importance of preparing for Amazon assessments.
Whether it’s a behavioral interview or a technical test, being unprepared can significantly impact your performance. Read up on Amazon’s guiding principles and commonly asked questions, and take practice tests to avoid being underprepared!
- Ignoring Amazon’s Leadership Principles: Amazon emphasizes its Leadership Principles throughout the hiring process.
Failing to align your responses with these principles during written assessments may be a missed opportunity to showcase your fit with Amazon’s culture.
Conclusion
Now we have covered the most popular online Amazon assessment types and you should be feeling more prepared for what awaits. Whatever your skillset and wherever your sights are set in the world of Amazon, stay calm, prepare and go get ‘em.
Related Study Guide – How to Prepare for Amazon TRMS Assessment?
FAQs
1. Can you fail Amazon assessment test?
Yes, you can fail the Amazon assessment test. However, the majority of people who take the test pass it.
2. How do I crack the Amazon assessment test?
The Amazon assessment tests are difficult tests that measure your skills and abilities. To crack the test, you need to practice and prepare for it. The best way to do this is by using practice tests and studying the material thoroughly.
3. Are Amazon assessments hard?
Amazon assessments can be hard, but they are also a great opportunity to show your skills and strengths. The best way to prepare for an assessment is to practice as many questions as possible and to be familiar with the types of questions that are typically asked.
4. What is the Amazon assessment?
The Amazon assessment is a test that Amazon gives to potential employees. The test is designed to measure cognitive ability, problem-solving skills, and personality traits.
5. What if I miss Amazon online assessment?
If you miss Amazon’s online assessment, you may not be eligible for the role you are interested in. However, there may be other opportunities at Amazon that you may be interested
6. How long does an Amazon assessment take?
Each test varies in the length of time it takes to complete. Tests such as the Work Simulation tests take about 50 minutes to complete, while other tests such as the Work Style Assessment take 15 minutes to complete.
Sarah is an accomplished educator, researcher and author in the field of testing and assessment. She has worked with various educational institutions and organisations to develop innovative evaluation methods and enhance student learning. Sarah has published numerous articles and books on assessment and learning. Her passion for promoting equity and fairness in the education system fuels her commitment to sharing insights and best practices with educators and policymakers around the world.
