Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Practice Test: Free Sample Questions & Preparation Guide
The Wonderlic Personnel test is a cognitive ability test that you might be asked to take in the application process of your next job. How does it work? Although just 12 minutes long, the quickfire test is specially designed to measure your character, skills, and fit for the job at hand.
It gives a raw idea to your potential employer of your aptitude for things such as problem-solving, working under pressure, and following instructions. It is best known for evaluating NFL players during drafting.
Table of Contents
What Is The Wonderlic Personnel Test?
This test is known as both the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) and the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) used in the Wonscore test, as well.. The test consists of 50 questions and gives you a time limit of just 12 minutes. Cognitive ability tests assess your abilities involved in thinking.
The Wonderlic test will mainly evaluate your ability to apply logic in different ways. It will evaluate reasoning, verbal and mathematical aptitude, perception, memory and problem-solving. As the timeframe of the test is so short, the assessment is not just a measure of aptitude but also of how well you are able to work under pressure to make decisions.
Note that there is also a shorter version of the Wonderlic Test the WPT-Q test. This has just 30 questions and takes 8 minutes to complete. The 50 question, 12 minute full version is called the WPT-R test.
Wonderlic Test Questions And Practice Questions
The Wonderlic Personnel Test consists of four different question types:
- Speed
- Spatial Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- Numerical Reasoning
Let’s break down these question types further with some examples.
Speed
Speed questions usually cover simple, general knowledge topics but need to be answered quickly. Therefore although they are straightforward, they can easily catch you out under pressure. They can involve things like finding the odd one out, ordering things, and recognizing dates.
Practice Question Example:
How many of the five number pairs are exact duplicates
- 25Z48043 25Z48043
- 99F42047 99F42074
- 04P32741 04P52741
- 81H88672 81H88672
- 54B96735 45B96735
Answer:
2 pairs (Option 1 and option 4)
Spatial Reasoning
Spatial reasoning is about being able to visualize, recognize patterns and draw conclusions from limited visual information. You may need to visualize 2D or 3D shapes and indicate the next in a sequence. This is used to assess how you use logic to envisage solutions. It can be applied to the workplace in terms of being able to visualize more complex solutions to problems.
Practice Question Example:
The spatial reasoning questions may ask you to determine the next item in a sequence. For example you may see a complex shape that is being rotated 90 degrees clockwise in every image. You would be given some visual options and would need to choose the correct one in line. Check out Job Test Prep’s PrepPack for full, interactive practice questions.
Verbal Reasoning
The verbal reasoning questions are designed to evaluate your comprehension of text. It also tests your understanding of various aspects of language. The questions may test on idiomatic phrases, synonyms and antonyms, anagrams, metaphors or even sentence order. You may also be presented with several statements and asked to determine if another statement is true based on the information you can deduce from the first two.
Practice Question Example:
Which of the following is the opposite of the word benefit?
- Pro
- Disadvantage
- Low
- Unhappy
- Positive
Answer:
Option 2
Numerical Reasoning
The numerical side of this test is usually formed from math-based word problems. It will measure your aptitude to use numerical reasoning to solve simple problems. This involves both processing words and numbers and using logic and basic mathematical skill to come up with a solution.
Practice Question Example:
Hannah bought 50 dresses in a sale for $200. She then offered each dress for sale at a local market for $8 each, giving away any unsold dresses to charity for free. If at the end of the day Hannah had a profit of $400, how many dresses did she sell?
- 35
- 40
- 45
- 50
- 55
Answer:
Option 4
Scoring The Wonderlic Personnel Test
In the full-length, 50-question WPT-R test, the test is scored out of 50. Therefore each question is worth 1 point. The shorter, 30-question WPT-Q test is also graded out of 50. Therefore each question is worth 1.66 points.
What is a good score? The score you need to pass your employer’s requirements depends on the role you are applying for as well as your specific employer, be it Loreal or NHS. It will be compared to the other candidates also applying for the role.
A warehouseman for example may only need to score 17 while an engineer may need 30 or above. People tend to score an average of 20 out of 50 on the Wonderlic Personnel Test. This equates to an average IQ of 100. Therefore a ‘good’ score might be considered as 20 or above.
How To Prepare For The Wonderlic Test
While the questions themselves are not especially hard, if you are not used to the types of questions asked, it can be easy to make mistakes. Therefore it is a good idea to look over some practice questions in advance and get used to answering them.
The time limit is perhaps the main thing that makes this test so difficult. The only way to improve answering quickly and accurately with a time limit is to take some timed simulation practice tests.
If you are looking for some Wonderlic practice tests, head over to Job Test Prep where you can get full-length practice tests, study guides, and more in their PrepPack.
Conclusion
With a little more preparation, you will now be ready to ace the pre-employment Wonderlic Test. Remember that the only real way to boost your score is to practice as much as possible.
While the questions are straightforward, it is easy for the timer to catch you out. So whichever sector you are working in, and whichever role you are waiting for, don’t let the Wonderlic Personnel test stand in your way.
Recommended Reading:
- CCAT Practice Test & Preparation Guide
- Cvent Assessment & Preparation Guide
- State Farm Assessment & Study Guide
- Wonderlic GAIN Test Study Guide
- Aon Hewitt G.A.T.E. Assessment Guide – Complete Prep
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.
