Wonderlic-style practice test: 50 original questions

What your practice result means

Your result counts how many of these 50 practice questions you answered correctly, with a breakdown by section and the time you used. It shows which question types you handle quickly and which slow you down. It is not a Wonderlic score: Wonderlic weights its own items by difficulty and reports results in its own way, and these questions are not Wonderlic's.

Do not worry if you did not finish. Wonderlic says test takers are not expected to complete all 50 questions in the time allowed, and the same pacing pressure applies here. Use the review list to see where time went, then try again: the answer options shuffle on each attempt.

What is a Wonderlic test?

What is a Wonderlic test? It is a cognitive ability assessment published by Wonderlic, Inc. and used by employers in hiring. Wonderlic describes cognitive ability as "a candidate's ability to learn, adapt, solve problems, and understand relevant instructions". Today the cognitive section is part of Wonderlic Select, which, according to Wonderlic's candidate FAQ, also includes a motivation section of 58 items and a personality section of 150 items, with most people completing the whole Wonderlic assessment in about 35 minutes.

When people talk about the Wonderlic test, they usually mean the timed cognitive section. That is the part this page helps you practise.

Wonderlic test format and timing

Wonderlic describes the cognitive section as 50 questions with 12 minutes to answer, covering "simple math, basic logic, language comprehension, spatial reasoning, pattern identification", with questions that increase in difficulty. Its candidate FAQ says test takers are not expected to complete all the questions in the time allowed, and that using a calculator will not significantly improve results.

That works out at under 15 seconds a question on average, so pacing matters as much as knowledge. Early questions are usually quick; later ones take longer. The practice test above follows the same pattern: 50 questions, 12 minutes, easier items first, with verbal, numerical and logical questions mixed together. It does not include spatial items.

Wonderlic sample question types

These original examples show the main types of Wonderlic test sample questions you can expect, with how to approach each:

• Word meaning. "Mitigate most nearly means: worsen, lessen, delay, explain." Answer: lessen. If you are unsure, try each option in a sentence such as "to mitigate the risk".
• Analogies. "Brief is to lengthy as scarce is to: rare, plentiful, small, expensive." Answer: plentiful. Name the relationship first (opposites), then find the pair that matches.
• Quick arithmetic. "A shirt priced at $40 is reduced by 15%. What is the new price?" Answer: $34. Find 10% ($4) and 5% ($2), add them and subtract.
• Number series. "1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ...?" Answer: 720. Check differences first, then ratios.
• Logic statements. "All A are B, and no B are C. Which must be true?" Answer: no A are C. Draw two quick circles if it helps.

All of these Wonderlic questions were written for this page; none come from Wonderlic's own material.

How Wonderlic scoring works

According to Wonderlic, its scoring algorithm weighs each question by difficulty and the impact of guessing, rather than simply counting correct answers. Its candidate FAQ adds that traditional numerical scores for the cognitive portion of Wonderlic Select are not available: results from the cognitive, motivation and personality sections are combined and evaluated against the demands of the specific job, and there is no pass or fail grade. Candidates receive a feedback report.

So a Wonderlic score from Wonderlic Select is not a single number you can compare with a friend's, and the result of this practice test cannot be converted into one. If an employer has asked you to take the Wonderlic assessment, the way they use the result depends on the job.

How to prepare for the Wonderlic

Preparation helps mainly with pacing and familiarity, not with learning facts.

1. Practise under time pressure. Take the test above at least twice. Notice how many questions you reach in 12 minutes and where you slow down.
2. Skip and return. Exam mode lets you move between questions and flag them. In a real test, check the instructions to see whether you can go back; if not, make a quick best guess on hard items.
3. Do mental arithmetic daily. Percentages, fractions and simple averages come up often. Practise without a calculator, since Wonderlic says one will not significantly help.
4. Read the whole question. Logic items often turn on one word such as "all", "some" or "must".
5. Prepare the setup. Use a quiet room and a reliable connection, and ask the employer about accommodations before you start; Wonderlic says accommodations are provided by the hiring organisation.

Our free pre-employment test practice page has more preparation advice and a shorter mixed test with instant feedback.

Which jobs use the Wonderlic

Wonderlic does not publish a list of jobs that use its assessment, but its cognitive page explains that how much weight cognitive ability gets varies by job profile, giving a senior engineering role and an entry-level customer support role as contrasting examples. In practice, employers use cognitive tests like the Wonderlic for roles where learning quickly and solving new problems matters, from customer-facing and administrative jobs to technical and management roles.

If you have been invited to take it, the invitation or the employer can tell you which parts are included and how long it takes. For other kinds of reasoning practice, see the general cognitive ability and numerical reasoning test pages, which each include a sample question.

For employers: a monthly alternative

If you are an employer comparing cognitive tests, HireValid offers short cognitive ability tests alongside job-skill tests in role bundles, on published monthly plans with a free start. Our HireValid vs Wonderlic page compares the two with sourced, dated facts.