Alex Hollis, Founder & Wonderlic Expert, Beat the Wonderlic

April 13, 2017

If you were just told that you need to take a Wonderlic test, then your first question may be, “What’s on it?”

The Wonderlic Personnel Test is a pre-employment exam that consists of 50 questions that you must complete in only 12 minutes. The Wonderlic is a cognitive ability test (a fancy name for an IQ test) that poses a series of questions that we like to break up into 4 categories:

Quick Recognition

Questions include ordering dates, analyzing graphs, identifying duplicates in a chart, finishing number sequences, etc.

Logic Questions

Deductive reasoning, shape pattern recognition, 3D shape configuration and 2D spatial reasoning.

Verbal Reasoning

Analgoies, proverbs, identifying synonyms and antonyms, rearranging sentences, similar/contradictory words.

M

Word Problems

Algebraic word problems that ask you to calculate ratios, percents, etc. Also operations with decimals and fractions.

Here is an overview of each Wonderlic question category along with an example: 

1. General Knowledge & Quick Recognition

 

  • Makes up about 20% of the test. 20% 20%

The general knowledge and quick recognition questions makeup roughly 20% of the test content and can range in difficulty from absurdly simple to relatively easy.

The tricky aspect to this question type is people typically rush through them and lose points.

EXAMPLE:

u

Which of the following is the earliest date?

A. May 3, 1986

B. March 31, 1988

C. March 3, 1986

D. May 30, 1988

E. March 13, 1986

 

The correct answer, in this case, would be March 3, 1986.

Answer: C.

 

2. Logic Questions

  • Makes up about 20% of the test. 20% 20%

The logic questions are a bit trickier.

These questions are designed to test your ability to answer whether a statement is true or false given specific conditions outlined by rules in the question as well as engage in spatial reasoning and manipulation exercises.

EXAMPLE:

u

If the first two statements are true, is the final statement true?

James bought Thomas a drink.

Thomas bought Suzette a drink.

James bought Suzette a drink.

 

  • yes
  • no
  • uncertain

The correct answer, in this case, would be uncertain.

Answer: uncertain.

3. Verbal Reasoning (English Grammar)

  • Makes up about 40% of the test. 40% 40%

The English grammar questions will require you to identify the definition of a word or the synonym/antonym of a word.

There will also be analogies, proverbs, and scrambled sentences mixed in. 

EXAMPLE:

u

The words BENEVOLENT and MAGNANIMOUS have __?__ meanings?

 

  • similar
  • contradictory
  • unrelated

The correct answer would be similar.

Answer: similar.

 

4. Word Problems 

  • Makes up about 20% of the test. 20% 20%

Word problems are the most time-consuming and challenging questions on the exam. These questions test your algebraic knowledge and computation skills.

You will not be allowed to use a calculator, but you can use a pencil and scratch paper to work these problems.

EXAMPLE:

u

Four friends go to a local restaurant for dinner. After finishing their meal, they decide to split the check total evenly among the four of them. Friend N had a bill of $50, friend X had a bill of $35, friend Y had a bill of $20 and friend Z had a bill of $15. How much more money does friend Z have to spend on dinner when the friends split the check evenly than if they paid for their bills individually?

A. $35

B. $30

C. $25

D. $20

E. $15

The correct answer would be $15.

Answer: $15.

 

Try a sample Wonderlic test. 

 

The interactive Wonderlic sample test below contains 10 questions. You will have 2 minutes to complete it. I hope this gives you an even better idea of what kind of questions will be on your Wonderlic test.

If you want to try a full, 50-question Wonderlic test, check out my free Wonderlic practice test.

Let me know how you do in the comments below!

Wonderlic SLE Practice Test (10 Questions)

This is a free sample Wonderlic test that looks just like the one you will take during your job interview. This quiz is an abbreviated version of the full 50-question, 12-minute Wonderlic test known as the Wonderlic Personnel Test (or Wonscore). You will not be allowed to use a calculator, dictionary or any outside resources on the real exam, so we recommend practicing without these as well. Many people do not finish the exam in the 2 minutes allotted but do your best. Try not to spend too much time on any one question. You should gather some pencils and scrap paper before you begin.

Click the Start Exam button to proceed.

This quiz must be completed in 2 minutes.

Be fully prepared for your Wonderlic test in only 3 hours with my self-paced online course.

 

My course includes 5 practice tests and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee!