Wonderlic Practice Test (2026)

Reviewed by Tamir Rubin, Head of Product at iPREP • Updated February 2026

The Wonderlic Select measures job-related cognitive ability and work-fit factors (motivation and personality) to help employers predict performance and retention during hiring.

Wonderlic Cognitive Sample Question

Which THREE options are needed to create the figure on the left?
Only pieces of the same color may overlap.

Show Answer & Explanation

Cognitive Ability

50 questions • 12 minutes

• Timed multiple-choice problem-solving under pressure
• Applies basic verbal and math
• Recognizes patterns and compares lists
• Uses quick logic and deduction
• Rewards speed, accuracy, smart skipping

Personality

150 items • typically untimed

• Self-report work-style statements
• No right or wrong answers
• Consistency across responses matters
• Focus on typical work behavior
• Avoid overusing extreme choices

Motivation

58 questions • about 20 minutes

• Forced-choice: choose the task you’d most prefer
• Reveals work drivers and preferences
• Highlights tasks and environments you prefer
• Requires consistent, instinctive selections throughout
• No right answers; choose honestly

Test Duration

Total time: varies by employer

You may take one, two, or all three assessments. Confirm your employer’s timing rules (especially Personality). Plan for a 12-minute speed test plus a longer Motivation section.

Test Breakdown & Sample Questions

Wonderlic Select is a 3-part pre-employment assessment suite. Depending on the employer and the role, you may take one, two, or all three of these assessments.

Assessment	What it measures	What it looks like	Typical timing
Cognitive Ability	Problem-solving, learning speed, and applying basic verbal/math info	Timed multiple-choice questions	12 minutes
Personality	Work style and behavioral tendencies	Self-report statements (no “right/wrong”)	Varies by employer
Motivation	Work drivers and preferences	Forced-choice pairs (choose what fits you best)	About 20 minutes

Below you’ll find a quick breakdown of each assessment and sample questions to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare.

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Wonderlic Cognitive Ability

The Wonderlic cognitive ability test questions are multiple choice in the following categories:

1. Verbal Ability – this section tests your language and vocabulary skills
2. Numerical Ability – you will need to demonstrate different math skills
3. Perceptual Ability – you will be tested on your ability to recognize patterns and lists
4. General Knowledge – this section tests your basic understanding of the world we live in

The table below presents a more detailed look at the different question categories:

1. Verbal Ability	2. Numerical Ability	3. Perceptual Ability	4. General Knowledge
Word Meaning Comparison	Number Series	Comparing Lists	Months of the Year
Synonyms and Antonyms	Value Ordering	Pattern Formation	Date Sorting
Word Analogies	Math Word Problems (including decimals, percentages, average, ratios, algebra)	Figural Series Completion	Common Knowledge
Sentence Ordering		Cube Folding	Familiarity with Proverbs
Deductive Reasoning		Graph Recognition

1. Verbal Ability

Word Meaning Comparison

In these questions, you will be given a pair of words and asked to compare their definitions. Some pairs may be similar, others opposite, while others will not be related at all. 

Winning tip for Word Meaning Comparison questions 

Refresh your knowledge on the meaning of common prefixes. In many cases, the same root word will appear with different prefixes. Additionally, familiarize yourself with false antonyms (such as  flammable and inflammable) and  false synonyms.

Vocabulary – Synonyms and Antonyms

These types of questions present you with words in different formats and ask you questions about them. For example, you might get a sentence with a word that has multiple definitions and be asked for the definition in this context or asked for a word that is opposite of the highlighted word. You may be given a list of words and asked which word doesn’t have the same meaning as the other words on the list. You may even be given a word list and asked to place a checkmark next to the three words on the list that are synonyms. 

Winning tip for Vocabulary questions 

Homophones are words that are pronounced the same despite having different spelling. When you read a word and in the context of the question the spelling seems a bit odd to you, check whether you are dealing with a homophone. This is a common trick in Wonderlic vocabulary-based questions.

Word Analogies

Analogy questions ask you to fill in the missing word that best matches the comparison being made in the sentence. 

Winning tip for Word Analogy questions 

While solving analogies, maintain the order of the analogy. If the analogy between word A and word B is “A works at B,” then an answer that presents a perfect analogy but in the reverse order (“B works at A”) will be incorrect.

Sentence Ordering

You’ll be presented with several words that are mixed up, but when rearranged form a sentence. Some sentences may form a question, and you’ll be challenged to answer that question. In other sentences, the question will ask you to identify the order of words in the sentence, by asking for something like the first letter in the last word or asking for the word which appears before or after a different word. 

Winning tip for Sentence Ordering questions 

The key to solving these quickly is to pair words together. For example, auxiliary verbs (am, have, are, etc.) are always close to personal pronouns ( I, you, it, they, etc.); adverbs almost always precede verbs. Once you have created two or three pairs of words, it is much easier to construct the sentence.

Deductive Reasoning

In these questions, you may be presented with several statements and asked a question based on those statements. Alternatively, you may be given statements as fact and a conclusion, and you’ll be asked whether their conclusion is true or not. 

Winning tip for Deductive Reasoning questions 

Many times, the statements describe some sort of interaction between two people. Consider the difference between the following statements:

1. Jon shook hands with Jane.
2. Jon greeted Jane.

Statement 1 presents a reciprocal interaction, since Jane necessarily shook hands with Jon. Statement 2, however, does not necessitate reciprocity. Jon definitely greeted Jane but Jane did not necessarily greet Job. By identifying the interaction in the story, you can determine whether the third statement offers a  definite conclusion (follow/does not follow) or an indefinite one (uncertain conclusion). 

2. Numerical Ability

Number Series

You will be presented with a series of numbers and asked for the missing number. Some questions will place the missing number in the middle of the series, while other questions ask for the next number. 

Winning tip for Number Series questions 

These questions almost always rely on repeating basic operations (+-*/) between the elements. The operations either represent the differences between the elements or the differences between the series of differences. Work quickly to identify the pattern between the elements, and apply it to the missing number.

Value Ordering 

You will be presented with a list of numbers, and be asked which of the numbers is the largest or smallest

Winning tip for Value Ordering questions 

The most important attribute you should look for is the position of the decimal digit. More numbers left of the decimal digit mean greater value. The number of decimal digits is almost always a misleading factor. For the decimal digits, start looking for the greatest value of the digit closest to the decimal point.

Math Word Problems

You will be given a scenario and asked to calculate the answer. Questions may require multiple steps of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and working with percentages to determine the correct answer. 

Winning tip for Math Word problems

Elimination is a key element in solving these questions. Many times, it will be faster to eliminate all the answers but one than to calculate the correct solution. If you eliminate all the answers but one, the last option must be the correct answer.

3. Perceptual Ability

Comparing Lists

These types of questions present with two similar lists, and ask you questions about them. How many items among the pairs listed are duplicates, or how many number sets are mirror images of each other. 

Winning tip for Comparing Lists questions 

Have a pen and scratch paper with you. As you read through the pairs, draw a line for each pair that matches the criteria. It’s a lot easier to count the lines on your paper than to track the number of identical pairs in your head. 

Pattern Formation

In these questions, you will see a final shape made up of different colors, and several other shapes that can combine together to form the color pattern within the original shape. You will be asked to identify the boxes that can join together to create the original shape. Some questions will ask you to build the original pattern using two pieces, while others ask you to build it using three pieces. 

Winning tip for Pattern Formation questions 

In cases that you need to choose three pieces that make the model, try to eliminate options that include colored squares in a position that contradicts the model.

In cases that you need to choose two pieces that make the model, try to find the option that includes a colored square that doesn’t appear in any of the other options. It must be one of the answers. Then find a square that completes it.

Figural Series Completion

You will be presented with a series of figures and asked to complete the series with the correct figure. 

Winning tip for Figural Series questions 

These questions are often about moving features within the element. Try to count steps of a single feature along the given series. Then you can determine the position of that feature in the correct answer. Any answer option that includes that feature in the incorrect place  can be removed.

Cube Folding

In these questions, you will be presented with a flattened cube. Many of the corners of the cube are labeled, and you will be asked to identify which sides would be next to one another once the cube was closed. 

Winning tip for Cube Folding questions 

Remember that you are not required to construct a complete cube, but only to find the letter near the marked corner. Therefore, start folding with the marked position to identify the corner it is next to.

Graph Recognition

These questions measure your skill in reading graphs. You may be given data, either as a statement or in a table, and asked to identify the graph that displays the data correctly. 

Winning tip for Graph Recognition questions 

In the vast majority of cases, your goal is to locate the graph that displays the correct trend of data. It is less likely that two answers will be identical except for the precise value of a single point. Therefore, instead  of looking for specific data points like 21, 16, 33, 27, 20, look for the pattern in the graph, like  “starting point-down-up-down-down.” You are likely to find only one correct solution.

4. General Knowledge

Months of the Year

You will have to answer questions about the calendar. 

Winning tip for Month of the Year questions 

There is hardly any sophistication here. Make sure that you know the order of the months of the year by heart, and read the question carefully so you don’t get tricked.

Date Sorting

You will be asked to identify which date from a list is either the earliest or latest date. 

Winning tip for Date Sorting questions 

Gradually eliminate the answers. Start by eliminating options based on the year they display, then by month, then by day. In some cases, you will already have your answer after two steps.

Common Knowledge

These questions come from a number of different disciplines. 

Winning tip for Common Knowledge questions 

There are some basic knowledge areas that the Wonderlic expects you to know. The most significant ones are the months of the year, days of the week, conversion between a 12-hour and 24-hour clock, and the organization of the solar system.

Familiarity with Proverbs

You will be asked to complete well-known sayings, as well as identify proverbs that have a similar meaning. 

Winning tip for Proverb questions 

If this is not your strong suit, take an hour and dive into some websites that review common proverbs in the language in which you are about to take the test. This is a refresher you won’t regret.

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Wonderlic Personality Assessment

The Wonderlic Personality assessment is designed to understand your typical work style—how you prefer to communicate, collaborate, and approach tasks. It uses self-report statements (there are no “right” or “wrong” answers), and it is typically not strictly timed, though your employer may set practical time expectations.

Your responses generate a personality profile that can be compared to patterns associated with success in a specific role. The goal is to evaluate fit and predict how you may perform in that work environment.

How to approach it:

• Be consistent: Answer in a way that reflects how you usually act at work, not how you wish you acted.
• Stay role-aware, not fake: It’s fine to think about the workplace context, but avoid extreme answers that don’t match your real behavior.
• Don’t overthink individual items: The assessment looks at patterns across many statements, not one “perfect” response.

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Wonderlic Motivation Assessment

The Wonderlic Motivation assessment is part of the Wonderlic Select suite and is designed to understand what energizes you at work—what types of tasks, goals, and environments you naturally prefer. It uses forced-choice questions, meaning you choose the option that fits you best (there are no “correct” answers).

What to expect:

• Question style: Forced-choice (pick the option you prefer most)
• Length: 58 questions
• Timing: Typically about 20 minutes (often not strictly timed, but your employer may set practical time expectations)

Your answers create a motivation profile that can be compared to the role’s day-to-day demands. Employers use this to estimate fit, engagement, and likely satisfaction in the position.

How to approach it:

• Choose what truly appeals to you: Forced-choice works best when you respond instinctively and honestly.
• Think “most like me,” not “most impressive”: Picking what sounds best can create an inconsistent profile.
• Use the work context: Base choices on how you prefer to work in a real job setting, not in a one-off situation.

Wonderlic Preparation Strategies

1) Cognitive Ability: win the 12-minute sprint

You’re racing the clock. The goal is to collect as many correct answers as possible—fast.

• Move on quickly: if you’re stuck, skip and keep scoring elsewhere.
• Use shortcuts: estimate, spot patterns, and eliminate clearly wrong choices before doing full math.
• Practice with micro-timing: drill sets of 10–15 questions and track where time disappears.
• Use two passes: first pass for easy points, second pass to return to marked items if time remains.

2) Personality: be consistent and job-realistic

There are no “right” answers, but inconsistent answers can weaken your profile.

• Answer as your work-self: think typical behavior on the job, not a one-time mood.
• Avoid extremes unless they’re true: overusing “always/never” can look unrealistic.
• Don’t try to guess what they want: steady patterns are easier to maintain and score more clearly.

3) Motivation: choose what genuinely drives you

Forced-choice questions work best when you respond instinctively and consistently.

• Pick what you would actually prefer most, not what sounds impressive.
• Keep your pattern clear: if you prefer structure, autonomy, teamwork, or variety, let that show consistently.
• Use the role context lightly: think “in a real job,” but don’t force answers that won’t fit long-term.

Quick prep plan

• Final day: light warm-up only—arrive rested, focused, and ready to move fast.
• Days 1–3: untimed Cognitive Ability practice plus review of mistakes.
• Days 4–7: timed drills (short sets) plus one full 12-minute simulation.

Wonderlic Test Features

What makes Wonderlic Select different

Wonderlic Select is designed for hiring decisions, so it combines fast problem-solving with work-fit insights. You may be asked to complete one or more assessments, and employers review the results together to understand both performance and fit.

Three assessments, three question styles

• Cognitive Ability: fast-paced, timed questions that reward quick decision-making.
• Personality: work-style statements that look for stable, consistent response patterns.
• Motivation: forced-choice choices that reveal what types of tasks and environments you prefer.

Built to reflect real-world work

• Measures how you think under time pressure and how you typically operate on the job.
• Compares your response patterns to role expectations (fit and likely engagement).
• Often used alongside other hiring steps, not as a standalone decision.

Common Names of the Wonderlic Test

There are several versions of the Wonderlic test, which sometimes leads to confusion. The standard Wonderlic employee assessment test goes by the name Wonderlic Select Test, but it is also known by the names:

• Wonderlic Personnel Test
• Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test
• The Wonderlic
• Wonderlic Personnel Test-Revised 
• WPT-R

Technical Facts

Wonderlic Select fast facts (tl;dr)

Wonderlic Select is a 3-part pre-employment assessment suite. Depending on the employer and role, you may take one, two, or all three parts.

Assessment	What you’ll do	Typical timing
Cognitive Ability	Timed multiple-choice problem-solving questions	50 questions / 12 minutes
Personality	Self-report statements about work style	Varies by employer
Motivation	Forced-choice preferences (choose what appeals to you most)	58 questions / about 20 minutes

Results Scale and Interpretations

How Wonderlic scores are used

Your Cognitive Ability result starts with a raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly). What that number “means,” though, depends on the role and the employer’s benchmark. Many employers compare your score to typical ranges for the job family you’re applying for and use that comparison as one input in the hiring decision.

In the chart below, you can see median benchmark scores by role/category, so you can understand how the same raw score may be viewed differently across positions.

Profession	Score	Profession	Score
Systems analyst	32	Drafter	23
Chemist	31	Electrician	23
Electrical engineer	30	Nurse	23
Engineer	29	Bank teller	22
Programmer	29	US Average	21
Accountant	28	Cashier	21
Executive	28	Firefighter	21
Reporter	28	Clerical worker	21
Teacher	28	Machinist	21
Copywriter	27	Receptionist	21
Investment analyst	27	Train conductor	21
Librarian	27	Craftsman	18
Electronics technician	26	Security guard	17
Salesperson	25	Welder	17
Secretary	24	Warehouseman	15
Dispatcher	23	Janitor	14

Score Report

Results are provided to the company that administered the test, and it is unlikely that they will give you the report. 

The report is divided into three sections. The top contains basic information and includes your name and the role that you are trying to get. The center section contains your raw score, percentile, and IQ equivalent. There is a bell curve based on the role which shows the average scores an individual who is a good fit for the position should get. 

The last section of the report advises the hiring manager whether you are a good fit, and describes your training potential.

Wonderlic WonScore

When employers use the full Wonderlic Select suite, results from the three assessments—Cognitive Ability, Personality, and Motivation—may be combined into an overall fit score often referred to as a WonScore, alongside supporting insights from each section.

For the Personality and Motivation assessments, answer from your real “at work” perspective: respond as you would on a normal workday in this role, aiming for consistency and honesty rather than trying to guess the “ideal” profile.

Wonderlic FAQs

Wonderlic Test Tips

Cognitive Ability: score more points in less time

• Read the instructions once, then move fast. Most time is lost on re-reading.
• Use a two-pass strategy: grab easy points first, then return to skipped questions if time remains.
• Don’t grind on one problem. If it’s not clear quickly, guess or skip and keep moving.
• Play to your strengths. If one question style slows you down, trade it for quicker points elsewhere.
• Practice under real timing. Familiarity with phrasing and common traps is a major advantage.

Personality and Motivation: keep your profile clear

• Answer as your real work-self. Think typical behavior and preferences on a normal workday.
• Stay consistent. These assessments look at patterns across many items, not one perfect response.
• Don’t “game” the test. Forced or overly ideal answers can create contradictions.

One last tip for test day

Arrive rested, minimize distractions, and start with momentum—your first minute often sets your pace for the whole session.

Administration

• Test location: Location and supervision vary by employer. You may be asked to take the assessment online (remote) or at an employer site, with or without monitoring.
• Test schedule: Timing depends on the hiring process. Some candidates receive an invite early (right after applying), while others take it later in the process.
• Test format: Typically computer-based. Cognitive Ability is multiple-choice; Personality and Motivation use statement and forced-choice formats.
• Test materials: Follow the instructions in your invite. Many employers restrict calculators, and some allow scratch paper—rules can vary.
• Cost: Usually covered by the employer/recruiter.
• Retake policy: Set by the employer and can differ by role and hiring cycle.

Test Provider

Wonderlic is an employment-assessment company that has been developing hiring tests since the 1930s. Today, its assessments are widely used by employers to evaluate job candidates using a combination of cognitive ability and work-fit measures.

Information Sources

• Wonderlic

Disclaimer – All information and preparation materials on iPREP are created for tutoring and practice purposes. iPREP is not affiliated with Wonderlic or any employer that uses Wonderlic assessments. Wonderlic and related names (including Wonderlic Personnel Test, Wonderlic QuickTest, and WonScore) are trademarks of their respective owners.