What is the Wonderlic test?
The Wonderlic is a short cognitive ability test that employers use to see how quickly you can learn, solve problems and follow instructions. It mixes word, number and logic questions in one timed list.
Most questions are not hard on their own. The difficulty is the clock: 50 questions in 12 minutes leaves about 14 seconds each, and very few people reach the end. Practising at that pace is the best way to prepare.
What kinds of questions are on it?
- Word meaning: synonyms, opposites and analogies ("hot is to cold as up is to …")
- Arithmetic and word problems: percentages, fractions, rates, prices and discounts
- Number series: what comes next in a pattern
- Logic: what must be true given a few statements, and ordering puzzles
- Simple spatial reasoning: directions, shapes and mirror images
The free sample above has a mix of all five. The full practice tests follow the same mix over 50 questions and get harder towards the end.
How is the Wonderlic scored?
Your score is the number of questions you answer correctly in the time allowed, so it runs from 0 to 50. Wrong answers and blanks both score zero.
The publisher describes 20 as an average score; some guides put the middle at 21. There is no single pass mark: each employer decides what score it needs for a role, and roles that involve a lot of complex information usually ask for more.
Our practice tests are scored the same way, and we show how your score compares with other people who took the same practice test.
How to prepare for the Wonderlic
- Practise with the timer on. The clock is what makes the test hard. Timed practice is the closest thing to the real experience.
- Don’t get stuck. If a question will take more than 20–30 seconds, move on and come back if you have time.
- Answer every question. A wrong answer scores the same as a blank, so a quick guess can only help.
- Sharpen your mental arithmetic. Percentages, fractions and ratios come up often, and you may not have a calculator.
- Read each question to the end. Some ask for the opposite, for the one that does not belong, or for what cannot be true.
- Learn from your mistakes. Go through the explanations after each practice test and note which types of question cost you time.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the real Wonderlic test?
No. Every question here is written by us to practise the same skills, at the same pace. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Wonderlic, Inc., and we never use questions from the real test.
How many questions are on the Wonderlic, and how long do you get?
The classic Wonderlic cognitive ability test has 50 questions and a 12-minute time limit. Some employers use other Wonderlic assessments with a different length, so check your invitation.
What is a good Wonderlic score?
The publisher describes 20 out of 50 as average, so anything above that is above average. The score you need depends on the job, because each employer sets its own minimum.
Do wrong answers count against you?
Your score is the number of correct answers, so a wrong answer scores the same as leaving it blank. That is why it pays to guess when you are short of time.
How is the free sample scored?
We score your answers on our server and compare your result with other people who took the same sample with the timer on. Until enough people have taken it, the percentile is an early estimate based on how hard each question is. See how we write and score questions.
Can I take the sample again?
Yes, as often as you like. Only your first timed attempt counts towards the percentiles other people see.