Wonderlic Personnel Test

HRD Consortium

TM

Short Brief of Wonderlic Personnel Test

Wonderlic is a scholastic aptitude test administered during the
hiring process. It is designed to compare personnel to normative
values established for different careers in order to gauge a
persons general cognitive abilities.
The test itself consists of 50 questions in the areas of
Mathematics and English. It must be timed for 12 minutes.
This test can improve your understanding of a persons ability to
learn, understand instructions and problem solve. Since averages
have been established for many occupations and all levels of
education, it can also be used to determine a persons ability to
function well in a particular job position.
However, it is meant to be used only as a supporting factor in
deciding whether to hire someone. It complements other
evaluations to judge his or her other job-related qualifications.

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Quick Reference Guide

Administering the Test
These Wonderlic test are self administering tests. Applicants are asked to read the test
Instruction and complete the sample questions provided on the front page of the test booklet.
Additional instructions on conducting the testing session are provided in the Proctors Guide.

Timing the Test

These Wonderlic test are to be administered for exactly 12 minutes. The timed 12 minute
period begins when the applicant turns the first page to begin working on the test questions.

Scoring the Test

The test score is the total number of questions answered correctly. The correct answer are
Provided on the scoring key. To score the test, the Scoring Key is placed on the test with the
Answers aligned with the test answer brackets. The score is the total number of questions
answered correctly. A score adjustment is appropriate for applicants 30 years old and older

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Quick Reference Guide

Intrepreting the Test
The applicants test score may be compared to the suggested minimum scores provided by
either occupation or education. The average score for all job applicants is approximately 21.
This is also the average score of high school graduates. The average score of college graduates
Is 29. Higher scoring applicants will learn more quickly. Will master more complex material and
Will make better judgments when information is lacking. Lower scoring applicants will require
More time, specific instruction and standardized job routines. Applicants scoring within three
Points of each other should be considered to be of the same ability level.

HRD Consortium

What the Wonderlic Tests Measure

The WPT are short form tests of general cognitive ability.
Referred to as general intelligence or g, cognitive ability is a term that is used
to describe the level at which an individual learns, understands instructions and
solves problems.
Higher scoring individuals will not only gain more from formalized training, but
they are also more likely to learn effectively from onthe-job experience
Modest scoring individuals will need more detailed instruction, hands on practice,
more time and repetition and close supervision.

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What the Wonderlic Tests do NOT Measure

The WPT measure general mental ability, but not how well a person will employ
their ability.
It is often true that a person of lower ability, but stronger determination, will out
perform the higher ability person.
This means that many elements of a persons abilities, personal characteristic,
learned skills and background experience will all contribute to successful
performance.

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Scoring The Wonderlic Tests

The result is the test score :
For example :
Last Question Answered
:
28
Number wrong or Omited :
-4
_____________________________
Number right _ Final Score :
24

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Minimum Passing Scores Cut Scores

Median Job Applicant Scores for Selected Occupations
Position
Score
Position
Score
Chemist
31 Clerk, order
Engineer, Electrical
30 Foreman
Manager, General
30 Clerical, General
Administrator
29 Police, Patrol Officer
Computer programmer
29 Receptionist
Adjuster, Claims
28 Typist
Librarian
27 Labor, Unskilled
Manager Trainee
27 Mechanic, helper
Writer, News
26 Maintenance
Office, General
24 Guard, security
Sales, General
24 Nurse's aide
Cashier
24 Assembler
Secretary
24 Packer
Drafter
23 Warehouse Person
Bank Teller
22 Maid/Matron

22
22
21
21
21
21
20
19
18
17
17
16
15
15
11

This relationship was confirmed in a study by Mc Cormick, Mecham and Jeanneret (1989) WPT
Correletd with PAQ (r mult values 1970 .81; 1983, .79; combined .82)

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Minimum Passing Scores Cut Scores

The Wonderlic Personnel test compares the resulting test score with the minimum scores shown below for common positions in the printing and
mailing industry. Minimum scores for 12 thousand other positions have also been benchmarked and are available

Job Title
Minimum Acceptable Score
Bindery Worker
19
Bookkeeper
24
Camera/Stripper Operator
24
Computer Typesetter- Keyliner
Customer Service Representative
Cutter Operator
Delivery Driver
Desktop Publisher
Estimator
Folding Machine Operator
General Manager
Graphic Designer
High Speed/ Copy Operator
Mailer Apprentice
Mailing Machine Operator
Offset Press Operator
Operations Manager
Outside Sales Representative
Pre-press Technician
Pre-press Supervisor
Production Manager
Sales Manager
Scanner Operator
Store Manager

25
22
19
19
25
23
20
27
26
20
19
22
23
20
24
24
24
23
28
23
27

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Age Adjustment To Scores

Age Adjustment
Age
15 - 29
30 - 39
40 - 49
50 - 54
55 - 59
60+

Add to the
12 min. raw score
0
1
2
3
4
5

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Minimum Score by Job Family

Job Families
Validity

Job Title
Executive
Managerial/Executive
Managerial/Executive
Managerial/Mid-Level
Supervisor
Managerial/First line
Technical
Professional
Technical
Mid Level
Sales
Office
Clerical
Skilled Trades
Unskilled Trades

Coeff

Training Performance
.51*
.53*

Minimum
Score
28

.51*

.53*

26

.51*

.53*

22

.50**

.58**

26

.57**

.51**

22

na
.71**

.61*
.52***

22
21

.68**
na

.52***
.45****

18
15

* Hunter & Hunter, 1948a

** Hunter & Hunter, 1984b
*** Pearlman, Schmidt & Hunter, 1980
****Northup,1986

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Test Score/Job Complexity Steps

Score
12
15
18
21

24
27
30

Interpretation
common for plant employees and material handlers
the threshold level where employers may expect employees
to learn from written manuals.
Level where employees are first able to work independent
from supervision, usually in repair or skilled trades
(approximately the average score for all workers in the U.S.)
common with employees who work with standardized
alphanumeric systems
usually found with first line supervisors
associated with middle management and higher level
technicians
found with professionals and executive level managers.

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Validity of WPT Tests

Predictive Validity
Predictor

Ability(I.e. WPT)
College grades
Biodata
Education
Reference checks
Interest
Interview
Age

Validity

.63
.33
.33
.27
.26
.20
.11
-.02

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Validity of WPT Tests

Wonderlic,WAIS GATB Test Score Comparison
Wonderlic
Aged corrected
Score
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

WAIS
Full Scale
IQ
59
61
64
67
69
71
73
75
78
80
81
83
86
88
90
93
95
97
98
100
102
104

GATB
Aptitude
"G'

65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100

Wonderlic
WAIS
GATB
Aged corrected Full Scale Aptitude
Score
IQ
"G'
23
106
24
108
105
25
111
26
113
110
27
114
28
116
115
29
118
30
120
120
31
121
32
123
225
33
125
34
126
130
35
128
36
130
37
132
38
134
39
136
40
138
41
140
42
142
43
143
44
146

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Reliability of WPT Tests

Test retest reliabilities (1st question) have ranged
from .82 to .94
Longitudinal reliability (2nd question) was
measured by Dodrill (1983) at .94
Alternate form reliabilities (when corrected
differences in degree of difficulty) range form .73 to
.95
Internal Consistency measured by Mc Kelvie
(1989) range from .88 to .94
With Kuder Richardson KR-20 formula measured
by Wheeless and Serpento (1982) KR-20 r = .88

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A Fair Testing Program

Improper Test Administration

Over Reliance On Test Score
Fair Application of Test Score Requirements

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