How to Ace the Alva Labs Logic Test - A Test-Taker’s Guide
Last updated: Mar 2nd, 2026
Alva Labs is a swedish pre-employment testing company. Its Alva Labs Logic Test and Alva Labs Personality Test, often administered together, measure logical thinking, problem-solving, and fit for the role.
While developing our Alva Labs practice course, we conducted some rigorous research and amassed some helpful insights. This page will guide you through crucial tips and preparation advice, as well as some free samples from the course, so you can overcome this hurdle and land the job you're after.
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Alva Labs Logic Test PrepPack includes:
- Alva Logic Test
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- 4 Alva Logic Interactive Study Guides & Practice Tests
- 3 Alva Logic Full Test Simulations
- Alva Personality Test
- Personality Test Theory Guide
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Full Personality Test
- 30+ Single Trait Practice Tests
What Is the Alva Labs Logic Test, and How to Approach It?
The Alva Labs test is a combined personality and cognitive aptitude test employed by hiring companies to predict job success in candidates.
Together, both test sections typically take between 35-55 minutes to complete. Though this may be short compared to some other pre-employment exams, this assessment is notoriously stress inducing, especially the cognitive section.
Watch a video about how to prepare for Alva Labs:
The Alva Labs Logic Test: Five Common Patterns You Should Know
The Alva Labs Logic Test is the main section of the assessment. It consists of 20 questions, all modeled after the Raven's Progressive Matrices test.
Raven's style cognitive questions are 3X3 grids of abstract figures. The figures look alike, but in actual fact they change according to a predetermined pattern. This patter can run across the rows (left-to-right), columns (top-to-bottom) or even diagonally. The bottom right figure is missing. Your task is to select the figure that completes the pattern out of six options.
Before we dive into the five types of patterns that appear most commonly on the exam, here are three things you should know about the Alva Labs Logic Test:
The Test is Timed
- Each question can be answered in no more than two minutes. This means the maximum duration for this section is 40 minutes.
- You will receive a 30-second warning before your time runs out.
The Test is Adaptive
- After you submit the answer to a grid, the next question is selected from a bank based on your performance.
- If you got it right, the next question will be slightly harder, if you got it wrong- it will be slightly easier. This design is meant to ensure the test isn't too easy or difficult but matches itself to your skill. If you find all the questions easy- that's not a good sign!
- This also means you cannot go back and answer a question after submitting, or after your time ran out.
You Lose Points for Skipping
- A skipped question registers as a concession, and counts as a wrong answer.
- You're always better off making an educated guess than skipping or letting time run out. Through practice, you can learn how to make such educated guesses, and how to improve your chances by eliminating answers that are definitely wrong.
The Patterns Used in 90% of Alva Labs Questions:
Knowing these patterns will make most Alva Labs questions easier and quicker.
- Note that the sample questions here are easier than the ones on the real test, because they aim to demonstrate the pattern types.
Alva Labs Test Pattern 1: Progression
In this kind of matrix, the object changes, or rather progresses with every step throughout the row or the column.
For Example:
Observe the matrix and choose the figure that completes the pattern:
Alva Labs Test Pattern 2: Rotation
In questions of this type, the figures in the matrix rotate in a determined pattern across either rows or columns.
For Example:
Observe the matrix and choose the figure that completes the pattern:
Alva Labs Test Pattern 3: Frequency
In questions of this type, the relationship between certain features of the figures in the matrix determines the frequency and/or order of their appearance.
For Example:
Observe the matrix and choose the figure that completes the pattern:
Alva Labs Test Pattern 4: Construction
In this kind of matrix, two objects from the same row or column are combined to form the third object. In simple matrices, this combination might look just like a simple addition equation.
For Example:
Observe the matrix and choose the figure that completes the pattern:
Alva Labs Test Pattern 5: Motion
In motion matrices, the objects move (change their position) with each step. Usually, the motion is of one or more of the objects inside a frame.
To identify the movement of the inner object, it is useful to compare the outer object or frames across either the rows or columns.
For Example:
Observe the matrix and choose the figure that completes the pattern:
Tips for the Alva Labs Logic Test:
The Alva Labs Personality Test
The personality section of the Alva Labs test is a 120-item questionnaire based largely off of the Big Five Personlity Traits theory, adapted for a work setting. It takes most people 12-15 minutes to complete.
Each question is a simple statement about how you behave at work, which you have to rate from one to five, from disagree to agree.
Each question is designed to evaluate you on one of the Big-5 Traits, or a subtrait that falls under one of them. These traits are:
- Extraversion - The desire and ability to seek social interaction.
- Agreeableness – the tendency to be cooperative, compassionate, and considerate toward others.
- Conscientiousness - the tendency to set goals and apply self-discipline to achieve them.
- Openness - the quality of mental flexibiliy, ability to change your mind, and acceptance of new concepts.
- Neuroticism - high neuroticism is characterized by frequent and intrusive negative feelings
After you complete your assessment, your profile is compared with the "ideal" profile for the specific rank and position you are applying for. This means there are no universal correct answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Alva Labs Logic Test is scored on a scale of 1-10. A score of 5 or six is considered average, so a score that will land you a job is typically 7 or above, although the exact cut-off depends on the hiring company. Of course, your interview and other factors are also taken into account.
An important thing to remember is that the Alva Labs Logic questions are adaptive; the difficulty level changes depending on your performance.
This menas your score is not directly derived from the number of questions you answer correctly. On the contrary: if you are doing well, you will face more challenging questions. You may still get a better score than a test-taker who answered easier questions correctly.
A matrix test, like the Alva Labs Logic Test, is one where the objective is to identify a pattern running across a grid of abstract figures. Such exams measure abstract thinking, problem-solving, and logical-inductive reasoning.
Thsi type of test was invented by John C. Raven and first published in 1936 as Raven's Progressive Matrices Test or RPM.
Other matrix tests are Matrigma, and the Talent Q Elements Logical.
Many test-takers find the Alva labs test more challenging than they expected. This makes sense, because it employs a type of question that is unlike anything that people typically handle. This can create testing anxiety.
Alva Labs has many important clients. You can find many testimonials on their website. Examples include BDO Global and Deloitte.
