Employer Assessment Tests: Practice Questions by Sector

A resume shows where you've worked, and an interview shows how you talk about it. Neither shows how you'd handle the daily demands of the job, and that's the gap employer tests for hiring are designed to fill.

When hundreds of people apply for the same role, a test gives every candidate the same questions, the same time limit, and the same scoring. That makes comparing applicants fairer, and it helps hiring teams decide who to interview first. Tests also check skills tied to the role itself, such as numerical reasoning for finance jobs, mechanical aptitude for utility jobs, or situational judgment for customer-facing roles.

Not every employer test comes from the same place, and knowing which kind you're facing helps you prepare. Pre-employment tests generally fall into 2 categories:

1. Tests built around the employer. Some employers use assessments tailored to their own roles, values, and leadership principles. The Amazon Work Style Assessment is an example: it's built around Amazon's Leadership Principles, so the content is specific to that company.
2. Tests created by an outside assessment company. Other employers hand testing to a third party that builds and runs the test, then shares the results with the employer. The same test can appear in the hiring process of many different employers. Ramsay and SHL are examples, and the P&G Interactive Assessment is provided by Aon. You can read more about these providers on our assessment companies page.

The difference matters for your prep. A company-specific test calls for employer-specific practice, while a provider's test is easier to handle once you're familiar with that provider's question formats.

Because every candidate takes the same test, preparation can make the difference. Knowing the question types, practicing under time limits, and walking in without surprises can help you perform at your best and stand out from other applicants. JobTestPrep has helped thousands of candidates to do exactly that, with online practice tests and study materials for employer assessments. The sections below cover 7 major sectors, with sample questions you can try first.

The tests employers use depend heavily on the industry. Each of the 7 sectors below names the employers that use these tests, links to full practice for each employer, and includes 3 sample questions so you can see what the format looks like. Start with the sector you're applying in, or work through all 7 for a broader career employer practice test. If a specific sector or company interests you, follow its links for extra practice, including free samples on many of the pages.

Large retailers and corporations hire for very different roles, so the assessment you get depends on the job. A store team lead, a maintenance technician, a financial analyst, and a software developer can each face a different test, even at the same company. Amazon's own jobs site notes that assessment types and timing can vary by team.

Three formats show up most often in this sector. Situational judgment tests present realistic workplace scenarios and ask how you'd respond. Work style questionnaires describe how you prefer to work and check whether that fits the employer's culture. For technical and analytical roles, reasoning games and technical tests measure how you solve problems. Many of these tests are built around the employer's own values, so knowing what the company stands for is part of your prep.

Here are the employers in this sector with practice available:

• Amazon. Amazon's online assessments commonly include a work simulation, which is a scenario-based situational judgment test, and a work style assessment built around the company's Leadership Principles. Practice is available for the Hiring and Work Simulation, Work Style, AWS, and Area Manager assessments, plus the Financial Analyst, Maintenance Technician, and software development engineer assessments.
• Walmart. The test depends on the role. Maintenance roles take a technical maintenance assessment. Team lead, supervisor, academy trainer, and department manager roles use the Teaming Employment Assessment, which combines workplace scenarios with questions about your work style. Management roles such as assistant manager, area manager, and coach trainee use the Manager Assessment. Our guides advise keeping your answers consistent across each of these tests.
• P&G. P&G's hiring process commonly includes 2 online assessments. The PEAK Performance Assessment mixes situational judgment scenarios with questions about your work style. The Interactive Assessment is a set of online reasoning games, known as the Switch, Grid, and Digit challenges, that takes about 30 minutes according to P&G, and the games you see can depend on the role you apply for. Aon provides the Interactive Assessment, one of the outside assessment companies we cover.
• Honeywell. Practice tests are available for the assessments used in Honeywell's hiring process.
• Epic Systems. Practice is available for Epic's technical assessments, including the one for Technical Problem Solver roles.

Looking for a different employer? Browse our retail and corporate employer test prep for the full list.

Banks, lenders, and trading firms hire for roles built around numbers, risk, and customers, so their assessments lean on reasoning skills and judgment. Many also check how your values and work style fit the company, since the work is regulated and trust matters.

Four formats show up most often in this sector. Numerical reasoning tests ask you to find answers in tables, charts, and graphs under a time limit. Verbal reasoning tests ask you to draw conclusions from written passages. Situational judgment tests and personality or values questionnaires check how you'd act at work and whether that fits the employer. Some trading firms add speed-based mental arithmetic and probability questions, where timing matters as much as accuracy.

Here are the employers in this sector with practice available:

• Barclays. The Barclays online assessment includes a cognitive ability section covering numerical, verbal, and inductive reasoning, a personality assessment, and a values and mindset assessment. Keeping Barclays' stated values in mind helps with the last one.
• Capital One. Capital One uses online assessments in its second hiring stage. They're split into 4 exams: situational judgment, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and a coding assessment.
• RBC. Most graduate roles start with an online assessment similar to a situational strengths test, and some roles add verbal and numerical reasoning tests. Our RBC practice also covers personality assessments and Aon's smartPredict games.
• Optiver. Candidates report speed-focused online assessments for this trading firm, with sections such as mental arithmetic, numerical reasoning, and probability. Practicing under a time limit is a big part of preparing.

Looking for a different employer? Browse our finance and banking employer test prep for the full list.

Police departments, fire departments, dispatch centers, and federal agencies hire through some of the most structured screening processes of any sector. A written or computer-based test is usually the first step, and many agencies use the scores to screen and rank candidates before physical, psychological, and background stages.

Each department or agency chooses its own exam, so the test you take depends on where you apply. Three formats are the most common. Written aptitude tests measure reading, writing, math, logic, memory, and mechanical reasoning. Situational judgment and video-based tests show you workplace scenarios and ask how you'd respond. Job simulations, such as the ones used for 911 dispatchers, test skills like multitasking and data entry under time pressure.

Here are the main groups of employers in this sector with practice available:

• Police and law enforcement. Entry-level police exams are usually multiple-choice written tests. PELLET B, the POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery, is widely used and covers reading, writing, and logical ability in 105 questions. Practice is also available for the CPCA, NYPD, LAPD, and CJBAT exams, plus the separate police psychological exam.
• Firefighting. Departments choose their own firefighter written exam, and most cover reading, math, mechanical reasoning, and memory. The FireTEAM exam can include video-based human relations, mechanical aptitude, math, and reading tests. The FACT has 110 multiple-choice questions split into a general aptitude section and a personal characteristics section. The FST measures cognitive abilities and non-cognitive traits and doesn't require any firefighting knowledge. We also offer practice for the CPS, FCTC, and NFSI exams.
• 911 dispatchers. CritiCall is a computer-based test made up of modules, and the hiring agency chooses which ones to use. Common modules include data entry, call summarization, and memory recall, and you don't need prior dispatcher knowledge. Practice is also available for the POST dispatcher exam in California and the Ontario Provincial Police CritiCall test.
• FBI. According to the FBI, the Phase 1 exam is a proctored, computerized test of about 3 hours made up of 5 assessments. Phase 2 includes a writing assessment and a structured interview with a panel of 3 special agents. See our FBI sample questions for more.
• Homeland security. The Secret Service uses the Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE) and the Uniformed Division Entrance Exam (UDEE), both competency-based assessments. The SAEE measures skills such as written communication, critical thinking, and attention to detail, and the UDEE takes about 3½ hours. TSA officer candidates take the TSA CBT, which comes in 2 versions depending on the test location: a traditional test of about 2.5 hours with X-ray image and English sections, and a shorter assessment battery without them. Practice is also available for the GardaWorld and EDPT assessments, and you can browse our homeland security test prep.

Looking for a specific department or agency? Browse our police exam, firefighter test, and 911 dispatcher test prep for the full list.

Government employers hire through standardized processes, and the exam you take usually depends on the job or title you apply for. That applies to the postal service, federal agencies, state and city civil service systems, and public service employers in Canada.

Four formats are the most common in this sector. Job-specific exams test the skills a role depends on, such as the postal exams. Online competency assessments measure general abilities like decision making and attention to detail. Work simulations put you in a supervisor's seat and ask how you'd handle realistic situations. Situational judgment and behavioral questionnaires check how you'd act at work. Many of these tests are computer-based, and some can be taken at home while others are proctored at a testing center.

Here are the main employers and exams in this sector with practice available:

• USPS. The postal exam you take depends on the job. Exam 955 is used for maintenance positions such as mechanics and electricians, and it's a separate test from the others. Exams 474 to 477 cover carrier, mail handler, mail processor, and customer service clerk jobs, and they share the same core sections, with some adding a fourth. We also offer practice for the 710 clerical exam.
• USA Hire. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management delivers these online, unproctored assessments for federal jobs, and you're invited to take one after you submit your application. The standard assessments for non-supervisory positions measure general competencies such as decision making, reading, attention to detail, integrity, and flexibility, and some use online simulations and role plays.
• Supervisory Test Battery. Civil service agencies such as the New Jersey Civil Service Commission use this computer-based work simulation for supervisory titles. You take the role of a supervisor in a fictitious organization and handle situations and in-basket items, such as memos, that a supervisor would receive.
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The CRA uses Korn Ferry assessments that can cover cognitive abilities (numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and checking), behavioral competencies, and traits. It also uses situational judgment tests, and some roles require accounting or auditing tests.

Looking for a specific agency? Browse our USPS exam, USA Hire, and Supervisory Test Battery prep for the full list.

Airlines and air navigation providers hire for safety-critical roles, so their assessments focus on specific abilities such as memory, spatial awareness, multitasking, and sound judgment under pressure. Many of these tests are computer-based, and the format changes a lot between roles.

Four formats show up most often in this sector. Cognitive test batteries measure skills like memory, reasoning, attention, and mental math. Multitasking and simulation tasks test how you handle several demands at once. Mechanical aptitude tests check how well you understand tools and machines. Scenario-based assessments ask how you'd serve passengers and handle problems on the job.

Here are the main employers in this sector with practice available:

• Air traffic control. The FAA's Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) is a computer-based, entry-level test battery made up of multiple subtests that measure the skills and attributes air traffic controllers need. The FEAST, designed by EUROCONTROL for European air navigation providers and ATC academies, starts with cognitive tests and an English test, and later modules include radar simulations and a personality questionnaire. At NAV CANADA, the first step is a timed online assessment of about 30 minutes that evaluates memory, working speed, spatial visualization, reasoning, attention, information processing, and simple math.
• Delta Air Lines. Flight attendant candidates take the Virtual Job Tryout, an online assessment with 6 interactive, scenario-based sections. Aircraft maintenance technician candidates take the BMAR assessment. Practice for both is on our Delta Air Lines page.
• Pilots. American Airlines includes an online Pilot Skills Test in its pilot application. Candidates report a computerized battery covering skills such as memory recall, logic, pattern recognition, and mental arithmetic.

Looking for a specific airline or air traffic service? Browse our ATSA, FEAST, and NAV CANADA prep for the full list.

Union and employer-sponsored apprenticeship programs train people from the ground up, so their entrance exams focus on the skills you'll need to learn the trade, not on what you already know about it. Most programs use the exam to decide who moves on to an interview, and many fill a limited number of spots.

Four skill areas show up most often in trade aptitude tests. Math and algebra questions check how comfortably you work with numbers and formulas. Reading comprehension questions check whether you can follow written instructions and technical material. Mechanical comprehension questions look at how you understand tools, machines, and forces. Spatial reasoning questions ask you to picture how shapes fold, fit, or rotate.

Here are the main trades with practice available:

• IBEW (electricians). Electrician apprenticeship programs use an aptitude test that assesses algebraic functions and reading comprehension. It's a standardized test taken at the local training center, and applicants who pass move on to an interview with the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee.
• Elevator constructors. The Elevator Industry Aptitude Test (EIAT) is used for apprenticeships with the International Union of Elevator Constructors. According to the National Elevator Industry Educational Program, it covers reading comprehension, mechanical comprehension, and basic math in 100 multiple-choice questions. A score of 70% or higher is needed to move on to an interview.
• Plumbers. The Plumbers Union aptitude test most commonly used in the U.S. has 140 questions and a 120-minute time limit. It covers 6 topics: reading, numerical computation, numerical reasoning, folding (spatial reasoning), problem solving, and mechanical comprehension.
• Pipefitters. Local unions in the U.S. and Canada use a pipefitter screening test to choose apprentices. Our preparation covers math, English, mechanical aptitude, and spatial reasoning.
• Other trades. We also offer practice for the sheet metal, millwright, ironworker, and heavy equipment operator apprenticeship exams.

Looking for a different trade? Browse our trade apprenticeship exam prep for the full list.

Utility and energy companies hire for safety-critical technical roles, such as plant operators, maintenance technicians, electricians, and system dispatchers. Their tests lean on math, mechanical and electrical understanding, reading, and job-specific technical knowledge, and some roles also include a physical ability test.

Many investor-owned electric utilities use standardized aptitude batteries from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), while others, such as Southern Company and PG&E, use their own tests. If you're not sure which test your employer uses, our power and utility company test guide lists the exam for each major U.S. utility. These exams can be long. The EEI CAST battery takes about 2 hours, and Southern Company's study guide says its General Plant Operator test lasts about 8 hours with breaks.

Here are the main employers and exams in this sector with practice available:

• EEI tests. EEI doesn't give these tests to applicants directly, so you take them through the utility you apply to. CAST (Construction and Skilled Trades) is used for transmission and distribution, facilities and equipment, and meter reader jobs. It's a battery of 4 tests: Graphic Arithmetic, Mechanical Concepts, Reading for Comprehension, and Mathematical Usage. POSS (Plant Operator) and MASS (Power Plant Maintenance) are separate tests for plant operator and maintenance positions. SO/PD (System Operator/Power Dispatcher) is used for energy control center jobs and includes tests such as Applied Arithmetic and Electrical Concepts Knowledge. We also offer practice for TECH (technician roles) and SASS (support and administrative roles).
• Southern Company. Georgia Power's SKAT Electrician test has 4 sections: electrical knowledge, hand and power tools, rule reading, and tools and precision measurement. The SKAT Meter test, used for meterman positions, has 3 sections covering electrical knowledge, hand and power tools, and rule reading. The General Plant Operator (GPO) test measures knowledge of the electrical, operations, and mechanical tasks a plant operator performs.
• PG&E. According to PG&E, its pre-employment tests are taken online and, depending on the job, may measure general ability, job-specific skills, job knowledge, or work-related attitudes. The prerequisite tests include the Physical Test Battery, the Industrial Skills Test, the Clerical Test Battery, and the Work Orientation Inventory.
• Oil and gas. We also offer practice for the Marathon and ExxonMobil assessments.

Looking for a different utility? Find your employer in our power and utility company test guide or browse our EEI test prep for the full list.

Good career employer test prep starts with knowing what you'll face. These 5 steps apply to most employer assessments:

1. Find out which test your employer uses. Check the job posting, the recruiter's email, relevant social media forums (like Reddit) or the careers page, since the test often depends on the role as well as the company. If it comes from an outside provider, our assessment companies page explains the major ones.
2. Practice the question types. Start with the sample questions above, then move on to full practice for your employer using the links in your sector. For general practice, try our aptitude tests.
3. Practice under time limits. Many employer tests leave only seconds per question, so time yourself from the start and learn when to move on.
4. Review the explanations. For every question you miss, read why the correct answer works and why yours didn't, then look for patterns in your mistakes.
5. Answer work style questions honestly and consistently. Personality questionnaires, including the employer personality assessment test some companies add, don't measure what you know, and contradictory answers can count against you. Our pre-employment personality test page shows what to expect.

Start with the sector above that matches your job, then follow its links to practice the exact test you'll take.