Wonderlic Personnel Test TM

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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.

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 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 22
Engineer, Electrical 30 Foreman 22
Manager, General 30 Clerical, General 21
Administrator 29 Police, Patrol Officer 21
Computer programmer 29 Receptionist 21
Adjuster, Claims 28 Typist 21
Librarian 27 Labor, Unskilled 20
Manager Trainee 27 Mechanic, helper 19
Writer, News 26 Maintenance 18
Office, General 24 Guard, security 17
Sales, General 24 Nurse's aide 17
Cashier 24 Assembler 16
Secretary 24 Packer 15
Drafter 23 Warehouse Person 15
Bank Teller 22 Maid/Matron 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 25
Customer Service Representative 22
Cutter Operator
Delivery Driver 19
Desktop Publisher 19
Estimator 25
Folding Machine Operator 23
General Manager 20
Graphic Designer 27
High Speed/ Copy Operator 26
Mailer Apprentice 20
Mailing Machine Operator 19
Offset Press Operator 22
Operations Manager 23
Outside Sales Representative 20
Pre-press Technician 24
Pre-press Supervisor 24
Production Manager 24
Sales Manager 23
Scanner Operator 28
Store Manager 23
27

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Age Adjustment To Scores

Age Adjustment
Add to the
Age 12 min. raw score
15 - 29 0
30 - 39 1
40 - 49 2
50 - 54 3
55 - 59 4
60+ 5

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Minimum Score by Job Family

Job Families
Validity Coeff Minimum
Job Title Training Performance Score
Executive .51* .53* 28
Managerial/Executive
Managerial/Executive .51* .53* 26
Managerial/Mid-Level
Supervisor .51* .53* 22
Managerial/First line
Technical .50** .58** 26
Professional
Technical .57** .51** 22
Mid Level
Sales na .61* 22
Office .71** .52*** 21
Clerical
Skilled Trades .68** .52*** 18
Unskilled Trades na .45**** 15
* Hunter & Hunter, 1948a
** Hunter & Hunter, 1984b
*** Pearlman, Schmidt & Hunter, 1980
****Northup,1986

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Test Score/Job Complexity Steps

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

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Validity of WPT Tests

Predictive Validity
Predictor Validity
Ability(I.e. WPT) .63
College grades .33
Biodata .33
Education .27
Reference checks .26
Interest .20
Interview .11
Age -.02

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Validity of WPT Tests
Wonderlic,WAIS GATB Test Score Comparison
Wonderlic WAIS GATB Wonderlic WAIS GATB
Aged corrected Full Scale Aptitude Aged corrected Full Scale Aptitude
Score IQ "G' Score IQ "G'
1 59 23 106
2 61 24 108 105
3 64 25 111
4 67 26 113 110
5 69 27 114
6 71 28 116 115
7 73 29 118
8 75 65 30 120 120
9 78 31 121
10 80 70 32 123 225
11 81 33 125
12 83 75 34 126 130
13 86 35 128
14 88 80 36 130
15 90 37 132
16 93 85 38 134
17 95 39 136
18 97 90 40 138
19 98 41 140
20 100 95 42 142
21 102 43 143
22 104 100 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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