The TestGorilla Assessment – A Comprehensive Guide
If you’ve received an invitation to take a TestGorilla assessment as part of your hiring process, you are part of a growing contingent of candidates being exposed to this psychometric testing platform.
As more companies adopt TestGorilla for their recruitment needs, many job seekers are left confused and wondering what they can expect from this relatively new player in the field of career tests.
Not to worry! TestGorilla is a rigorous and trustworthy platform, used not only by small businesses but by several reputable firms, like Bain & Company.
However, the unique structure of the TestGorilla assessments poses new challenges to both fresh members of the workforce and experienced professionals looking for their next career move. The test’s harsh time constraint is also, reportedly, a significant issue for many applicants.
This page will go into all the details of the test, including TestGorilla Assessment sample questions and answers. We will also provide tips on how to prepare effectively. Make sure to read through our entire guide and contact us for additional assistance.
What Is the TestGorilla Assessment?
TestGorilla is an interactive psychometric test platform, aimed at helping companies assess prospective hires. Each Company’s TestGorilla Assessment is unique, containing both custom questions written by the company, and ready-made tests created by TestGorilla.
We offer a Preparation Package containing prep for nine of TG's most common exams. If there is an exam that is not in the pack but you believe it should be, please contact us!
The exact tests featured on your TestGorilla assessment are not revealed until the assessment itself, making preparation difficult. Hence, this page aims to direct candidates to strategies they might find helpful. You can also acquire TestGorilla practice simulations.
We will go into detail about the makeup and content of TestGorilla tests. First, however, we will discuss the basic rules of the assessment. At the end of the page, we will discuss what makes TestGorilla Assessments unique.
How do TestGorilla Assessments Work?
TestGorilla Assessment Length:
TestGorilla allows its client companies to use as few as one test and one custom question, and as many as 5 tests and 20 custom questions. Thus, the duration of the assessment can vary significantly.
However, TestGorilla advises its clients to keep assessments under an hour in order to maintain a positive candidate experience. The exception is software development assessments, which include coding tests. These will often surpass the 60-minute mark.
Time Constraint:
Every test is timed, such that you will receive 1 minute per question on average. The timer is situated at the top of the screen.
Because these tests are often about an hour long (longer for coding tests) and the clock is constantly visible, you will likely be under constant time pressure while taking the assessment.
Skipping and Taking a Break
You can technically skip questions on the TestGorilla Assessment, but you will not be given a chance to go back and see a skipped question. Therefore, if you find yourself struggling, it is wiser to make an educated guess.
You cannot pause a test, but you can take as long as you want in between tests.
Get accurate and detailed practice simulations for the nine most common TG tests by accessing the TestGorilla Preparation Course.
The TestGorilla Tests
TestGorilla uses multiple choice and true/false questions on all its tests.
All TestGorilla tests begin by presenting you with 4 practice questions, to ensure you understand the instructions. You will have 5 minutes to complete these questions, after which the test will commence:
TestGorilla Math Tests
Numerical reasoning tests evaluate your mathematical aptitude. They typically require you to complete mental math (as in TestGorilla’s Intermediate Math, Double-Digit Math, and Triple-Digit Math tests), and to interpret data presented in charts (as in TestGorilla’s Numerical Reasoning Test).
TestGorilla’s numerical reasoning tests allow the use of calculators and pen-and-paper.
Numerical Reasoning Sample Question
In which of the following years have over 2/3 of the applicants for managerial roles failed to pass the initial screening?
TestGorilla Verbal Reasoning
TestGorilla’s Verbal Reasoning, Following Instructions, and Reading Comprehension tests are all verbal assessments that require you to read a passage and answer questions about it. They focus on drawing conclusions from the text and, in the case of Following Instructions, paying attention to order and sequence.
Verbal Reasoning Sample Question
You are a Highland plumber. What must you do immediately after locating the water line under the dishwasher?
New Company Instructions #1: Dishwashers
To prevent accidents, all Highland plumbers must now work according to specific instructions. This is the first guide: dishwasher removal.
Step 1: Turn the power and water off.
Step 2: Pull out the old dishwasher and remove it from under the counter.
Step 3: Follow the electrical cord to where it is connected.
Step 4: Disconnect the electrical cord from the power source.
Step 5: Locate the water line under the dishwasher and remove it.
Step 6: Locate the dishwasher's drain line under the sink.
Step 7: Disconnect the dishwasher's drain line from the sink's drain line.
Now that the dishwasher is completely disconnected, remove it and clean out the area. You can now move to our second guide on how to install a new dishwasher.
TestGorilla Logical Reasoning
TestGorilla’s Critical Thinking test features both inductive and deductive logical reasoning problems. Here is a deductive question example:
Logical Reasoning Sample Question
It is impossible for a college graduate to be authoritative.
All college graduates are either authoritative or resourceful.
Only people who lack authoritativeness lack resourcefulness.
Attention to Detail and Spatial Reasoning
Spatial Reasoning refers to the ability to orient yourself on a map and to visualize what shapes look like when rotated or flipped.
Attention to Detail tests ask you to spot the differences between nearly identical prompts. TestGorilla offers two types of Attention to Detail tests: a visual one and a textual one, where the prompts are pictures or words and passages, respectively.
Spatial Reasoning Sample Question
Which of the images below can be created by combining the following elements?
The Correct Answer:
TestGorilla Situational Judgment Tests
A situational judgment test (SJT) is any assessment where the applicant reads about a work-related scenario and is asked to select the optimal response to the situation.
TestGorilla offers SJTs for various types of scenarios: Leadership and management, business ethics, time management, communication, negotiation, and more.
Our TestGorilla Practice Pack contains prep for the Communication Test.
SJT Sample Question
You manage a team of 10 people. Your employees are competent and cooperative. However, you noticed that lately, they tend to take long coffee breaks and work rates seem slower. You are happy there is a good atmosphere in the office, but feel uncomfortable about the effect it is having on your employees' work.
What would be the best response?
TestGorilla Personality and Culture Tests
TestGorilla has several personality assessments available on its platform, including some well-known ones such as the “16 types” and the Enneagram personality tests. While these may seem out of place and arbitrary in a job assessment, take into account that the company is trying to test whether you fit in with the organization’s culture and values.
To ace these tests, it is always helpful to research the company and its values beforehand. Remember to present your professional side. Your recruiters do not need to know how you behave around your friends and family.
Personality Sample Question
Please choose one statement that best describes you, and one that least describes you.
TestGorilla Mechanical Reasoning
Mechanical Reasoning tests ascertain your understanding of mechanical and physical principles, by showing you a system and asking how it will move given certain external interference. TestGorilla’s Mechanical Reasoning test is typically used for roles that require you to apply mechanical principles to solve problems.
Mechanical Reasoning Sample Question
In which direction will the wheel spin?
TestGorilla Role-Specific Tests
These are tests that evaluate your general knowledge about your field. Many of the more seasoned workers who take these tests find it frustrating that they are being quizzed on the fundamentals of their profession. The questions often cover concepts and jargon which are more common in university lecture halls than in the actual field.
If you believe you will be given one of these tests, go back to the basics, read your textbooks, and memorize some of the important concepts. Additionally, it may be wise to go over the basic layout of the software used by people in your field; which buttons do what, what functions are available, etc.
Role-specific coding tests typically ask you to read a code snippet and identify which of four snippets is the correct output.
TestGorilla Role Specific skill tests include algorithms, restaurant management, customer service, Salesforce CRM, Google Ads, quality assurance, accounting, SEO, HR, and more.
TestGorilla Coding Tests
TestGorilla is known for its timed coding assessments. These are typically between 10 and 20 minutes long and require you to solve a problem using code.
The tests cover both front-end and back-end programming languages, including but not limited to: CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, PHP, R, and others.
In addition to all the above, TestGorilla also offers typing speed tests, as well as language proficiency tests for English, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, Polish, French, and German.
TestGorilla Custom Questions
In addition to official TestGorilla Assessment tests, each client company is given the option of including 1-20 custom questions. TestGorilla custom questions come in five different question types, listed here:
Video Questions
Pre-recorded interview questions ask you to use your webcam to film yourself responding to a prompt provided by your recruiters. This is what it looks like in our video interview platform that mimics the actual interview:
Essay
The company will write a prompt and ask you to draft a short essay in response. The essay could be about you, and why you believe you match the role, or it could be a case study.
File Upload
This type of question asks you to upload an external file for your recruiters to see when they go over your application. This might be a CV or a cover letter (although typically companies employ TestGorilla specifically to avoid these), or a take-home assessment.
Multiple Choice
These will simply be interview-type questions to which you will have to select an answer from a few options. Companies will commonly use this to see if you agree with the company values and standards.
Custom Coding Assessment
TestGorilla offers companies a chance to include their own, custom-made coding assessment.
Ace Your TestGorilla Test
Are you looking for ways to prepare for an upcoming TestGorilla Assessment, but you are not sure how?
JobTestPrep's TestGorilla Practice Pack has got you covered! It features accurate prep and interactive tutorials for four of the most common TestGorilla exams:
- Problem-solving
- Critical Thinking
- Attention to Detail (Visual)
- Attention to Detail (Textual)
- Spatial Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
- Numerical Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
- Communication (Situational Judgment)
With this pack, you get full-length simulations that get graded by our system, full solutions and explanations, and interactive guides that explain how to solve each question type.
What Makes TestGorilla Different from Other Recruitment Testing Platforms?
TestGorilla is to aptitude tests as Ford was to automobile manufacturing; the simple user interface and affordable pricing give TestGorilla Assessments a certain mass-produced feel. That is why they are being used by small-budget and large companies alike.
Rest assured, they are no less evidence-based and thorough than other, traditional platforms. If you trust the company that sent you the invitation, you will be fine.
There are two main differences between the TestGorilla Assessment and other pre-employment exams:
1
The Tests Are Not Revealed Until the Assessment
When you follow the link to your TestGorilla Assessment, (after a few quick questions about yourself), you will be presented with a welcome screen detailing the number of tests included in the assessment and their overall estimated duration.
However, you will not be told which specific tests are featured. By the time you begin a test, the timer will have started. To prevent cheating, TestGorilla has programmed its timer to continue running even if you close the window or disconnect the internet.
This makes preparation difficult. However, you can read about the different TestGorilla tests on this page (or the TestGorilla library), and reason which of them are likely to be part of the application process for your desired role. You can also try our TestGorilla PrepPack, which prepares you for the nine most common tests on the platform.
2
TestGorilla’s Anti-Cheating Measures
TestGorilla has incorporated several measures to prevent cheating. Many candidates are put off by one particular measure: you are required to give the platform access to your webcam, so it can take periodical pictures of you.
If this is a red line for you, you do not have to move forward with the assessment. However, TestGorilla is GDPR compliant, and you will be able to read their privacy policy at the start of the assessment.
Other anti-cheating measures may also be included, if the issuing company has chosen to enable them, such as permanent full screen (making it impossible to leave the assessment window), screenshots being taken every fixed amount of time, and disabled copy and paste.
These two points are the major hallmarks of TestGorilla’s testing method, and the ones that most affect candidates preparing to take their assessments.
FAQs
TestGorilla Assessments are as long as the hiring company wants them to be. TestGorilla’s recommendation to hiring companies is not to go over 60 minutes to ensure a positive experience for candidates. However, a company can choose to ignore this.
Coding tests will typically be longer than 60 minutes.
In case your assessment includes numerical reasoning tests, it is wise to keep a calculator, scrap paper, and writing utensils on hand.
Additionally, if your test includes a pre-recorded video question, you will want to be dressed in business smart attire to make a good impression.
Most importantly, make sure your internet connection is stable, as the TestGorilla timer never stops counting down, even if you disconnect.
TestGorilla will not provide you with the results of your assessment. The company issuing the test can choose to do so, but it is up to them.
If you are interested in seeing your results, contact the company you took the assessment for.
Yes. All TestGorilla tests feature a stringent time limit, and the time crunch is one of the defining features of the assessment.
There are two reasons:
First, TestGorilla takes pictures of you every 30 seconds as an anti-cheating measure.
Second, some TestGorilla Assessments may include pre-recorded video questions that require you to record your response.
There is no barrier to stop you from taking the assessment on a mobile device, but it is strongly recommended to use a desktop or laptop computer.
For TestGorilla coding assessments, the platform will inform you that it is highly discouraged to use a mobile or tablet device, because coding typically requires a computer.
The link you receive will expire once you complete your TestGorilla assessment. TestGorilla have measures in place to detect the same user taking the assessment from different devices, so while you could try this option in theory, honesty is the best policy.
TestGorilla make a big deal out of equal opportunity on their assessments. In fact, their stated mission is to increase diversity by annihilating the biases involved in CV based hiring process.
Your potential employer is thus given the choice to include accommodation options for your TestGorilla assessment. If they choose yes, you will see a screen soliciting which condition you have that warrants the accommodation – and whether you want your employer to be notified of the fact that the accommodation has been given.