If you’ve just been sent a 45-minute test link before anyone’s even picked up the phone, you’re not imagining it. Online assessments now sit at the very start of the hiring process for a huge number of roles. It’s an odd hurdle to face when the market already feels tough, so here’s a plain explanation of what these tests actually are, why you’re likely to meet one, and where you can practise for free.
What it isWhat is a pre-employment assessment?
It’s an online test an employer asks you to complete, usually before a first interview and sometimes instead of a detailed CV review. You’ll get a link by email, log in, and work through a set of questions within a time limit, typically somewhere between 20 and 60 minutes depending on the role. Platforms like SHL, TestGorilla, Criteria Corp and Saville Assessment are among the most common, and each one builds a slightly different mix of tests depending on what the employer has asked for.
Why it happensWhy you’re being asked to do one
It isn’t a comment on your CV or your interview skills. Employers use these tests to compare a large pool of applicants on a consistent basis, which matters more than ever when a single graduate role or entry-level vacancy can attract hundreds of applications.
“A test score is one input into a hiring decision. It’s not a verdict on whether you can do the job well.”
What you might actually be asked to do
Most assessments fall into a few categories. Cognitive or reasoning tests check how you work with numbers, words or patterns under time pressure. Personality questionnaires ask how you tend to behave at work, there’s no right answer here, just answer as yourself. Skills tests are role-specific, think Excel, coding, or written communication. Situational judgement tests describe a workplace scenario and ask what you’d do. Some platforms also use your webcam to take periodic snapshots or check you’re staying on one screen. It can feel intrusive the first time, but it’s standard practice designed to keep the process fair for everyone, not a sign you’re under suspicion.
How to prepareHow to prepare without losing an evening to it
Check the invite email for the provider’s name, most tell you outright. Do a short practice session in that format so the question style feels familiar on the day, rather than cramming for hours. Set yourself up somewhere quiet with a stable connection, and test your webcam in advance if one’s required. Read the instructions properly before the clock starts. And if there’s a personality section, answer honestly, these tests are checking fit, not looking for a “correct” version of you.
Free resourcesFree places to practise
You don’t need to pay for prep. Two of these need nothing but a click, the rest ask for a quick email or Google sign-up before you start, which is normal for these platforms and still costs you nothing:
No account needed. A short, genuinely free IQ-style test with instant results.
No account needed. A free, university-linked project covering numerical, verbal, inductive and personality tests.
Free account (email or Google). 17 free tests across numerical, verbal, situational judgement and more, with worked solutions.
Free account to start. Numerical, verbal and inductive reasoning practice recommended by university career services.
Free account. Three full practice tests (numerical, verbal, logical) with worked solutions, built by former SHL psychologists.
Free account. Real coding challenges if you’re heading into a technical or developer assessment.
Good to know: TestGorilla itself gives you a handful of practice questions at the start of most tests before the real ones begin, so you can get a feel for the interface without any pressure on your score.
An assessment is a hurdle, not a judgment on your worth or your career so far.
In a market where you might be sitting several of these a month, it’s fair to feel worn down by them. Preparing a little, and knowing what’s coming, is one of the few parts of this process you actually get to control. Use that where you can, and be kind to yourself with the rest.
