Strong and Faint Components of the Wonderlic Test 

You may have heard of the Wonderlic Test and thought to yourself, “how good is it?” or “Is it something I can trust?”

As is the case with most tests of this nature, the question of “does it really work?” is enough to spark long, winding debates based on subjective opinions, differing interests, and personal biases that can lead to discussions that can never reach a concrete conclusion. 

Still, with all the back-and-forth debating, one thing is concrete: no matter what type of test, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. 

That’s why this article will take a closer look at the strong and faint components of the Wonderlic Test.

Strong Components

So, what are the strong points of this exam? Why is it beneficial?

• Reliability

With cognitive tests, reliability refers to the consistency of the test score when the participant is re-tested. During the testing period, other factors and circumstances should also be considered to measure its reliability better. 

Wonderlic IQ Test offers objective data helpful for psychologists, employers, etc. This backs up its own reliability. It serves its purpose not to assign an actual intelligence quotient to participants but to help gauge their cognitive strengths and weaknesses relative to a particular job or assignment. 

It’s a relatively short test, giving participants only 12 minutes to answer 50 questions. However, despite its brevity, it has scored itself high points on the reliability scale. A study conducted in 1982 showed that the test-retest reliability of the Wonderlic IQ Test was .94. 

In 1989, a published article reported that the Wonderlic Test had a .87 on the reliability scale, scoring higher than the Pearson Test. 

• Usefulness

As mentioned above, the Wonderlic IQ Test has been a helpful tool for psychologists, employers, etc. It’s particularly beneficial for employers recruiting into their business to help measure if an applicant has a general aptitude for the position they are applying for. 

Educational institutions can also benefit from using the Wonderlic IQ Test. After all, this test helps identify a student’s skills and abilities that cannot be measured academically or recorded at school. With this data, it can help place the student in a program that is best suited to their abilities and learning styles. 

Although there’s no consequence for getting an answer wrong in the Wonderlic Test, it’s essential to ensure that it’s a rare occurrence. That’s because a higher than average Wonderlic score can increase your chance of being chosen for the position you want when you’re a job applicant. 

Faint Components

Like with any exam, there are certain disadvantages to it as well. So, what are its faint components?

• Disadvantageous to Non-English Speakers 

Since the Wonderlic IQ Test is essentially a speed test, it relies on quick comprehension of questions and quick responses to them. It only gives you 12 minutes to go through all the items. 

Not to mention, your final score heavily relies on the speed at which you answer the questions. This can be disadvantageous to those who aren’t native English speakers and struggle to understand all the questions while still making it within the time limit. 

• Interpretative Guidelines Are Skewed 

Critics have observed that what may be interpreted as a low score on the Wonderlic Test manual actually corresponds to an IQ score that falls on the average range of intelligence. 

A low Wonderlic score suggests that the participant is only capable of menial tasks but falling on the average IQ spectrum means they can do much more. 

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the Wonderlic IQ Test isn’t conducted to produce clinical results. Therefore, it shouldn’t be treated as such. It serves its purpose well as a quick assessment tool, showing a  rough guide to a participant’s general aptitude and intelligence.