Free Wonderlic Sample Questions with Answers and Explanations

Here is a curated set of Wonderlic-style sample questions - one or two per domain - with worked solutions. They are calibrated to the WPT-R's actual format: five-option multiple choice, no calculator, mental arithmetic, and pacing budgeted for 14 seconds per item.

Use these as a quick warm-up if you want to see what the real test looks like. For a full 50-question, 12-minute practice session in the actual format, take a free simulation on this site.

8
Sample questions
4
Domains covered
14s
Target per question

How to Use These Samples

Set a timer for two minutes and try eight items. Don't peek at the answer until you've committed to one. After all eight, look at how many you got right and how long each took. The goal isn't perfect accuracy - it's understanding the rhythm.

The 14-second rule

If a question takes you longer than 20 seconds, mark a guess and move on. The Wonderlic has no penalty for wrong answers, and the easy items at the start are worth the same as the hard items at the end.

Numerical Reasoning Samples

Sample 1 · Arithmetic · Easy

A box contains 24 oranges. If 1/3 of the oranges are spoiled, how many oranges are still good?

  • A. 6
  • B. 8
  • C. 12
  • D. 16
  • E. 18
Show the answer
D. 16. Spoiled = 24 × 1/3 = 8. Good = 24 − 8 = 16. The trap option is C (12), which is half - it's tempting if you read "1/3" as "half" by accident.
Sample 2 · Number series · Medium

What number comes next in this series?   3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ?

  • A. 64
  • B. 72
  • C. 84
  • D. 96
  • E. 108
Show the answer
D. 96. Each term doubles. 48 × 2 = 96.
Sample 3 · Word problem · Hard

A jacket originally costs $80. It is marked down by 25%, then a further 10% is taken off the sale price. What is the final price?

  • A. $52
  • B. $54
  • C. $56
  • D. $58
  • E. $60
Show the answer
B. $54. First markdown: $80 × 0.75 = $60. Second markdown: $60 × 0.90 = $54. The trap option is A ($52), which corresponds to subtracting 35% off the original - but stacked discounts don't add that way.

Verbal Reasoning Samples

Sample 4 · Word relationship · Easy

Are these two words SIMILAR, CONTRADICTORY, or NOT RELATED?   CAUTIOUS — RECKLESS

  • A. Similar
  • B. Contradictory
  • C. Not related
Show the answer
B. Contradictory. A cautious person avoids risk; a reckless person ignores it. They are clear opposites along the same dimension.
Sample 5 · Verbal analogy · Medium

HAMMER is to NAIL as SCREWDRIVER is to:

  • A. Toolbox
  • B. Bolt
  • C. Screw
  • D. Wood
  • E. Carpenter
Show the answer
C. Screw. The relationship is "tool used to drive [fastener]." A hammer drives a nail; a screwdriver drives a screw. Bolt is tempting but is driven by a wrench, not a screwdriver.

Logical Reasoning Samples

Sample 6 · Syllogism · Medium

All chefs wear white aprons. Marco wears a white apron. Therefore, Marco is a chef.

Is the conclusion valid?

  • A. Yes
  • B. No
  • C. Cannot be determined
Show the answer
C. Cannot be determined. The premises tell us all chefs wear white aprons, but they do not say that only chefs wear white aprons. Marco might be a baker, painter, or barber. This is the classic "converse error" - and it's the most common syllogism trap on the test.
Sample 7 · Ordering · Hard

Five friends finished a 5K race. Anna finished before Bea. Cara finished after Dan but before Eli. Bea finished after Dan. Who finished first?

  • A. Anna
  • B. Bea
  • C. Cara
  • D. Dan
  • E. Cannot be determined
Show the answer
E. Cannot be determined. We know Anna > Bea, Dan > Bea, and Dan > Cara > Eli. So either Anna or Dan finished first, but the premises don't tell us which. The trap option is A (Anna) - tempting because Anna's name appears first in the premises.

Attention-to-Detail Sample

Sample 8 · Character position · Medium

What is the 3rd letter of the 9th month of the year?

  • A. P
  • B. T
  • C. E
  • D. M
  • E. B
Show the answer
A. P. The 9th month is September. Letters: S-E-P-T-E-M-B-E-R. The 3rd letter is P.

Difficulty Progression on the Real Test

Within each domain, items are ordered roughly by difficulty: easy items appear early, hard items appear toward the end. The implication for pacing - don't rush the easy questions, they're worth the same as the hard ones at the end, and you can finish them quickly without much thinking. Save your remaining time for the harder later items.

A note on these samples

Eight items isn't a real Wonderlic - the real test is 50 items in 12 minutes, with the difficulty curve and full domain mix. These samples give you a flavor, but timed full-length practice is what actually moves your score.

Want More Practice?

This site generates fresh 50-question, 12-minute Wonderlic-style sessions on demand. Every test is unique - same format, same domain mix, same easy-to-hard ramp as the real WPT-R. Track your raw score, percentile rank, and per-domain breakdown after every session.

Take a full Wonderlic-style practice test

50 questions, 12 minutes, all four domains, with detailed scoring and explanations on every item. Run as many tests as you need to hit your target.

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