The Wonderlic Test is one of the most controversial and interesting aspects of the NFL Scouting Combine, as NFL teams use the reasoning exam to measure players intelligence and aptitude in pressure situations.
The combine is filled with many physical activities, but the mental ones sometimes are more important for NFL scouts, as they can see if a player will be able to digest a full playbook or how they will react under stressful conditions.
Players are given 50 questions to answer in 12 minutes and are asked to do problem solving questions and logic problems. Vince Young famously scored in single digits in his Wonderlic test and while many feel it is a good way to gauge how players will perform in the NFL, others see it as pointless.
Check out the official Wonderlic Test website for more information on the test and what questions players will be answering. The test has been used in many fields, including athletics, government, education and job interviews.
Here are some sample questions from the test, courtesy of ESPN.com and there is an answer key at the bottom.
1. Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final one...
- True
- False
- Not certain
The boy plays baseball. All baseball players wear hats. The boy wears a hat.
2. Paper sells for 21 cents per pad. What will four pads cost?
3. How many of the five pairs of items listed below are exact duplicates?
| Nieman, K.M. | Neiman, K.M. |
| Thomas, G.K. | Thomas, C.K. |
| Hoff, J.P. | Hoff, J.P. |
| Pino, L.R. | Pina, L.R. |
| Warner, T.S. | Wanner, T.S. |
4. PRESERVE RESERVE-Do these words...
- Have similar meanings
- Have contradictory meanings
- Mean neither the same nor opposite
5. A train travels 20 feet in 1/5 second. At this speed, how far will it travel in three seconds?
6. When rope is selling at $.10 a foot, how many feet can you buy for 60 cents?
7. The ninth month of the year is...
- October
- January
- June
- September
- May
8. Which number in the following group of numbers represents the smallest amount?
| 7 | .8 | 31 | .33 | 2 |
9. In printing an article of 48,000 words, a printer decides to use two sizes of type. Using the larger type, a printed page contains 1,800 words. Using smaller type, a page contains 2,400 words. The article is allotted 21 full pages in a magazine. How many pages must be in smaller type?
10. Three individuals form a partnership and agree to divide profits equally. X invests $9,000, Y invests $7,000 and Z invests $4,000. If the profits are $4,800, how much less does X receive than if the profits were divided in proportion to the amount invested?
11. Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final one...
- True
- False
- Not certain
Tom greeted Beth. Beth greeted Dawn. Tom did not greet Dawn.
12. A boy is 17 years old and his sister is twice as old. When the boy is 23 years old, what will be the age of his sister?
13. Look at the row of numbers below. Which number should come next?
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/4 | ? |
14. The hours of daylight and darkness in SEPTEMBER are nearest equal to the hours of daylight and darkness in...
- June
- March
- May
- November
15. One of the numbered figures in the following drawing is most different from the others. What is the number in that figure?
Answer Key
1. True
2. 84 cents
3. 1
4. 1
5. 300 feet
6. Six feet
7. 4, September
8. .33
9. 17
10. $560
11. Not certain
12. 40 years old
13. 1/8
14. 2, March
15. 4
