Top Assessment Tests Used by Fortune 500 Companies

Fortune 500 companies rely on pre-employment assessment tests to identify the best candidates for their workforce. These tests help employers evaluate candidates’ skills, personality traits, and cognitive abilities beyond what a resume or interview can reveal. If you’re preparing for a position at a leading company, knowing which tests to expect and how to prepare for them can give you a serious edge.

Here’s a breakdown of the top assessment tests used by Fortune 500 companies—and how to get ready.

1. SHL Tests

Used by: Microsoft, Nestlé, General Electric
SHL is a leading provider of aptitude, personality, and skill-based assessments. Common formats include numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, inductive reasoning, and situational judgment tests (SJT). These assessments are timed and often administered online.

Tip to Prepare: Practice under time pressure with realistic questions. Focus on interpreting data quickly and accurately.

2. Predictive Index (PI) Assessment

Used by: IBM, Dell Technologies, Subway
This test measures behavioral tendencies and cognitive ability. The PI Behavioral Assessment identifies work styles, while the PI Cognitive Assessment evaluates problem-solving skills.

Tip to Prepare: Understand your natural behavioral drives. For the cognitive portion, practice pattern recognition and numerical puzzles.

3. Caliper Profile

Used by: Johnson & Johnson, Canon, 3M
The Caliper measures personality traits against job performance indicators. It’s commonly used for leadership, sales, and management roles.

Tip to Prepare: Be honest but strategic—match your responses to the qualities required in the job description (e.g., assertiveness for sales).

4. Gallup StrengthsFinder

Used by: Google, Accenture, Facebook
This test helps employers discover candidates’ top strengths and how they align with company culture. It’s based on positive psychology and includes situational and value-based questions.

Tip to Prepare: Reflect on your natural talents and professional values. There are no wrong answers, but consistency is key.

5. Thomas International GIA Test

Used by: HSBC, Mercedes-Benz, Ford
The GIA (General Intelligence Assessment) evaluates processing speed, reasoning, and memory. It’s often used for roles requiring learning agility and fast decision-making.

Tip to Prepare: Practice numerical, word, and abstract reasoning under time constraints.

6. Raven’s Progressive Matrices

Used by: Amazon, Apple (for tech roles)
This non-verbal reasoning test measures abstract thinking and fluid intelligence. It’s commonly used to screen candidates for roles in engineering, data science, and management.

Tip to Prepare: Solve puzzles and practice identifying patterns and logical sequences.

7. Talent Q

Used by: PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Citibank
Talent Q offers adaptive tests in numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning. Questions get harder as you answer correctly, and easier if you struggle.

Tip to Prepare: Take adaptive test simulations online to improve your speed and accuracy.

8. Aon/Cut-e Assessments

Used by: Siemens, Lufthansa, Coca-Cola
Aon’s assessments include gamified tests for logic, memory, spatial reasoning, and situational judgment. They are mobile-friendly and often part of the early hiring stage.

Tip to Prepare: Use a quiet environment and treat the gamified format as seriously as a traditional test.

9. Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal

Used by: Pfizer, Deloitte, Bank of America
This test assesses critical thinking through questions on inference, deduction, and assumption identification. It’s especially popular in legal, banking, and consulting roles.

Tip to Prepare: Practice identifying assumptions, evaluating arguments, and making logical inferences.

10. Situational Judgment Tests (SJT)

Used by: Walmart, CVS Health, Target
SJTs present work-related scenarios and ask how you would respond. They assess problem-solving, teamwork, and customer service skills.

Tip to Prepare: Align your answers with company values and job expectations. Choose responses that reflect professionalism and empathy.

companies and the assessment tests they commonly use during their hiring process:

Final Thoughts

Assessment tests used by Fortune 500 companies vary based on industry and job role, but they all share one goal: to find candidates who are not only qualified but also a cultural fit. The best way to prepare is to understand the format, practice relevant questions, and approach each test with a calm and focused mindset.