how to solve 50 questions in 12 minutes

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50 Question Wonderlic Practice Test

You have 12 minutes to finish this test.

Full Practice Test

Our full practice test may help you prepare for a time when you have to take a Wonderlic test. This test is structured such that you have 12 minutes to answer 50 questions. Once you begin, you may not pause the test or go back to previous questions. Your score will be the total number of questions you answered correctly. No points are deducted for incorrect answers or unanswered questions, so if you're running out of time it's to your advantage to start guessing. When you are ready to begin your Wonderlic practice test, click the "Start" button below.

A race car travels 100 feet in .5 seconds. At this rate of speed, how many feet will the race car travel in a minute?

If it takes 2 minutes to make it through the circuit and Josh is number 32 in line, how long will it be until he is done?

Mike had a jar of nickels that had five more nickels than he originally thought. If the total amount of nickels was $4.35, how many nickels did Mike think he had originally?

Frankie wants a tattoo that will take 5 hours to complete. If the artist charges $85 a hour for the first three hours and half price for every hour after, how much will it cost?

A biker travels 5 feet in 0.5 seconds. At this exact speed, how far will the biker travel in a minute?

How much square footage is there in a room that is 13 x 18 ft?

Are the following two words similar, contradictory, or not related?

On Tuesday and Wednesday, cab fare cost $7.75 total. On Monday and Thursday, cab fare cost $6.30 on each day. On Friday, cab fare cost $7.00. What was the average daily cost?

Healthy vs sick is

Joseph gets married next month. One year ago from the date he will get married, Joseph was in the Hamptons for the 4th of July. What month is it?

How many of the six pairs of items listed below are exact duplicates?

Mike is 11 years old. Jim is twice as old as Mike. When Jim is 50 years old, how old will Mike be?

From the list below, select all of the words that could properly complete this sentence:  The car ___________ over the road.

Mark got a 20% raise for his salary. If this salary was $1,800, what is his new salary?

Select the one that is not a type of triangle

Pick the state on the west coast

ROYGBIV stands for:

Select the word that is different from the others

In the number 10,987.36 which digit represents the tenths space?

If the first two statements are true, the third statement is true? false? not certain? #1: A man works at Bob's Pool Store. #2: All the employees at the pool store wear blue shirts. #3: The man wears blue shirts.

Arrange the following words so that they form a complete sentence.  rectangle has a sides five   Is that sentence true or false?  

Max makes $3000 a month. He puts 15% in savings each month. After a year how much would he have in savings?

If the first two statements are true, is the last statement true as well? Orange butterflies head to the south for the winter. Derek is a butterfly. Derek will head south for the winter.

Cheesecake is to dessert as _____ is to fruit

Which word does not belong?

-57 + -74 equals:

A candy maker makes two sizes of candies. Using the smaller size, a full jar will contain 120 pieces of candy. Using the larger candies a jar will contain 80 pieces of candy. The candy maker has a strict rule that no jars will contain a mix of small and large candies. If a store has room for 15 jars and they want 1560 total pieces of candy, how many jars will contain smaller candies?

Martha and Steve have 95 colored pencils. If Martha has 4 times as many as Steve, how many does Steve have?

Rearrange the words to form a complete sentence. Is it true or false? a legs has eight spider

Which of the following is not a whole number followed by its square?

There are 12 more toy cars than toy trucks in a toy box with a total of 38 toy cars and trucks. How many toy trucks are in the toy box?

If sales tax is 6% and you buy a shirt for $25 how much do you owe?

If rent is $1238 a month how much will you owe for 6 months?

The declaration of Independence was signed in:

Sand is to beach as ____ is to road

Find 0.2347 ÷ 1

The bones that make up the spine are:

The tenth month of the year is:

In a leap year, how many days does February have?

Which of these numbers is the smallest?

There are how many inches in 17.5 feet?

REDACT, REACT – Do these words:

Your score is

The average score is 0%

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What is a wonderlic test.

Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Tests are often used by employers and colleges looking to gauge the relative intelligence of applicants. The test contains 50 questions to be answered in 12 minutes. Historically the test was only available in print form but is now also available online. This website and the sample test on this page are designed to mimic the types of questions posed on the real Wonderlic to help applicants practice for taking the test.

Outside of being used at universities and by many employers, the test is also famous for its use by the National Football League as part of its player evaluation process at the NFL combine. While it is only one of many forms of testing, each year many scores end up being leaked to the press and typically generate a large amount of press from the sports media.

Follow the link to learn more about the history of Wonderlic testing .

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Twelve Minutes walkthrough and endings guide

Every step and item you need to solve the mystery

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Twelve Minutes gives you about 10 minutes (if you’re lucky) per loop to learn something new and progress toward solving its mystery. There are a lot of ways it can go wrong and some steps require exact order and timing to complete.

In this 12 Minutes walkthrough, we’ll guide you through each step of solving the mystery and the dialogue choices you’ll need to make. We’ll walk you through where to find the pocket watch, how to not get arrested and question the cop, and guide you through the ending of the game. This isn’t the most efficient way through the game, but this path will lead you to all of the information you need.

You’ll start the game in an elevator and emerge into a hallway (with The Shining carpet). Take a look at the paintings on the wall to your left and right.

One is a painting of a bookcase with a prominent red book. The other is a painting of a flower. Those will probably be important later.

Grab the fake rock from the plant to the left of your door. Open your inventory and click on the fake rock to find your house keys .

Drag the house keys to your door to unlock it.

Have dessert with your wife

Poke around in the apartment, pick stuff up, learn the layout of the apartment, and talk to your wife.

The closest thing to a goal you have right now is to have dessert with your wife:

• Turn on the lights with the switch by the door.
• Grab the mugs from the table by the couch and the counter by the sink . Drag each of them to the sink to fill them.
• Go to the fridge and open it. Grab both plates .
• Set both plates and both mugs on the table .
• Tell your wife it’s a good time for dessert . Take your seat at the table.
• Click on your plate to enjoy your dessert.
• When she gives you your present , pick it up and click on it again to open it. You’ll find the baby clothes inside.
• Ask her why Dahlia?
• Play out the rest of the conversation however you want.

At 12:05 , a cop will show up. You’ll both get arrested. Don’t resist. In fact, don’t click on anything while the talking happens.

Your wife will reveal that the watch is in the …

How to find the pocket watch

Well, you’re in a time loop. Let’s make the most of it and start figuring things out.

When your wife comes out of the bathroom and sits on the couch, walk up to her.

• Tell her this feels like the same day and then prove the day is restarting .
• When you choose what to prove with , click on the window over the sink .
• Wait for the thunder — you’ll have to kill a little time. It happens just before 12:02 .
• You’ll have to choose what to prove with again. Walk into the bedroom, open the drawer , and retrieve the present .
• Walk back to the living room and pick it from your inventory to prove yourself.

The rest of this loop is going to be frustrating. Run through the dialogue options to question her. Ask about the pocket watch and her father . She’ll probably get frustrated and stop answering questions.

Head into the bedroom and try the light switch. You’ll get shocked the first time. Turn it off and on again. This time, you’ll get electrocuted and knocked out. That’s good to know.

Open the front door and step into the hall.

This time, you’ll reappear confused.

• Walk straight to the closet to the left of the front door. Open it and step inside. Close the door behind you. You’ll watch through the blinds . Don’t click on anything.
• You’ll hear your wife walk into the bedroom and get shocked by the switch .
• Time will fast-forward, and you’ll see the cop barge in. Your wife will get arrested.
• Don’t do anything .
• After some questioning, she’ll say the pocket watch is in the bathroom vent under the medicine cabinet .

Once the cop is gone, step out of the closet. Go through the front door into the hall to reset the loop.

We’ve got a little more information this time, so let’s see what we can learn.

• Walk to the counter and grab the knife or spoon from the table .
• Once your wife comes out, head into the bathroom . Close the door . Click on the medicine cabinet and then click at the very bottom to find the ventilation grid .
• Drag the knife or spoon onto it to pry it open and find the pocket watch .
• Open the door and head back into the living room.
• Talk to your wife and question her about the past … followed by tell her you know what she’s hiding in the vent .
• After a quick exchange, you’ll need to convince her you’re in a time loop. Use the present to prove yourself.

There’s a long conversation that follows. She’ll admit to everything and tell you about the polaroid on the fridge .

The cop will show up around now. Play out the loop.

This time, when you reappear, head to the fridge and grab the polaroid .

• Wait for your wife to sit down, and go talk to her.
• Prove the day is restarting and then tell her what happened the night she ran away .
• Run through all the new dialogue options when you question her about her past …

The loop ends the in much the same way.

Question the cop

With all of the information your wife has given us, it’s time to talk to the Cop. He’s not exactly friendly, though, so we have to resort to other measures.

Now, it’s time to get some answers from the cop.

• As soon as you can, grab both mugs and the polaroid from the fridge .
• After you greet your wife, head into the bathroom . Close the door behind you. Open the medicine cabinet and grab the sleeping pills .
• Drag a mug to the sink to fill it with water. Drag the sleeping pills on top of the mug you just filled to make a mug with pills .
• Head back into the living room, and then into the bedroom. Turn on the switch to get shocked . Step back into the living room.
• Drag the mug with pills to your wife to give it to her.
• If you haven’t yet (or even if you have), click on her book to talk about it.
• Wait a few seconds for the pills to kick in. She’ll go lay down in the bedroom . On her way in, she’ll turn off the lights and close the door.
• Hide in the closet and watch through the blinds .

After a few seconds, you’ll say “now we wait,” and time will fast-forward.

• When the cop shows up, he’ll walk in and start looking around. He’ll open the bedroom door and spot your wife.
• He’ll get electrocuted when he turns on the light switch in there.
• When you hear him hit the floor, step out of the closet and into the bedroom . Click on the cop (unconscious) and empty his pockets to get a revolver , two pairs of handcuffs , his phone , and a knife .
• Drag a pair of handcuffs from your inventory onto the cop (unconscious) to tie him up.

You can ask him questions at this point, but he’s not going to cooperate.

• Drag the revolver to his arm (or leg ) to shoot him and let him know you mean business.
• Start running through the dialogue options to learn more about him and his relationship to the family — Ask about the watch , ask about his relationship with her father , ask about the murder charge , how do you know it was her, and why would she possibly do something like that .
• Ask how was her father murdered .
• Leave the conversation and pull the polaroid from your inventory. Drag the polaroid to the cop .
• You’ll get a couple new dialogue options — Who could have killed her father? and Ask him about the nanny .
• Before the loop resets, go through the cop’s phone. Read his messages and click on the phone number for Bumblebee . The call will go through, but you won’t be able to talk to her. This will be useful later.

Don’t get arrested (or killed)

We’ve got a lot of new information, so let’s put it to use and not get arrested or killed.

• Talk to your wife, prove the day is restarting , and tell her what happened the night she ran away .
• Keep talking to her and tell her about the cop and explain the cop’s connection to her father .
• Click on previous topic , talk her about past …, and tell her the polaroid proves she didn’t kill him .
• She’ll go sit on the couch. Talk to her one more time. Talk about her past … and ask about her father’s affair followed by ask how her mother found out about the affair.
• Ask about her nanny , ask about the nanny’s child , ask where her brother could be now , and then ask who killed your father?

Chances are you’re out of time at this point. The cop will show up, but he won’t want to listen … to you.

Maybe there’s someone he will listen to, though.

• Grab your wife’s phone out of the closet — it’s in her purse next to the clothes.
• Use your wife’s phone to call Bumblebee — you’ll remember the number from when you called her from the cop’s phone back in Loop 6 — and say her father wants to arrest your wife followed by say your wife is innocent .
• Speak to your wife and talk about the cop …
• Choose let’s wait for him to arrive . Time will fast-forward.
• When you hear the elevator ding, you’ll hear the cop take the call from Bumblebee out in the hallway.
• Don’t do anything until he rings the doorbell (if you open the door too early, he hangs up and the loop goes poorly). When he rings the bell, open the door.

Your wife will take over and point him to the photo on the fridge. Listen to the cop explain everything. Your wife will hand over the watch, and the cop will give a little more information about your wife’s brother.

Sadly, though …

You’re welcome to repeat the previous steps and tell her why her father is really doing this when you call Bumblebee. It doesn’t get you anywhere, though — the cop just leaves. Instead, let’s get some more answers.

• This time, you’ll mention the Monster, your wife’s half-brother.
• Grab your wife’s phone from the closet and call Bumblebee again. Say your wife is innocent .
• Speak to your wife again. Talk about her past … and find more about the brother being the killer .
• Hit previous topic , talk about the cop … , tell her the cop wants the watch to save his daughter , and let’s wait for him to arrive .

The events play out similarly this time. Wait for the phone call from Bumblebee to wrap up and then open the door. Your wife does the talking again, and this time focuses on Monster .

The cop will vaguely remember the nanny’s name. Something flowery .

Learn the nanny’s name

Deep breath. This loop is rough.

We’re going to do this loop almost identical to the previous one with one small change.

• Head to the bedroom , open the drawer , take out the present , and open it for the baby clothes .
• Speak to your wife again, talk about the cop … , and let’s wait for him to arrive .
• Wait for the call from Bumblebee to finish, open the door, and wait for your wife to go grab the pocket watch .
• After the conversation is over — when the cop mentions the nanny’s name being something flowery — drag the baby clothes to the cop.

You’ll regain control in the middle of a conversation.

Choose whichever answer you want.

Twelve Minutes ending

There’s one last loop before you’ll see the credits.

• Grab the knife (or a spoon ) and wait for Her to come out of the bathroom. Get inside, close the door, and open the ventilation grid . Grab the pocket watch and wait.
• You’ll end up in a slightly different version of the past in a slightly different conversation. You’re welcome to choose either answer if you want, but to get the ending …
• Don’t click on either conversation prompt. Instead, click on the red book on the bookshelf along the bottom of the screen — it’s the one you saw Her reading.
• Don’t click on the conversation prompt. Just wait it out.

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.

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Numerical Reasoning

Verbal reasoning.

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Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Practice Test: Free Sample Questions & Preparation Guide

The Wonderlic Personnel test is a cognitive ability test that you might be asked to take in the application process of your next job. How does it work? Although just 12 minutes long, the quickfire test is specially designed to measure your character, skills, and fit for the job at hand.

It gives a raw idea to your potential employer of your aptitude for things such as problem-solving, working under pressure, and following instructions. It is best known for evaluating NFL players during drafting.

Table of Contents

What Is The Wonderlic Personnel Test?

This test is known as both the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) and the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) used in the Wonscore test , as well.. The test consists of 50 questions and gives you a time limit of just 12 minutes. Cognitive ability tests assess your abilities involved in thinking.

The Wonderlic test will mainly evaluate your ability to apply logic in different ways. It will evaluate reasoning, verbal and mathematical aptitude, perception, memory and problem-solving. As the timeframe of the test is so short, the assessment is not just a measure of aptitude but also of how well you are able to work under pressure to make decisions.

Note that there is also a shorter version of the Wonderlic Test the WPT-Q test. This has just 30 questions and takes 8 minutes to complete. The 50 question, 12 minute full version is called the WPT-R test.

Take Wonderlic Personnel Test Practice Test Now

Wonderlic Test Questions And Practice Questions

The Wonderlic Personnel Test consists of four different question types:

Spatial Reasoning

Let’s break down these question types further with some examples.

Speed questions usually cover simple, general knowledge topics but need to be answered quickly. Therefore although they are straightforward, they can easily catch you out under pressure. They can involve things like finding the odd one out, ordering things, and recognizing dates.

Practice Question Example:

How many of the five number pairs are exact duplicates

•  25Z48043 25Z48043
• 99F42047 99F42074
• 04P32741 04P52741
• 81H88672 81H88672
• 54B96735 45B96735

2 pairs (Option 1 and option 4)

Spatial reasoning is about being able to visualize, recognize patterns and draw conclusions from limited visual information. You may need to visualize 2D or 3D shapes and indicate the next in a sequence. This is used to assess how you use logic to envisage solutions. It can be applied to the workplace in terms of being able to visualize more complex solutions to problems.

The spatial reasoning questions may ask you to determine the next item in a sequence. For example you may see a complex shape that is being rotated 90 degrees clockwise in every image. You would be given some visual options and would need to choose the correct one in line. Check out Job Test Prep’s PrepPack for full, interactive practice questions.

The verbal reasoning questions are designed to evaluate your comprehension of text. It also tests your understanding of various aspects of language. The questions may test on idiomatic phrases, synonyms and antonyms, anagrams, metaphors or even sentence order. You may also be presented with several statements and asked to determine if another statement is true based on the information you can deduce from the first two.

Which of the following is the opposite of the word benefit?

• Disadvantage

Answer: Option 2

The numerical side of this test is usually formed from math-based word problems. It will measure your aptitude to use numerical reasoning to solve simple problems. This involves both processing words and numbers and using logic and basic mathematical skill to come up with a solution.

Hannah bought 50 dresses in a sale for $200. She then offered each dress for sale at a local market for $8 each, giving away any unsold dresses to charity for free. If at the end of the day Hannah had a profit of $400, how many dresses did she sell?

Answer: Option 4

Scoring The Wonderlic Personnel Test

In the full-length, 50-question WPT-R test, the test is scored out of 50. Therefore each question is worth 1 point. The shorter, 30-question WPT-Q test is also graded out of 50. Therefore each question is worth 1.66 points.

What is a good score? The score you need to pass your employer’s requirements depends on the role you are applying for as well as your specific employer, be it Loreal or NHS. It will be compared to the other candidates also applying for the role.

A warehouseman for example may only need to score 17 while an engineer may need 30 or above. People tend to score an average of 20 out of 50 on the Wonderlic Personnel Test. This equates to an average IQ of 100. Therefore a ‘good’ score might be considered as 20 or above.

How To Prepare For The Wonderlic Test

While the questions themselves are not especially hard, if you are not used to the types of questions asked, it can be easy to make mistakes. Therefore it is a good idea to look over some practice questions in advance and get used to answering them.

The time limit is perhaps the main thing that makes this test so difficult. The only way to improve answering quickly and accurately with a time limit is to take some timed simulation practice tests.

If you are looking for some Wonderlic practice tests, head over to Job Test Prep where you can get full-length practice tests, study guides, and more in their PrepPack.

With a little more preparation, you will now be ready to ace the pre-employment Wonderlic Test. Remember that the only real way to boost your score is to practice as much as possible.

While the questions are straightforward, it is easy for the timer to catch you out. So whichever sector you are working in, and whichever role you are waiting for, don’t let the Wonderlic Personnel test stand in your way.

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Sarah is an accomplished educator, researcher and author in the field of testing and assessment. She has worked with various educational institutions and organisations to develop innovative evaluation methods and enhance student learning. Sarah has published numerous articles and books on assessment and learning. Her passion for promoting equity and fairness in the education system fuels her commitment to sharing insights and best practices with educators and policymakers around the world.

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PI Cognitive Assessment Guide + Free Full-Length Test

More than nearly any other assessment, familiarity with the technicalities of the pi cognitive test can make a major score difference..

The PI Cognitive Assessment is a challenging speed test that uses a variety of 9 question types and randomly selects questions out of a pool to maintain a very high level of cognitive challenge.

However, by knowing this test’s unique scoring method inside out, there is a very solid technique that could give you 40% more time to solve the test.

This detailed guide will show you exactly how, with a full-length PI practice test , a drill-down into the score you need , so to finally unpack the 40% Extra Time Technique.

Have a question on the PI Cognitive Assessment? Contact Us!

Basic Details

• Test Overview

Test Interface

• Free Practice
• Free Test Answers

Preparation

Test geek and founder of Aptitude-Test-Prep.com

What Is the PI Cognitive Assessment?

The Predictive Index (PI) cognitive assessment is a pre-employment cognitive ability test, designed to measure a candidate’s ability to acquire new knowledge.  The test will always be accompanied by the PI Behavioral Assessment.

Similar to many other cognitive ability tests, the main challenge of the PI Cognitive Assessment is the short time span given to solve questions – 50 questions in 12 minutes, an average of 15 seconds per question.

However, using the solid 40% Extra Time Technique , that number can reach around 25 seconds.

In the Free Practice section, you will find a full-length PI mock test. Combine it with the PI Scoring Guide in the Scoring section to know how you compare with your required PI Job Target Score.

Finally, learn how to GET that score in the Preparation section.

Test Structure and Question Format

The PI Cognitive Assessment (PICA) is a standard multiple-choice test that contains 9 question types over 3 categories :

Question topics and types will constantly change in order to assess your ability to “shift” your mindset, a common feature in cognitive ability tests that is also used in the classic Thurstone Test .

Here is a brief overview of all 9 PI question types , including one sample question for each.

All sample questions below were taken from the Free Practice . Answers and explanations are given in the Answers section.

Number Series

A sequence of numbers following a mathematical pattern. You are required to choose the right number to complete the pattern.

What is the next number in the sequence below?

7, 2, 10, 13, 24

Number Value

This type of question is unique to the PI test. You need to choose the number that has the lowest value out of 4 options.

Which number has the lowest value?

Math Word Problems

Simple word problems covering basic math operations, averages, and percentages.

Four students have an average score of 86. A fifth student joined the class with a score of 96. What will be the new average?

Visual Analogies

You are given a pair of shapes that have a certain relationship. You need to choose the shape that follows the same relationship with a third shape.

Visual Series

You are presented with a sequence of shapes. These shapes follow a certain pattern leading from one shape to the next. You need to choose the shape that correctly continues the pattern.

Common Features

You are presented with two shapes sharing a common feature. You then need to choose the shape that does not share the same feature out of 4 given options.

Abstract reasoning questions are often the type of questions where practice can make the biggest impact on your score. We recommend JobTestPrep’s excellent PI prep course to come prepared for the challenge. Read more in the Preparation section.

You will need to find the word whose meaning is the opposite of a given word.

Which of the following is the opposite word of ‘complex?

You are given a pair of words that have a certain relationship. You need to choose the word that follows the same relationship with a third word.

Wind is to air as stream is to

Verbal Analysis

You are presented with several assumptions you should regard as true. Based on these assumptions, you should decide whether a given conclusion is correct, incorrect, or that it cannot be determined based on the given information.

Assumptions:

• Company A and Company B produce products X and Y.
• Product Z is never produced by companies that produce product X.

Conclusion:

• Product Z is never produced by companies A and B.

If the assumptions are true, is the conclusion:

• Cannot be determined based on the information available.

Note that the name “Professional Learning Indicator (PLI) is an older name of the current PICA, and they both refer to the same test.

We strongly recommend JobTestPrep’s PI Cognitive Test Preparation .

• Accurate, authentic practice tests
• A comprehensive learning process
• Additional prep for the Behavioral Assessment
• A money-back guarantee policy

What Do You Get?

• PI Cognitive  Diagnostic Test  with personalized feedback
• 5 Full PI Cognitive  Simulations
• 43 PI Cognitive Practice Tests of all question types: Numerical, Verbal, Abstract/Visual
• 11 Study Guides & Video Tutorials

Start Preparing Now

Or get more details on the Preparation section.

Full Disclosure : We are affiliated with JobTestPrep. Clicking the links helps us provide you with high-quality, ad-free content.

PI Cognitive Random Question Selection

One of the unique features of the PI Cognitive test is the question selection mechanism. Questions are randomly selected from a pool of 315 items , around 30-50 for each question type.

That method is known as LOFT (linear-on-the-fly testing).

LOFT method helps PI create tests that are, on one hand, equal in difficulty for all test-takers, and on the other hand, give each candidate a unique test version.

However, while the number of combinations is virtually infinite, the number of ITEMS is not that big.

30-50 questions per topic is definitely something you can cover in several days of practice, and while you may not improve in solving ALL possible questions that may come up, you certainly can get closer.

Head over to the PI Cognitive Free Practice Test , or start preparing .

PI Cognitive Test Invitation Email

Your journey with the PI test starts with your test invitation, that looks something like this:

After you follow the link you enter PI’s testing website, where you will read the instructions and solve a few sample questions (only 3 of the 9 types).

Test Instructions and Technical Details

Before the actual assessment, you will be shown several basic instructions by PI:

• You must complete the test in one sitting.
• PI recommends taking the test on a computer and not a mobile device.
• No points are reduced for wrong answers.
• The use of calculators is not allowed.

Once you are done with the instructions and samples, you will take the assessment.

The PI Cognitive Test Screen

Generally, this is how your PI test screen is going to look like:

• There will be 10 screens, each containing 5 questions.
• The top bar will track the number of pages completed.
• You will be able to track the time in minutes only (not seconds).
• Each question will have 4 answer options (except for Verbal Analysis with 3 answer options).
• You can move back and forth between pages.
• You do not have to complete all questions on a page to move on to the next.

Free PI Cognitive Assessment Practice

This free practice test is an authentic PI Cognitive Assessment mock test . It contains 50 questions covering all 9 PI question types.

Timing is crucial , so set a timer for 12 minutes and STOP when the time is up. You may use the printable PDF answer sheet and answer key .

All answers and explanations can be found in the Answers section.

Once completing the test, you will be able to know how you compare with your PI Job Target Score through the PI Scoring Guide in the Scoring section.

• All Type C clocks are square.
• Square clocks are not valuable.
• Some Type D clocks are the same shape as Type C clocks.

Some Type D clocks are not valuable.

Jam is to jar as salt to

Which of the following is the opposite of the word “hard-working”?

6, 13, 27, 55

You have 6,000 products in your warehouse. You must deliver 20% of them in four days. If you plan to deliver the same number of products every day, how many products will you send per day?

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12.

11, 14, 18, 23, 29

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

87 tasks have been assigned to you and your team. On Monday, you completed 13 tasks. On Tuesday you completed 22 tasks. On Wednesday you completed 18 tasks, and on Thursday you completed 25 tasks. Today is Friday morning. How many tasks remain?

Question 16

Which of the following numbers has the lowest value?

Question 17

Question 18

Which of the following is the opposite of the word “definite”?

Question 19

Weak is to power as despaired is to

Question 20

Question 21

Question 22.

Which of the following is the opposite of the word ‘reckless’?

Question 23

Question 24

Question 25

-2, 3, -4, 5, -6

Question 26

Author is to book as composer is to

• performance

Question 27

Question 28.

• All employees in Store 1 attend the sales conference.
• Some employees in Store 1 attend the marketing conference. Some employees who attend both conferences are in Store 2.
• All employees who attend the sales conference and also attend the marketing conference are in Store 1.

Question 29

If 20 plates cost as much as 30 cups, how many cups could you buy for the price of 14 plates?

Question 30

• Some managers from the main branch work in New York and the rest work in Boston.
• Managers from various branches work in Boston.
• Some managers from the main branch work in the same city as managers from other branches.

Question 31

4, 5, 7, 11

Question 32

Question 33

Which of the following is the opposite of the word “pricey”?

Question 34

If 6 cars take 15 days to make, how many days does it take to make 8 cars?

Question 35

Question 36

You are a member of a QA team of 12 members. Each quality assurance test takes approximately 15 minutes for any team member to complete. The team is missing 4 members. If you have 640 tests to perform, how many hours will each team member work?

Question 37

Word is to letter as sentence is to

Question 38

Andy has 12 marbles more than Bob. Bob has 6 marbles more than Chris. Andy has 36 marbles. How many marbles does Chris have?

Question 39

Which of the following is the opposite word of ‘gentleman?

Question 40

• There is no manager that did not attend the sales workshop.
• Everyone who has attended the sales workshop is an outstanding employee.
• All managers are outstanding employees.

Question 41

Question 42, question 43, question 44.

Wine is to grapes as flour is to

Question 45

1, 4, 9, 16, 25

Question 46

Question 47.

12, 15, 20, 28, 41

Question 48

Question 49, question 50, the pi scoring guide, or the 40% extra time technique.

This guide is going to give you a step-by-step process to:

• Take your raw score from the Free PI Test  and find your PI test score and percentile.
• Compare your PI Cognitive score with your required Job Target Score (the score you need for a perfect cognitive match).
• Learn the PI preparation and test-taking technique to give you 40% more solving time.
• Now that you have your desired score, we highly recommend using JobTestPrep’s accurate PI Cognitive prep course to get it. Read more about it in the Preparation section.

We hope to give you a realistic image on what type of preparation you need, if any.

The 5 steps are:

• Calculate Job Target Score.
• Job Target Score modification (+30).
• Find your PI cognitive score.
• Lower the Number of Questions to Solve.

Step #1 – Calculate Basic Job Target Score Table

Before you even start the assessment, the employer defines a Cognitive Job Target – namely, a cognitive PI score required for the job. That is a number on a PI internal scale of 100-450.

The following table presents the predefined Job Scale Scores for a variety of professions:

Practical Example – Step #1:

John needs to take a PI Cognitive Assessment for the role of a VP.

According to the Job Target Scores Table, the required score for a candidate in general management is 280 .

Step #2 – Job Target Score Modification

The employer may or may not increase or decrease the Cognitive Job Target Score by up to 30 points, depending on the requirements of the specific position.

To be on the safe side, always assume that this modification is +30 .

Practical Example – Step #2:

We’ll add 30 points to the basic score John needs – 310 .

Should I Pass My Modified Job Target Score?

TL;DR – It is naturally best to aim as high as you can. However, you should know that this extra effort will likely have no effect on your chances with the employer .

The PI test’s scoring method dictates that if your employer has set a Job Target Score of, say, 300, both a candidate with a score of 300 and a candidate with a score of 400 will be marked as a perfect cognitive match for the job.

What will determine which of them is selected are their PI Behavioral Test scores.

Employers CAN, if they wish, take a deeper dive into your test scores and see your percentile and section scores, but PI actively discourages them from doing so, and recommends relying mainly on PI Behavioral test scores to make a decision.

This is how the employer sees PI Cognitive scores when comparing candidates. Look closely at candidates 1 and 2:

As you can see from the bell curve, candidate 2 has a MUCH higher cognitive test score than candidate 1, but both got a perfect 10 cognitive match score . And, due to a very low behavioral match score, candidate 2 is likely to be disqualified.

Step #3 – Convert Your Raw PI Cognitive Score to the PI Scaled Score

Use the following table to convert your raw score in the full-length, 50-question Free Test to the PI’s 100-450 scale.

As you can see, scoring 40 out of 50 questions will put you on the top 2% of scorers. So, when someone tells you that “it’s an average of 15 seconds per question”, that’s really not the case.

It’s actually 18 seconds per question.

And actually-actually, it’s probably closer to 25, as you’ll soon see.

Practical Example – Step #3:

Let’s say John has answered 20 questions correctly on the Free PI Sample Test , which is about the average score. According to the Score Conversion Table, that is a scaled score of 250 .

Step #4 – Compare

Compare your score with the Job Target Score.

This is how your employer is going to see it when taking a closer look into your profile:

Practical Example – Step #4:

John’s score of 250 is substantially lower than 310, which will likely yield a low cognitive match score for him.

Step #5 – Lower the number of Questions to Solve

Once you know the score you ACTUALLY need to pass the test, you will be able to substantially increase the time you can allow yourself to solve a question .

In the example below we unpack this with our fictional candidate John’s numbers, effectively increasing his solving time by 40%.

Practical Example – Step #5:

If we go back to the Score Conversion Table, we can see that the score John needs – 310, is 26 correct answers – just 6 more than his original score of 20.

Now, think about it this way.

What if, to begin with, John would have approached his PI test as if the last 20 questions did not exist?

That would give John nearly 25 seconds per question(!) – 40% more than what he thought he had, plus 4 questions to spare.

Since on the PI Cognitive test, the score depends ONLY on the number of correct answers , John has nothing to lose from not even looking at the last 20 questions.

If John combines this with focusing on the types of questions that he, personally, finds easier, he has a very solid strategy for acing this test.

Now that you know what score you need, go ahead and get it! Start practicing!

What Is a Good Score on the PI Cognitive Test?

A good score on the PI Cognitive Assessment is your Target Job Score + 30, clear and simple.

What Is the Average Score on the Cognitive Test?

The average score in the PI Cognitive Assessment is 19-20 correct answers, which is equivalent to a PI Scaled Score of 250.

Free Test Answers and Explanations

This section provides full answers and explanations for the PI Cognitive Assessment Full-Length Mock Test .

The conclusion is correct .

All Type C clocks are square + Some Type D clocks are the same shape as Type C clocks = Some Type D clocks are square.

Since Square clocks are not valuable, then there are, necessarily, some Type D clocks that are not valuable.

The correct answer is 4 – 1/9.

Let’s look at all the answers:

• A: 1/9 < 1/3, so D < A.
• C: 1/3 – 1/9 = 3/9 – 1/9 = 2/9, so D < C.
• D: 2/3 – 1/6 > 1/3 (since 1/3 = 2/3 – 1/3), so D < B.

You see that we try minimizing straightforward calculations in lowest value questions. That is because in the context of the PI cognitive test, it is a waste of time. The best way to quickly solve these questions is by using iterations of comparisons.

If that is unclear, don’t worry, it will become clearer as we solve additional examples.

The correct answer is 3 .

With every step, two things happen:

• The arrow rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise (When the arrow is horizontal, it is hidden behind the rectangle).
• The black rectangle moves one step to the right.

In both original shapes, as well as in shapes 1,2, and 4, all angles are equal. Only in answer option 3 are angles not all equal.

The correct answer is 2 .

A jar is the vessel in which jam is stored. A bag is the vessel in which salt is stored.

Idle means “lazy”, which is the opposite of “hard-working”.

The correct answer is 3.

The shapes in the sequence gain one side on every step – triangle (3 sides), rectangle (4 sides), pentagon (5 sides). Therefore, the next shape in the sequence should have 6 sides.

The correct answer is 2 – 111.

Looking at the sequence of differences:

• 27 – 13 = 14
• 55 – 27 = 28

The difference between every two terms (numbers) starts as 7 and is then multiplied by 2 in each step. Therefore, the difference to the next term should be 28 x 2 = 56.

55 + 56 = 111.

The correct answer is 2 – 300.

The problem can be narrowed down to the following equation:

(6,000 x 0.2) / 4 = 300

The correct answer is 4.

In the analogous shape, all arrows are rotated 180 degrees relative to the original.

The transition here is pretty straightforward. If both companies A and B produce product X, and Product Z is never produced by companies producing product X, then, necessarily, companies A and B do not produce it.

The correct answer is 4 – 36.

The difference between every two terms increases by 1 in every step:

• 14 – 11 = 3
• 18 – 14 = 4
• 23 – 18 = 5
• 29 – 23 = 6

Therefore, the next difference should be 7.

29 + 7 = 36.

The correct answer is 1 .

The analogous shape is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise relative to the original.

The correct answer is 2.

In the original shapes, as well as in shapes 1, 3, and 4, the shadow of the shape is to the bottom right. Only in shape 2 is it to the top left.

The correct answer is 3 – 9.

87 – 13 – 22 – 18 – 25 = 9.

The correct answer is 1 – 0.2.

Remember that 0.2 = 1/5.

• B: 0.2 < 0.25 (1/4), so A < B.
• C: 0.5 – 1/5 = 0.4 – 0.2 = 0.3, so A < C.
• D: 1/5 < 3/5, so A < D.

In the analogous shape, the original colors change as follows:

• Black turns white.
• Grey turns black.
• White turns grey.

The correct answer is 1 – uncertain.

Definite means “clear”, or “exact”, and therefore the word “uncertain” means the opposite.

The correct answer is 2 – hope.

Someone who is weak lacks power, as someone who is despaired lacks hope.

The correct answer is 4 .

In every step, an additional triangle is added. The direction of the entire shape varies and does not follow any specific pattern. Therefore, the next shape in sequence should contain 5 triangles.

The correct answer is 3 – 38.

In this instance, looking at the sequence of differences will not yield any valuable insights. However, we can note that each term equals the sum of the two previous terms, plus 1:

• 10 = 7 + 2 + 1
• 13 = 2 + 10 + 1
• 24 = 10 + 13 + 1

Therefore, the next term equals:

13 + 24 + 1 = 38.

The correct answer is 2 – cautious.

‘Reckless’ means irresponsibly daring, careless. Therefore, the word ‘cautious’ means the opposite.

In both original shapes, as well as in shapes 1, 2, and 4, there are 7 blackened tiles. Only in shape 3 there are 8 blackened tiles.

The analogous shape duplicates the original as a mirror image across the horizontal axis. Note that answer option 3, for instance, duplicates a mirror image across the vertical axis, and is therefore wrong.

The correct answer is 2 – 7.

This sequence is a simple arithmetic sequence (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) with the addition of the following rule:

• Terms in odd places are negative.
• Terms in even places are positive.

That means that the next term will be positive and is therefore 7.

The correct answer is 1 – symphony.

An author writes (or creates) a book, as a composer writes a symphony.

The correct answer is 4 – 10/9.

All numbers in the question are improper fractions (fractions that are larger than 1).

• 4/3 is 1 + 1/3
• 7/6 is 1 + 1/6

As such, the number with the lowest value is the number which is closest to 1. Since 1/9 is the smallest fraction of all 4 options (1/3, 1/6, 1/8, 1/9), the number 10/9 is closest to 1.

The conclusion is incorrect .

The conclusion is immediately negated by the data in statement 2: Some employees who attend both conferences are in Store 2.

The correct answer is 4 – 21.

If 20 plates cost as much as 30 cups, then each plate costs 1.5 times a cup.

14 plates x 1.5 = 21 cups.

The conclusion Cannot be determined based on the information available.

While we know that both managers of the main branch AND managers from other branches work in Boston, we know nothing about managers from other branches working in New York.

The correct answer is 4 – 19.

The sequence of differences starts with 1 and doubles on every step:

Therefore, the difference between the last term and the next should be 8.

11 + 8 = 19.

In this simple rotation pattern, the shape rotates 90 degrees clockwise on every step.

The correct answer is 2 – cheap.

‘Pricey’ means ‘expensive’ or ‘costly’. Therefore, ‘cheap’ is the opposite word.

The correct answer is 1 – 20.

On average, it takes 2.5 days to make a car:

15 / 6 = 2.5

Therefore, making 8 cars will take 20 days:

8 x 2.5 = 20.

Both original shapes, as well as in shapes 1, 3, and 4, have 4 sides. Only shape 2 has 5 sides.

The correct answer is 3 – 20 hours.

The equation that describes the problem is:

640 / (8 x 4) [the total number of tests (640) divided by the number of tests the now undermanned team performs in an hour (4 tests per employee, times 8 employees)].

640 / 32 = 20.

The correct answer is 1 – word.

A word is a collection of letters as a sentence is a collection of words.

Note that the word ‘paragraph’ may fit, but in the opposite direction:

A word is a collection of letters – A paragraph is a collection of sentences.

The opposite direction makes this answer incorrect. It is a common trick that tends to confuse inexperienced test-takers.

The correct answer is 1 – 18.

Let’s formulate the equations:

Plugging II) into I) and A = 36:

36 = 12 + C + 6

The correct answer is 2 – rascal.

‘Rascal’ means a crook, a dishonest person, which is the opposite of ‘gentleman’.

• The 1 st assumption can be simplified to: All managers attended the sales workshop.
• The 2 nd assumption can be simplified to: Only outstanding employees attended the sales workshop.

Therefore, all managers are outstanding employees.

Simplifying statements is a very technical process that can greatly help in coming to a quick, intuitive solution that is also correct.

In both original shapes, as well as in shapes 2, 3, and 4, no two adjacent tiles are colored the same.

The two circles move independently, according to the following pattern:

• The black circle moves one step clockwise on every step.
• The grey circle moves one step counterclockwise on every step.

Note that on step 4, both circles are in the same location, so the black circle covers the grey circle (it could have been the other way around, as well).

The correct answer is 3 – 1/4 – 1/5.

When we have several options of subtraction drills, the lowest value will be when the minuend is smallest, and subtrahend is greatest. Since ¼ is the smallest of all four minuends, and 1/5 is the greatest of all four subtrahends, this drill will yield the lowest value.

The correct answer is 4 – wheat.

Wine is made of grapes as flour is made of wheat.

The correct answer is 3 – 36.

In this simple sequence, each term is the square of the respective natural number:

Therefore, the next term will be 6^2 = 36.

The correct answer is 2 – water.

Wind is moving air, as stream is moving water.

The correct answer is 4 – 62.

Looking at the sequence of differences, a very familiar pattern emergers:

• 15 – 12 = 3
• 20 – 15 = 5
• 28 – 20 = 8
• 41 – 28 = 13

These numbers form a Fibonacci sequence (each term is the sum of the previous two). Therefore, the next difference will be the next term in the Fibonacci sequence – 21.

41 + 21 = 62.

The correct answer is 3 – elementary.

‘Elementary’ means ‘basic’, ‘simple’, and is therefore the opposite of ‘complex’.

The correct answer is 3 – 0.15.

In this question, it is recommended to use the estimation technique, since 1/9 ~ 0.11, which is a number that is easy to work with.

• A: 2/9 ~ 0.22, so C < A.
• B: 2/3 – 4/9 = 6/9 – 4/9 = 2/9 ~ 0.22, so C < B.
• D: 1/3 ~ 0.33, so C < D.

The correct answer is 2 – 88.

This is a trick question which attempts to ‘lure’ you into performing some complex calculations, whereas the actual solution is very simple.

To numerically solve this question, the proper calculation is:

((4 x 86) + 96) / 5 *

However, we can look at this in the following way:

• The score of the new student is 96 = 86 + 10.
• As such, when calculating the new average, the additional 10 points over the other students’ average score of 86 will be “evenly distributed” between everyone.

As such, the simpler calculation is:

86 + 10/5 = 86 + 2 = 88 (which is exactly the same result as the exercise marked *).

To prepare for the PI Cognitive Assessment, we strongly recommend JobTestPrep’s Preparation Pack .

Below we give all the reasons why this is the best prep option available today.

PI Cognitive Diagnostic Test

The first step in the PI Cognitive Ability Preparation is the diagnostic test. That test will tell you exactly what your weaker areas are , so you can make the most out of the limited time you have to practice.

Authentic Mock Tests

Each practice test on JobTestPrep’s preparation pack accurately simulates the actual PICA :

• Same types of questions
• Level of difficulty

Prepare for your PI Cognitive Assessment Test with JobTestPrep’s PI Cognitive Test Preparation .

Additional Practice by Topic

According to your results on the Diagnostic Test, you will be able to strengthen your areas of weakness with additional practice drills. Every drill focuses on a specific question type in the PI Cognitive Ability test.

PI Behavioral Prep

As we’ve previously mentioned, the PI Cognitive Ability Test will nearly always come alongside the PI Behavioral Assessment . JobTestPrep is currently the only resource that offers an accurate, comprehensive preparation for the behavioral portion.

Ready to ace your PI Cognitive Assessment? Start practicing!

• Solve equations and inequalities
• Simplify expressions
• Factor polynomials
• Graph equations and inequalities
• Advanced solvers
• All solvers
• Arithmetics
• Determinant
• Percentages
• Scientific Notation
• Inequalities

What can QuickMath do?

QuickMath will automatically answer the most common problems in algebra, equations and calculus faced by high-school and college students.

• The algebra section allows you to expand, factor or simplify virtually any expression you choose. It also has commands for splitting fractions into partial fractions, combining several fractions into one and cancelling common factors within a fraction.
• The equations section lets you solve an equation or system of equations. You can usually find the exact answer or, if necessary, a numerical answer to almost any accuracy you require.
• The inequalities section lets you solve an inequality or a system of inequalities for a single variable. You can also plot inequalities in two variables.
• The calculus section will carry out differentiation as well as definite and indefinite integration.
• The matrices section contains commands for the arithmetic manipulation of matrices.
• The graphs section contains commands for plotting equations and inequalities.
• The numbers section has a percentages command for explaining the most common types of percentage problems and a section for dealing with scientific notation.

Math Topics

More solvers.

• Add Fractions
• Simplify Fractions

PI Cognitive Assessment - Prepare and Pass with Full Practice Tests

• PI Cognitive Diagnostic Test with personalized feedback
• 5 Full PI Cognitive Simulations
• 43 PI Cognitive Practice Tests Of all question types: Numerical, Verbal, Abstract/Visual
• 11 Study Guides & Video Tutorials

• Tests Providers & Assessment Companies
• Predictive Index (PI/PLI) PrepPacks™
• PI Cognitive Assessment Practice

The PI Cognitive Assessment, is a highly challenging psychometric test with 50 questions that examine your  numerical, verbal, and abstract reasoning. It is used to assess candidates' cognitive ability - verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning. 

The main difference between the PI test and other cognitive ability tests is the combination of complex questions with a very tight time limit of 12 minutes (14 seconds per question on average!). This can be very stressful for people who are approaching the test for the first time or who have not prepared for it adequately, meaning that getting to know the types of questions on the PI test and practicing them thoroughly are essential to your success. 

Our PrepPack is tailored to help you ace the PI Cognitive Assessment. It includes:

• Diagnostic Tests - Help focus your practice on the subjects you most need to improve.
• Practice Tests  - Answer sample questions and explanations for all of the sections. 
• Comprehensive Study Guides and Video Tutorials  - Study with all of the information relevant to the test.

Get more practice in our Free Cognitive Assessment Practice Test .

David , Predictive Index Assessments Expert at  JobTestPrep .

What is the PI Cognitive Assessment 

The Predictive Index cognitive assessment is used by many leading employers to help them select candidates for positions within their company. The PI test aims to measure your cognitive ability through 50 multiple choice questions that you must answer in 12 minutes -  leaving you an average of just over 14 seconds per question. The questions belong to three main categories: numerical, verbal, and abstract reasoning, all of which are used to predict a job candidates' ability to make decisions, learn, and adapt to different roles and situations .

• Verbal Reasoning:  these questions measure your English language comprehension and expression abilities through a variety of questions. In the PI test, the verbal reasoning questions that you will need to prepare for the most are vocabulary related questions such as opposites, odd one out, and analogies, along with logical reasoning questions also known as syllogisms. 
• Numerical Reasoning:  these questions measure number-based cognitive abilities that generally range from basic math to complex numerical problem solving. In the PI test, the focus is mainly on two types of numerical reasoning questions: number series where you need to discover the rule and select the missing number in a series accordingly, and word problems which are math problems phrased in words. 
• Abstract Reasoning:  these questions measure your ability to draw conclusions based on hidden information in symbols or matrices. You are asked to identify a missing item that completes a certain pattern of logic that you must recognize in a sample given to you. In the PI test, the main abstract reasoning questions you will need to prepare for are next in series, odd one out, and analogies.

There is no better way to understand what these different types of questions are than solving them for yourself. Take Our Free PI Cognitive Assessment Sample Test , or keep scrolling to the sample question section below. 

How to Ace the PI Cognitive Ability Test

The PI Test pits you against highly challenging questions that you have minimal time to answer - meaning that without accurately planned prep, you can easily become overwhelmed during the real test. With JobTestPrep's PI Test PrepPack you will receive the tools you need to both improve your time management and learn the ins and outs of each type of question.

Our Full-Length PI Cognitive Assessment simulations are the exact format as the actual PI test. With each simulation you solve, your problem solving abilities efficiency will improve significantly -giving you the keys to passing the test and landing the job.

All test simulations include detailed results and explanations like the following:

Check out our video, where we'll go over PI cognitive assessment questions, features, and preparation tips:

PI Cognitive Assessment Practice Questions

The PI Cognitive Assessment consists of multiple choice questions that assess three types of cognitive abilities: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and abstract reasoning. Set a timer to 14 seconds to simulate the 12 minute time limit of the real test, and try solving the following sample questions to get an idea of the PI Cognitive Assessment experience:

PI Cognitive Assessment Practice Questions - Numerical

Numerical reasoning questions require performing basic calculations in math problems such as number series and word problems. Since you are not allowed to use a calculator, we recommend using scrap paper over trying to calculate everything in your head. 

Numerical Reasoning - Next in Series.  In these questions you need to identify a hidden rule within a series of numbers, and to select the correct number to appear next accordingly. 

What is the next number in the series?

3 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 33 | __

The answer is 65. The series in this question advances according to the pattern: *2 -1 whereby: : 1 st  term = 3 and then: preceding term*2-1 2 nd  term = 3*2-1 = 5 3rd term = 5*2-1 = 9 4th term = 9*2-1 = 17 5th term = 17*2-1 = 33 6th term = 33*2-1 = 65 Another way to look at the logic of this series is that the difference between two adjacent terms doubles as the series progresses: 

Numerical Reasoning - Word Problems.  These questions combine verbal and numerical reasoning - you will need find the pertinent numerical information within the text and use it to answer the question. You will often need to convert the words into equations to get these right. 

Ann, Matt, and Zack are working for a cleaning company. Together, they can clean a house in 2 hours. If Ann does the job alone, she can finish it in 5 hours. If Matt does the job alone, he can finish it in 6 hours.

How long will it take Ann and Zack together to complete the job?

Step 1 In order to solve this problem we will first find out Zack's work rate (indicated as Z). We know the total work rate of all three people together: 1/2 (1 house in 2 hours), Ann's work rate is 1/5 (1 house in 5 hours), and so on. Each person contributes his share to that total rate, meaning: Ann + Matt + Zack = total 1/5 + 1/6 + 1/Z = 1/2 => 1/Z = 1/2 – 1/5 – 1/6          /*30  (the Lowest common denominator) => 30/Z = 15 – 6 – 5 = 4         /*Z => 30 = 4Z => Z = 7.5 Thus, Zack's work rate: 1/7.5

Step 2 The total time it will take Ann and Zack to clean a house: 1/t = 1/5 + 1/7.5                         /*15 15/t = 3 + 2 = 5                           /*(t/5) => t =  3 hours .

PI Cognitive Assessment Practice Questions - Verbal

Verbal reasoning questions will test both your vocabulary and ability to analyze new information and draw conclusions.  These include Word Analogies, Antonyms, and Formal Logic. 

Verbal Reasoning - Logic.  In these questions you need to use given statements, rules, or assumptions in order to decide if a conclusion is correct or not. 

Read the facts and determine if they prove the conclusion or not:

FACTS : If Jason is late to the meeting, Kevin will have to work late. Lois will not cook dinner for Kevin unless Kevin gets home from work on time. If Lois does not cook dinner for Kevin, Kevin will order pizza for dinner. Lois cooked dinner for Kevin. CONCLUSION : Jason was late to the meeting.

choose the correct statement:

 If Jason is late to the meeting, then Kevin will not get home from work on time because he will have to work late. Lois will cook dinner for Kevin only if Kevin gets home from work on time. Thus, if Lois cooked dinner for Kevin, Jason could not have come late to the meeting.

Verbal Reasoning - Vocabulary (Opposites).  These questions measure your familiarity with English, and even though improving your vocabulary significantly within a short timeframe isn't easy, there are many hacks and ways to improve at these questions through repeated practice.  

Imperious is the opposite of...

The correct answer is subservient.

Imperious means "domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing," so the antonym is subservient. Arrogant is a similar word but not a synonym. Quiet and stormy are not related.

Therefore, the correct answer is subservient.

PI Cognitive Assessment Practice Questions - Abstract reasoning 

Abstract reasoning questions will examine your ability to mentally rotate images, spatial awareness and to analyze and identify visual patterns. These include Visual Series, Visual Analogies and Odd One Out questions. 

Abstract Reasoning - Analogies.  In these questions you need to identify the hidden relationship between two or more shapes / patterns, and then use the same relationship in order to select a pattern that fits a second set of patterns. 

 Choose the correct shape:

The relationship between figure X and figure Y is as follows: Each line that appears only in one of the two shapes in figure X also appears in figure Y.

So, the correct answer must have the same relationship with figure Z. That is shape E.

Click here for ten more free PI cognitive assessment practice questions with full answers and tips. 

PI Behavioral Assessment

As part of their recruitment process, many employers measure candidates' personality attributes through a personality test as well as their cognitive abilities. Predictive Index have developed a unique type of personality test that is frequently given alongside the PI cognitive test, and allows your employer to understand whether your profile matches with their organization's culture and values.

Through your answers on the PI behavioral assessment, one of 17 unique reference profiles is created that provides insight to your work style, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and basically what makes you tick. 

While many people believe personality tests such as the PI behavioral assessment don't require any preparation, this is a misconception. Understanding the unique elements of the PI behavioral assessment is your best way of ensuring that your strengths are properly represented in the results and that you don't miss out on that job. 

Visit our PI Behavioral Assessment page to see how this challenging assessment is built, and how you can best prepare for it.  You can even try out some free sample questions on  our PI behavioral assessment questions page.

What Is a Good Score on The PI Cognitive Assessment?

PI Cognitive Assessment scores are calculated based on the number of questions you get right, and the relative percentile score - how high your score is relative to a large pool of other candidates' results.  The score you need to pass to the next stage of the hiring process depends greatly on the position you’re applying for and the criterion score that is set for it.

The average PI cognitive assessment score is 20/50 correct answers (that is 250 in terms of the scaled score). So, a score of 40/50 is considered a very high score - in fact, it is a higher score than ~98% of all test taker's scores. 

Learn more about how to understand your score on our PI scores page !

How to Prepare for the PI Cognitive Assessment

• Practice the most relevant questions

Research has shown that cognitive ability test results improve greatly when practicing the required task in different variations, and the PI test is no exception. 

Practicing questions that accurately simulate the PI cognitive assessment questions, such as those in our prep pack, will help you significantly improve your score even with short practice. 

• Personalize your PI cognitive assessment practice

To make the most out of your PI cognitive assessment practice, you should start by identifying your weaknesses and strengths. Then, conserve your energy by focusing your effort on the question types that are the most difficult for you, in which you the highest potential to improve.

• Focus On Speed

The main challenge of the PI cognitive assessment is its TIME LIMIT.

Answering 50 questions in 12 minutes means you'll have approx. 14 seconds per question.

Practicing accurate PI cognitive assessment questions and answers will help improve your time management skills and allow you to solve questions more quickly, even when encountered for the first time. This is because you will learn to quickly identify those details you need to solve in each type of question.  

Why Practice with JobTestPrep?  

Everybody has certain fields that they find more challenging than others, and part of the trick to optimizing your preparation is to identify your weak points and focus your effort on them. To avoid wasting valuable prep time, JobTestPrep has built an exclusive  PI introduction test that will help you pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses .  

Once you know where you need to focus your efforts, our targeted PI Cognitive Assessment Practice Tests  will help you improve your results on the question types you struggle with the most.

Tips to Boost Your PI Cognitive Assessment Score

Use these tips to skyrocket your PI assessment test score:

Don’t be afraid to guess Answering questions wrong doesn’t cost you points; you can only gain points on this test. Therefore, even if you’re not sure, try and take your best guess.

Manage your time As mentioned, time is the most important and challenging aspect of this test.

• Aim to SEE all 50 questions to “collect” as many questions you’re confident about as possible within the time limit.
• As you go through questions, first answer those you’re most confident of.
• Don’t spend more than 25 seconds per question. If you feel stuck, take a guess and try to go back to the question later on.
• Answer ALL questions, even if you’re not sure of the answer. For questions you are not sure about, write down the question number so that you can go back to it later.

Get familiar with the personality assessment

In many cases, candidates are given a supplementary personality test. If this is the case for you, read more about the behavioral test on our Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment page .

Reduce stress The PI Cognitive Assessment time limit can lead to a high level of stress. Here are a few of important ways to deal with this:

• Get familiar with the test questions by practicing sample questions and full PI Cognitive Assessment practice tests.
• If you’re taking the test online, make sure to find a comfortable environment in which you feel relaxed and undistracted.
• Before taking the real test, take a break from practicing for as much time as you need (at least a night before), so that you feel fresh before starting the test.
• When facing questions, make sure to fully read the instructions. If you feel overwhelmed at the beginning of the test, take a guess, and start with a simple question to boost your confidence.

About Predictive Index

Predictive Index (or PI for short) is a leading psychometric assessment company from the United States which was founded over sixty years ago in 1955. Although Predictive Index began as a company that offers behavioral assessment tools ( PI Behavioral Assessment ), they have since grown and now also offer a leading cognitive assessment tool (PI Cognitive Assessment) as well as a tool used by organizations to internally analyze their positions and the attributes they’re looking for in applicants (Predictive Index Job Assessment).

These three assessments together mean that Predictive Index offer tools for comprehensive, in-depth analysis when it comes to a company’s HR needs, and it’s no surprise that these are used by some of the job market’s leading employers, including IBM, Canon, Nissan, and more.

The Predictive Index Test is as tough as it is respected, so being well prepared is crucial. Our test development team have learned the tests in and out to make sure that we can offer accurate and thorough Predictive Index prep which guarantees you get the score you need.

Getting a question wrong doesn’t cost you points, and in multiple choice tests you always have a good chance of guessing correctly. In other words, if you don't know the answer or don't have much time, go ahead and guess. It's a good way of getting a few more correct answers. 

Most people DO NOT answer all 50 questions in 12 minutes. In fact, only 1% of the population answers more than 40 questions correctly in the allotted time.

You should aim to answer as many questions as you can. This means taking a guess even if you’re not sure of the answer, and especially when you feel like you’re stuck. You can always go back to earlier questions, so try to first move forward and solve questions you feel confident with. 

The overall purpose of cognitive tests such as the PI test is to provide the employer with a broad holistic evaluation of the cognitive capacity of incoming job applicants. The test aims to reveal how your brain functions in terms of attention, speed, memory, and visualization. These skills are necessary to ensure that you are capable of handling certain roles and their complexities, and that you are able to solve problems.

The PI Cognitive Ability Test isn't considered much more difficult than other cognitive tests. 

However, cognitive ability tests are designed to be challenging, and the PI Cognitive Assessment is no exception.

The challenge lies in the test's format, which requires you to answer a  large number of questions in a very short time span .

The challenge is staying calm and in the right mindset  and not sacrificing accuracy for speed (i.e., answering quickly but incorrectly).

We have helped tens of thousands of job seekers before you to prepare for this type of test, and we can help you too!

Even though the PI Cognitive Assessment shares some common features with IQ tests, it does not examine your IQ level.

Its purpose is to check your adaptability and assess your ability to handle complex problems deemed necessary for certain jobs.

The test measures your ability to do the following:

• Understand complex ideas
• Solve problems
• Adapt effectively to a new environment
• Learn from experience
• Overcome obstacles

The PI Cognitive Assessment is backed by science and meets the standards of both the APA (American Psychological Association) and the SIOP (Society of Industrial & Organizational Psychology).

You will most likely receive an email with a link to a PI Learning Indicator online testing platform containing instructions for your specific test. Some employers choose to conduct the test in a controlled environment at their offices or at a testing center. If you have to take the test at a testing center, you'll be notified and given a date and location.

Yes you can, and you should. After all, your future employment depends on it. The test provider, Predictive Index, discusses the benefits of preparation on its website: "Experience shows that if someone is used to these types of assessments, he or she will be able to get consistently closer to his or her ‘capacity’ or maximum score. In other words, it is actually ideal when an assessment taker is trained or familiar with the PI item types, as it gives the company the best possible insight into the candidate’s true potential." You can reach your full capacity within just a few days by preparing with our specially tailored PI test simulations and practice drills.  This way, by the time you take the test you'll be very familiar with the questions and format.

The following companies use the PI LI Cognitive Exam:

• Chick-fil-A's - fast food restaurant .
• DBS - Banking .
• Fairmont - Hotels .
• Ikea - Furniture .
• UnitedHealth Group - Healthcare and insurance .

Related PI Cognitive Assessment Test Pages

There is a huge variety of cognitive ability tests used in the hiring process of the job market's leading employers. the PI Cognitive Assessment for example is often used by Maersk to select candidates and predict their job performance.  Other similar pre-employment cognitive ability tests  are the CCAT test,  the Wonderlic test,  and Saville .

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The Protesters and the President

Over the past week, thousands of students protesting the war in gaza have been arrested..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

Free, free, Palestine!

Free, free Palestine!

Free, free, free Palestine!

Over the past week, what had begun as a smattering of pro-Palestinian protests on America’s college campuses exploded into a nationwide movement —

United, we’ll never be defeated!

— as students at dozens of universities held demonstrations, set up encampments, and at times seized academic buildings.

[PROTESTERS CLAMORING]:

response, administrators at many of those colleges decided to crack down —

Do not throw things at our officers. We will use chemical munitions that include gas.

— calling in local police to carry out mass detentions and arrests. From Arizona State —

In the name of the state of Arizona, I declare this gathering to be a violation of —

— to the University of Georgia —

— to City College of New York.

[PROTESTERS CHANTING, “BACK OFF”]:

As of Thursday, police had arrested 2,000 students on more than 40 campuses. A situation so startling that President Biden could no longer ignore it.

Look, it’s basically a matter of fairness. It’s a matter of what’s right. There’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos.

Today, my colleagues Jonathan Wolfe and Peter Baker on a history-making week. It’s Friday, May 3.

Jonathan, as this tumultuous week on college campuses comes to an end, it feels like the most extraordinary scenes played out on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles, where you have been reporting. What is the story of how that protest started and ultimately became so explosive?

So late last week, pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles.

From the river to the sea!

Palestine will be free!

Palestine —

It was right in front of Royce Hall, which I don’t know if you are familiar with UCLA, but it’s a very famous, red brick building. It’s on all the brochures. And there was two things that stood out about this encampment. And the first thing was that they barricaded the encampment.

The encampment, complete with tents and barricades, has been set up in the middle of the Westwood campus. The protesters demand —

They have metal grates. They had wooden pallets. And they separated themselves from the campus.

This is kind of interesting. There are controlling access, as we’ve been talking about. They are trying to control who is allowed in, who is allowed out.

They sort of policed the area. So they only would let people that were part of their community, they said, inside.

I’m a UCLA student. I deserve to go here. We paid tuition. This is our school. And they’re not letting me walk in. Why can’t I go? Will you let me go in?

We’re not engaging with that.

Then you can move. Will you move?

And the second thing that stood out about this camp was that it immediately attracted pro-Israel counterprotesters.

And what did the leadership of UCLA say about all of this, the encampment and these counterprotesters?

So the University of California’s approach was pretty unique. They had a really hands-off approach. And they allowed the pro-Palestinian protesters to set up an encampment. They allowed the counterprotesters to happen. I mean, this is a public university, so anyone who wants to can just enter the campus.

So when do things start to escalate?

So there were definitely fights and scuffles through the weekend. But a turning point was really Sunday —

[SINGING IN HEBREW]:

— when this group called the Israeli American Council, they’re a nonprofit organization, organized a rally on campus. The Israeli American Council has really been against these pro-Palestinian protests. They say that they’re antisemitic. So this nonprofit group sets up a stage with a screen really just a few yards from the pro-Palestinian encampment.

We are grateful that this past Friday, the University of California, stated that they will continue to oppose any calls for boycott and divestment from Israel!

[PROTESTERS CHEERING]

And they host speakers and they held prayers.

Jewish students, you’re not alone! Oh, you’re not alone! We are right here with you! And we’re right here with you in until —

[WORDLESS SINGING]:

And then lots of other people start showing up. And the proximity between protesters and counterprotesters and even some agitators, makes it really clear that something was about to happen.

And what was that? What ended up happening?

On Monday night, a group of about 60 counterprotesters tried to breach the encampment there. And the campus police had to break it up. And things escalated again on Tuesday.

They stormed the barricades and it’s a complete riot.

[PROTESTER SHOUTING]:

Put it down! Put it down! Put it down!

I went to report on what happened just a few hours after it ended.

And I spoke to a lot of protesters. And I met one demonstrator, Marie.

Yeah, my first name is Marie. M-A-R-I-E. Last name, Salem.

And Marie described what happened.

So can you just tell me a little bit about what happened last night?

Last night, we were approached by over a hundred counterprotesters who were very mobilized and ready to break into camp. They proceeded to try to breach our barricades extremely violently.

Marie said it started getting out of hand when counterprotesters started setting off fireworks towards the camp.

They had bear spray. They had Mace. They were throwing wood and spears. Throwing water bottles, continuing fireworks.

So she said that they were terrified. It was just all hands on deck. Everyone was guarding the barricades.

Every time someone experienced the bear spray or Mace or was hit and bleeding, we had some medics in the front line. And then we had people —

And they said that they were just trying to take care of people who were injured.

I mean, at any given moment, there was 5 to 10 people being treated.

So what she described to me sounded more like a battlefield than a college campus.

And it was just a complete terror and complete abandonment of the university, as we also watched private security watch this the entire time on the stairs. And some LAPD were stationed about a football field length back from these counterprotesters, and did not make a single arrest, did not attempt to stop any violence, did not attempt to get in between the two groups. No attempt.

I should say, I spoke to a state authorities and eyewitnesses and they confirmed Marie’s account about what happened that night, both in terms of the violence that took place at the encampment and how law enforcement responded. So in the end, people ended up fighting for hours before the police intervened.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

So in her mind, UCLA’s hands-off approach, which seemed to have prevailed throughout this entire period, ends up being way too hands off in a moment when students were in jeopardy.

That’s right. And so at this point, the protesters in the encampment started preparing for two possibilities. One was that this group of counterprotesters would return and attack them. And the second one was that the police would come and try to break up this encampment.

So they started building up the barricades. They start reinforcing them with wood. And during the day, hundreds of people came and brought them supplies. They brought food.

They brought helmets, goggles, earplugs, saline solution, all sorts of things these people could use to defend themselves. And so they’re really getting ready to burrow in. And in the end, it was the police who came.

[PROTESTERS SHOUTING]:

So Wednesday at 7:00 PM, they made an announcement on top of Royce Hall, which overlooks the encampment —

— administrative criminal actions up to and including arrest. Please leave the area immediately.

And they told people in the encampment that they needed to leave or face arrest.

[DRUM BEATING]: [PROTESTERS CHANTING]

And so as night falls, they put on all this gear that they’ve been collecting, the goggles, the masks and the earplugs, and they wait for the police.

[DRUM BEATING]:

And so the police arrive and station themselves right in front of the encampment. And then at a certain point, they storm the back stairs of the encampment.

[PROTESTERS CHANTING]:

And this is the stairs that the protesters have been using to enter and exit the camp. And they set up a line. And the protesters do this really surprising thing.

The people united!

They open up umbrellas. They have these strobe lights. And they’re flashing them at the police, who just slowly back out of the camp.

[PROTESTERS CHEERING]:

And so at this point, they’re feeling really great. They’re like, we did it. We pushed them out of their camp. And when the cops try to push again on those same set of stairs —

[PROTESTER SHOUTS]:

Hold your ground!

— the protesters organized themselves with all these shields that they had built earlier. And they go and confront them. And so there’s this moment where the police are trying to push up the stairs. And the protesters are literally pushing them back.

Push them back! Push them back!

Push them back!

And at a certain point, dozens of the police officers who were there, basically just turn around and leave.

So how does this eventually come to an end?

So at a certain point, the police push in again. Most of the conflict is centered at the front of these barricades. And the police just start tearing them apart.

[METAL CLANGING]

[CLAMORING]

They removed the front barricade. And in its place is this group of protesters who have linked arms and they’re hanging on to each other. And the police are trying to pull protesters one by one away from this group.

He’s just a student! Back off!

But they’re having a really hard time because there’s so many protesters. And they’re all just hanging on to each other.

We’re moving back now.

So at a certain point, one of the police officers started firing something into the crowd. We don’t exactly know what it was. But it really spooked the protesters.

Stop shooting at kids! Fuck you! Fuck them!

They started falling back. Everyone was really scared. The protesters were yelling, don’t shoot us. And at that point, the police just stormed the camp.

Get back. Get back.

Back up now!

And so after about four hours of this, the police pushed the protesters out of the encampment. They had arrested about 200 protesters. And this was finally over.

And I’m just curious, Jonathan, because you’re standing right there, you are bearing witness to this all, what you were thinking, what your impressions of this were.

I mean, I was stunned. These are mostly teenagers. This is a college campus, an institution of higher learning. And what I saw in front of me looked like a war zone.

[TENSE MUSIC]

The massive barricade, the police coming in with riot gear, and all this violence was happening in front of these red brick buildings that are famous for symbolizing a really open college campus. And everything about it was just totally surreal.

Well, Jonathan, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Thanks, Michael.

We’ll be right back.

Peter, around 10:00 AM on Thursday morning as the smoke is literally still clearing at the University of California Los Angeles, you get word that President Biden is going to speak.

Right, exactly. It wasn’t on his public schedule. He was about to head to Andrews Air Force base in order to take a trip. And then suddenly, we got the notice that he was going to be addressing the cameras in the Roosevelt Room.

They didn’t tell us what he was going to talk about. But it was pretty clear, I think. Everybody understood that it was going to be about these campus protests, about the growing violence and the clashes with police, and the arrests that the entire country had been watching on TV every night for the past week, and I think that we were watching just that morning with UCLA. And it reached the point where he just had to say something.

And why, in his estimation and those of his advisors, was this the moment that Biden had to say something?

Well, it kind of reached a boiling point. It kind of reached the impression of a national crisis. And you expect to hear your president address it in this kind of a moment, particularly because it’s about his own policy. His policy toward Israel is at the heart of these protests. And he was getting a lot of grief. He was getting a lot of grief from Republicans who were chiding him for not speaking out personally. He hadn’t said anything in about 10 days.

He’s getting a lot of pressure from Democrats, too, who wanted him to come out and be more forceful. It wasn’t enough, in their view, to leave it to his spokespeople to say something. Moderate Democrats felt he needed to come out and take some leadership on this.

And so at the appointed moment, Peter, what does Biden actually say in the Roosevelt Room of the White House?

Good morning.

Before I head to North Carolina, I wanted to speak for a few moments about what’s going on, on our college campuses here.

Well, it comes in the Roosevelt Room and he talks to the camera. And he talks about the two clashing imperatives of American principle.

The first is the right to free speech and for people to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard. The second is the rule of law. Both must be upheld.

One is freedom of speech. The other is the rule of law.

In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But, but, neither are we a lawless country.

In other words, what he’s saying is, yes, I support the right of these protesters to come out and object to even my own policy, in effect, is what he’s saying. But it shouldn’t trail into violence.

Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses —

It shouldn’t trail into taking over buildings and obstructing students from going to class or canceling their graduations.

Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest. It’s against the law.

And he leans very heavily into this idea that what he’s seeing these days goes beyond the line.

I understand people have strong feelings and deep convictions. In America, we respect the right and protect the right for them to express that. But it doesn’t mean anything goes.

It has crossed into harassment and expressions of hate in a way that goes against the national character.

As president, I will always defend free speech. And I will always be just as strong and standing up for the rule of law. That’s my responsibility to you, the American people, and my obligation to the Constitution. Thank you very much.

Right, as I watched the speech, I heard his overriding message to basically be, I, the president of the United States, am drawing a line. These protests and counterprotests, the seizing and defacing of campus buildings, class disruption, all of it, name calling, it’s getting out of hand. That there’s a right way to do this. And what I’m seeing is the wrong way to do it and it has to stop.

That’s exactly right. And as he’s wrapping up, reporters, of course, ask questions. And the first question is —

Mr. President, have the protests forced you to reconsider any of the policies with regard to the region?

— will this change your policy toward the war in Gaza? Which, of course, is exactly what the protesters want. That’s the point.

And he basically says —

— no. Just one word, no.

Right. And that felt kind of important, as brief and fleeting as it was, because at the end of the day, what he’s saying to these protesters is, I’m not going to do what you want. And basically, your protests are never going to work. I’m not going to change the US’s involvement in this war.

Yeah, that’s exactly right. He is saying, I’m not going to be swayed by angry people in the streets. I’m going to do what I think is right when it comes to foreign policy. Now, what he thinks is that they’re not giving him enough credit for trying to achieve what they want, which is an end of the war.

He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to come to a deal for a ceasefire that will, hopefully, in his view, would then lead to a more enduring end of hostilities. But, of course, this deal hasn’t gone anywhere. Hamas, in particular, seems to be resisting it. And so the president is left with a policy of arming Israel without having found a way yet to stop the war.

Right. I wonder, though, Peter, if we’re being honest, don’t these protests, despite what Biden is saying there, inevitably exert a kind of power over him? Becoming one of many pressures, but a pressure nonetheless that does influence how he thinks about these moments. I mean, here he is at the White House devoting an entire conversation to the nation to these campus protests.

Well, look, he knows this feeds into the political environment in which he’s running for re-election, in which he basically has people who otherwise might be his supporters on the left disenchanted with him. And he knows that there’s a cost to be paid. And that certainly, obviously, is in his head as he’s thinking about what to do.

But I think his view of the war is changing by the day for all sorts of reasons. And most of them having to do with realities on the ground. He has decided that Israel has gone far enough, if not too far, in the way it has conducted this operation in Gaza.

He is upset about the humanitarian crisis there. And he’s looking for a way to wrap all this up into a move that would move to peacemaking, beginning to get the region to a different stage, maybe have a deal with the Saudis to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for some sort of a two-state solution that would eventually resolve the Palestinian issue at its core.

So I think it’s probably fair to say that the protests won’t move him in an immediate kind of sense. But they obviously play into the larger zeitgeist of the moment. And I also think it’s important to know who Joe Biden is at heart.

Explain that.

He’s not drawn to activism. He was around in 1968, the last time we saw this major conflagration at Columbia University, for instance. At the time, Joe Biden was a law student in Syracuse, about 250 miles away. And he was an institutionalist even then.

He was just focused on his studies. He was about to graduate. He was thinking about the law career. And he didn’t really have much of an affinity, I think, for his fellow students of that era, for their activist way of looking at things.

He tells a story in his memoir about walking down a street in Syracuse one day to go to the pizza shop with some friends. And they walk by the administration building. And they see people hanging out of the windows. They’re hanging SDS banners. That’s the Students for a Democratic Society, which was one of the big activist groups of the era.

And he says, they were taking over the building. And we looked up and said, look at those assholes. That’s how far apart from the antiwar movement I was. That’s him writing in his memoir.

So to a young Joe Biden, those who devote their time and their energy to protesting the war are, I don’t need to repeat the word twice, but they’re losers. They’re not worth his time.

Well, I think it’s the tactics they’re using more than the goals that he disagreed with. He would tell you he disagreed with the Vietnam War. He was for civil rights. But he thought that taking over a building was performative, was all about getting attention, and that there was a better way, in his view, to do it.

He was somebody who wanted to work inside the system. He said in an interview quite a few years back, he says, look, I was wearing sports coats in that era. He saw himself becoming part of the system, not somebody trying to tear it down.

And so how should we think about that Joe Biden, when we think about this Joe Biden? I mean, the Joe Biden who, as a young man, looked upon antiwar protesters with disdain and the one who is now president and his very own policies have inspired such ferocious campus protests?

Yeah, that Joe Biden, the 1968 Joe Biden, he could just throw on a sports coat, go to the pizza shop with his friends, make fun of the activists and call them names, and then that’s it. They didn’t have to affect his life. But that’s not what 2024 Joe Biden can do.

Now, wherever he goes, he’s dogged by this. He goes to speeches and people are shouting at him, Genocide Joe! Genocide Joe! He is the target of the same kind of a movement that he disdained in 1968. And so as much as he would like to ignore it or move on or focus on other things, I think this has become a defining image of his year and one of the defining images, perhaps, of his presidency. And 2024 Joe Biden can’t simply ignore it.

Well, Peter, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Here’s what else you need to know today. During testimony on Thursday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, jurors heard a recording secretly made by Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, in which Trump discusses a deal to buy a woman’s silence. In the recording, Trump asks Cohen about how one payment made by Trump to a woman named Karen McDougal would be financed. The recording could complicate efforts by Trump’s lawyers to distance him from the hush money deals at the center of the trial.

A final thing to know, tomorrow morning, we’ll be sending you the latest episode from our colleagues over at “The Interview.” This week, David Marchese talks with comedy star Marlon Wayans about his new stand-up special.

It’s a high that you get when you don’t know if this joke that I’m about to say is going to offend everybody. Are they going to walk out? Are they going to boo me? Are they going to hate this. And then you tell it, and everybody cracks up and you’re like, woo.

Today’s episode was produced by Diana Nguyen, Luke Vander Ploeg, Alexandra Leigh Young, Nina Feldman, and Carlos Prieto. It was edited by Lisa Chow and Michael Benoist. It contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you on Monday.

• May 10, 2024   •   27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
• May 9, 2024   •   34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
• May 8, 2024   •   28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
• May 7, 2024   •   27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth
• May 6, 2024   •   29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot
• May 3, 2024   •   25:33 The Protesters and the President
• May 2, 2024   •   29:13 Biden Loosens Up on Weed
• May 1, 2024   •   35:16 The New Abortion Fight Before the Supreme Court
• April 30, 2024   •   27:40 The Secret Push That Could Ban TikTok
• April 29, 2024   •   47:53 Trump 2.0: What a Second Trump Presidency Would Bring
• April 26, 2024   •   21:50 Harvey Weinstein Conviction Thrown Out
• April 25, 2024   •   40:33 The Crackdown on Student Protesters

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Jonathan Wolfe and Peter Baker

Produced by Diana Nguyen ,  Luke Vander Ploeg ,  Alexandra Leigh Young ,  Nina Feldman and Carlos Prieto

Edited by Lisa Chow and Michael Benoist

Original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Chris Wood

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Warning: this episode contains strong language.

Over the past week, students at dozens of universities held demonstrations, set up encampments and, at times, seized academic buildings. In response, administrators at many of those colleges decided to crack down and called in the local police to detain and arrest demonstrators.

As of Thursday, the police had arrested 2,000 people across more than 40 campuses, a situation so startling that President Biden could no longer ignore it.

Jonathan Wolfe, who has been covering the student protests for The Times, and Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent, discuss the history-making week.

On today’s episode

Jonathan Wolfe , a senior staff editor on the newsletters team at The New York Times.

Peter Baker , the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times covering President Biden and his administration.

Background reading

As crews cleared the remnants of an encampment at U.C.L.A., students and faculty members wondered how the university could have handled protests over the war in Gaza so badly .

Biden denounced violence on campus , breaking his silence after a rash of arrests.

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Jonathan Wolfe is a senior staff editor on the newsletters team at The Times. More about Jonathan Wolfe

Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The Times. He has covered the last five presidents and sometimes writes analytical pieces that place presidents and their administrations in a larger context and historical framework. More about Peter Baker

Luke Vander Ploeg is a senior producer on “The Daily” and a reporter for the National Desk covering the Midwest. More about Luke Vander Ploeg

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