INDIANAPOLIS — While the top NFL prospects are certainly tested from a physical standpoint each year at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, many participants say the mental aspect of the event is perhaps the most challenging.
Most of the 300-plus football players have spent months — and, in many cases, years — getting ready for the Combine's various field drills, but oftentimes find it's difficult to fully prepare for the various interviews (both with team officials and the media), physiological testing and, finally, the infamous Wonderlic Test they must endure during their four-day stay in the Circle City.
The Wonderlic is a unique kind of test that can help measure a players' level of intelligence. In all, players are given 12 minutes to answer 50 questions. Each correct answer is worth one point.
Only one player, former Cincinnati Bengals punter Pat McInally, has been known to score a perfect 50 on the test. While many players don't finish the entire test in the time allotted, a score of 10 is usually perceived as a minimum standard for NFL players, while a score around 20 is about average. Scores in the 30s or higher are above average to excellent.
In the grand scheme of things, the Wonderlic should be taken exactly for what it is: just another test. While it can certainly be utilized to measure a prospect's aptitude and problem-solving skills, we all know different people have different levels of abilities when it comes to test taking. Some players might not do well on the Wonderlic, but could learn and execute an entire playbook with no problems whatsoever.
Also, the Wonderlic is one of the few tests a prospect endures in which the results are not publicly released. While some test results leak out — either intentionally or unintentionally — take all reported Wonderlic scores you hear associated with any particular player with a grain of salt.
So what exactly does a Wonderlic test look like? We at Colts.com have taken a few sample tests provided around the web, and have gathered together a 30-question sample quiz.
A guideline: set your own timer to 7 minutes, 12 seconds (to account for a 30-question test, and not a 50 question test in 12 minutes), and mark down your answers as you go. Then, check out the answer guide at the bottom of this page and add up your score (one correct answer = one point).
• A score of 6 equals a 10 on the NFL test
• A score of 9 equals a 15 on the NFL test
• A score of 12 equals a 20 on the NFL test
• A score of 15 equals a 25 on the NFL test
• A score of 18 equals a 30 on the NFL test
• A score of 21 equals a 35 on the NFL test
• A score of 24 equals a 40 on the NFL test
• A score of 27 equals a 45 on the NFL test
• A score of 30 equals a 50 on the NFL test
Here's the sample test:
1. The eleventh month of the year is:
• January
• November
• October
• May
——————
2. A shop owner bought some shovels for $5,500. The shovels were sold for $7,300, with a profit of $50 per shovel. How many shovels were involved?
• 18
• 36
• 55
• 73
• 90
• None of the above
——————
3. How many states are in the U.S.A.?
• 20
• 30
• 40
• 50
• 60
——————
4. There are three times elephants compared to giraffes in the safari. If there is a total of 88 elephants and giraffes, how many elephants are there in the safari?
• 22
• 31
• 43
• 59
• 66
• None of the above
——————
5. What is the next number in the series?
5, 15, 10, 13, 15, 11, _
• 9
• 13
• 10
• 20
• 15
• None of the above
——————
6. A car travels at a speed of 85 miles per hour. How far will it travel in 15 minutes?
• 9 miles
• 11 miles
• 13.5 miles
• 21.25 miles
• 22.75 miles
• None of the above
——————
7. A car dealership sells used cars for $7,000 and new cars for $16,000. If a total of 17 cars were sold for $191,000, how many of the cars sold were used?
• 2
• 3
• 5
• 8
• 10
• None of the above
——————
8. Joey got a 25 percent raise to his salary. I this originally salary was $1,200, how much was it after the raise was implemented?
• $1,225
• $1,500
• $1,350
• $1,450
• $1,800
• None of the above
——————
9. Arrange the following words so that they make a complete sentence. Is the re-arranged sentence true or false?
Triangle A sides three has
• True
• False
——————
10. ___ is to JUICE as WHEAT is to BREAD
• Water
• Pitcher
• Supermarket
• Soda
• Orange
——————
11. Does FAQ mean "frequently asked questions?"
• Yes
• No
——————
12. ATTRACTION is the opposite of:
• Disgust
• Inclination
• Fascination
• Inducement
• Lust
——————
13. In the following set of words, which word does not belong?
• Dentist
• Economist
• Surgeon
• Layman
• Neuropsychologist
——————
14. DEVIATE RUMINATE
The meaning of these words are:
• Similar
• Contradictory
• Neither similar nor contradictory
——————
15. How many of the five pairs listed below are exact duplicates?
6845 - 6845
45641 - 45641
987878 - 987788
124555 - 123555
9898547 - 9898745
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
——————
16. If the first two statements are true, is the final statement true?
Dave spoke with Sally.
Sally spoke with John.
Dave did not speak with John.
• Yes
• No
• Uncertain
——————
17. In the following set of words, which word does not belong?
• Sanction
• Designation
• Approval
• Authorization
• Permission
——————
18. ___ is to CLEANING as MEDICINE is to CURING
• Chore
• Dirt
• Soap
• Germs
• Shiny
——————
19. Which one has the biggest diameter?
• The sun
• The moon
• Earth
• Venus
• A basketball
——————
20. Sam and Edna have 56 marbles together. Edna has 6 times more marbles than Sam. How many marbles does Sam have?
• 8
• 12
• 32
• 46
• 49
• None of the above
——————
21. 17 out of 20 lung diseases are curable; what is the percentage of lung diseases that are curable?
• 17 percent
• 72 percent
• 85 percent
• 87 percent
• 90 percent
• None of the above
——————
22. AFFLUENT WEALTHY
The meanings of these words are:
• Similar
• Contradictory
• Neither similar nor contradictory
——————
23. If the first two statements are true, is the final statement true?
Fair haired dogs live longer than black haired ones
Rocco is a fair haired dog
Rocco will live longer than Bonzo
• Yes
• No
• Uncertain
——————
24. START is the opposite of:
• Source
• Inception
• Conclusion
• Initiation
• Origin
——————
25. IMPERIOUS is the opposite of:
• Arrogant
• Moody
• Subservient
• Quiet
• Stormy
——————
26. How many of the six pairs listed below are exact duplicates?
3356 3356
87878 87978
909152 989152
7776145 7776145
865656 865656
71829 71829
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
27. In the following set of words, which word is different from the others?
• Solemn
• Archaic
• Grave
• Mirthless
• Serious
——————
28. How many of the five pairs listed below are exact duplicates?
123A3 122A3
LLO8761 LLO8761
KKA3213 KKA3233
ORR13726B ORR13726B
12AB12AB1 12AB1AB121
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
——————
29. If the first two statements are true, is the final statement true?
All dogs have a brown leg.
Barky has a brown leg.
Barky is a dog.
• True
• False
• Uncertain
——————
30. What THREE choices are needed to create the figure on the left? Only pieces of the same color may overlap.
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
——————
ANSWER KEY:
1. November
2. 36
3. 50
4. 66
5. 20
6. 21.25 miles
7. None of the above
8. $1,450
9. True
10. Orange
11. Yes
12. Disgust
13. Layman
14. Neither similar nor contradictory
15. 2
16. Uncertain
17. Designation
18. Soap
19. The sun
20. 8
21. 85 percent
22. Similar
23. Uncertain
24. Conclusion
25. Subservient
26. 4
27. Archaic
28. 2
29. Uncertain
30. A, B and E
The analysis from those producing content on Colts.com does not necessarily represent the thoughts of the Indianapolis Colts organization. Any conjecture, analysis or opinions formed by Colts.com content creators is not based on inside knowledge gained from team officials, players or staff.
