History of Wonderlic Test – Everything From 1936 to 2025

The Wonderlic test is one of the most well-known short intelligence tests in the world. For nearly 90 years, it has been used by employers, schools, and even sports teams to measure how quickly people think, learn, and solve problems. But how did this test come to be? And why has it lasted so long?

In this article, we’ll walk you through the full history of the Wonderlic test – from how it started to how it’s used today.

What the Wonderlic Test Measures

The Wonderlic is designed to test general cognitive ability, also known as “g.” It includes a mix of questions that measure:

Math skills
Vocabulary and language
Logic and reasoning
General knowledge

You don’t need any special training to take the test, but you do need to think quickly – many people don’t finish all 50 questions in the time limit. A Wonderlic score of 20 or 21 is considered average. A perfect score of 50 is very rare.

The History Of the Wonderlic Test

The Wonderlic test was created in 1936 by Eldon F. Wonderlic, a psychology student at Northwestern University. He wanted to design a quick and simple way to measure a person’s general intelligence – something that could be used in real-world settings like hiring.

1930s–1940s: A New Kind of Intelligence Test

1936: Psychology student Eldon F. Wonderlic creates the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) – the first short-form cognitive ability test designed for quick assessment in real-world settings.
Wonderlic takes a role as the first Director of Personnel at Household Finance Corporation, where he puts his test into practice.
His early research was published in Applied Psychology, showing how businesses can use mental ability tests in hiring.
During World War II, the U.S. Navy used the WPT to help select candidates for flight and navigation training.
Douglas Aircraft Corporation partners with Wonderlic to improve employee placement and training strategies.
The Conference Board publishes another Wonderlic study, solidifying the test’s value in hiring.

1950s–1960s: Establishing a Standard

E.F. Wonderlic and Associates, Inc. is officially formed.
The company publishes its first large-scale study of job applicant scores, creating a data-driven standard for test interpretation.
A second normative study is released, kicking off a tradition of publishing updated testing benchmarks every ten years.
Leadership passes to Charles F. Wonderlic Sr., Eldon’s son, who expands the company’s tools to include new tests for clerical and psychomotor skills.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 sets new rules for fair hiring, leading to careful evaluation of how tests like the WPT are used.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was established, guiding test use in line with anti-discrimination laws.

1970s–1980s: Sports, Schools, and Scientific Backing

Wonderlic releases a third study, examining test scores by job role, ethnicity, and nationality. It becomes an important reference for fairness in cognitive testing.
The Dallas Cowboys started using the Wonderlic test to help evaluate players, beginning a trend that spread across the NFL. The test becomes a regular part of the NFL Scouting Combine.
A new version of the test is created for technical and trade schools—the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) – which quickly gains popularity in education.
Charles F. Wonderlic Jr. became company president and led a period of rapid growth.
Psychologist Carl Dodrill publishes research confirming that the WPT is a valid way to measure adult intelligence. He also conducts long-term follow-up studies.
A fourth study links typical applicant scores to the minimum required scores for job success.
The SLE is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for use in Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) testing, helping students without a high school diploma access financial aid.
The test is also recognized by the American Council on Education as a reliable predictor of success in vocational training.

1990s–2000s: Digital Tools and New Assessments

A Wonderlic executive joins a federal committee to help shape new rules around ATB testing, helping to guide national policy
The fifth decennial study is released, further defining score benchmarks and their relationship to job performance.
Wonderlic has become a founding member of the Association of Test Publishers, which promotes standards in the testing industry.
The Wonderlic Basic Skills Test gains government approval for ATB testing, with many of Wonderlic’s procedures adopted by the Department of Education.
New assessments are added, including the Personal Characteristics Inventory (PCI) and the Comprehensive Personality Profile (CPP).
Wonderlic Online launches, allowing organizations to test applicants, score results, and make decisions faster, all through the internet.
The WPT-R (a revised version of the original test) was released, featuring updated questions and scoring methods.
Wonderlic Data Exchange gives employers easier access to test data and integration with HR systems.

Final Words

The Wonderlic test has a long and interesting history. What started as a student project in the 1930s turned into a tool used by global companies, the U.S. military, and even the NFL. While it’s not perfect, it has helped millions of people show their abilities and given employers a fast way to make better hiring decisions.