Arctic Shores: task-based assessment and how to practice

Reviewed: October 2026

Arctic Shores is an assessment built from interactive tasks that capture how you behave, not an exam with correct answers. The company says it has up to nine tasks and starts with a practice task. Each employer configures the timing, which appears as an estimate in your invitation.

What it is

Arctic Shores describes its product as a task-based assessment designed to feel closer to a game than a traditional test. The employer invites you by email, you do a practice task and then complete the rest.

Some tasks come in a themed environment. The names of those environments change over time and are mostly used by third-party guides, so rely on what your invitation says.

Format and length

The company says the assessment includes up to nine tasks. It does not publish a single duration: time depends on how many tasks the employer includes and is shown as an estimate in the invitation. Some employers that use the platform say certain tasks are timed and that you can pause between tasks; confirm both points in your invitation.

Its guidance recommends completing all tasks in one sitting if possible.

What it measures

The company states that it captures natural behaviors, thought processes and motivations. Each behavior is placed on a 1 to 10 spectrum and compared with a norm group, and in the company's words there is "no better or worse" in the abstract.

Which behaviors matter most depends on the role and the employer. The company also gives candidates feedback on their behaviors if the employer turns it on. The satisfaction figures it publishes are its own, not independent data.

Practical preparation

The company says you do not need prior preparation and that the practice task is there to show you the format. The official tips are simple:

• Use a device no more than four years old, fully charged and on a good connection.
• Turn off alerts and notifications and find a place without distractions.
• Do the practice task and read the instructions carefully.
• Approach the tasks in whatever way feels most natural.

Accessibility and adjustments

If a disability or condition affects your speed, vision, hearing or motor control, ask the employer or the platform's support for adjustments before starting. The public information we reviewed does not detail the options, so confirm with them what they can offer.

Practice this here

The games on this site are not Arctic Shores tasks and do not replicate them. They are original games inspired by public psychology tasks (risk, sustained attention, working memory and planning) that help you get used to the pace of interactive tasks.

Related games

• Pump and Bank
• Traffic Light
• Digit Series
• Pegs and Discs

Your preparation path

1. Take the full mock exam to see how you do against the clock across several categories. Go to the mock exam
2. Take exam-mode tests in the categories closest to your assessment. See the tests
3. Choose the job type in your report. See a sample report

The report organizes your practice by job type; it does not predict your result on Arctic Shores.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Arctic Shores take?

It depends on how many tasks the employer includes (up to nine). The invitation shows an estimate; if you need breaks, check your invitation to see whether they're allowed between tasks.

Are there correct answers?

The company says there is no better or worse in the abstract: it measures your behaviors and compares them with a norm group. Fit with the role is decided by the employer.

Do I need to practice beforehand?

The company says no preparation is required and offers a practice task at the start. You can get familiar with similar interactive tasks, but there is no content to memorize.

Can I do it on my phone?

Follow what your invitation says. The company asks for a recent device that is charged and has a good connection.

Are the games on this site Arctic Shores games?

No. They are original games with no affiliation to Arctic Shores, inspired by public experimental psychology tasks.

Sources

• Arctic Shores: candidate guidance
• Arctic Shores help center: before you begin
• Hedge et al. (2018): reliability of cognitive measures

We are not affiliated with Arctic Shores or its tests. This guide is independent, based on public sources and may change: confirm the format in your invitation. Our exercises are similar in style, never the real items.