Does practice improve my score on a hiring test?
Reviewed: October 2026
Yes, practice usually improves your score, but only moderately: a meta-analysis by Hausknecht and colleagues (2007) found an average gain of 0.26 standard deviations when aptitude tests were retaken. Much of that gain comes from knowing the format, and according to Scharfen and colleagues (2018) gains stop growing after the third administration. Short, spaced, well-rested practice beats piling up hours.
What the research shows
The meta-analysis by Hausknecht, Halpert, Di Paolo and Moriarty Gerrard (2007) pooled 107 samples with more than 134,000 people and estimated an adjusted practice effect of 0.26 standard deviations on cognitive ability tests. The effect was larger when practice included coaching and when the same test form was repeated.
Scharfen, Peters and Holling (2018) analyzed 174 samples from 122 studies. They found retest gains that stop appearing after the third administration, and that the size depends on the type of test, whether the forms are equivalent, the interval between tests and age.
Familiarity, not more intelligence
The analysis by te Nijenhuis, van Vianen and van der Flier (2007) compared 64 retest studies and concluded that gains are not concentrated in the general factor of intelligence but in components specific to each test. In plain terms, knowing the format, typical rules and pace helps, but it does not make you more intelligent.
That is practical good news: the part you can improve (understanding the question type, managing time, avoiding careless errors) is learned quickly.
How to practice to perform better
Three findings from learning psychology guide how to organize practice:
- Space it out: several short sessions on different days retain more than one long session (Cepeda et al., 2006; Rohrer and Taylor, 2007).
- Mix it up: alternating problem types instead of repeating one improves learning a week later (Rohrer and Taylor, 2007).
- Retrieve: trying to solve without peeking at hints strengthens memory more than rereading the explanation (Roediger and Karpicke, 2006).
- Review your errors: after each set, understand why you missed before moving on.
Test anxiety
Feeling nervous is normal and does not always hurt. In a study of people preparing for the GRE, Jamieson and colleagues (2010) found that those taught to reinterpret physical arousal as helpful did better on the quantitative section, both on a practice test and on their real exam. The effect is modest and comes from one specific population, but it is a simple strategy to try: tell yourself the racing pulse is energy to focus.
Device and environment
Practice on the same kind of device you will use. Some studies have found lower scores on phones than on computers in timed tests, and touching the screen adds reaction time. If you have a choice, pick a computer and a quiet place.
A simple plan
Adapt this plan to your date. It is designed for people short on time.
- 7 days before: one 20 to 30 minute session on a single question type; at the end, review only your errors.
- 5 and 3 days before: short sessions mixing different types, against the clock.
- Day before: a 10-minute warm-up, no new material, and an early night.
- Test day: log in early, breathe and start with what you know best.
Practice this here
On this site you can apply the plan with original exercises: take the tests in exam mode, which gives no hints until the end, and then the mock exam, which combines several categories with a time limit. To train attention and working memory against a clock, use the Digit Series game. These are familiarization practice, not copies of real tests.
Start with these tests
- Data Interpretation I — Numerical Reasoning with Tables · 12 questions
- Deductive Reasoning I · 12 questions
- Attention to Detail I — Code and Record Comparison · 12 questions
How to solve each type
Related games
Frequently asked questions
How much does practice raise your score?
In a 2007 meta-analysis, about 0.26 standard deviations on average when aptitude tests were retaken. It is a moderate gain and varies by test.
How many times should I practice?
A 2018 meta-analysis found that gains stop appearing after the third administration. Rather than piling up repetitions, space them out and review errors.
Does practice make me smarter?
No. Evidence suggests much of the gain is familiarity with the format, not an increase in general ability.
Does practice help if I get nervous?
Yes. Practicing against a clock reduces surprise, and reframing nerves as energy improved performance in a study of GRE candidates.
Does practice help with personality tests?
There is nothing to study for them. Answer honestly and consistently.
Related guides
Sources
- Hausknecht et al. (2007): meta-analysis of practice and coaching effects
- Scharfen, Peters & Holling (2018): meta-analysis of retest effects
- te Nijenhuis et al. (2007): score gains on g-loaded tests
- Jamieson et al. (2010): reappraising arousal improves performance
- Roediger & Karpicke (2006): test-enhanced learning
We are not affiliated with any assessment provider or their tests. This guide is independent, based on public sources and may change.