Sample 'Wonderlic' Test

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 28, 2011 1:00 PM EST

One of the more interesting tests the players at the NFL Scouting Combine have to take is not even on the gridiron. It's in the classroom and it's the intimidating 'Wonderlic' Test, which supposedly goes a long way towards measuring a player's "Football IQ." The history of the test includes some very interesting scores, both at the high and low end. A few years ago, former University of Texas and Tennessee Titans QB Vince Young reportedly scored a '6' on the test. At the same time, Buffalo Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick scored a '50' and Washington Redskins QB Donovan McNabb got a '14' on his test.

Does this really matter in terms of translating into a good, or bad NFL player? That still remains to be seen with scores all over the place for both good and not-so-good players in the league. Regardless, it's still an interesting topic for conversation around the NFL Combine.

For a 20-question sample test of the Wonderlic that you can take and check your score, click here.

PS - I got 16 correct for an adjusted score of 40. Could I have been an NFL QB?

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I got 15 right for 37.5

Do they round the results?

"SteelFever gets #93. Just like Ron Artest. Great game just keep an eye on him that he doesn't go into the stands after a fan."
- 5020 on my making the BTSC active (riot) squad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC0NCHq4v3I

by Steel Spike on Feb 28, 2011 1:39 PM EST reply actions

Same here

15 for a score of 37.5

I’m going to say that because the rule of rounding is 5 or higher you round up, I’m going to say I score 38!

A Ravens fan on the wrong side of the country!!

by Christopher Atwood on Feb 28, 2011 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

Yep! 38 is pretty good

by Steel Spike on Feb 28, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

fitzpatrik oughta get another year in buffulo

he’s doing a lot with nothing out there

by davver on Feb 28, 2011 2:21 PM EST reply actions

Agreed. The guy played his ass off last year

"If only Flacco could put up numbers similar to Matt Ryan, or maybe just improve his stats year-to-year, he wouldn’t seem like such a wasted draft pick. It’s as if a young quarterback needs to put up better stats in his first three years than nearly every other quarterback to play in the NFL to justify a first round pick." - Amp

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 28, 2011 3:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

He certainly lit us up!

and saved my fantasy ass as well!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 28, 2011 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

He should, but he won’t. Whoever the #3 overall pick is, he’ll be playing sometime in his first year.

by MrPoopyPants on Feb 28, 2011 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

I find it a bit ironic that Vince Young used to be the knock against the test's validity.

I actually think the Ravens should take wonderlic test scores into consideration if they choose to go after a later round backup QB. Not so much for the football IQ, but simply because of the attention to detail. But that’s just my opinion.

by Mayne_Event on Feb 28, 2011 3:39 PM EST reply actions

I could see us getting Greg McElroy late. Oz’s connection to Alabama. He crushed the wonderlic. He’s a winner.

by MrPoopyPants on Feb 28, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

Ran somthing like 12 flat

in the 40 though! I think Joe can whup him in the sprint!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 28, 2011 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

Damn, did he have to carry Cody on his back while running the 40?

by MrPoopyPants on Mar 1, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

Dan Marino got a 16. Wonderlic means nada.

by MrPoopyPants on Feb 28, 2011 3:51 PM EST reply actions

I bet Terry Bradshaw got a 4...

by Steel Spike on Feb 28, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Terry was caught using his test to make spit balls.

I was given a proctored Wonderlic @ 5 years ago and answered 48 out of 50 correctly.

The Wonderlic measures quite a few attributes and is widely used in employment evaluation. There is also a formula for converting your score to IQ:

IQ = 2WPT + 60

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderlic_Test

The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test (formerly known as the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT)) is a twelve-minute, fifty-question test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations.

Abbreviated, unofficial versions of the test are available online.3 4 While these tests are not nearly as complex as the original Wonderlic test nor authorized by Wonderlic, they follow many of the same concepts.

by alistar7 on Mar 2, 2011 5:31 AM EST up reply actions

So Dan Marino’s IQ was 92? Seems a little low.

by MrPoopyPants on Mar 2, 2011 7:54 AM EST up reply actions

So, you're saying you have a 156 IQ? Doubtful.

An IQ of 140 is considered legally insane.

When I was tested in 1992, I came up with a 138, and the guy running the thing said I was lucky that was under 140. But, by your metric (IQ=2WPT+60) I have a 136 IQ. Not a huge discrepancy, however, I did skip the number sequence questions.

I don’t think your metric is accurate, alistar.

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

Its not ‘MY’ metric, it’s the universally accepted formula for converting a Wonderlic score to IQ. Rough, but generally close. It is included in the wiki page I linked above, and below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderlic_Test

“A score of 20 is intended to indicate average intelligence (corresponding to an intelligence quotient of 100; a rough conversion is accomplished via the following formula: IQ = 2WPT + 60.”

“An IQ of 140 is considered legally insane.”

http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/IQBasics.aspx

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/343862/the_myth_that_high_intelligence_and.html

I was pretty shocked when I was informed of my score. I knew I had done well but I though I missed at least 6-8 questions. Doubt all you wish, it’s on file with Wonderlic, that’s all that matters to me.

by alistar7 on Mar 2, 2011 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

Based on the link for the IQcomparisonsite.com

I gather that the metric for determining from “Genius to severely retarded” has fluctuated greatly since the inception of the test.

With the second link (associatedcontent.com), the article was written in 2007. A full 15 years after I was told about the “140=legally insane”. I wonder how much research went into this in 15 years…

You’re exceedingly smart. Good for you. However the link you provided proves that you are, by their metric, deficient in social skills (as evidenced by your interaction with others which I have personally witnessed).

Hmm…I think I am much happier being dumber than you, but having the ability to function in a normal sociological setting.

by Steel Spike on Mar 3, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

“You’re exceedingly smart. Good for you. However the link you provided proves that you are, by their metric, deficient in social skills (as evidenced by your interaction with others which I have personally witnessed).”

Thanks for calling me ‘exceedingly smart, but really, I’m just logical to the most boring degree lol. I have no natural talent and I’m most impressed by those who are so fortunate. I would gladly give up 20-30 IQ points to be able to draw, sing, play an instrument by ear, anything creative.

I am hardly deficient in social skills. If you did know me on a personal level and watched how I interacted with my social network you would scoff at that idea.

“You know who’ made threats against me and carried through on his words, now there’s someone with severe psychological disorders. Specifically a borderline personality disorder coupled with narcissism, an ugly but common combination.

As for being ‘dumber’ than me I don’t look at things in such a black and white manner. I’ve always believed almost everyone has the capacity to learn and understand anything if they are truly focused and motivated.

by alistar7 on Mar 4, 2011 2:54 AM EST up reply actions

42.5

i missed one and skipped 2. i guess i’m no ryan fitzpatrick.

"I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out." --Oscar Wilde

A Crocodile Never Cries (a story, discretion advised)

by Luke E on Feb 28, 2011 4:58 PM EST reply actions

Ditto 42.5

Skipped one, missed two.

Hopkins is probably frowning at me- probably lower than they expect…

Although the IQ conversion seems low to me -I have tested out in low 160’s, but that was years ago so maybe the brain has deteriorated like many other body components. In addition, if you score a perfect 50 on the Wonderlic, that implies an IQ of 160, which is by no means the highest. I work with plenty of folks that I think are knocking around 180… (yes, rocket scientist types).

by vlad755 on Mar 28, 2011 4:52 PM EDT reply actions