Wonderlic Human Resource Solutions

Our History

Wonderlic Personnel Test

A pioneer in the field of testing and assessment, Eldon F. Wonderlic was one of the first to develop a short-form test of cognitive ability, the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT), also named the Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) for use in educational facilities. In cooperation with fellow researcher, Carl Hovland, Eldon selected the most effective test questions and organized them in a manner that dramatically reduced testing time while maintaining validity and reliability. This shortened test was less intimidating for applicants and more efficient for end users.

In 1937, E.F. Wonderlic began distributing the WPT/SLE and test sales were primarily based on one executive recommending it to another. This word of mouth endorsement spread and the volume of tests administered rapidly grew.

During the Second World War, the WPT/SLE was used by the U.S. Navy in the selection of candidates for pilot training and navigation. Wonderlic himself applied his specialized background to the problems of placement and training during war time production at Douglas Aircraft Corporation.

In 1950, Wonderlic published the first normative study of test scores.

Civil Rights Protections

In 1960, a second nationwide normative study was completed and set the precedence for a series of decennial studies that continue today. With the establishment of E.F. Wonderlic & Associates, Inc. in 1961, daily management of the test publishing was passed to the next generation, Eldon's son Charles F. Wonderlic."Chuck" Wonderlic soon expanded the range of products and services offered by adding additional tests, forms and procedures.

During the 1960s the civil rights movement raised the concern for bias in employment and education. In its wake, various legislation was enacted to protect individuals on the basis of various subgroups (e.g., he Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act). These civil rights laws apply to all state education agencies, elementary and secondary school systems, colleges and universities, vocational schools and proprietary schools that receive federal financial assistance from DOE.

Wonderlic has always been committed to fairness in testing and assessment. In the early seventies, Wonderlic published a decennial study of applicant test scores, conducting analyses on the basis of race and national origin, studies that remain today as the most comprehensive studies of their kind. These studies have provided a rich resource for researchers examining the questions of test fairness, bias, and validity. The Wonderlic studies, together with studies from government and academic researchers, have demonstrated that the Wonderlic Personnel Test and Scholastic Level Exam, and professionally developed cognitive ability measures in general, are not biased against any racial group or nationality and are broadly valid as predictors of performance potential.

Football and "The Wonderlic"

One of the earliest and most enthusiastic users of the Wonderlic Personnel Test was Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Landry found that WPT/SLE scores were highly related to learning the team playbook and to adaptability.

Players who exercise greater options, from week to week and from play to play, need to score higher. Certainly, the WPT /SLE has no relationship to how fast a player can run or how accurately a player can pass the ball. Yet, each player must run and pass as part of a team, and individual players become a team through their training grounded by their team playbook. How well a player will learn the playbook and adapt within the scope of the team is forecast by the WPT/SLE. Of course, this is true for any team, in any organization or classroom environment.

A New Millennium

Wonderlic continues to meet the needs of our clients by continually adding to the line of products and services. One of the newest developments is the General Assessment of Instructional Needs (GAIN)TM test, used to measure basic skills for Adult Basic Education, foundations, work-readiness and pre-GED youth programs.

Under the leadership of third-generation owner, Charles F. Wonderlic Jr., Wonderlic, Inc. remains a family-run business with a deep commitment to developing the strategic services and technologies to help our clients reach their goals.

Who We Are

Wonderlic, Inc. is the recognized leader in development, delivery and support of educational and employment assessments and surveys. Professionally developed products and services enable schools and educators to increase the quality and efficiency around both student admissions and student placement processes resulting in improved retention. Wonderlic capabilities also touch every phase of the hiring process - employee recruitment, selection, development, and retention - and are relied upon by educational institutions worldwide. Wonderlic is an approved test publisher with the U.S. Department of Education and recognized by all major accrediting associations.

Experienced...

Wonderlic, Inc. has helped thousands of clients select and keep the talent they need to achieve their goals. For more than 70 years, organizations have used our well-known solutions to qualify more than 150 million applicants worldwide.

Trusted...

Wonderlic provides a wide range of products and services to organizations of all sizes, in virtually every industry in the U.S., Canada and around the world. Wonderlic's measurement psychologists and subject matter experts customize their tools and technologies to create integrated solutions with measurable results.

Respected...

Wonderlic supports the entire student and employment processes, from online recruiting, admissions, hiring and retention. We deliver practical, proven solutions that make it easy for organizations to attract, qualify, train and develop individuals.