The Walmart Assessment Test: A Detailed Guide
Nov 11, 2024The Walmart Retail Associate Assessment is part of the recruitment process for hourly workers at Walmart. It is an online assessment that must be passed, along with the other parts of the recruitment process, for you to be considered for a position at Walmart.
In this guide, you will learn more about what you can expect from the Walmart Hiring test, what you will be evaluated on, and how you can best prepare so that you can pass and get the job you want.
What Is the Walmart Assessment Test?
The Walmart Retail Associate Assessment is the test that you will take if you have applied for an hourly role like being a cashier, an order filler, or a personal shopper.
You must pass all aspects of the assessment to be considered for the position you have applied for.
The test itself looks at your soft skills, such as decision making, customer service, and time management.
It is split into four sections:
- Work With Customers/Members and Associates
- Handle Customer/Member Transactions
- Tell Us Your Story
- Describe Your Approach
There are two other online Walmart tests used in recruitment – the Walmart Teaming Employment Assessment (TEA), sometimes called the Walmart Team Lead Assessment, that is used for supervisory or team leader applications.
There is also the Walmart Manager Employment Assessment (MEA), sometimes referred to as the Walmart Assessment Test for Managers, for managerial roles.
These are similar in structure, but the content is more aimed at leadership facets of the role, such as time and people management.
For example, in the TEA, you will need to answer situational judgment questions that are about prioritizing activities to help you manage your day, while the MEA will also ask numerical reasoning-style questions based on managerial decisions that will help you run your business.
There is also the Walmart Maintenance Technician Test (sometimes referred to as the Walmart Maintenance Assessment Test).
Walmart Assessment Test Sections
Work With Customers/Members and Associates
In this section of the assessment, you will be provided with the description of an everyday scenario you might be expected to deal with in store.
You will be asked to use your best judgment to find the most appropriate response to the situation. You will have to choose from one of the provided responses.
Be careful, as sometimes you might be asked to choose the response that is least likely to help the given situation, so it is important you read the question properly.
Handle Customer/Member Transactions
In this section, you will be asked to use a cash drawer to manage a few transactions. This will demonstrate that you have some basic math knowledge and that you are proficient in learning new computer systems.
It’s best if you complete this section quickly – if you are working as a cashier, for example, you will be expected to process transactions quickly and accurately.
Tell Us Your Story
This section of the assessment is all about collation biographical data. You will be asked to answer questions about your education and job history. These might include questions about how you think your previous colleagues would describe working with you.
This might be one of the most straightforward parts of the Walmart Hiring Assessment Test, but it is important that you are truthful about your experience and history – they will check. If this is your first job, you can use examples from school or college.
Describe Your Approach
This section of the assessment is a personality test. You will be presented with a statement, and you will have to choose how well you think that statement describes you at work.
It is best to answer these questions honestly, and don’t linger too long on your answers to try and pick the one you think the recruiter is looking for. It is perfectly normal for there to be several statements about similar personality aspects, so you might get confused if you are trying to ‘game’ the system.
Go with your instincts and answer with your first response.
Walmart Assessment Test Example Questions
Customer Service
This section assesses the candidate’s ability to handle customer interactions effectively.
Example Question 1:
A customer approaches you, visibly upset about a defective product they purchased. What is your best response?
a) Tell the customer to return it to the manufacturer.
b) Listen to the customer’s concerns and offer a solution.
c) Apologize and walk away.
d) Suggest they shouldn’t have bought it.
The correct answer is: b) Listen to the customer’s concerns and offer a solution.
This question tests the candidate's ability to handle customer complaints effectively and empathetically.
Example Question 2:
You are working during a busy shopping period, and a customer asks for help finding an item.
What should you do?
a) Tell them to look it up online.
b) Offer to assist them in locating the item.
c) Ignore the request and continue your work.
d) Direct them to another employee.
The correct answer is: b) Offer to assist them in locating the item.
This question assesses the candidate’s commitment to customer service and willingness to assist customers.
Numerical Reasoning
This section evaluates the candidate’s ability to work with numerical data and basic math skills.
Example Question 1:
If a shirt costs $15 and there is a 20% discount, what is the sale price of the shirt?
a) $10
b) $12
c) $15
d) $18
The correct answer is: b) $12
This question tests the candidate's ability to calculate percentages (20% of $15 is $3, so $15 – $3 = $12).
Example Question 2:
A store has 240 items in stock. If 60 items are sold, what percentage of the items remains?
a) 20%
b) 25%
c) 75%
d) 80%
The correct answer is: d) 80%
This question evaluates the candidate's understanding of basic percentages (240 – 60 = 180; 180 is 75% of 240, leaving 80% remaining).
Situational Judgment
This section assesses the candidate’s decision-making skills in hypothetical retail situations.
Example Question 1:
You notice a coworker consistently arriving late to their shift.
What should you do?
a) Ignore it, as it’s not your responsibility.
b) Confront them aggressively about it.
c) Report them to a manager immediately.
d) Speak to them privately and express your concerns.
The correct answer is: d) Speak to them privately and express your concerns.
This question tests the candidate's ability to handle interpersonal issues in a constructive manner.
Example Question 2:
During a busy period, a customer is upset about a long wait at the checkout.
What is the best way to handle the situation?
a) Tell them they should have come earlier.
b) Apologize for the wait and inform them that help is on the way.
c) Ignore them and focus on your tasks.
d) Ask them to leave if they are unhappy.
The correct answer is: b) Apologize for the wait and inform them that help is on the way.
This question evaluates the candidate's ability to remain calm and professional under pressure while addressing customer concerns.
How to Prepare for the Walmart Assessment Test
Understand the Job Role
Jobs at Walmart are varied, so the job description is the best place to go to understand not only what is expected of you, but what the recruiters are looking for in the perfect candidate.
This knowledge will help you focus on presenting the right aspects of your personality and decision-making skills when you are answering the questions.
Familiarize Yourself With Common Scenarios
Scenario-based questions can often be the most daunting for the candidates, because they are not designed to have obviously right or wrong answers.
This is important, though, as Walmart is looking for candidates who are able to demonstrate specific decision-making skills. It is also looking for those candidates who can use their best judgment to get a preferred outcome, especially in situations that might be a little fraught or uncomfortable.
Practice Problem-Solving and Judgment Skills
If you are working in a fast-paced retail environment, you will need to be able to make good decisions under pressure.
Practicing these skills with online practice tests will ensure that you are not only used to the structure of these sorts of assessments, but that you are able to answer questions quickly, too.
You can use these practice answers for the Walmart Assessment Test to determine your weakest areas, which can help you direct your study.
Take Online Practice Tests
You can prepare your decision-making skills and focus on the facets of your personality that match the ideal candidate that Walmart is looking for. But if you don’t take practice tests then it could all fall apart on test day.
Answering questions, using your judgment skills, and having the ability to look at yourself deeply enough to answer personality test questions under time pressure is completely different from studying – so practice tests are the ideal way to make the most of your preparation time.
This is where using your practice answers for the Walmart Assessment Test will come in handy, as they can help you determine your weak areas, which will allow you to focus your study.
What to Expect on the Walmart Assessment Test Day
Before the Test
Make sure that you have had enough rest, and that you are well fed and hydrated before you take the test.
It is delivered online, so you need to make sure that you have a good internet connection and that you are somewhere where you won’t be disturbed. You want to be able to give your full attention to the assessment.
During the Test
When you are taking the Walmart Hourly Retail Associate Assessment, you need to work quickly and accurately – but it is important that you read the questions thoroughly before answering.
Remember that for some questions you might be required to rank responses, while others will be looking for the worst answer.
After the Test
Your test results will be submitted to the hiring team, and you might not know what they are until you are invited to the next stage of the hiring process.
If you have any questions about this, it’s a good idea to direct them to the recruiters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I retake the Walmart Assessment Test if I don’t pass?
It is possible to retake the Walmart Assessment if you do not pass, but you do have to wait six months. Use this time wisely to better prepare so that you are more confident in your abilities to pass.
How long does the Walmart Assessment Test take to complete?
There is no time limit in the Walmart Assessment test, but it usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes or so to complete.
What score do I need to pass the Walmart Assessment Test?
The scoring for the Walmart Hourly Retail Associate Assessment is done using a ranking system: poor, good, competitive, and excellent.
You will not necessarily know your score in the test, but your performance will dictate whether you will progress further.
Are there different tests for different Walmart roles?
The Retail Associate Assessment is used for most hourly positions. Leadership applicants will take the Walmart Teaming Employment Assessment (sometimes called the Walmart Team Lead Assessment) or the Walmart Managers Employment Assessment.
There is also the Walmart Maintenance Technician Test (sometimes referred to as the Walmart Maintenance Assessment Test).
How should I prepare for the personality section of the test?
You won’t necessarily need to prepare for the personality section of the test; you just need to answer honestly. You can practice personality tests that ask you how much you think a statement describes you to get a feel for the structure of this section.
Final Thoughts
Walmart recruiters rely on the Retail Associate Assessment to help them find the right people for the job. So if you want to be considered, you need to demonstrate the soft skills and personality types that they are looking for.
Understanding the test structure and what to expect is an important part of this, but you need to make sure that you are being honest for the best results.
You can practice answering similar questions and using your best situational judgment skills in your everyday life to help you feel more confident when it comes to test day.
