If you’ve been invited to take an “Assessio test,” you’ll almost always see one or both of these assessments: MAP (a Big Five–based personality questionnaire) and Matrigma (a non-verbal cognitive ability test). This guide explains formats, timing, scoring, what U.S. candidates should expect, and how to prepare—plus realistic practice tips and sample items.
What is Assessio?
Assessio is a Nordic assessment publisher whose tools are used by multinational employers for hiring and development. Their suite centers on MAP for personality and Matrigma for problem-solving ability; together they’re used to predict work-related behaviors and job performance.
The Two Core Assessio Tests
1) MAP (Personality)
- What it measures: Your typical work behaviors aligned to the Five-Factor Model (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Openness), including 25 subscales.
- Format & timing: ~200 statements, self-report questionnaire, typically ~15–20 minutes.
- Short version: MAP-Essence (~75 items) for screening; focuses on the five broad traits (no subscales).
- Risk lens: MAP-X highlights potential risks tied to extremely high/low Big Five behaviors.
U.S. tip: MAP isn’t about “right/wrong.” It builds a behavioral profile that feeds job-fit models (“lenses”) used by hiring teams. Consistency and job-relevant honesty matter more than trying to “game” items.
2) Matrigma (Cognitive Ability)
- What it measures: General Mental Ability (GMA) and fluid reasoning using non-verbal pattern matrices (abstract shape logic).
- Versions & timing:
- Classic Matrigma: 35 items in 40 minutes.
- Adaptive Matrigma: ~12 minutes, items adapt to your performance (about up to 60 seconds per item).
- Item style: 3×3 visual matrices, conceptually similar to Raven’s Progressive Matrices.
- Accessibility: Because it’s non-verbal, it reduces language demands and is widely used across roles in the U.S.
How Scores Work
- Raw → C-Score → Percentile: Scores are converted to C-scores (0–10) and then to percentiles (0–100). As a rough guide, 0–3 = below average, 3–7 = average, 7–10 = above average.
- Match Scores (Job Fit): Personality + GMA feed into a lens-based match score (0–100) for a specific role profile; 80–100 = very strong match, with “strong” and “average” more typical.
- Potential Scores: A summary view of Big Five + GMA regardless of a specific job lens.
U.S. Hiring Context: Where You’ll See Assessio
Global companies hiring in the U.S. may include Assessio tools in early screening for roles like analyst, engineer, supervisor, customer success, sales trainee, and management trainee, because GMA plus personality predicts on-the-job learning and behavior. Assessio distributes its tools through partners, so availability varies by employer.
Test Formats at a Glance
| Test | Purpose | Format | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAP | Personality (Big Five + subscales) | ~200 self-report statements | ~15–20 min |
| MAP-Essence | Screening personality | ~75 statements (no subscales) | Shorter |
| MAP-X | Risk/derailers lens | Interprets extreme Big Five patterns | N/A (interpretive) |
| Matrigma Classic | Non-verbal GMA | 35 visual matrices | 40 min |
| Matrigma Adaptive | Non-verbal GMA (IRT) | Timed adaptive stream | ~12 min |
Preparation Strategy (U.S. Candidates)
For Matrigma
- Learn the pattern families: progression (size/number), rotation, reflection/mirroring, arithmetic changes, “odd-one-out,” overlay/occlusion, and position shifts. Drill recognition speed.
- Practice timed sets: Simulate 40-minute/35-item and 12-minute adaptive runs. Focus on first-pass accuracy; mark and move on when stuck past ~45 seconds.
- Use elimination: In 3×3 matrices, remove options that break row/column rules (e.g., duplicated symbols, wrong rotation parity).
- Warm-up cognition: Quick sets (5–7 items) before the real test to “prime” visual reasoning.
- Environment: Quiet room, stable internet, full-screen view; adaptive versions penalize hesitation more than the classic.
For MAP
- Answer consistently and job-realistically: Choose the response that reflects your usual work behavior.
- Avoid over-managing impressions: Mixed extreme responding can trigger risk flags (via MAP-X).
- Anchor to work examples: Think “how I typically act with teammates/stakeholders,” not “what the ideal person would say.”
- Pace: Don’t overthink neutral vs. agree—be truthful and steady.
Sample Practice (Original Examples)
Matrigma-style (text approximations)
- Each row shows one black triangle moving 90° clockwise and one gray square increasing by +1 dot. What completes the third row?
Approach: Apply both rules to row 3 → triangle rotated + gray square with +1 dot vs. row 2 → pick the option matching both. - Symbols in each column alternate solid → outline → solid while shape edges increase 3 → 4 → 5. Choose the missing bottom-right cell.
- Rows sum to a fixed count of stripes (9) with distributions shifting left by –1 per column. Fill the blank with the stripe count that preserves both rules.
MAP-style (typical statements)
- “I double-check details even under tight deadlines.”
- “I stay calm when plans change at the last minute.”
- “I enjoy exploring unconventional ideas before deciding.”
Respond on the provided agree/disagree scale; answer how you usually behave at work.
Results, Retakes, and Language Options
- Languages: MAP supports many languages, and Matrigma is designed to minimize language demands; U.S. administrations commonly use English.
- Retakes: Retakes are admin-controlled (e.g., for technical issues). Employers can authorize a reset or allow a retest in the platform.
- Score reuse and versioning: Classic vs. Adaptive Matrigma results aren’t always interchangeable across systems; older results may not be reusable.
FAQs
Is there a pass/fail cutoff?
No. Employers usually look at match scores to a specific role profile and compare percentile ranges rather than a single “pass” number.
Which version of Matrigma will I get?
Invitations usually state Classic (40:35) or Adaptive (~12 min).
Can test anxiety hurt my performance?
Yes—especially on adaptive Matrigma where early hesitations cost time. Use short warm-ups, steady pacing, and elimination.
Is MAP “coach-proof”?
MAP is designed to capture habitual behaviors; consistent faking is difficult and may surface as risk tendencies (via MAP-X). Honest, job-relevant answers perform best.
Will dyslexia or math anxiety affect Matrigma?
Matrigma is non-verbal and minimizes language/numeracy demands, which helps reduce that risk.
How fast should I work on Classic Matrigma?
Roughly 1 minute per item on average (less on early items, more on late ones).
What if my score seems inconsistent across attempts?
Some employers request a controlled retest to verify conditions and ensure fairness.
7-Day Mini-Plan (Time-Saver)
- Day 1–2: Learn pattern families; complete two 20-minute practice blocks.
- Day 3: One Classic Matrigma simulation (40:35). Review misses by pattern type.
- Day 4: Two Adaptive sprints (2×12 minutes). Aim for decisions <45s.
- Day 5: Personality prep: reflect on recent projects and your typical behaviors (ownership, collaboration, handling change).
- Day 6: Mixed drills (15 classic items + 1 adaptive run).
- Day 7: Light warm-up, sleep, hydration, distraction-free setup.
