The McQuaig Word Survey Test is a widely used workplace personality assessment designed to measure behavioral tendencies, work style, and motivational drivers. Developed by McQuaig Psychometrics, this test is commonly used by employers across banking, sales, management, customer service, and professional roles to improve hiring accuracy and reduce turnover.
What Is the McQuaig Word Survey Test?
The McQuaig Word Survey is a self-descriptive personality assessment. Candidates are presented with lists of descriptive words and asked to choose the words that best and least describe them in a work environment.
Unlike aptitude tests, this assessment does not measure intelligence or technical skill. Instead, it focuses on behavioral preferences, such as how a person communicates, handles pressure, approaches tasks, and interacts with others.
What Does the McQuaig Word Survey Measure?
The assessment evaluates personality across core workplace dimensions, including:
- Assertiveness and drive
- Pace and urgency
- Sociability and communication style
- Attention to detail and structure
- Emotional resilience and stress response
Employers use these insights to predict job fit, performance style, and long-term compatibility with a role or team.
Why Employers Use the McQuaig Word Survey
From an HR and hiring-manager perspective, the McQuaig Word Survey is valuable because it:
- Highlights natural work behaviors
- Identifies strengths and potential blind spots
- Supports structured, unbiased hiring decisions
- Reduces the risk of poor role fit
- Complements interviews and skills testing
It is especially effective for roles where behavior and attitude strongly influence performance.
Common Roles That Use the McQuaig Word Survey
The McQuaig Word Survey is frequently used for:
- Banking and financial services roles
- Sales and business development positions
- Management and leadership roles
- Customer service and support
- Operations and administrative positions
Each role emphasizes different personality traits, which is why understanding the job context is essential during preparation.
How the McQuaig Word Survey Is Scored
The test does not have right or wrong answers. Instead, responses generate a behavioral profile showing:
- Core personality strengths
- Behavioral intensity levels
- Stress behavior patterns
- Motivation and work preferences
Employers compare this profile against job benchmarks, not against other candidates.
How Online Preparation Helps
Although the McQuaig Word Survey measures personality, preparation still matters. Online practice helps candidates:
- Understand the word-choice format
- Improve consistency across responses
- Reduce overthinking and hesitation
- Avoid contradictory answer patterns
- Present a credible and realistic work profile
Preparation increases self-awareness rather than changing personality.
Best Practices for McQuaig Word Survey Preparation
Effective preparation includes:
- Reviewing common workplace descriptors and meanings
- Thinking about actual work behavior, not ideal traits
- Maintaining consistency across similar words
- Avoiding extreme or unrealistic combinations
- Staying focused and answering naturally
The goal is alignment, not perfection.
Common Mistakes Candidates Make
Candidates often weaken their results by:
- Trying to guess what the employer wants
- Selecting only positive-sounding words
- Answering inconsistently across sections
- Rushing without reading word nuances
- Creating an unrealistic “perfect employee” profile
Experienced HR professionals can easily identify these patterns.
McQuaig Word Survey vs Other Personality Tests
| Aspect | McQuaig Word Survey | Forced-Choice Personality Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Question style | Word selection | Statement comparison |
| Focus | Behavioral traits | Relative preferences |
| Coaching resistance | Moderate | High |
| Job benchmarking | Strong | Strong |
| Ease of completion | High | Moderate |
Both formats are effective when used appropriately.
How Employers Use Results After the Test
Results are often used to:
- Guide structured interview questions
- Predict onboarding and coaching needs
- Assess team fit
- Support development planning
- Reduce early-stage attrition
In many cases, the survey influences how interviews are conducted, not just who advances.
McQuaig Word Survey Test – Free Sample Questions for Online Practice
Below are realistic McQuaig Word Survey sample questions that reflect the word-choice format used in the actual assessment. These examples are designed for practice and familiarity, not to indicate correct or incorrect answers.
In the real test, you are usually asked to select:
- Words that MOST describe you at work
- Words that LEAST describe you at work
How McQuaig Word Survey Questions Work
You will see lists of descriptive words. Your task is to choose the words that best reflect your natural workplace behavior, not how you would like to be seen.
There are no neutral options.
Sample Question 1 – Work Pace and Drive
Select the word that MOST describes you at work
Select the word that LEAST describes you at work
- Energetic
- Patient
- Cautious
- Forceful
Sample Question 2 – Communication Style
Choose one MOST like you and one LEAST like you
- Persuasive
- Reserved
- Talkative
- Diplomatic
Sample Question 3 – Structure and Organization
Select one word that best fits you and one that fits you least
- Organized
- Flexible
- Methodical
- Spontaneous
Sample Question 4 – Decision-Making
MOST like you / LEAST like you
- Decisive
- Thoughtful
- Hesitant
- Bold
Sample Question 5 – Working With Others
Choose one MOST and one LEAST
- Cooperative
- Independent
- Supportive
- Competitive
Sample Question 6 – Pressure and Stress
Select the word that MOST describes you under pressure and the one that LEAST describes you
- Calm
- Intense
- Anxious
- Composed
Sample Question 7 – Attention to Detail
MOST like you / LEAST like you
- Precise
- Big-picture
- Thorough
- Fast-moving
Sample Question 8 – Motivation Style
Choose one MOST and one LEAST
- Ambitious
- Content
- Driven
- Steady
Sample Question 9 – Rules and Authority
Select the word MOST like you and LEAST like you
- Compliant
- Questioning
- Structured
- Independent
Sample Question 10 – Customer and People Focus
MOST describes you / LEAST describes you
- Empathetic
- Direct
- Patient
- Detached
How These Questions Are Evaluated
The McQuaig Word Survey does not score individual words as good or bad. Instead, it analyzes:
- Patterns across many word choices
- Behavioral intensity (high vs. moderate vs. low traits)
- Consistency in how you describe yourself
- Alignment with the job’s behavioral profile
Employers compare your results to role benchmarks, not to other candidates.
Practice Tips for Better Results
- Choose words based on real work behavior, not ideals
- Avoid selecting only “positive” words
- Be consistent across similar traits
- Read each word carefully—small differences matter
- Stay authentic; exaggerated profiles are easy to spot
