I took the Wonderlic test and failed it. Before you look down on a draft prospect’s score, you should try it too

The Wonderlic test is one of subplots of evert NFL Combine. While most people focus on the physical test results, the Wonderlic puts the mental makeup of draft prospects to the test. Developed in 1936, its use in NFL evaluation is attributed to former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry.

Potential draftees have 12 minutes to answer 50 questions.

So I wanted to know: Just how hard is it?

From my very unofficial experience: Pretty friggin’ hard. I only finished 25 of the 50 questions before the time ran out on a sample wonderlic test website, but did get 15 of them right.

I probably had the wrong strategy, and some pretty suspect time management. But if I blazed through the test and answered more questions, I expect I would have gotten more wrong because the questions are designed to trip you up.

Here are a few samples:

For reference, this 2015 table lists all the Wonderlic scores for starting QBs in the league at that time.

Many of the scores in the 20s or 30s.

Like everything about the pre-draft process, the Wonderlic test should be just one of a complex tapestry of player evaluation. There’s also nothing to suggest that proficiency on the test is indicative one way or the other of on-field success.

There are myriad problems with the fact that the Wonderlic test is still used and how much is extrapolated from it.

A wonderlic result doesn’t take into account a players’ level of test anxiety or other factors such as educational training for standardized tests in the past. Also just because a player is “book smart” doesn’t mean he lacks the incredible amount of skill in mental processing and spatial awareness that it takes to score a touchdown or make a tackle.

But next time you see a bad Wonderlic test reported, take a whack at it yourself and understand that it’s not as easy as it sounds.