Here's How to Find Out (And What to Do About It)
Great CV, good interviews… no offers. If this sounds familiar, hiring assessments might be the invisible filter blocking your applications before humans ever see them.
Most candidates think the hiring process looks like this: Application → Interview → Offer. But in 2026, there's an invisible step that filters out 60-75% of applicants before any human reviews their CV.
Here's the real funnel at most mid-to-large companies:
Your CV is scanned for basic qualifications and keywords. Pass rate: ~40-50%
Automated test measuring reasoning, speed, and accuracy. Pass rate: ~25-40%
A recruiter finally looks at your application. Only 10-20% of original applicants reach this stage
Phone screen, technical rounds, final interviews
If you're getting rejected quickly (within 24-48 hours) with no feedback, you're likely failing at Step 2 — the cognitive assessment. Companies don't tell you this because they don't want to discourage applicants or face legal challenges.
The assessment isn't testing your knowledge or experience. It's testing how you think under pressure — and most candidates have never practiced this specific skill.
How do you know if cognitive assessments are blocking you? Here are the telltale patterns:
You're rejected within 24-72 hours, often with an automated email saying "we've decided to move forward with other candidates."
The rejection email is generic. No mention of skills gaps, experience mismatches, or specific reasons.
You're getting rejected at the same stage across multiple companies in the same industry (tech, finance, consulting).
Your CV matches the job description. You have the right degree, years of experience, and relevant skills — but still no interviews.
"I applied to 47 marketing roles at tech companies. My CV was perfect — 5 years experience, MBA, strong portfolio. I got 3 interviews. Then I took a practice cognitive assessment and scored in the 42nd percentile for processing speed. I spent 2 weeks training that specific skill, retested, and jumped to the 78th percentile. My interview rate tripled."
— Sarah M., Marketing Manager, San Francisco
Companies use these assessments because they predict job performance better than CVs or interviews. But they never tell you your score or which section you failed. You're left guessing — unless you test yourself first.
Here's what surprises most people: hiring assessments don't test your knowledge, education, or work experience. They test how your brain processes information under time pressure.
How quickly you can understand and respond to new information
Your ability to identify patterns, solve problems, and make logical connections
How much information you can hold and manipulate simultaneously
Whether you maintain accuracy when time is limited
You can have a perfect CV and still fail these tests if you haven't trained your cognitive processing skills. The good news? These skills are trainable — but only if you know which ones need work.
See how you compare to the thresholds companies actually use
Start Free AssessmentMost people assume they're "just not good at tests." But the reality is more specific: you're likely weak in one or two cognitive domains, and that's dragging down your entire score.
Here's how to identify your specific bottleneck:
Use a test that measures multiple cognitive domains separately (not just a single "IQ score"). This shows you exactly where you're strong and where you're losing points.
Example: You might score 85th percentile in logical reasoning but only 35th percentile in processing speed. That speed bottleneck is what's failing you.
Look for the domain where you scored lowest. This is your bottleneck — the skill that's filtering you out of hiring processes.
Speed vs Accuracy
Do you run out of time or make careless errors?
Logic vs Memory
Can you solve problems but forget instructions?
If your scores vary wildly between attempts, the issue isn't ability — it's test anxiety or lack of familiarity with the format.
Solution: Practice under timed conditions until the format feels automatic. Your scores will stabilize and improve.
Based on 127,000+ assessment attempts, 2024-2026
Get a detailed breakdown of your cognitive strengths and weaknesses
Get Your BreakdownOnce you know your bottleneck, the solution is surprisingly straightforward: focused improvement beats general practice.
Here's what actually works:
Practice timed pattern recognition exercises (5-10 min/day)
Use a timer to create artificial pressure during practice
Retest every 7 days to validate improvement
Expected timeline: Most people see 15-25% speed improvement in 2-3 weeks
Practice dual n-back exercises (proven to improve working memory)
Start with 2-back, progress to 3-back over 2 weeks
Practice holding multiple pieces of information while solving problems
Expected timeline: Working memory improvements typically show in 3-4 weeks
Slow down deliberately — aim for 95%+ accuracy first
Gradually increase speed while maintaining accuracy
Practice "double-checking" strategies that take <2 seconds
Expected timeline: Accuracy improvements can show in 1-2 weeks with focused practice
Practice abstract reasoning puzzles (matrices, sequences)
Learn pattern recognition strategies (rotation, reflection, progression)
Start with easier puzzles and gradually increase difficulty
Expected timeline: Logical reasoning improves steadily over 3-6 weeks
Don't practice everything. Identify your one weakest domain and focus 80% of your practice time there. This targeted approach produces faster, more measurable results than generic "brain training."
"I was failing every assessment at the same stage. Took a baseline test and discovered I was in the 28th percentile for working memory — everything else was fine. Spent 3 weeks doing n-back exercises, 10 minutes per day. Retested and jumped to 71st percentile. Got 4 interview invitations in the next 2 weeks."
— Marcus T., Data Analyst, London
Everything you need to know about cognitive screening tests
Continue learning about cognitive assessments and career development
Complete guide to preparing for pre-employment assessments without guessing
Why thinking speed matters more than memorized answers in modern interviews
Understanding intelligence testing and what your score really means
Take the same kind of cognitive assessment employers use — and discover what to train first