Indeed Assessments: How the Skills Tests Work & How to Do Well

Indeed Assessments are short, online skills tests run by the Indeed job site. They measure practical, job-related abilities such as customer service judgment, attention to detail, basic math, typing speed and software skills, and they report the result as a proficiency level rather than a raw score.

There are two ways you will meet them. Some employers attach an assessment to a job posting, so you are asked to complete it while applying or shortly afterward. Separately, Indeed lets job seekers take assessments voluntarily and display the results on their profile, as a way to prove skills that are hard to show on a resume.

Unlike the cognitive ability tests used by large corporate employers, such as the SHL tests or the Criteria CCAT, most Indeed Assessments test specific, learnable job skills. That is good news: targeted practice can make a real difference to your result.

Indeed Assessments are popular with employers hiring at volume for hourly and entry-level roles, such as customer service, retail, administrative, call center, warehouse and bookkeeping positions. They let a hiring manager sort a large pile of applications quickly without buying a separate testing platform.

• Screening: employers can review or sort applicants by assessment result, and some only progress candidates at or above a chosen level.
• Tie-breaking: when resumes look similar, a stronger result can move you up the list.
• Interview focus: some interviewers use a weaker area as a talking point, so be ready to discuss it.
• Skill evidence: for career changers or first-time job seekers, a strong voluntary result can show capability that work history does not.

An assessment is rarely the only factor. Employers still read your application, and most will interview before hiring. If you have been asked to complete one, it is usually a sign your application is being actively considered, so complete it promptly. For the bigger picture of where these tests fit, see our guide to pre-employment assessment tests.

Indeed’s library is large and changes over time, but most assessments fall into a few families. The table shows typical examples and the closest preparation guide on our site.

The assessment name shown in the posting or invitation tells you which family you are facing. If you are not sure what a test covers, Indeed generally shows a short description and estimated time before you begin, so read it before clicking start.

Indeed does not show a percentage or a pass mark. Instead, each result is reported as a proficiency level. The levels are typically:

Levels are relative to Indeed’s scoring for that specific assessment, so a Proficient in typing and a Proficient in Excel are not directly comparable. Employers decide how much weight to give the level for their role.

Visibility

When an employer requests an assessment for a job, that employer receives the result with your application. Assessments you take voluntarily sit on your Indeed profile, and Indeed gives you controls over whether they are shown. Review your profile’s assessment or skills settings regularly, especially before applying to jobs where a weaker result could be visible.

These examples are written by us to illustrate the formats. They are not real Indeed questions, and searching for "Indeed assessment answers" will not give you the actual items: banks are large and questions vary. Practicing the skill is what works.

Indeed limits how often you can take the same assessment, and a waiting period applies before a retake. The exact rule is set by Indeed and has changed over time, so read the assessment page before starting. Assume you have one attempt that matters for the job you are applying to.

• Many assessments are timed, either overall or per question, and the clock usually keeps running if you switch tabs.
• You often cannot go back to change an answer once you move on, so read each question fully.
• Leaving partway through can submit what you have done or count as an attempt.
• Outside help is not allowed. Indeed asks you to complete assessments yourself, without assistance.

If you have a disability that affects timed testing, contact the employer before starting to ask about accommodations. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers must consider reasonable accommodation requests.

Applicants often meet several testing platforms in the same job search. Knowing which one you are facing helps you prepare the right way.

The key difference is that Indeed Assessments are mostly knowledge and skill checks, while SHL and CCAT focus on reasoning speed. If an employer later sends you a cognitive test, switch your preparation to timed aptitude test practice.

• Identify the exact assessment. Note its name from the job posting or invitation and read Indeed’s description and time estimate.
• Practice the underlying skill. Run timed typing drills, rebuild your mental math, or work through common Excel functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, COUNTIF, VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP, IF and sorting and filtering.
• Use a computer, not a phone. A full keyboard and larger screen help with typing, data entry and spreadsheet tasks.
• Set up a quiet session. Close other tabs, silence notifications, and use a reliable connection so a dropout does not cost you an attempt.
• Read every option. In customer-service items, the best answer usually combines empathy, honesty and action within policy.
• Pace yourself. On timed tests, do not sink too long into one item; keep moving.
• Be consistent on work-style items. Answer honestly and keep the role in mind rather than guessing what is "wanted".

Once you pass the assessment stage, interviews usually follow quickly. For hourly roles, our guide to customer service interview questions covers what comes next. To sharpen numeracy and reasoning, try our free timed practice tests.