Updated July 2026
ADEPT-15 Sample Questions: Real Examples + Free Mock Test
The Aon ADEPT-15 is a forced-choice personality test. On each screen it shows you two statements and asks how strongly each one describes you — you pick a side on a scale (totally / rather / slightly). There is no “pick 3 of 4”: just two statements, one choice. Below: how it really works, five worked examples, and a free 10-question mock in the exact format.
The real tension — which one is more like you?
1/10Both answers are strengths — that is the trap. The format forces a trade-off, and the pattern of your trade-offs is the profile.
The full report, live
Your profile, judged against the role's target zones
All 15 dimensions · role-specific targets · question-level risks
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Free ADEPT-15 practice test — 100 forced-choice pairs in the real format, instant AI report, no credit card.
Try a free 10-question mock
Ten pairs in the exact ADEPT-15 format. At the end you'll see a compatibility preview and your alerts.
Indicate how much each statement describes you — like the real test.
I double-check every detail before I call a task done.
I move fast and fix issues as they surface.
See all 10 statements (full text)
- 1. Statement A: I double-check every detail before I call a task done. — Statement B: I move fast and fix issues as they surface.
- 2. Statement A: I speak up first when I disagree in a meeting. — Statement B: I listen fully before I weigh in.
- 3. Statement A: Unexpected changes to a plan energize me. — Statement B: I do my best work when the plan is stable.
- 4. Statement A: I set my bar higher than what's asked of me. — Statement B: I reliably hit the agreed target, no more.
- 5. Statement A: I stay calm when everything goes wrong at once. — Statement B: Pressure makes it hard for me to focus.
- 6. Statement A: I push my idea until the team commits to it. — Statement B: I look for a compromise everyone accepts.
- 7. Statement A: I enjoy meeting many new people at work. — Statement B: I prefer deep focus with a few people.
- 8. Statement A: I plan my week in detail in advance. — Statement B: I keep my days flexible and adapt as I go.
- 9. Statement A: I trust the data over instinct when deciding. — Statement B: I trust my gut when I must decide fast.
- 10. Statement A: I openly share credit and involve others. — Statement B: I take full ownership and drive it myself.
The ADEPT-15 format in one minute
Each item shows two short statements, each mapped to a different personality dimension. You indicate which one is more like you and how strongly. Choosing statement A pushes its dimension up relative to B's; you can't inflate both. The test runs roughly 100 pairs in 20–30 minutes and is adaptive — later pairs are chosen based on your earlier answers.
The ADEPT-15 measures fifteen narrow dimensions under the Big Five: Composure and Positivity (Emotional Stability); Assertiveness, Sociability and Vitality (Extraversion); Humility, Cooperation and Empathy (Agreeableness); Drive, Discipline and Diligence (Conscientiousness); Innovation, Curiosity and Flexibility (Openness); and Sensitivity as a meta-trait. Your report shows sten scores (1–10) per dimension, a consistency indicator, and a narrative.
Five worked examples
Each pair forces two genuinely desirable traits against each other — that's what makes it hard. Pick the one that fits the role you're targeting, and answer consistently.
Pair 1
Statement A
I double-check every detail before I call a task done.
Statement B
I move fast and fix issues as they surface.
A → rigour & detail: audit, finance, compliance, safety. B → drive & speed: startups, sales, ops. You can't score high on both — the right answer is the one your target role rewards.
Pair 2
Statement A
When the team is deadlocked, I push my position until we commit.
Statement B
When the team is deadlocked, I steer everyone toward a compromise.
A → assertiveness & leadership: management, sales, trading. B → cooperation: consulting delivery, HR, healthcare. The same answer that wins one job sinks another.
Pair 3
Statement A
I set my targets higher than asked, even under pressure.
Statement B
I hold a steady, sustainable pace and keep my composure.
A → ambition & drive: investment banking, consulting. B → emotional stability: operations, aviation, healthcare, crisis roles. Neither is 'better' — it's about fit.
Pair 4
Statement A
I'd rather rethink a process than keep one that merely works.
Statement B
I'd rather perfect a proven process than swap it for something new.
A → openness & innovation: product, R&D, strategy. B → structure & reliability: quality, compliance, operations. Pick 'whatever sounds impressive' and your ~100 answers contradict each other — the algorithm sees it.
Pair 5
Statement A
I feel energised meeting many new people at work.
Statement B
I do my best thinking with deep focus and a few people.
A → sociability: sales, client-facing, BD. B → reflectiveness & focus: research, engineering, analytical finance. There's no universally right pole — only the one that matches the role.
What your pattern tells the recruiter
Individual pairs don't matter — the ADEPT-15 is scored globally across ~100 pairs. The recruiter sees the shape of your profile (your peaks and valleys) and a consistency score, then asks one question: does this shape fit the role? A profile that's all peaks, or completely flat, reads as gamed or uninterpretable — both hurt you.
Three mistakes that cost candidates
1. Answering each pair in isolation. Pair 47 is compared to all the others; contradictions get detected. 2. Reverse-engineering. Trying to guess the “right” dimension and game it produces a low consistency score. 3. Trying to score high on everything. Mathematically impossible in forced-choice — you end up flat and uninterpretable. Know your own ranking of the traits and answer it honestly and consistently.
How to prepare effectively
Reading examples builds intuition, but the real difficulty is holding consistency across ~100 pairs while reading and ranking under time pressure. Run a full practice test, read the report, note the uncomfortable dimensions, then run it again with better self-awareness. By the second or third run you answer in a natural flow because you know your own profile instead of inventing it live.
Persona Prep generates adaptive forced-choice practice in the exact ADEPT-15 two-statement format, with a detailed report (sten scores, consistency indicator, per-dimension target zones for your role) and an AI coach. A full practice test is free, no card required.
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