How to Prepare for the Saville Wave Assessment

What is the Saville Wave?

The Saville Wave, developed by Saville Assessment (part of Willis Towers Watson), is a professional personality questionnaire used by major employers across Europe and internationally. It comes in two versions: the Wave Professional Styles (detailed, approximately 40 minutes) and the Wave Focus Styles (shorter version, approximately 13 minutes). Both measure workplace behaviors organized into 36 dimensions.

Recruiters value the Wave because it predicts job performance with high statistical validity. It measures not only what you prefer to do (your motivations) but also what you believe you do well (your perceived talents), providing a dual perspective on your profile that other tests do not offer.

The rate & rank format explained

The Wave uses a unique hybrid format called "rate & rank." Each screen presents four statements. First, you rate each statement on a Likert scale (from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree"). Then, you rank the four statements from the one that describes you most to the one that describes you least.

This dual system is designed to counter manipulation strategies. Even if you give high ratings to every statement, the forced ranking requires you to establish priorities. Inconsistencies between your ratings and rankings are analyzed and flagged in the report as a "normative consistency" indicator.

The rate & rank format is disorienting for candidates encountering it for the first time. The ranking phase takes considerable time if you are not practiced, and excessive hesitation impacts response quality.

The 36 dimensions and 4 clusters

The Wave organizes its 36 dimensions into 4 major clusters. The Thought cluster covers analysis, creativity, learning, and cognitive aspects of work. The Influence cluster measures leadership, communication, persuasion, and impact on others.

The Adaptability cluster evaluates resilience, flexibility, support for others, and emotional management at work. The Delivery cluster covers organization, work quality, results orientation, and rule compliance.

Each cluster breaks down into 3 sections, then 3 dimensions each, producing the 36-dimension granularity. The final Wave report also includes competency potential indicators and performance predictions across 12 professional domains, giving recruiters a comprehensive view of each candidate.

How the Wave differs from the OPQ32

The Wave and OPQ32 are frequently compared because they target the same market. The fundamental difference is format: the OPQ32 uses pure forced-choice (selecting between statements), while the Wave combines free rating with forced ranking. The Wave also measures motivations alongside typical behaviors.

In terms of dimensions, the OPQ32 measures 32 while the Wave measures 36. The Wave report is generally more predictive of job performance thanks to its dual measurement system. However, the OPQ32 remains more widely used globally, particularly due to SHL's extensive distribution network. Knowing which test you will face lets you focus your preparation effectively.

Preparation strategies

Master the format. The rate & rank system is the most important element to practice. Train yourself to rate and then rank groups of four statements until the process feels natural. The goal is to develop fluency so you do not waste time on test day. Format familiarity alone reduces anxiety significantly.

Identify the role profile. Analyze the job description to determine which clusters are priorities. A leadership position will emphasize Influence and Delivery. An R&D role will value Thought and Adaptability. Knowing the expectations helps you respond with clarity, not deception.

Stay consistent between rating and ranking. The biggest mistake is rating all statements positively and then ranking them arbitrarily. The system detects this inconsistency. Respond honestly during the rating phase so that your ranking follows naturally and coherently.