The Arctic Shores assessment has no questions at all. You complete up to nine short interactive tasks, and the way you play is used to infer work-relevant traits. It is common in UK graduate recruitment, including at some law firms and Teach First. This page covers what the Arctic Shores assessment is, its format and timings, how it is scored, the rules to know before you start, how to prepare and a practice plan.
What the Arctic Shores assessment is
Arctic Shores now calls it a task-based assessment; it used to be widely described as game-based. Rather than testing knowledge, it measures behavior such as how you respond to risk, change and pressure. Norton Rose Fulbright's graduate recruitment page names Arctic Shores, and Teach First has described a task-based assessment.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive tasks | Up to nine short tasks, such as reacting, choosing and adapting | No overall time limit |
| Practice task | Optional demo on Arctic Shores' site | A few minutes |
Total: no overall time limit; employers suggest setting aside about 35 to 60 minutes or 15 to 50 minutes.
How it is scored
- Results are shown on a 1 to 10 spectrum against a norm group, and Arctic Shores says the report has no better or worse ends.
- The employer decides how results are used.
- Automatic feedback is given only if the employer turns it on.
Rules to know before you start
- There are no right answers, so do not try to game the tasks.
- Use a device no more than four years old, on stable Wi-Fi and fully charged, with notifications off.
- Retakes are not stated officially; a prep blog reports that retakes in the same hiring round are generally not allowed.
How to prepare
- Do the practice task first so the controls are familiar.
- Read every instruction screen fully before starting a task.
- Work somewhere free of distractions and finish in one sitting.
- Play naturally; consistent, attentive play is what the tasks measure.
A practice plan
- Day 1: read the employer's invitation for which tests you will take, then do the publisher's official practice questions untimed.
- Days 2 and 3: timed practice on your weakest test type, reviewing every mistake.
- Days 4 and 5: full timed runs in the same browser and device you will use.
- Day 6: rest, check your setup, and plan a quiet time slot.
- Day 7: take the test in one sitting, early in the deadline window.
Related guides: UK assessment centres, the SHL assessment, what an online assessment is.
On the day, and the mistakes to avoid
- Open the invitation early and note the deadline, the tests included and the time each takes.
- Use a laptop or desktop with a current browser, on a stable connection, with notifications silenced.
- Have paper, a pen and, if the instructions allow it, a calculator ready before you start.
- Read every instruction and example screen; formats differ more than people expect.
- Take the tests in a quiet room in one sitting, at a time of day when you are sharp.
- If something breaks, take a screenshot, note the time and contact the employer straight away.
Mistakes that cost candidates:
- Treating untimed or 'as many as you can' tests casually: speed and accuracy are usually both recorded.
- Bringing outside knowledge into reasoning items that must be judged only on the information given.
- Answering personality questions as the 'ideal' candidate instead of honestly, which shows up as inconsistency.
- Starting on a phone when the publisher recommends a computer.
- Leaving the test until the deadline, when any technical problem becomes fatal.
What happens after the Arctic Shores assessment
Results usually go to the employer, who compares them with the profile for the role. Shortlisted candidates move on to a video interview, an assessment centre or a first interview, so start preparing for those while you wait. For the next stage, see our guide to online assessments.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
Online assessments are tests you take on your own: outside help is not allowed, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or a second voice. Practice beforehand instead. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview prepares you for the interviews that follow the assessment, with questions built from your résumé and the job description and each spoken answer scored out of ten. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Read the invitation carefully and follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Arctic Shores assessment a game?
It used to be called game-based; Arctic Shores now calls it task-based. You complete up to nine interactive tasks rather than answering questions.
How long does Arctic Shores take?
There is no overall time limit. Employers advise setting aside about 35 to 60 minutes.
Can you fail the Arctic Shores assessment?
There are no right answers. Your results are compared with a norm group and the employer decides how to use them.
Can I retake it?
It is not stated officially; reports suggest retakes in the same hiring round are generally not allowed.
Can I use AI tools during the Arctic Shores assessment?
No, unless the instructions explicitly allow it. Assessments are meant to be taken on your own, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or pasted code. Use AI tools to practice beforehand, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview