Thomas International's hiring tests come in three main parts: the GIA, five timed aptitude tasks of 2 to 5 minutes each; a DISC-based Behaviour questionnaire of about 8 minutes; and the HPTI personality questionnaire of 78 statements. The GIA runs only on a desktop or laptop, which catches out candidates who start on a phone. This page covers what the Thomas International 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 Thomas International assessment is
Thomas International is a UK test publisher. Its General Intelligence Assessment (GIA) looks at how quickly you pick up new information, which employers often read as trainability. The Behaviour assessment, long known as the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA), uses the DISC model: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance. The High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI) measures six traits: Conscientiousness, Adjustment, Curiosity, Risk Approach, Ambiguity Acceptance and Competitiveness. Thomas also sells an emotional intelligence questionnaire, the TEIQue.
UK employers often place Thomas tests before an interview or assessment centre; see our UK assessment centre guide for the stage that follows.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| GIA 1: Reasoning | Read a statement comparing two people, then answer a question about it after the statement disappears | 2 to 5 minutes after 8 practice items |
| GIA 2: Perceptual Speed | Count how many of four letter pairs match; a capital and a small letter count as the same | 2 to 5 minutes after 8 practice items |
| GIA 3: Number Speed and Accuracy | Of three numbers, decide whether the highest or the lowest is further from the remaining one | 2 to 5 minutes after 8 practice items |
| GIA 4: Word Meaning | Pick the odd word out of three | 2 to 5 minutes after 8 practice items |
| GIA 5: Spatial Visualisation | Count how many pairs of rotated symbols are identical rather than mirror images | 2 to 5 minutes after 8 practice items |
| Behaviour (DISC) | Sets of four words: choose the one most like you and the one least like you | Untimed, about 8 minutes |
| HPTI personality | 78 statements rated from 1 (disagree completely) to 7 (agree completely) | Untimed, about 8 to 10 minutes |
Total: 30 to 45 minutes for the GIA including instructions and practice, according to Thomas, plus about 8 minutes for Behaviour and 8 to 10 for the HPTI if included.
How it is scored
- Thomas says speed and accuracy are equally important on the GIA.
- Thomas sample reports show percentiles for each task against a named norm group, such as UK norms, combined into an overall figure; one sample calls it a General Trainability Index.
- Thomas does not publish public norm tables, and its sample report cautions that the overall percentile needs careful interpretation alongside other evidence.
- Behaviour and HPTI have no pass or fail; they describe style and traits for comparison with the role.
Rules to know before you start
- The GIA runs on a desktop or laptop only (PC or Mac); Thomas says it will not run on tablets or smartphones.
- Use the latest Firefox, Edge, Chrome or Safari, with pop-ups and JavaScript enabled; work computers can block it with security settings.
- You answer with a mouse rather than the keyboard, and Thomas recommends attaching a mouse if you are used to one.
- Content loads before the test starts, so a brief connection drop should not interrupt it.
- Thomas recommends doing all five GIA tasks consecutively in one sitting; retakes are up to the employer.
How to prepare
- Read Thomas's free GIA example booklet: each task has its own rule, and learning the rules is most of the preparation.
- Drill Number Speed and Accuracy in three steps in your head: find the highest and lowest, then compare each with the remaining number.
- For Reasoning, read each statement carefully before clicking, because it disappears when the question appears.
- Practice mental rotation for Spatial Visualisation, checking for mirror images rather than rotations.
- On Behaviour, answer for your current or most recent role, and if you have no work experience, for how you behave at home, as Thomas advises.
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 Watson Glaser test, the SHL assessment.
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 Thomas International 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
What are the five Thomas GIA tests?
Reasoning, Perceptual Speed, Number Speed and Accuracy, Word Meaning and Spatial Visualisation. Each lasts 2 to 5 minutes after 8 practice items.
Can I take the Thomas GIA on my phone?
No. Thomas says the GIA runs only on a desktop or laptop and will not run on tablets or smartphones.
How long is the Thomas Behaviour (PPA) questionnaire?
It is untimed and usually takes about 8 minutes. You choose the most and least like you from sets of four words.
What does the HPTI measure?
Six traits: Conscientiousness, Adjustment, Curiosity, Risk Approach, Ambiguity Acceptance and Competitiveness, from 78 statements rated 1 to 7.
Can I use AI tools during the Thomas International 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