SJT Cognitive Skills
This Situational Judgment Test (SJT) measures cognitive skills through recognizable work situations. Candidates are presented with 12 situations, each with five possible responses. Each response must be evaluated individually for appropriateness.
The test assesses how someone in complex contexts:
- Solves problems – in a pragmatic and future-oriented manner
- Analyzes information – critically, systematically and without unwarranted interpretations
- Makes decisions – thoughtfully and with consideration for impact, even under resistance
This test therefore primarily measures how someone thinks, reasons and acts in realistic complex scenarios.
SJTs are a valuable addition to traditional tests because they measure behavior in context . Unlike a personality test or reasoning test, an SJT shows how someone makes choices when there are multiple possible answers — each with advantages and disadvantages.
This test is particularly suitable for positions where employees:
- Regularly need to make decisions based on incomplete information
- Must approach problems pragmatically and critically
- Must quickly gain overview in complex or contradictory situations
The cognitive SJT gives you a nuanced view of candidates’ thought processes, and predicts how they will behave in similar situations in the workplace.
The report provides three separate standardized scores (stanines 1–9):
- Analyzing information – how well the candidate makes connections, distinguishes main from secondary issues, and sticks to the facts
- Problem solving – how effectively someone structures problems, identifies causes and evaluates solutions
- Decision making – how thoughtfully and consistently someone makes decisions, even under resistance or unpopular choices
For each competency, the report contains:
- A feedback text that describes the behavior and thinking level
- Development advice tailored for use in coaching or development programs
- A graphical representation of the scores on the normal distribution
The scores are independent of personality preferences and provide a realistic view of cognitive functioning in situations that require analysis, solution-oriented thinking and decisiveness.
No single test perfectly predicts on its own how someone will function in a job. What you can do is smartly combine tests that each measure something different — so that you gather as much relevant information as possible, without unnecessary overlap or test fatigue. This increases the incremental validity: the added value of a test on top of the others.
Recommended combination with a cognitive SJT:
- Reasoning test (abstract, verbal or numerical)
→ measures pure cognitive capacity: logical, verbal and/or numerical thinking.
→ indicates what someone can handle in terms of complexity and learning ability. - Personality test (MAPS)
→ provides insight into stable behavioral preferences, such as flexibility, orderliness or decisiveness.
→ indicates how someone is inclined to behave.
Through this combination, you get a reliable overall picture: from analytical ability to contextual behavior and behavioral preferences.
- Selection: the test measures candidates’ ability to analyze information, solve problems and make informed decisions in realistic work situations. This gives you an objective view of their thinking and reasoning skills, and you quickly know whether someone can handle the complexity and responsibilities of a position.
- Learning & development: the test can be used as abaseline measurement at the start of a development program or leadership program where analytical ability, critical thinking or decisiveness are central. You clearly map the strengths and improvement points of the participants and can tailor training or coaching accordingly. Repeated administration also makes it possible to make learning progress visible.
Measures problem solving, decision making, information analysis – in context
Assesses critical thinking, analysis and decision making
Dutch, French & English
Suitable for bachelor and master education level
Situational Judgment Test (SJT)
12 situations each with 5 responses to evaluate
Time: Maximum 45 minutes
Price per administration: €55




















