Top 10 HR assessment tools

Why Use Skills Assessment Tools?

Imagine sifting through hundreds of applications, trying to find the right fit. It's like searching for a needle in a haystack, right? Recruiters need a method to quickly and accurately identify candidates with the skills necessary to succeed. That is where pre-employment assessment tools come in.

These tools help streamline the screening process and reduce the time spent on unqualified candidates. They also allow for a more objective evaluation of skills, reducing bias in hiring decisions. Ultimately, assessment platforms ensure you're not just hiring based on resumes, but on proven abilities.

Here’s why you might consider an online assessment platform like Adaface:

• Scale Hiring: Quickly evaluate a large number of candidates.
• Objectivity: Reduce unconscious bias in the hiring process.
• Better Fit: Hire candidates with skills that match the job requirements. Start your assessment test today!

What Makes a Great Skills Assessment Software?

If you're a recruiter wading through the sea of skills assessment tools, what should you focus on? First and foremost, the tool should offer a diverse question bank to accurately assess a candidate's abilities.

A platform with a limited question bank might lead to repetitive questions, increasing the risk of candidates encountering leaked questions or even sharing them, impacting the validity of future assessments. Moreover, a large question bank allows for variations in tests, ensuring a fairer evaluation process and reducing the chances of candidates acing the test through mere memorization.

Here are other features to look for in skills assessment tools:

• Security Measures: Look for features like webcam proctoring, IP tracking, and copy-paste protection to maintain test integrity.
• Customization Options: The ability to add custom questions and tailor tests to specific job descriptions ensures relevance.
• Reporting and Analytics: Detailed scorecards, skills profiles, and benchmarking tools provide actionable insights for decision-making.
• Integrations: Seamless ATS Integrations streamline the hiring process.

Skills Assessment Tools: A Quick Look

Choosing the right skills assessment tool can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Here’s a cheat sheet to help you quickly compare some top contenders.

1. Adaface: 500+ skill tests used by clients across 70+ countries

Adaface is best for quick skills screens across many roles with ready-made tests and ATS connections. One place to run skills, cognitive, language, and personality checks at scale.

Why we picked Adaface

Adaface gives recruiters a better grasp of a candidate's abilities with its database of over 500+ skill tests. It assesses not just the final performance but also the approach, logic, design, and even soft skills.

When comparing candidates, you want to know who can actually do the job, not just talk about it. That's where Adaface shines. It checks for role-specific knowledge, coding skills, language skills, and even personality traits.

Adaface is a helpful tool if you want to assess people for long-term success in addition to their short-term talents.

Key Features of Adaface

• Extensive skill assessment library: Access a vast collection of 500+ tests across programming, IT, business, Excel, aptitude, personality, finance and role-specific skills. You can use these tests right away without delay.
• Customizable tests: Tailor assessments by adjusting test duration, cut-off scores, and programming languages to suit specific hiring needs or get Adaface experts to customize the test according to your job descriptions.
• Scenario based on-the-job skill questions: Screen accurately with questions designed to screen for on-the-job experience instead of theoretical knowledge. This ensures you're evaluating practical skills.
• Multiple question types: Test Excel, SQL, Coding skills using simulators and role-based skills using scenario based MCQs. You're not limited to just one format.
• Ensure test integrity with advanced proctoring features: Features include webcam proctoring, video monitoring, ChatGPT proctoring and off-tab activity tracking. These features ensure a fair testing environment.
• Track candidate stages: Ideal platform should provide a way to manage and track candidate funnel from the time they acquire the profile to the time they make a hiring decision. Adaface provides a kanban way of doing this.

Pros of Adaface

• High test library with 500+ tests.
• Works for aptitude, finance, personality, business roles, typing, AI, technical and coding roles. Whether you're hiring a developer or a marketing manager, Adaface has you covered.
• Strong proctoring suite. Adaface offers a suite of proctoring features to ensure test integrity.
• No seat based pricing. Pricing only depends on credits. Pricing covers all proctoring features.

Cons of Adaface

• No live video interviews
• No take-home assignment support
• Not the cheapest in the market.

Pricing of Adaface

Check out the platform with a free trial with 2 sample tests and 5 credits to get comfy before purchasing. No credit cards required to start. The platform is self-serve.

• Individual (180$/yr)
• Starter (500$/yr)
• Pro (900$/yr)
• Scale (3000$/yr)
• Growth (5500$/ yr)
• Enterprise (20,000$/ year)
• Unlimited (50000$/ yr)

All pricing plans include all proctoring features and all 500+ tests.

2. Codility: Coding Skills, Scaled Assessments

Let's explore Codility, a platform focused on assessing coding skills. Here’s a quick look at what it offers.

Why we picked Codility

Codility is designed primarily for tech companies needing to evaluate developers' coding abilities. It provides a platform to test coding skills through coding tasks, allowing recruiters to identify candidates who can write functional code. Codility mainly focuses on programming skills, offering a structured way to standardize the evaluation of developers through coding challenges. However, it might not cover other aspects like aptitude, personality, or business knowledge.

Key Features of Codility

• Coding Challenges: Assess candidates with coding problems in various languages.
• Automated Scoring: Get coding tests automatically scored.
• Integrated IDE: Candidates code within a browser-based IDE during assessments.

Pros of Codility

• Wide Language Support: Supports many programming languages for diverse tech roles.
• Code Playback: Allows review of candidates' coding process.
• Plagiarism Detection: Helps maintain test integrity.
• ATS Integrations: Integrates with applicant tracking systems.

Cons of Codility

• Limited Test Types: Primarily focuses on coding skills, missing other important skill domains.
• Lengthy Assessments: Tests are too long, averaging 2 hours, which could discourage candidates from completing the tests.
• Lacks Customization: Does not support custom questions for tailored assessments.
• No Social Listening: No social listening to detect possible questions leaked

Pricing of Codility

Codility offers a free trial. Their pricing starts at $1200 per year for the Starter plan, going up to $5000 per year for the Scale plan. For Growth and Enterprise plans, you'll need to contact their sales team for a quote. This might make it hard to get an instant understanding of the costs involved for larger teams.

3. HackerRank: Coding skills assessment

Let's break down HackerRank. It's a platform often used for assessing coding skills, but how does it stack up for broader hiring needs?

Why we picked HackerRank

HackerRank is primarily known as a coding assessment platform. It offers a wide array of coding challenges and contests, making it a go-to choice for companies focused on hiring software engineers and developers. Recruiters use it to evaluate candidates' coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in various programming languages.

While HackerRank excels in coding assessments, it's important to note its limitations. It is tailored to technical roles, particularly software development. So, if you're looking to assess a broader range of skills like aptitude, personality, or even job-specific skills outside of IT, you might need to explore other solutions. Platforms like Adaface offer a wider array of assessments.

Key Features of HackerRank

• Coding challenges in 40+ languages
• Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for coding tests
• Plagiarism detection
• Role-based tests for developers

Pros of HackerRank

• Large developer community for sourcing talent
• Strong focus on coding skills assessment
• Automated scoring for coding challenges
• Good proctoring features

Cons of HackerRank

• Limited support for non-technical roles
• No built-in assessments for soft skills or emotional intelligence
• Custom API is not available
• Questions can be easily found with a quick search

Pricing of HackerRank

HackerRank offers several pricing tiers. They have a free trial. The starter plan begins at $100 per month, billed annually. For enterprise pricing, you'll need to contact HackerRank directly for a custom quote, which may require a sales call.

4. TestGrid: Aptitude and Personality Tests

Let's explore TestGrid, an assessment platform offering a range of features for candidate screening. Here's a breakdown to help you decide if it's the right fit.

Why we picked TestGrid

TestGrid is designed to streamline your hiring process with aptitude and personality assessments. Recruiters can evaluate candidates on various parameters, from cognitive abilities to behavioral traits. However, it's important to note that TestGrid lacks support for programming, finance, AI, cloud, and language-specific assessments. For companies seeking a more diverse skills assessment, platforms like Adaface's online assessment platform could be a better fit.

While TestGrid offers ATS integrations and customizable branding options, its limited test library and lack of coding questions might not be suitable for all roles. This makes it important to weigh your specific needs against the platform's capabilities when making a decision.

Key Features of TestGrid

• Aptitude Tests: Assess candidates' logical, verbal, and numerical reasoning skills.
• Personality Assessments: Evaluate behavioral traits and cultural fit.
• ATS Integrations: Connect with existing applicant tracking systems for streamlined workflows.

Pros of TestGrid

• User-friendly interface for easy navigation.
• Strong focus on aptitude and personality testing.
• Good customer support via email and help center.
• Offers role-based access for team members.

Cons of TestGrid

• Lacks coding assessments for technical roles.
• No support for custom questions.
• No free trial is available to test the platform.
• Absence of custom API to integrate with new ATS or HR systems.

Pricing of TestGrid

TestGrid does not publicly display its pricing. You need to sign up to receive pricing information and explore their starter plans. This lack of transparency can make it difficult to quickly compare costs with other assessment solutions. A free trial is not available, so you can't explore all features before deciding.

5. TestGorilla: Library and Proctoring Focus

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's talk about TestGorilla. It's a platform offering a wide range of pre-employment tests to help you screen candidates.

Why we picked TestGorilla

TestGorilla allows recruiters to assess candidates using a vast library of tests. It focuses on skills assessment through ready-made tests, helping you filter applicants based on specific job requirements. The platform supports various test types, including aptitude, personality, and job-specific skills, enabling recruiters to evaluate a range of candidate attributes.

While TestGorilla offers a broad selection of tests, it's important to note that creating custom questions is not possible in all plans. This can limit the ability to tailor assessments precisely to unique company needs. For highly specific roles or to gauge niche skills, you might need a solution that allows for greater customization.

Key Features of TestGorilla

• Extensive test library with a wide variety of assessments.
• Webcam proctoring, IP address logging, and other measures for cheating detection.
• Ready-to-use tests for quick candidate screening.
• ATS integrations to streamline the hiring process.

Pros of TestGorilla

• Large selection of pre-built tests for diverse roles.
• Strong proctoring features to maintain test integrity.
• User-friendly interface for easy test creation and deployment.
• Good reporting and analytics to track candidate performance.

Cons of TestGorilla

• Limited ability to customize tests beyond pre-existing questions.
• Lack of custom API for deeper integrations with existing HR systems.
• Doesn't offer excel simulations. This could be limiting for finance roles.
• Tests are easily solved by GPT models. So test integrity might be in question.

Pricing of TestGorilla

TestGorilla's pricing depends on the size of your company. For example, the Starter plan starts at $208 USD per month ($2,496 per annum) for companies with 31-50 employees. For enterprise pricing, you'll need to contact TestGorilla directly for a quote. Keep in mind that while they offer plans with unlimited invites, these plans have fair use policy restrictions. If you are looking for straightforward pricing, explore Adaface Assessments Pricing.

6. Alva Labs: Best for Personality

Before we analyze Alva Labs, remember why skills assessment matters. It's all about finding the right fit, quickly and fairly. Alva Labs is a platform that focuses on personality and aptitude assessments.

Why we picked Alva Labs

Alva Labs positions itself as a platform to predict candidate success using personality and cognitive tests. They aim to provide data-driven insights to help recruiters make informed hiring decisions. The platform helps streamline the initial screening stages, ensuring candidates align with company values and job requirements.

Alva Labs offers ready-made tests focusing on personality traits, logical reasoning, and numerical ability. These assessments help evaluate a candidate's potential fit within the company culture and their aptitude for specific roles, especially in IT. However, Alva Labs does not support custom questions or the ability to add your own, limiting flexibility.

Key Features of Alva Labs

• Personality Assessments: Evaluate candidates' personality traits to determine cultural fit.
• Aptitude Tests: Measure logical reasoning and numerical skills.
• Automated Scoring: Quick scoring so you can move faster.
• ATS Integrations: Connect with applicant tracking systems.

Pros of Alva Labs

• Streamlined candidate screening with structured assessments.
• Data-driven insights for hiring decisions.
• Integration with popular ATS platforms.
• Focus on predicting job success through personality.

Cons of Alva Labs

• Lacks support for coding assessments, unlike platforms like Adaface that combine coding questions and scenario-based MCQs.
• No support for accounting, finance, AI, cloud or language tests.
• Tests can be lengthy, taking up to 2 hours to complete, which might deter some candidates.
• Limited customization options; users can't add their own questions.

Pricing of Alva Labs

Alva Labs offers a free trial. Their pricing starts at $289/month for the Starter plan and $799/month for the Scale plan. For Growth and Enterprise plans, you'll need to contact Alva Labs directly for pricing details.

7. Xobin: Good for skills tests

Let's explore Xobin, an assessment platform offering a range of tests for various skills. Here's a breakdown to help you decide if it fits your hiring needs.

Why we picked Xobin

Xobin is designed to help companies assess candidates across various roles. It offers a library of pre-built tests covering skills like aptitude, programming, and job-specific knowledge. Recruiters can use Xobin to screen candidates early in the hiring process.

The platform aims to provide a structured way to evaluate talent, with features like webcam proctoring and plagiarism detection to maintain test integrity. Xobin also supports adding your own questions to existing tests.

Key Features of Xobin

• Ready-to-use tests for various skills and roles
• Webcam proctoring and plagiarism detection
• Ability to add your own questions

Pros of Xobin

• Wide range of skills and roles covered in their test library
• Automated scoring for coding questions saves time
• Good for companies looking for a broad set of assessments.
• Supports integrations with applicant tracking systems (ATS)

Cons of Xobin

• Lacks custom test creation based on job descriptions. Adaface creates custom tests by analysing the job description.
• No support for language tests or AI skills assessments.
• Doesn't offer custom data location support or a custom API.
• Questions and answers aren't hidden from recruiters, potentially affecting test integrity.

Pricing of Xobin

Xobin does not publicly display its pricing. You need to sign up for a demo to receive pricing information. They do not offer a free trial or an easy signup option to explore the platform's features beforehand.

8. Pymetrics: Focus on Behavioral Assessments

Now, let's explore Pymetrics. This platform uses neuroscience-based games to assess candidates' cognitive and personality traits.

Why we picked Pymetrics

Pymetrics differs from traditional skills assessment platforms. Instead of testing technical skills directly, Pymetrics uses a series of games to evaluate behavioral attributes like risk tolerance, attention, and decision-making. The idea is to match candidates to roles based on their inherent traits, predicting job fit and performance.

This approach can be useful for early-career hiring or roles where personality and soft skills are paramount. However, it doesn't directly assess hard skills. If you need to verify coding ability, language proficiency, or accounting knowledge, you'll need to supplement Pymetrics with other assessment methods.

Key Features of Pymetrics

• Gamified Assessments: Candidates play a series of neuroscience-based games.
• AI-Driven Insights: Algorithms analyze game data to identify candidate traits.
• Bias Mitigation: Aims to reduce bias in hiring decisions.
• Candidate Matching: Matches candidates to roles based on trait alignment.

Pros of Pymetrics

• Focus on soft skills and behavioral traits.
• Can help identify candidates who are a good cultural fit.
• Aims to reduce bias in the hiring process.
• Mobile-friendly assessments for candidate convenience.

Cons of Pymetrics

• Lacks the ability to assess hard skills directly.
• Limited customization options for specific roles or company needs.
• Relies heavily on AI, which can be a black box for some users.
• No option to add custom questions or code testing.

Pricing of Pymetrics

Pymetrics does not offer transparent pricing on their website. Interested users need to contact their sales team to get a quote. This lack of transparency can make it difficult to quickly evaluate if Pymetrics fits within your budget. If you want to quickly assess candidate skills and get instant pricing, other platforms might be a better fit.

9. Coderbyte: Great for coding challenges

Let's take a closer look at Coderbyte. It is a platform designed to help developers practice and enhance their coding skills through challenges and courses.

Why we picked Coderbyte

Coderbyte is primarily used by individuals looking to improve their coding abilities and companies seeking to assess the technical skills of potential hires. The platform provides a wide array of coding challenges, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced, covering various programming languages and skill domains.

For recruiters, Coderbyte offers a means to evaluate candidates' coding proficiency through custom assessments and challenges. However, it mainly focuses on coding skills, lacking the breadth of pre-employment assessment tests needed for roles beyond software development.

Key Features of Coderbyte

• Coding challenges: Offers a wide range of coding challenges.
• Skill assessment: Helps companies evaluate candidate coding skills.
• Learning resources: Provides courses and tutorials for skill enhancement.

Pros of Coderbyte

• Large selection of coding challenges across different skill levels.
• Supports multiple programming languages.
• Automated scoring and code playback for assessments.
• Includes learning resources to help users improve their coding skills.

Cons of Coderbyte

• Lacks assessments for roles beyond software development.
• No support for aptitude, business, or personality tests.
• Limited customization options for assessments.
• The platform's focus on coding might not cover the soft skills aspect.

Pricing of Coderbyte

Coderbyte offers both subscription and pay-as-you-go plans. The Starter plan begins at $199/month. Alternatively, their pay-as-you-go plan starts at $500 for 50 candidates. For detailed pricing information and custom plans, it's best to contact their sales team directly.

10. Testlify: For Pre-made Skill Tests

Let's explore Testlify. This platform offers a library of pre-made tests for various skills, aiming to simplify the initial screening process.

Why we picked Testlify

Testlify is designed to help recruiters quickly assess candidates using ready-to-go tests. It focuses on providing a wide selection of assessments that cover different skill sets, from programming to personality. The platform allows you to send out tests and receive automated reports, streamlining the early stages of hiring.

While Testlify offers a range of ready-made tests, it may not fit companies needing assessments tailored to specific job descriptions. If you need to customize tests extensively or need to assess niche skills, you might want to explore platforms that offer more flexibility in question design. For evaluating candidates' skills with custom questions, consider exploring platforms like Adaface.

Key Features of Testlify

• Wide range of pre-made tests.
• Automated reporting.
• Webcam Proctoring.
• ATS integrations.

Pros of Testlify

• Good selection of pre-designed tests.
• Automated scoring saves time in initial screening.
• Offers video proctoring to deter cheating.
• Integrates with popular ATS platforms.

Cons of Testlify

• Limited customization options for question types.
• Lacks coding question playback for detailed evaluation.
• No custom API for deeper integration with existing systems.
• Team seats are an additional cost, increasing expenses.

Pricing of Testlify

Testlify offers a free trial. Paid plans begin at $49/month (billed annually). They also have growth and scale plans costing $299 and $749 per month. Add-ons for whitelabeling, team seats, and analytics are available. For custom enterprise pricing, you'll need to contact their sales team.

Wrapping Up: Did We Find Your Perfect Match?

Choosing the right assessment tool is a big deal. You need a platform that not only gauges skills but also respects your candidates' time and provides actionable insights. Many tools offer a wide range of tests, but ensuring they accurately reflect real-world job scenarios is key.

One major drawback of many assessment platforms is their lack of customization. Standardized tests can miss nuances specific to your company's needs and culture. A tailored assessment ensures you're evaluating what truly matters for success in your roles.

While numerous tools are available, considering Adaface's platform features could simplify your search. Other platforms like HackerRank and TestGorilla are also worth a look, depending on your needs.

Ultimately, the right tool depends on your specific hiring goals. Understand your requirements to make the right choice.

• Adaface: Offers customisable assessments and a wide range of skills tests to fit multiple roles, along with proctoring and ATS integrations.
• Codility: Focuses on coding skills with coding questions, but lacks scenario-based questions, and tests can take up to 2 hours to complete.
• HackerRank: Excels in technical assessments for IT roles, but the tests are easily googleable, and it does not offer custom questions or cater to non-IT roles.
• TestGrid: Provides aptitude and personality tests, but lacks key details like pricing on their website, and does not support coding tests or custom questions.
• TestGorilla: Offers a broad range of tests including programming, aptitude, and personality, but offers no custom questions, and has fair use restrictions for unlimited plans.
• Alva Labs: Specializes in IT roles with programming tests but lacks situational judgment tests, and offers no custom questions.
• Xobin: Covers a variety of tests including programming and aptitude, but lacks language tests and has unknown quality checks before questions go live.
• Pymetrics: Focuses on aptitude and personality assessments but misses coding tests and offers no custom questions or bulk actions.
• Coderbyte: Specializes in programming tests, and has limited customer support options, with no phone support or live chat available.
• Testlify: Provides a range of tests including coding and aptitude, but tests are short (10-30 min), and lacks custom coding questions and has no social listening for task leaks.

Ready to find the perfect candidates quickly? Try Adaface today.