Online pre-employment testing is one of the best ways to hire the right person for the job. Compared to traditional resume screening, it’s quick and objective.
Choosing the right pre-employment screening platform for your business is crucial. To help you out, this article compares the key features of two of the best systems, TestGorilla and Mercer Mettl Assessments.
TestGorilla is a fully customizable pre-employment testing platform. It’s designed to streamline your hiring process and equip you with information to make better, bias-free hiring decisions.
Our platform lets you build multi-measure tests that assess your candidates’ cognitive abilities, personalities, values, and job-specific skills. To do this, you can choose from 400+ ready-made tests and add your own custom questions to tailor an assessment for the role you’re recruiting for.
TestGorilla’s product makes time-consuming resume review processes a thing of the past. All of our tests go through a rigorous 28-step quality-control process before they’re added to the platform, giving you accurate and reliable insights into a candidate’s workplace behavior and skills to help you find the right person for the job.
TestGorilla also ensures a positive candidate experience with our easy-to-use interface and candidate support.
Mercer Mettl offers a range of recruitment and HR tools, including online tests, enabling recruiters to assess:
Core traits with personality, behavioral, and cognitive-ability tests.
Acquired skills with coding, communication, and technical skills tests.
The tests are designed to help you match the right candidate to a role and make sure their values are aligned with your organizational culture. The data you collect for each relevant trait or acquired skill enables you to make effective hiring decisions.
At the same time, Mercer Mettl aims to remove subconscious biases to ensure an objective hiring process.
In addition to pre-employment testing, Mercer Mettl offers online assessments for lateral and campus hiring. Education providers can also use it to conduct online assessments and exams.
Both TestGorilla and Mercer Mettl Assessments have extensive test libraries for you to choose from.
TestGorilla revolutionizes hiring with diverse, bias-free tests and a user-friendly platform. See the difference for yourself - sign up for a free live demo today!
TestGorilla lets you build an assessment for the specific role you’re recruiting for. To do this, you can choose from 400+ tests available in our test library and customize your questions.
You can also personalize tests and add multiple-choice, essay, or video questions – or ask candidates to upload a file (such as a portfolio, for example).
With TestGorilla, you can assess candidates’:
With localized websites in 12 different languages, our assessments are ideal for international recruitment.
Mercer Mettl Assessments’ test library contains more than 400 tests. These include:
Psychometric tests
Behavioral tests
Aptitude tests
Coding tests
Domain tests for technical knowledge
Communication and spoken English tests
The assessments are fully customizable to suit your business and the role you’re hiring for.
The aptitude tests include different types of questions such as:
Multiple-choice questions
True/false statements
Open-ended questions
Case-study simulators
Audio questions
Guesstimates
You can also create your own tests. To do this, you can choose questions from Mercer Mettl Assessments’ question bank – which has more than 100,000 questions – or write your own.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
Cognitive ability tests | Yes | Yes |
Situational judgment tests | Yes | Yes |
Job-specific tests | Yes | Yes |
Software tests | Yes | Yes |
Programming tests (including coding challenges) | Yes | Yes |
Language tests | Yes | Yes |
Personality tests | Yes | Yes |
Culture-add test | Yes | No |
Motivation test | Yes | Yes |
Your own custom tests | Yes | |
Custom questions per assessment | Yes | Yes |
Test recommendations for each job role | Yes | Yes |
Multiple tests per assessment | Yes | No |
When hiring developers, it’s important to test for technical, job-specific skills. Some pre-employment test providers offer tests assessing programming skills such as debugging, desktop and mobile development frameworks, and cloud computing.
TestGorilla’s test library includes a range of tests designed to assess programming skills, including debugging and arrays, as well as a candidate’s ability to work with specific development frameworks and coding languages.
We offer tests for different coding languages, including JavaScript, Python, C, C#, C++, and Kotlin. We also offer a language-agnostic coding test where you can add up to 20 coding languages for candidates to choose from.
Our tests also let you create your own coding challenges, so you can use specific job-related scenarios to assess candidates.
Mercer Mettl offers tests designed for different developer roles such as front and back end, full stack, and database developers.
You can assess both core and niche coding skills such as automation testing, programming, blockchain, and data structures. You can also use tests to evaluate candidate skills across a range of programming languages and coding simulators.
Mettl’s Xathon platform can also host online hackathons.
| TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments |
Coding languages | JavaScript, Java, Python, PHP, C, C#, C++, SQL, Kotlin, Ruby, TypeScript, Go, R, Scala, Swift, Julia, Elixir, Dart, Perl, Rust, and Erlang | Java, C++, C#, Python, PHP Javascript, Kotlin, Ruby, TypeScript, Go, Scala, Swift, and more |
Web-development frameworks | Yes | Yes |
Mobile-development frameworks | Yes | Yes |
Algorithmic-thinking challenges | Yes | Yes |
Debugging challenges | Yes | Yes |
Language-specific concept challenges | Yes | Yes |
Language-agnostic coding test | Yes | No |
Your own custom coding challenges | Yes | Yes |
Code-playback function | Yes | Yes |
Automated scoring | Yes | Yes |
Many pre-employment test platforms have a video interview feature. This enables you to conduct one-way or live interviews and record custom video questions.
This provides deeper insights into a candidate’s skillset, as well as another way to connect with them.
TestGorilla offers a range of video features with its assessments. For example, you can record a candidate’s on-screen actions and responses. This is especially useful during coding tests as it lets you see a candidate’s process and speed.
You can also create custom video questions in other assessments and set the maximum length of the applicant’s response. TestGorilla saves these so you can play them back at your convenience. You can also add notes and comments on the videos relevant to the recruitment process.
Mercer Mettl has an online video interview platform you can use to conduct virtual interviews. This enables test-takers to record their responses to a set of interview questions. Hiring teams can then review and comment on these recordings at any time.
During proctored tests, test-takers are monitored via their webcam video and you have the possibility to record live coding challenges, too.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
One-way video interview | Yes | Yes |
Custom video questions | Yes | Yes |
Live interview | No | Yes |
Recording of candidates’ attempts | Yes | Yes |
Restrict maximum answer length | Yes | Yes |
Recording and playback on any device | Yes | Yes |
Rate and comment on video answers | Yes | Yes |
A positive candidate experience is crucial for hiring the best talent: The tests’ length, candidate support, and mobile responsiveness all contribute to test-takers’ experience.
The ability to add your company branding to tests is also important. Not only does this help with brand awareness, but it also ensures a memorable experience for your candidates and shows your professionalism.
TestGorilla’s assessments are designed with candidates’ experience in mind. They are:
Quick and easy to complete
Accessible without the need to create an account or log in
Mobile-friendly
Additionally, candidates receive regular notifications about the assessment and recruitment process.
TestGorilla also offers company branding features to help you stand out. With our platform, you can:
Add your logo and brand colors
Add a custom intro and outro video
Mercer Mettl also prioritizes the candidate experience. It offers practice session tests so candidates can familiarize themselves with the platform’s look and format before taking the real test.
There is 24/7 phone support available for test-takers, and the platform supports more than 26 languages across 80 countries.
You can also customize tests by adding your company logo or customizing favicons or the test background.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
Your company’s intro or outro video | Yes | No |
Assessments branded with your company logo and colors | Yes | Yes |
Customizable invitation and rejection emails | Yes | Yes |
No login required for candidates | Yes | Yes |
Mobile friendly | Yes | Yes |
Help and support for your candidates | Yes | Yes |
Typical assessment length | 30-60 minutes | Not specified |
Qualifying questions prior to the assessment | Yes | No |
The pre-employment testing needs of startups are different from those of large enterprises. Ideally, a testing provider should accommodate both. This is especially important for companies using pre-employment testing to help grow their business.
Features to look for as your business grows include: ATS integration, API access, candidate tracking, and GDPR compliance.
Businesses of any size can use TestGorilla’s assessments, from small startups to large enterprises.
TestGorilla is especially useful for enterprises wanting to streamline bulk recruitment processes. With features including API access, ATS integration, and GDPR compliance, our platform is designed to fit the needs even of global organizations.
TestGorilla also supports startup recruitment. Its affordable plans and company branding features enable scaling businesses to stand out and attract candidates.
Designed to be a scalable product, Mercer Mettl Assessments suits businesses of all sizes. It integrates with a range of ATS, learning management systems, and human resource management systems.
It’s especially adept at conducting large-scale assessments – its platform was once used for 200,000 proctored assessments in one day.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
ATS integration | Yes | Yes |
Multiple users and role-based rights management | Yes | Yes |
GDPR compliant | Yes | Yes |
Multiple candidate invitation options | Yes | Yes |
Public link to invite candidates | Yes | Yes |
Public links for each candidate source | Yes | No |
Bulk invite candidates (CSV/XLSX upload) | Yes | Yes |
Track candidate stages from invited to hired | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Bulk actions to manage candidates | Yes | Yes |
Pre-employment test results need to be an accurate and reliable predictor of a candidate’s suitability for a role. This means testing should be backed by scientific research.
For this, tests need to undergo extensive quality checks before going live and the platform must be responsive to customer and test-taker feedback.
TestGorilla’s tests undergo a 28-step quality control process before they become available to customers. Our tests and questions are developed by psychometricians and subject-matter experts and undergo an extensive review and testing phase and continuous quality control.
TestGorilla also limits the number of times a question appears in a test to protect the integrity of our assessments.
We actively seek out customer and candidate feedback to improve our platform.
Mercer Mettl’s pre-employment tests are based on scientific research on cognitive skills and on different ways to measure fluid and crystallized intelligence.
It also uses proprietary algorithms. Reports are designed by psychometric experts so you can rely on the results.
New questions are generated for each test, ensuring the assessments remain fresh. The platform has robust built-in security measures, such as data encryption and hosting via Amazon Web Services.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
Proprietary algorithms that continuously improve the quality of each test | Yes | No |
Extensive quality check before tests go live | Yes | Yes |
Questions replaced after reaching exposure limit | Yes | No |
Customer feedback used to improve tests | Yes | No |
Test-taker feedback used to improve tests | Yes | No |
Pre-employment screening platforms must incorporate strong anti-cheating measures to ensure the results’ fairness and reliability. These include screen monitoring, cycled questions, disabling copy and paste, and browser lockdown features.
TestGorilla’s platform has strong anti-cheating measures: It prevents candidates from sharing questions and answers by disabling copy and paste. Tests are timed and questions are regularly rotated, further reducing the opportunity for cheating.
Our candidate monitoring settings also enable you to take webcam snapshots of candidates during an assessment (with their permission).
TestGorilla also offers IP address monitoring which flags the use of multiple IP addresses to access the same test link.
Mercer Mettl Assessments uses both AI-based and manual proctoring technologies to ensure the validity of its tests. Tests can also be recorded and later reviewed manually according to AI-generated red flags.
Other anti-cheating measures include three-step candidate authentication and candidate snapshot and recording options. The platform also has a browser lockdown feature to prevent candidates from accessing other websites during the assessment.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
IP-address logging (to prevent candidates from accessing the same tests multiple times) | Yes | Yes |
Logging of candidate location | Yes | Yes |
Webcam snapshots (with the option to turn on/off) | Yes | Yes |
Full-screen mode detection (to avoid research during the test) | Yes | Yes (browsing tolerance) |
Randomized questions | Yes | Yes |
A large question pool for each test | Yes (100+) | Yes |
Questions and answers not visible to employers to protect test integrity | Yes | No |
Time limit on tests | Yes (typically 10 minutes) | Yes |
Copy-paste disabled | Yes | Yes |
Reports help you interpret and understand candidates’ results. They provide insights to guide your hiring decisions and can even assist supervisors in managing and motivating employees.
TestGorilla generates easily digestible reports for each candidate’s results. Reports are easy to share with your hiring team in PDF, XLSX, and CSV formats.
Additionally, you get a summary and a more detailed report about each test the candidate completed, which includes responses to customized questions and their percentile score. You can add your notes and rating at the end of the report to assist you during the hiring process.
You also get an overview of all candidates’ results which you can filter and compare using a scoring benchmark.
After a candidate completes a test, Mercer Mettl generates a report containing their test score and a detailed analysis of the results, including insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
Reports include interactive graphs and charts to help you understand and compare results. You can customize them with your branding and also request certificates of completion for your candidates.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
PDF reports of assessments and individual candidates | Yes | Yes |
Excel and CSV reports of assessments and individual candidates | Yes | Excel only |
Interactive results graphs and charts | No | Yes |
Comprehensive overview for all current and past candidates | Yes | No |
Scoring benchmarks for candidates (including percentile rank scoring) | Yes | Yes |
The possibility to add your ratings and notes to reports | Yes | Yes |
Customer support is an important factor to consider when choosing a pre-employment testing provider. Live chat, phone, and email support are the most common ways customers can seek help.
Customer support can be reached via email or chat, and Business plan users also benefit from phone support.
All new customers receive TestGorilla’s training and onboarding tour upon signing up to learn how to make full use of the product and its features.
The online help center contains extensive guides for both companies and candidates. There, you can see how to pick the right tests, create an assessment, and understand results.
Mercer Mettl provides an online help center for both customers and test-takers. Email support is also available and you can create a support ticket via its website.
TestGorilla | Mercer Mettl Assessments | |
Live chat | Yes | No |
Help center | Yes | Yes |
Email support | Yes | Yes |
Training and onboarding tour | Yes | No |
Phone assistance | No | Yes |
Most pre-employment testing providers charge a monthly or annual subscription fee. The number and types of tests available per subscription vary, so check the details carefully.
Discover easy, efficient hiring with TestGorilla. Our platform simplifies candidate evaluation, saving time, money, and effort. Sign up for our free plan to transform your recruitment journey!
TestGorilla offers a free (forever) plan that gives you unlimited access to five tests from our test library for companies of all sizes.
With TestGorilla’s affordable and transparent paid plans, you have access to the full test library and an increasing number of features, such as custom branding, PDF reports, and API access.
Pricing for paid plans is calculated based on the number of full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) at your company. For instance, two employees who work part-time and share a position count as one FTE.
Depending on the size of your company, paid plans begin with:
Starter from $75 USD per month (for 1-15 FTEs, $900 per year paid upfront) - start with skills-based hiring for all roles.
Pro from $115 USD per month (for 1-15 FTEs, $1,380 per year paid upfront) - maximize your hiring with advanced features.
Teams with 1-15 FTEs must sign up for an annual plan, while teams with 15 or more FTEs have the option to pay monthly. You can have 1,000+ employees on a paid plan and test as many candidates as required.
Mercer Mettl doesn’t provide pricing details on its website. Users can contact the company for a customized plan and quote.
If you want a tool with transparent pricing, check out some of these Mercer Mettl alternatives.
TestGorila |
| Mercer Mettl | |
Plan | Price | Plan | Price |
Free | $0 | Contact Mercer Mettl Assessments for a customized quote | |
Starter | From $75 USD per month (for 1-15 FTEs, $900 per year paid upfront) | ||
Pro | From $115 USD per month (for 1-15 FTEs, $1,380 per year paid upfront) |
Taking a pre-employment test can be stressful for candidates. So it’s essential to find a platform that’s easy to use. Features to look for include a clear layout and design, easy navigation, and clear instructions.
With its streamlined navigation and clear layout, TestGorilla’s user interface is easy to get familiar with. Our platform is designed with simplicity in mind, and you can preview and create your first assessment in minutes.
You can also track assessment status on the My Assessments screen with three different options: Active, Inactive, and Archived. Any assessments you create will stay in the Inactive tab until you start sharing them with candidates.
The Active tab contains job roles you are actively assessing for, while the Archived tab contains older assessments. This new status helps you organize your review process before going live with an assessment.
Our filters also make it much easier to compare candidates based on different factors like test scores, responses to custom questions, and answers to multiple-choice questions.
This way, you can seamlessly manage multiple recruitment processes. You can quickly organize candidates, send out bulk invites, and see results with a few clicks.
Mercer Mettl Assessments’ platform is designed to be user-friendly, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
The platform also aims to ensure minimal lag time during assessments. Tests automatically resume if the connection drops out at any point, which is reassuring for candidates.
TestGorilla and Mercer Mettl Assessments offer extensive test libraries for pre-employment testing, including for developer roles. The two platforms’ approaches to developing tests are backed by science and they have a range of anti-cheating measures to protect the integrity and validity of results.
TestGorilla pulls ahead of Mercer Mettl Assessments by offering transparent pricing, chat, and email customer support, and a high level of customization when it comes to company branding. TestGorilla’s platform helps you save time and money during hiring and makes it easier to identify top talent.
Pre-employment testing is the best way to streamline your hiring process and ensure you’re choosing the right candidate for the job.
It also enables you to get rid of outdated resume reviewing processes, which helps you save time and money – and, most importantly, make objective, bias-free hiring decisions.
Want to see how you can transform your recruitment? Try TestGorilla’s free plan to find out how pre-employment testing can help you hire better and faster.
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