TestGorilla is a skills assessment platform with 300+ pre-built tests covering technical skills, cognitive ability, personality, and role-specific knowledge. With 81% of companies now using skills-based hiring approaches, platforms like TestGorilla are becoming essential recruiting tools.

The tests are well-designed and the candidate experience is smooth. The problem: you'll spend significant time customizing assessments, setting up scoring rubrics, and calibrating what scores actually predict success.

Here's when TestGorilla is worth the setup time, and when simpler assessment tools make more sense.

What TestGorilla Does

TestGorilla offers:

1. 300+ Pre-Built Tests

Tests are organized into categories:

• Technical skills: Programming languages, software tools, data analysis
• Cognitive ability: Problem-solving, critical thinking, attention to detail
• Personality & culture fit: Big Five personality traits, motivation, work style
• Role-specific: Sales, marketing, customer service, finance, HR
• Language proficiency: English, Spanish, French, etc.

2. Custom Test Creation

Beyond pre-built tests, you can create custom questions specific to your company or role.

3. Anti-Cheating Features

TestGorilla includes:

• Webcam monitoring (optional)
• Screen recording (optional)
• Question randomization to prevent sharing answers
• Time limits to prevent looking up answers

4. ATS Integration

Integrates with Greenhouse, Lever, Workable, BambooHR, and other major ATS platforms to streamline candidate workflow.

5. Analytics and Benchmarking

Track candidate performance, compare scores across applicants, and benchmark against industry averages.

The Pros: Why Recruiters Use TestGorilla

1. Supports Skills-Based Hiring at Scale

With 81% of companies adopting skills-based hiring, TestGorilla provides structured, objective assessment that goes beyond resume screening.

User reviews highlight this as the primary benefit:

"We dropped degree requirements for engineering roles. TestGorilla gave us a standardized way to assess candidates' actual coding skills instead of relying on credentials."

2. Well-Designed Tests

Users consistently praise the quality of pre-built tests:

• Questions are relevant and job-related
• Difficulty levels are appropriate
• Tests actually assess skills (not just trivia or gotcha questions)

One user review: "The Python test actually tests Python skills—not just theoretical knowledge. Candidates write real code, and we can see their problem-solving approach."

3. Good Candidate Experience

Unlike some assessment platforms with clunky interfaces, TestGorilla offers:

• Clean, modern UI
• Mobile-friendly (candidates can complete assessments on phones/tablets)
• Clear instructions and time estimates
• Practice questions before the real assessment

User reviews suggest candidates generally don't complain about the assessment experience (a common problem with competitors).

4. Integrates with Major ATS Platforms

TestGorilla integrates with Greenhouse, Lever, Workable, BambooHR, and others, allowing you to:

• Send assessment invites directly from your ATS
• Automatically sync scores back to candidate profiles
• Filter candidates by assessment results

5. Anti-Cheating Features (If You Need Them)

For roles where assessment integrity is critical, TestGorilla offers webcam monitoring and screen recording.

User reviews are mixed on these features (some candidates find them invasive), but they're available if needed.

The Cons: Why TestGorilla is Time-Consuming

1. Significant Setup Time Required

This is the most common complaint in user reviews:

"TestGorilla has great tests, but you'll spend hours building the right assessment. We had to test multiple combinations of tests, adjust scoring weights, and calibrate what scores actually predict success."

Initial setup involves:

• Selecting which pre-built tests to include (out of 300+ options)
• Creating custom questions (if pre-built tests don't cover your needs)
• Setting scoring rubrics (what's a passing score? How are different tests weighted?)
• Testing the assessment with internal team members
• Calibrating scores against actual job performance

User estimates: 10-20 hours per role to build and calibrate a useful assessment.

2. Requires Calibration to Be Useful

Pre-built tests provide scores, but scores don't automatically tell you who will succeed in your role.

You need to:

• Give assessments to current employees (to establish baseline "good" scores)
• Track which scores correlate with actual job performance
• Adjust passing scores and weighting over time

Without calibration, you risk:

• Setting scores too high (rejecting qualified candidates)
• Setting scores too low (advancing unqualified candidates)
• Weighting tests incorrectly (overvaluing cognitive ability, undervaluing role-specific skills)

This calibration takes months of data collection.

3. Some Tests Feel Generic

While technical tests are generally strong, user reviews note that some personality and culture fit tests feel generic:

"The 'culture fit' assessment asked questions about work style preferences, but they weren't specific to our company culture. We ended up creating custom questions instead."

For roles where culture fit is critical, you'll need to supplement pre-built tests with custom questions.

4. Expensive for Small Teams

TestGorilla pricing (as of 2025):

• Starter plan: $75/month (up to 10 assessments/month)
• Pro plan: $225/month (unlimited assessments, integrations, custom questions)
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing (advanced features, dedicated support)

For small teams hiring <10 people per year, this cost may not be justified.

5. Can Add Friction to Candidate Experience

While TestGorilla's UI is good, assessments still add time to the application process:

• Candidates must complete 30-60 minute assessments before advancing
• Some candidates drop off rather than complete assessments (especially in competitive talent markets)
• Top candidates with multiple offers may skip roles requiring lengthy assessments

User reviews suggest assessment completion rates of 60-70% (meaning 30-40% of candidates invited to assess don't complete it).

When TestGorilla Makes Sense

Based on user reviews and case studies:

Skills-Based Hiring for Technical Roles

If you've dropped degree requirements and need to objectively assess technical skills (coding, data analysis, design), TestGorilla provides structured evaluation.

User reviews suggest this is particularly valuable for:

• Software engineering: Coding assessments that simulate real work
• Data analysis: SQL, Excel, statistics tests
• Marketing: Content writing, SEO, analytics assessments

High-Volume Hiring

If you're hiring 20+ people per role, the time investment in setup is justified by the efficiency gained in screening.

User reviews suggest TestGorilla works well for:

• Customer service roles (communication skills, problem-solving tests)
• Sales roles (role-play scenarios, sales aptitude assessments)
• Operations roles (attention to detail, process optimization tests)

Companies Committed to Skills-First Approaches

If your company has formally adopted skills-based hiring and is willing to invest in proper implementation (setup time, calibration, data tracking), TestGorilla is a strong choice.

But it requires organizational buy-in—hiring managers need to trust assessment scores and deprioritize traditional credentials.

When TestGorilla Doesn't Make Sense

Low-Volume Hiring (<10 hires/year)

The setup time and cost don't justify the value for small teams hiring infrequently.

User recommendations: Use simpler assessment methods (take-home projects, work samples, structured interviews).

Senior-Level and Executive Hiring

User reviews suggest skills assessments are most effective for IC and mid-level roles.

For senior leadership, assessments feel transactional and don't effectively evaluate strategic thinking, leadership, or executive presence.

Highly Competitive Talent Markets

In markets where top candidates have 5+ offers, requiring a 60-minute assessment before even a phone screen can cost you talent.

User reviews suggest using shorter, optional assessments or waiting until later in the process.

Companies Without Time for Setup and Calibration

If you need to hire someone this month and don't have time to build, test, and calibrate assessments, TestGorilla won't help.

The platform is most valuable when you invest in proper implementation.

How to Get More Value from TestGorilla

User recommendations for maximizing ROI:

1. Start with a Few Core Roles

Don't build assessments for every role at once. Start with your highest-volume or most critical roles, get those right, then expand.

2. Test Assessments Internally First

Have current employees complete assessments to:

• Establish baseline "good" scores
• Identify questions that are too easy/hard
• Ensure tests actually measure job-relevant skills

3. Track Assessment Scores vs. Job Performance

Over time, correlate assessment results with actual job performance (reviews, productivity metrics, retention).

This data allows you to refine scoring rubrics and weights.

4. Keep Assessments Short

User reviews suggest 30-45 minutes is the sweet spot. Longer assessments increase drop-off rates.

Prioritize the most predictive tests rather than including everything.

5. Communicate Purpose to Candidates

Explain why you're using skills assessments:

"We use skills-based hiring to ensure we're evaluating what you can do, not just your credentials. This assessment takes about 30 minutes and covers [skills]. Your performance will help us determine if this role is a good fit."

Transparency reduces candidate frustration.

TestGorilla vs. Competitors

TestGorilla vs. Criteria (formerly Criteria Corp):

• TestGorilla wins: More modern UI, better candidate experience
• Criteria wins: Stronger cognitive ability tests, more validation research

TestGorilla vs. Indeed Assessments (Free):

• TestGorilla wins: More comprehensive, better anti-cheating features, integrations
• Indeed wins: Free (but lower quality tests, limited features)

TestGorilla vs. HackerRank (for technical roles):

• TestGorilla wins: Broader range of tests (not just coding)
• HackerRank wins: More advanced coding challenges, better for senior engineering roles

The Bottom Line

TestGorilla is a powerful skills assessment platform with well-designed tests, good candidate experience, and strong integrations. For companies committed to skills-based hiring, it provides structured, objective evaluation that goes beyond resume screening.

But setup is time-consuming and requires calibration. Expect to spend 10-20 hours per role building assessments, testing them internally, and refining scoring rubrics. Without proper calibration, scores won't predict job success.

When to use TestGorilla:

• Skills-based hiring for technical and IC roles
• High-volume hiring (20+ candidates per role)
• Companies with time to invest in setup and calibration
• Organizations formally committed to skills-first approaches

When to skip it:

• Low-volume hiring (<10 hires/year)
• Senior-level and executive roles
• Highly competitive talent markets where assessments hurt conversion
• Companies needing to hire immediately without time for setup

If you're willing to invest the time, TestGorilla is one of the best skills assessment platforms available.

If you need a quick solution or are hiring infrequently, simpler approaches (take-home projects, work samples, structured interviews) may be more practical.

Overall Rating: 8/10 — Excellent tests and candidate experience, but requires significant setup and calibration to be effective. Best for companies serious about skills-based hiring.