Matrix Reasoning Practice for the Aon Assessment (cut-e style)

About the real Aon assessment

What the real Aon test looks like

The format details below describe the actual Aon assessment as published by Aon. Our practice test above is independent and uses our own question bank.

Aon Assessment Solutions (formerly cut-e) publishes a suite of short, high-pressure cognitive assessments. The matrix-style module is most commonly called Inductive Reasoning or scales-ix. It uses small 3×3 visual matrices with very tight per-question pacing — speed-under-pressure is the dominant constraint, not absolute item difficulty.

• Test name

  Aon Assessment Inductive Reasoning, also sold under the legacy 'cut-e scales-ix' name. Marketed by Aon and used by many large European graduate employers.

• Question style

  3×3 visual matrices with a missing cell and four to six options. Same visual format as the questions on this site.

• Timing

  Approximately 12 minutes for ~15 questions in the standard module — around 50 seconds per question. Aon's cut-e suite is famously time-pressured by design.

• Adaptive scoring

  Older cut-e modules used fixed difficulty; modern Aon Assessment scales-ix is partly adaptive. The published score is a normed percentile against a comparison group.

• Employer usage

  Common at European graduate employers — Lufthansa, Siemens, Allianz, ABN AMRO, several Big-Four offices, and many UK graduate schemes that adopted cut-e before the Aon rebrand.

Skills being tested

What this practice trains

• Visual pattern recognition under tight time pressure
• Inductive reasoning
• Quick rule identification across multiple cell attributes
• Sustained accuracy over short bursts
• Speed-accuracy tradeoff management

Common mistakes

The four most common ways candidates underperform

1. 1

   Pacing too slowly on the first few items

   Aon's cut-e module gives roughly 50 seconds per question. Spending 90 seconds on an early item means missing the last 2-3 questions entirely. Most candidates score below their actual ability for this reason.

2. 2

   Over-checking each rule before answering

   Aon questions are usually single-rule or simple two-rule. Confirming a rule with one extra cell, then committing, is correct strategy. Confirming with three extra cells loses time.

3. 3

   Forgetting that skipped questions count as incorrect

   Unanswered questions are treated as wrong. A best-guess answer in the last 10 seconds beats an empty slot every time.

4. 4

   Ignoring the easier later items

   Unlike SHL, Aon's modules don't always increase in difficulty. A hard middle question doesn't mean every remaining question is hard — push past it and bank the easy items.

How to improve

The most efficient preparation path

Aon's cut-e inductive module rewards quick rule identification over deep deliberation. The free 10-question test and our 12-question Aon-style mock both train this skill; the mock adds the time pressure. Practise with a visible timer, focus on rotation, symmetry, simple progression, and single-rule combinations, and aim for a steady ~50-second pace per question.

Frequently asked

Aon test FAQ

What is the Aon cut-e matrix reasoning test?

Aon's cut-e Inductive Reasoning module (scales-ix) is a fast-paced 3×3 matrix-style aptitude test. You identify the missing cell of a visual matrix from four to six options. The defining feature is its short per-question time budget — roughly 50 seconds — which makes pacing the main challenge for most candidates.

How many questions are on the Aon cut-e Inductive Reasoning test?

The standard scales-ix module is around 15 questions in 12 minutes. Module length varies slightly by employer configuration; some screening versions are shorter. Always confirm the exact number with the assessment invitation email.

Is the Aon cut-e test timed?

Yes, strictly. The standard scales-ix module is timed at around 12 minutes for ~15 questions, giving about 50 seconds per question. Unanswered questions count as incorrect.

Is the Aon cut-e test adaptive?

Modern Aon Assessment scales-ix modules use partial adaptivity — confident early answers can raise the difficulty band of subsequent items. Older legacy cut-e modules used a fixed difficulty progression. The exact behaviour varies by employer configuration.

What companies use the Aon cut-e assessment?

Aon's cut-e is widely used by European graduate employers including Lufthansa, Siemens, Allianz, ABN AMRO, several Big-Four offices, and many UK graduate schemes. After Aon's acquisition of cut-e the suite was rebranded but the underlying tests remained similar.

Can you practise for the Aon cut-e inductive test?

Yes. The rule families Aon uses (rotation, symmetry, progression, simple combined rules) are exactly the families covered on this site. Practising with a visible timer is the most effective single change — it shifts your reasoning from 'is this rule certain' to 'is this rule probable enough to commit'.

Is this an official Aon test?

No. This practice material is independently created and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or provided by Aon or cut-e. The questions are our own, designed to give you provider-style practice — not real Aon questions.

Also preparing for

Related provider prep