AON (cut-e) assessments: the complete 2026 guide
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Start practising freeAON Assessment — still widely known by its former name cut-e — is one of the most common psychometric providers in European and global graduate hiring. Its defining trait is speed: short time limits, lots of items, and a heavy emphasis on working quickly without sacrificing accuracy. If you are not sure which provider you are facing, start with our psychometric tests overview.
- AON (cut-e) is speed-first — tight timers, high item counts.
- Core families: numerical, verbal, inductive, and a suite of gamified challenges.
- The Switch Challenge is AON’s deductive-reasoning game — find the 4-digit code that rearranges the shapes.
- Most tests reward speed and accuracy together; the Switch Challenge gives ~6 minutes.
- forge has a free Switch Challenge trainer + tutorial.
AON prep should start with the exact label in your invite, not the employer name. Decode your AON test
AON format map
| Invite wording | What it likely means | How to practise |
|---|---|---|
| scales numerical | Speed-first data interpretation. | Tables, charts and statement checks under tight timing. |
| scales verbal | Short-passage statement evaluation. | True/False/Cannot Say style evidence drills. |
| scales ix / cls | Inductive logical reasoning. | Pattern family recognition under time pressure. |
| Switch Challenge | Deductive code-rearrangement game. | Code transformation and permutation drills. |
| Digit, Grid, Gap, Motion | Short game-like cognitive tasks. | Practise the mechanic separately before mixed prep. |
The AON test families
- Numerical reasoning — data tables and charts under tight time pressure.
- Verbal reasoning — statement-evaluation against short passages.
- Inductive / logical (scales ix, cls) — abstract pattern recognition.
- Gamified challenges — Switch, Digit, Grid, Gap, Motion, and more, each isolating one cognitive skill.
Which AON test are you taking?
If your invitation names a challenge but not the skill, use the identifier guide first: Which AON test am I taking?
Treat the second label as more important than the provider label. “AON” tells you the platform family; “scales numerical”, “switchChallenge” or “motionChallenge” tells you the actual mechanic. A candidate preparing for AON numerical needs table and statement drills. A candidate preparing for Switch needs code transformation practice. A candidate preparing for Motion needs rule-following under visual movement. Those routes feel completely different in practice.
Common AON mistakes
- Preparing for generic SHL-style numerical only. AON timing and interface can feel much faster.
- Remembering only the provider name. The challenge label is what tells you the mechanic.
- Ignoring the practice screen. AON games often explain the rule immediately before the timed section.
- Going too slowly for perfect accuracy. Many AON tasks reward speed and accuracy together.
How to choose your prep route
Use one broad diagnostic only if the invite is vague. Once the portal gives examples, switch immediately to the named task. For AON, the interface and timing are part of the assessment: being good at generic numerical reasoning does not automatically make you fast at scales numerical, and being good at abstract reasoning does not make Switch Challenge mechanics familiar. Your first session should remove format surprise; your later sessions should build speed.
Source notes
forge checks AON guidance against Aon’s official online assessment preparation page. Aon also notes the cut-e history in candidate-facing material. Employer batteries can vary, so your invite and practice screen remain the final source of truth.
Start with the Switch Challenge
The Switch Challenge is the most distinctive AON game and the easiest to prepare for once you know the method. It is a constraint/code puzzle: an input row of shapes, a 4-digit code, and an output row — you work out which code produces the transformation. Our full guide breaks down all seven question types and the method for each:
Practise the AON Switch Challenge free on forge
A free, unlimited trainer plus an interactive tutorial that teaches the method behind every question type.
Open the free trainerRelated guides
- Which AON test am I taking?
- AON Switch Challenge guide
- AON Numerical Reasoning
- AON Verbal Reasoning
- AON Inductive Logical
- SHL vs AON
- Psychometric tests: the overview
- Logical & abstract reasoning skills
Frequently asked questions
What is AON cut-e?+
AON Assessment (formerly cut-e) is a psychometric test provider used in graduate and professional hiring. Its tests are deliberately speed-first — short time limits, many items — and include numerical, verbal, inductive reasoning, and a suite of gamified challenges.
What is the AON Switch Challenge?+
The Switch Challenge (switchChallenge) is AON's deductive reasoning game. You are shown an input row of shapes, a 4-digit code, and an output row, and you identify the code that rearranges the input into the output. It runs for about 6 minutes and you solve as many as you can.
Are AON tests timed?+
Yes — heavily. AON is known for tight time limits; most tests reward speed and accuracy together. The Switch Challenge, for example, gives you roughly 6 minutes to complete as many tasks as possible.
Can I practise AON tests for free?+
Yes. forge has a free, unlimited Switch Challenge trainer with an interactive tutorial that teaches the method behind every question type. More AON test types are available on the platform.