How the AssessFirst DRIVE test works
DRIVE is a forced-choice questionnaire. Each item sets two statements against each other and you pick one, so you cannot rate everything as important. AssessFirst paired the statements so that the two in a pair are about equally attractive, and some statements describe the opposite of a motivation rather than the motivation itself.
Your answers are scored on 20 motivations, such as creating new things, having autonomy, working in a team, evolving in a secure environment and being recognised by others. AssessFirst groups them in four areas: the type of work you want to do, how you like to work with others, the setting you want, and why you work.
Each motivation is scored from 1 to 10: 7 to 10 is high, 5 and 6 medium and 1 to 4 low. The recruiter compares your profile with what the role offers. DRIVE usually comes after SWIPE and before BRAIN, and you do not have to take all three at once.
How to answer the pairs
There is no right answer, only a profile that matches you or does not:
- Think about jobs and days you have enjoyed and what made them good, then pick the statement that fits that.
- When both statements appeal, pick the one you would miss more if it were gone.
- Read each statement in full. Some are written as the opposite of a motivation, so a quick read can flip your meaning.
- Do not answer for the job you are applying to. A profile that does not match you can lead to a role that does not suit you.
Worked example
Say the pair is “Deciding for myself how to organise my week” against “Working closely with a team on every task”. The first points to having autonomy and the second to working in a team. If you do your best work alone with clear goals, choose the first, even if teamwork sounds like the answer an employer wants. Across 90 pairs, those choices build the ranking of your 20 motivations.
Tips for the real DRIVE test
- Set aside about 10 minutes. DRIVE takes longer than SWIPE because there are more pairs.
- Take a break between questionnaires if you need one. LCL suggests it to its candidates.
- Expect to talk about your results. LCL discusses them in its HR interview, so read your report first.
- Take it seriously the first time. A retake needs a recruiter’s invitation, and new results replace the old ones for every recruiter with access.
Practise AssessFirst DRIVE on CogniPrep
Our version gives you 90 pairs of statements, drawn from one of two forms, under the question “Which would motivate you more at work?”. Tap, click or use the arrow keys to choose. There is no back or skip, a progress bar but no countdown. Your result is a profile across 20 motivations. The statements are our own.