In the complex world of talent management, selecting the right hiring assessment solution can make or break your organization's most valuable asset—its people. From hiring and selection to development and retention, each stage of the employee experience is crucial. With a sea of options promising transformative insights, choosing a candidate screening tool that truly supports your talent and hiring strategy can feel like navigating through uncharted waters.

This blog is your compass. We’ll provide a comparison of the PXT Select^® assessment and The Predictive Index^® assessment, examining key dimensions including assessment methodology, reporting capabilities, and pricing structures. By deconstructing these elements, we aim to equip HR professionals and organizational leaders with the precise insights needed to make an informed selection aligned with their talent development objectives.

At a Glance:

Feature	PXT Select® Assessment	The Predictive Index® Assessment
Purpose	Role alignment for selection and development	Team dynamics & work style
Measurement	Job-specific traits that predict on-the-job performance 5 Cognitive scales* 9 Behavioral scales 6 Interests (motivations) Distortion *This section can be removed and added later with no additional fees	Behaviors that identify work styles and preferences 3 Cognitive scales* 5 Behavioral scales No interests No distortion *This constitutes a separate assessment with an additional fee
Customization	Highly tailored to roles per organization Choose from over 150 role benchmarks (Performance Models) or customize with your top performers.	More standardized 17 Reference Profiles
Reports	Suite of reports at no additional cost Detailed and role-specific Actionable, user-friendly, and robust	Standard reports per module Additional reports are available for an additional fee Limited to five behaviors and work style preferences Short and may require training or interpretation
Cost	Premium with multiple options. All options include platform access and all reports. Payment plan options include: Subscription plans Pay-as-you-go Custom pricing	Subscription model with options to access different modules in their platform

What the Products Measure (And How They Measure It)

PXT Select Assessment Tool:

The PXT Select assessment measures the total person, offering a comprehensive approach to matching people to roles based on job-specific traits that have been scientifically proven to deliver on-the-job success. The assessment is divided into three sections: cognitive abilities, behavioral traits, and occupational interests. It evaluates a total of 20 scales, including nine behavioral scales, five cognitive scales, and six occupational interests, providing a well-rounded picture of a candidate's potential.

The data gathered can be used for multiple purposes, including hiring, selection, onboarding, coaching, development, sales, and leadership. PXT Select also has a feature that helps determine if people are answering candidly. This is widely known in the assessment industry as distortion. It helps ensure the authenticity of the assessment results as well as contributing to a more accurate measurement.

This assessment employs Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), which dynamically adjusts question difficulty in real-time based on the candidate's previous responses. As test-takers answer questions, the system selects subsequent items that precisely match their demonstrated skill level, resulting in more accurate measures and a more personalized assessment experience. It is also untimed, allowing candidates to demonstrate their knowledge at their own pace, which accommodates their unique information processing styles.

This approach maximizes each candidate interaction, supporting a more robust workforce planning strategy. For example, if a candidate applies for an administrative role but does not meet the desired benchmark, the organization can use the results to identify a more suitable role, such as an account manager, and extend an offer or promotion accordingly.

The Predictive Index Assessment Tool:

The Predictive Index assessment primarily focuses on behavioral traits, measuring five behavioral scales: dominance, extraversion, patience, formality, and objectivity. Candidates' results on these scales are categorized into one of 17 Reference Profile personality archetypes. This method provides a way to describe someone's general outlook.

In addition to behavioral assessments, The Predictive Index assessment offers a cognitive assessment measuring verbal, numeric, and abstract reasoning. This assessment is separate, incurs an additional cost, and is timed, emphasizing speed in knowledge processing.

The Predictive Index assessment does not measure interests or include distortion metrics. It argues that distortion is inherent in the hiring process and is a minor factor since hiring assessment results are just one part of the decision-making process.

The Bottom line:

If you need a comprehensive solution that is versatile and can be used throughout the employee lifecycle without additional expenses as your needs change, the PXT Select assessment is your better choice.

Reports Provided

PXT Select Assessment Tool:

PXT Select assessments offers a comprehensive suite of reports that cover the entire employee lifecycle, from hiring and selection to coaching and development. These reports include Selection Reports, Coaching Reports, Manager-Employee Reports, Leadership Reports, and Sales and Team Reports. Users can access as many or as few reports as needed, all for the same price. The reports provide actionable hiring, selection, coaching, and interview question insights in plain language, making them easy to review without expert support. The goal is to help everyone in the organization make informed decisions and improve employee engagement and performance.

The Predictive Index Assessment Tool:

The Predictive Index assessment provides a range of reports, including Behavioral Assessment Reports, Cognitive Assessment Reports, Interview Guides, and Development Reports. While these reports offer valuable insights, they are not tailored to specific job roles. The Predictive Index assessment generalizes individual scores into Reference Profiles based on broad behavioral categories rather than job-specific requirements. The optimal ranges for these profiles are determined by patterns of scoring on the five behavioral scales, not by job success.

The Bottom line:

If you are looking for a wide range of reports that support the full employee experience for multiple stakeholders in your organization, all at no additional cost, then PXT Select assessments are your best choice.

Pricing Structures

PXT Select Assessment Tool:

PXT Select assessments offers a flexible, value-driven pricing model designed to accommodate organizations of all sizes. These options include complimentary access to the online platform for scheduling candidates, accessing results, and building performance models as needed. While the established retail value of the assessment is approximately $250 per unit, PXT Select assessments provide multiple pricing options:

1. Subscription Plans: Ideal for organizations looking to implement PXT Select assessments across multiple departments or the entire organization. This option provides a cost-effective solution for unlimited assessments within a set time period.
2. Pay-as-You-Go: Perfect for businesses that need flexibility or smaller-scale usage. Pay only for the assessments you use, allowing you to scale as your needs evolve.
3. Customized Pricing: Designed for organizations with unique requirements, this option addresses specific needs such as multi-departmental implementations, short-term or long-term projects, additional services, and comprehensive training support.

Every pricing tier includes full access to all reports, the online assessment center, product and platform onboarding, and support from expert account managers and consultants.

The Predictive Index Assessment Tool:

The Predictive Index assessment operates on a subscription-based model with annual plans starting at $4,950. Pricing variability is driven by assessment volume, reporting modules, and organizational complexity. Their platform access is module-dependent, with different tiers (Hire, Inspire, Design, Diagnose, Perform) influencing reporting capabilities.

The Bottom line:

If you are looking for a versatile assessment tool to integrate into multiple talent decision-making processes without worrying about additional expenses, PXT Select assessments are your best choice.

The Takeaway

By choosing PXT Select assessments, you gain access to a comprehensive assessment tool that measures a wide range of job-related qualities, employs modern psychometric methods for greater accuracy, and offers a robust suite of reports to enhance your talent management strategy. With PXT Select, you can make accurate and informed talent decisions at every stage of the employee experience, significantly reducing turnover, avoiding costly hiring mistakes, and boosting employee engagement, retention, and performance.

PXT Select is a registered trademark of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The Predictive Index is a registered trademark of Predictive Index, LLC.

All information related to The Predictive Index assessment tool within this post has been gathered from information provided by The Predictive Index on its website.