Mars Assessment: The Aptitude Tests, What They Measure & How to Practice

TL;DR: Mars screens graduate applicants — including for the Mars Leadership Experience (MLE) — with online aptitude tests, commonly from Aon/cut-e, alongside its own exercises and interviews. There's no answer key to memorise, but you can rehearse the number sense, arithmetic, attention and spatial reasoning the tests sample. Practise those, get used to the tight clock, and treat each sitting as one attempt.

If you've applied to a Mars graduate programme — such as the Mars Leadership Experience across functions like commercial, supply, finance and R&D — the step after your online application is usually an emailed invitation to complete online assessments. As of 2026 these commonly include timed aptitude tests, often delivered through Aon's cut-e platform, plus Mars's own exercises and interviews. Mars runs distinct routes across its segments (Petcare, Snacking, Food), and the exact test mix, order and timing vary by function and country, so trust your invitation email over any guide, this one included.

What the assessment looks like

Mars's early screening typically pairs Aon/cut-e aptitude tests with its own interactive and behavioural exercises. The aptitude tests are timed and often adaptive: cut-e's numerical, verbal and logical tests use short per-question clocks and a bank that adjusts to your performance, measuring speed and accuracy rather than knowledge. Mars also uses scenario-based exercises and interviews that probe its values (its "Five Principles"), behaviour and commercial thinking. So keep the split clear: GamePrep trains the cognitive and numerical aptitude side — where warmed-up number sense, arithmetic and reasoning genuinely help — not the values-based or situational exercises, which reward understanding Mars's culture and answering authentically.

The skills you can train

Quick number sense. cut-e numerical tests reward reading tables and figures fast. Build that instant quantity feel with the numerosity game.

Mental arithmetic. Fast percentages, ratios and calculations under a tight clock sit at the core of an adaptive numerical test. Warm them up with the mental math test.

Attention control. Locking onto the relevant detail while ignoring distractors protects your accuracy under pressure. Train it with the flanker arrows test.

Spatial reasoning. Logical and inductive tests often turn on rotating and matching shapes in your head. Rehearse it with the mental rotation game.

The Mars process & timeline

A representative Mars route runs: online application, then online aptitude tests (often Aon/cut-e) and Mars's own exercises, then a video or telephone interview, then — for those who progress — a final assessment centre with case, group and interview elements. Segments and functions differ, so read your invite. Because Mars leans on Aon/cut-e, our cut-e / Aon assessment guide is the most relevant deep dive, and the pillar HireVue game-based assessments complete guide shows how video and game-style stages sit alongside timed tests.

How to prepare in 3 days

Open day one with a cold run through each related game and mark your two lowest scores — those are the fastest wins in a short window. Day two, run two short sessions on just those two, spaced morning and evening so the gains settle overnight, and try one timed numerical practice to acclimatise to cut-e's per-question clock. Day three, take one relaxed pass and then stop to rest — adaptive tests reward a calm, unhurried mind, not a crammed one. Set up carefully: a laptop with a real keyboard rather than a phone, a quiet room without interruptions, and a stable connection. Read every test's instructions twice, since cut-e's formats are unusual and the rules change between them.

FAQ

Why can't I finish every cut-e question? You're not meant to — the tests are typically adaptive and tightly timed, so running out of items is normal and by design. Accuracy and speed together drive your score; practising against a clock helps most.

Does GamePrep cover the Mars values exercises? No. Those probe Mars's Five Principles, behaviour and judgement — prepare by understanding the culture and answering honestly. GamePrep trains the cognitive and numerical aptitude side.

Do all Mars programmes use the same tests? No. The mix depends on the segment, function and country, and processes change each cycle. Your invitation email is the only reliable guide to your specific application.

GamePrep is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Mars, cut-e or Aon. We provide practice only — no leaked questions or answers. Hiring processes change — verify against your invitation.