Walmart Retail Associate Assessment — Questions and Answers

Question 1: You are asked to falsify a work record. What should you do?

Do it just this once
Do it if your manager asks
Ask a coworker to do it instead
Refuse and report the request if necessary (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse and report the request if necessary

Falsifying records is illegal and a direct violation of Walmart's ethics policy, regardless of who asks.

Question 2: What is the best communication style for a high-pressure, busy retail environment?

Clear, concise, and respectful communication (Correct answer)
Loud and assertive at all times
Long, detailed explanations
No communication — just act

Correct answer: Clear, concise, and respectful communication

Clear and concise communication prevents misunderstandings and keeps the team working efficiently under pressure.

Question 3: What does 'out-of-stock' mean in retail operations?

Items with expired sell-by dates
Items that are in the warehouse but not yet priced
Items that have been discontinued
Items that are currently unavailable on the shelf and cannot be purchased (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Items that are currently unavailable on the shelf and cannot be purchased

Out-of-stock means a product is not currently available on the shelf for customers to purchase.

Question 4: How should you communicate a task handoff when your shift ends?

Verbally brief your replacement on unfinished tasks (Correct answer)
Leave a note on the product
Say nothing — they will figure it out
Send a text to the manager

Correct answer: Verbally brief your replacement on unfinished tasks

Verbally briefing your replacement ensures continuity and prevents tasks from falling through the cracks.

Question 5: A customer has a complaint about a product they purchased. What is the first step?

Offer a refund without hearing the complaint
Listen to the customer and understand the issue fully (Correct answer)
Defend the product immediately
Escalate immediately to a manager

Correct answer: Listen to the customer and understand the issue fully

Listening to the customer fully before responding allows for a proper understanding of the issue.

Question 6: A customer is looking for a specific brand that Walmart doesn't carry. What should you do?

Suggest similar brands Walmart does carry that might meet their needs (Correct answer)
Direct them to a competitor
Ask them why they need that specific brand
Tell them Walmart doesn't carry it and end the conversation

Correct answer: Suggest similar brands Walmart does carry that might meet their needs

Suggesting alternatives demonstrates helpfulness and keeps the customer engaged with Walmart's offerings.

Question 7: Which payment method typically does NOT require the customer to enter a PIN at the register?

Debit card
EBT card
Credit card (tap/swipe for small amounts) (Correct answer)
Cash

Correct answer: Credit card (tap/swipe for small amounts)

Credit card transactions, especially contactless ones under the tap limit, often do not require a PIN, unlike debit or EBT cards.

Question 8: A store orders 5 pallets with 48 boxes each and each box contains 6 items. How many items were ordered in total?

1,560
1,440 (Correct answer)
1,320
1,200

Correct answer: 1,440

5 times 48 times 6 equals 1,440 items total.

Question 9: What should an associate do when noticing a product is consistently out of stock?

Tell customers the item is discontinued
Order extra product without authorization
Assume purchasing will handle it automatically
Report the trend to a supervisor or ordering manager so it can be investigated (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Report the trend to a supervisor or ordering manager so it can be investigated

Reporting consistent stockout patterns allows managers to adjust ordering to better meet customer demand.

Question 10: How does Walmart use data from its POS system?

To schedule employee breaks
Only for payroll processing
Exclusively for accounting purposes
To manage inventory levels, identify trends, and reorder products (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To manage inventory levels, identify trends, and reorder products

POS data enables Walmart to track sales trends, manage inventory, and automate reordering processes.

Question 11: If your manager sets a team goal, what is your role?

Let stronger teammates carry the team
Work toward the shared goal and support teammates in doing the same (Correct answer)
Achieve only your personal portion
Question whether the goal is achievable

Correct answer: Work toward the shared goal and support teammates in doing the same

Contributing to the team goal and supporting others demonstrates commitment to shared success.

Question 12: You disagree with your manager's decision. What should you do?

Respectfully express your concern through proper channels (Correct answer)
Ignore the decision and do it your way
Complain to coworkers
Refuse to follow the instruction

Correct answer: Respectfully express your concern through proper channels

Expressing disagreement respectfully through proper channels maintains professionalism and can lead to better outcomes.

Question 13: During a busy period, your manager assigns you a task outside your usual duties. What should you do?

Do nothing and wait for clarification
Do it slowly to show it is not your area
Refuse because it is not your job
Accept it cooperatively and ask for guidance if needed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Accept it cooperatively and ask for guidance if needed

Flexibility and willingness to help outside your usual duties are valued qualities in retail associates.

Question 14: A customer requests a refund on an item that clearly appears used and damaged. What do you do?

Tell the customer to return with proof of purchase
Refuse the refund immediately
Follow Walmart's return policy and involve a manager if needed (Correct answer)
Give the refund to avoid conflict

Correct answer: Follow Walmart's return policy and involve a manager if needed

Applying Walmart's return policy consistently and involving a manager when needed ensures fair policy-compliant decisions.

Question 15: Why is it important to keep aisles clear of merchandise and debris?

To make stocking easier
To ensure clear pathways for safety and emergency egress (Correct answer)
To make the store look neat for customers
To prevent theft

Correct answer: To ensure clear pathways for safety and emergency egress

Clear aisles ensure safe movement for customers and employees and allow emergency evacuation routes to remain unobstructed.

Question 16: What should you do if you notice a wet floor without a warning sign?

Clean it up only if you have time
Report it to your manager and continue your work
Place a wet floor sign immediately and report it (Correct answer)
Ignore it since it's not your responsibility

Correct answer: Place a wet floor sign immediately and report it

Placing a warning sign immediately prevents injuries and reporting ensures proper cleanup.

Question 17: You are running behind pace on a task. What is the ethical response when your manager asks for an update?

Pretend you are on pace
Blame equipment or another associate
Rush through the task cutting corners to appear on track
Communicate the delay honestly and explain what you need to catch up (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Communicate the delay honestly and explain what you need to catch up

Honest communication about progress allows management to provide support and adjust plans appropriately.

Question 18: A department's weekly sales goal is $12,000 and they have reached $8,400 by Thursday. What percentage of the goal has been met?

65%
70% (Correct answer)
60%
75%

Correct answer: 70%

Dividing $8,400 by $12,000 and multiplying by 100 gives 70%.

Question 19: Why are $50 and $100 bills typically stored under the register tray rather than in regular slots?

Register trays do not have slots large enough for $100 bills
To reduce theft visibility and separate them from smaller denominations for security (Correct answer)
Because they are used more frequently and need quick access
Store policy requires large bills to be counted separately each hour

Correct answer: To reduce theft visibility and separate them from smaller denominations for security

Keeping large bills under the tray reduces their visibility and the incentive for theft or grab-and-run attempts.

Question 20: A store has 150 units of a product. After selling 87 units, how many remain?

63 (Correct answer)
83
73
53

Correct answer: 63

Subtracting 87 from 150 gives 63 remaining units.

Question 21: If a shelf holds 8 rows of 15 items each, how many items can the shelf hold in total?

120 (Correct answer)
110
100
90

Correct answer: 120

Multiplying 8 rows by 15 items per row equals 120 items total.

Question 22: A friend asks you to give them an unauthorized discount. What should you do?

Politely refuse and explain you cannot do that (Correct answer)
Ignore the request
Give the discount — they are a friend
Give a smaller discount instead

Correct answer: Politely refuse and explain you cannot do that

Giving unauthorized discounts violates company policy and constitutes theft, regardless of personal relationships.

Question 23: Why is it important to rotate stock when restocking shelves?

To make restocking easier for the next associate
To confuse theft attempts
To make the shelf look full
To ensure older products are sold first and reduce waste from expiration (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To ensure older products are sold first and reduce waste from expiration

Rotating stock using FIFO ensures older products sell first reducing waste from expiration or damage.

Question 24: A customer is trying to use an expired coupon. What is the correct response?

Politely explain the coupon is expired and follow store policy on exceptions (Correct answer)
Accept it to make the customer happy
Rudely turn them away
Accept it without checking the date

Correct answer: Politely explain the coupon is expired and follow store policy on exceptions

Explaining the expiration politely and following store policy maintains fairness and customer respect.

Question 25: You made a mistake that affected inventory counts. What should you do?

Blame a coworker
Admit the mistake and correct it as soon as possible (Correct answer)
Wait to see if anyone notices
Pretend it did not happen

Correct answer: Admit the mistake and correct it as soon as possible

Admitting mistakes promptly and correcting them prevents larger problems and builds trust.

Question 26: What does 'integrity' mean in the workplace?

Completing only assigned tasks
Doing tasks as fast as possible
Being honest and consistent whether or not you are being watched (Correct answer)
Following only the rules you agree with

Correct answer: Being honest and consistent whether or not you are being watched

Workplace integrity means acting honestly and ethically in all situations regardless of observation.

Question 27: What is the purpose of safety stock in inventory management?

To comply with OSHA regulations
To protect high-value items from theft
To have product available for employee purchases
To maintain a buffer of extra inventory to prevent stockouts during demand spikes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To maintain a buffer of extra inventory to prevent stockouts during demand spikes

Safety stock is extra inventory kept on hand to prevent stockouts when demand increases unexpectedly.

Question 28: What does vendor-managed inventory (VMI) mean?

The supplier takes responsibility for monitoring and replenishing stock levels (Correct answer)
Inventory is managed based on customer feedback
The vendor ships all orders without store input
Associates manage all ordering independently

Correct answer: The supplier takes responsibility for monitoring and replenishing stock levels

In VMI arrangements the supplier monitors stock levels and manages replenishment to maintain agreed inventory targets.

Question 29: A store received 500 items and 35 were found defective after a quality check. What percentage were acceptable?

90%
92%
93% (Correct answer)
88%

Correct answer: 93%

500 minus 35 divided by 500 times 100 equals 93%.

Question 30: What happens if a product's receiving date is recorded incorrectly in the system?

It only matters for perishable items
Nothing, the date is not important
The system will automatically correct it
It can disrupt FIFO rotation, cause inventory inaccuracies, and lead to waste (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It can disrupt FIFO rotation, cause inventory inaccuracies, and lead to waste

Incorrect receiving dates disrupt stock rotation and can cause newer products to be sold before older ones.

Question 31: You accidentally give a customer too much change. What should you do?

Wait until end of shift to report it
Keep quiet — it is already done
Politely correct the error and return the right amount of change (Correct answer)
Tell the customer it is their lucky day

Correct answer: Politely correct the error and return the right amount of change

Correcting change errors immediately is honest and prevents cash drawer discrepancies.

Question 32: You are near the end of your shift and an urgent task comes in. What should you do?

Notify your manager and incoming team about the urgent task (Correct answer)
Rush to complete it improperly
Leave it for the next shift without telling anyone
Ignore it — your shift is almost over

Correct answer: Notify your manager and incoming team about the urgent task

Properly handing off urgent tasks ensures continuity and prevents issues from falling through the cracks.

Question 33: A price tag shows $5.99 and a customer buys 7 of these items. What is the total before tax?

$39.93
$42.93
$41.93 (Correct answer)
$40.93

Correct answer: $41.93

$5.99 times 7 equals $41.93.

Question 34: You suspect a customer is shoplifting. What should you do?

Ignore it to avoid conflict
Confront the customer directly
Follow and watch the customer closely
Alert a loss prevention associate or manager (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Alert a loss prevention associate or manager

Alerting loss prevention is the correct and safe way to address suspected shoplifting without personal confrontation.

Question 35: A manager tells you to do something that clearly violates store policy. What should you do?

Do it but document it
Follow the manager's orders without question
Politely decline and report the request through the open-door policy or ethics hotline (Correct answer)
Ignore both the manager and the policy

Correct answer: Politely decline and report the request through the open-door policy or ethics hotline

Even managerial instructions cannot override company policy, and you have the right to report unethical directives.

Question 36: What should you do if you find products on the floor that have no shelf location?

Check the item's UPC to locate or create a proper shelf location through management (Correct answer)
Return them to the supplier
Place them anywhere on the nearest shelf
Leave them in the aisle for customers

Correct answer: Check the item's UPC to locate or create a proper shelf location through management

Finding the correct shelf location via UPC ensures products are properly organized and findable for customers.

Question 37: You are training a new associate and they make a mistake. What should you do?

Ignore it — they will learn on their own
Correct them privately and explain the right way (Correct answer)
Point out the mistake in front of the team
Report them to the manager

Correct answer: Correct them privately and explain the right way

Correcting mistakes privately and constructively helps new associates learn without embarrassment.

Question 38: A coworker asks you to clock them in since they will be a few minutes late. What should you do?

Help them out to be a good teammate
Agree only if they do the same for you
Decline because it is against policy and constitutes time fraud (Correct answer)
Do it but report it later

Correct answer: Decline because it is against policy and constitutes time fraud

Clocking in for another employee is time fraud and violates company policy regardless of intent.

Question 39: What should you do if you notice morale on your team is low?

Speak positively, support teammates, and report concerns to management if needed (Correct answer)
Tell teammates to work harder
Join in the negativity
Ignore it — not your problem

Correct answer: Speak positively, support teammates, and report concerns to management if needed

Positive behavior and communication can uplift team morale and create a better work environment.

Question 40: What is 'shrinkage' in retail terms?

Loss of inventory due to theft, damage, or administrative error (Correct answer)
Products that expire and are removed from shelves
Reduction in store hours
Products that have been downsized by the manufacturer

Correct answer: Loss of inventory due to theft, damage, or administrative error

Shrinkage refers to inventory loss from shoplifting, employee theft, damage, and record-keeping errors.

Question 41: What does 'overstock' mean in retail?

A product with too high a price
Excess inventory beyond what is needed or can be stocked on the floor (Correct answer)
Items that have been ordered twice
Products available only online

Correct answer: Excess inventory beyond what is needed or can be stocked on the floor

Overstock is inventory that exceeds floor capacity or current demand and is often stored in the back room.

Question 42: What is the benefit of scanning items when receiving a shipment?

It ensures inventory records are updated accurately and discrepancies are caught early (Correct answer)
It satisfies the delivery driver's paperwork
It speeds up unloading
It allows customers to see new arrivals faster

Correct answer: It ensures inventory records are updated accurately and discrepancies are caught early

Scanning items during receiving verifies the shipment matches the order and updates inventory automatically.

Question 43: A customer asks you to misrepresent a product's availability to make a sale. What should you do?

Comply — the sale is good for the store
Refuse and provide accurate information (Correct answer)
Tell a partial truth
Ask a manager to handle it

Correct answer: Refuse and provide accurate information

Providing accurate information maintains customer trust and Walmart's reputation for integrity.

Question 44: Why is it important to wait for the customer to place their money on the counter before opening the cash drawer?

Store security cameras require both hands to be visible before opening the drawer
To clearly see the denomination tendered and prevent disputes about the amount given (Correct answer)
Because the register will not open until the customer initiates payment
To give the customer time to add coupons or a loyalty number

Correct answer: To clearly see the denomination tendered and prevent disputes about the amount given

Seeing the bill clearly before opening the drawer eliminates ambiguity about what denomination was given.

Question 45: A teammate is consistently late to your shared shift. How should you handle it?

Report them immediately without speaking to them
Do their work without saying anything
Talk to them directly first, then involve management if it continues (Correct answer)
Complain to other coworkers

Correct answer: Talk to them directly first, then involve management if it continues

Addressing issues directly first respects the coworker and often resolves problems before escalation is necessary.

Question 46: You observe that a particular process in your department is consistently causing errors. What should you do?

Keep doing it the same way — it is policy
Fix it yourself without telling anyone
Document the issue and bring it to your manager's attention with a suggested improvement (Correct answer)
Complain to coworkers

Correct answer: Document the issue and bring it to your manager's attention with a suggested improvement

Proactively identifying problems and suggesting improvements contributes to a more efficient workplace.

Question 47: A supervisor asks you to falsify inventory counts to meet a quota. What should you do?

Do it only once to avoid trouble
Refuse and report the unethical request through the ethics hotline (Correct answer)
Ask a coworker to do it instead
Do it since the supervisor asked

Correct answer: Refuse and report the unethical request through the ethics hotline

Falsifying records is unethical and potentially illegal and reporting such requests protects the company and employees.

Question 48: What is the purpose of cycle counting in a retail store?

Counting customer transactions per cycle
Counting all inventory at once during closing hours
Tracking which items cycle through promotions
Periodically counting portions of inventory to maintain accurate records (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Periodically counting portions of inventory to maintain accurate records

Cycle counting involves regularly counting portions of inventory to keep records accurate without full shutdowns.

Question 49: Which of the following is considered improper cash handling at Walmart?

Placing personal money into the register to make change for a customer (Correct answer)
Using a counterfeit pen on large bills
Counting change back aloud to the customer
Keeping the cash drawer closed between transactions

Correct answer: Placing personal money into the register to make change for a customer

Mixing personal funds with register funds is strictly prohibited as it creates accountability and audit issues.

Question 50: How should you respond if a coworker gives you feedback on how you handled a task?

Listen openly, consider the feedback, and thank them (Correct answer)
Get defensive immediately
Ignore the feedback
Report them for interfering

Correct answer: Listen openly, consider the feedback, and thank them

Receiving feedback openly demonstrates professionalism and a commitment to improvement.

Question 51: A vendor offers you a personal gift in exchange for favorable treatment. What should you do?

Ask for a bigger gift
Accept it but do not tell anyone
Decline and report it to your manager (Correct answer)
Accept it — it is just a token

Correct answer: Decline and report it to your manager

Accepting gifts from vendors in exchange for favors is a conflict of interest and violates Walmart's ethics policy.

Question 52: What is 'shrink prevention' in a retail context?

Reducing customer returns
Actions taken to reduce loss from theft, damage, or error (Correct answer)
Shrinking the workforce
Reducing inventory storage size

Correct answer: Actions taken to reduce loss from theft, damage, or error

Shrink prevention encompasses all practices designed to minimize inventory loss and protect store profitability.

Question 53: What is the value of diversity in a workplace team?

It is required by law only
It creates unnecessary conflict
It brings varied perspectives that lead to better problem-solving (Correct answer)
It slows productivity

Correct answer: It brings varied perspectives that lead to better problem-solving

Diverse teams bring different perspectives and experiences that enhance creativity and problem-solving.

Question 54: What is the right response if a coworker pressures you to violate a store policy?

Refuse and report the pressure if it continues (Correct answer)
Go along to keep the peace
Confront them aggressively
Agree but do not follow through

Correct answer: Refuse and report the pressure if it continues

Refusing unethical pressure and reporting it protects you, your coworkers, and the company.

Question 55: A coworker asks you to cover for them while they take an unauthorized break. What should you do?

Cover for them — you are a good teammate
Decline and suggest they request the break properly from the manager (Correct answer)
Confront them in front of customers
Cover for them but report it later

Correct answer: Decline and suggest they request the break properly from the manager

Declining to cover unauthorized breaks and directing them to follow proper procedures protects both of you.

Question 56: What does 'accountability' mean for a Walmart associate?

Tracking store metrics
Holding coworkers responsible for team failures
Taking responsibility for your actions and their outcomes (Correct answer)
Completing only assigned tasks to avoid liability

Correct answer: Taking responsibility for your actions and their outcomes

Accountability means owning your work, your mistakes, and your contributions to the team.

Question 57: What is a UPC barcode used for in a retail setting?

To uniquely identify products for inventory tracking, pricing, and sales (Correct answer)
To determine the country of manufacture
To track employee performance
To display the product price to customers

Correct answer: To uniquely identify products for inventory tracking, pricing, and sales

UPC barcodes uniquely identify products and enable accurate point-of-sale and inventory tracking.

Question 58: An inventory count shows 50 units in the system but you only find 42 on the shelf. What should you do?

Update the count to 42 without investigating
Investigate potential causes such as theft, misplacement, or receiving errors, then report (Correct answer)
Add 8 phantom units to match the system
Assume the system is wrong and ignore the discrepancy

Correct answer: Investigate potential causes such as theft, misplacement, or receiving errors, then report

Investigating inventory discrepancies identifies root causes such as shrinkage or errors before correcting records.

Question 59: What is the purpose of conducting regular safety inspections in the workplace?

To assess employee performance
To identify and correct hazards before they cause injury (Correct answer)
To fill out required paperwork
To meet government quotas

Correct answer: To identify and correct hazards before they cause injury

Regular safety inspections proactively identify hazards so they can be corrected before causing harm.

Question 60: An employee earns $13.50 per hour and works 8 hours. What is their gross pay for the day?

$112.00
$102.00
$108.00 (Correct answer)
$98.00

Correct answer: $108.00

Multiplying $13.50 by 8 hours equals $108.00.

Question 61: A customer asks you a question outside your department's expertise. What should you do?

Make up an answer
Ask the customer to find out themselves
Tell them you cannot help
Direct them to the appropriate department or find a colleague who can help (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Direct them to the appropriate department or find a colleague who can help

Directing customers to the right resource ensures they get accurate help and feel valued.

Question 62: How should you handle confidential customer information such as credit card data?

Share it only with trusted coworkers
Discuss it with coworkers to improve service
Handle it according to Walmart's data privacy policies and never share it (Correct answer)
Record it in case it is needed later

Correct answer: Handle it according to Walmart's data privacy policies and never share it

Protecting customer data according to company policy prevents identity theft and maintains customer trust.

Question 63: What should you do if you notice a broken or damaged piece of equipment?

Use it until someone else notices the damage
Try to fix it yourself
Tag it as out of service and report it to a supervisor (Correct answer)
Continue using it carefully

Correct answer: Tag it as out of service and report it to a supervisor

Tagging damaged equipment prevents others from using it and ensures proper repair through the right channels.

Question 64: What is the role of a backstock area in a retail store?

A restricted area for management only
A storage area for excess inventory that has not yet been placed on the floor (Correct answer)
A display area for sale items
A section for damaged goods to be discarded

Correct answer: A storage area for excess inventory that has not yet been placed on the floor

The backstock area holds excess inventory that will be moved to the floor as shelf space becomes available.

Question 65: You see a customer shoplifting. What should you do?

Alert loss prevention or management — do not physically intervene (Correct answer)
Call police directly from the floor
Confront and stop them yourself
Ignore it to avoid conflict

Correct answer: Alert loss prevention or management — do not physically intervene

Alerting loss prevention or management is the safe and correct response — never physically intervene.

Walmart Retail Associate Assessment

The Walmart Retail Associate Assessment is a pre-employment test that evaluates candidates on customer service, situational judgment, integrity, store operations, and teamwork to determine alignment with Walmart's core values and job readiness.

Questions

45 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds