Mettl Test: What to Expect Step by Step

A Mercer Mettl test runs through a fixed sequence of screens before the first question, and in a proctored test most of them ask for something: a code, a permission, a photo. As of September 9, 2026, Mettl documents each step in its candidate guides. This walkthrough follows them in order, from the invitation to what the employer sees afterward, so nothing on the setup screen is a surprise.

Step 1: The invitation

Mettl's proctored assessment guide gives three ways in: the button in the invitation email, the direct test URL, or an 8–12 digit key typed at tests.mettl.com. If the email includes a Mettl Secure Browser download, the test is in lockdown mode; see the Mettl Secure Browser requirements before test day. How to tell whether the test is proctored at all is covered in is Mettl proctored.

Step 2: System check and requirements

The guide says "A system check is run automatically in the background to check the system compatibility for the assessment." Mettl's system requirements for a proctored test: Chrome 63 or later, Firefox 52 or later, or Safari 12 or later; "Edge browsers" and mobile devices are not supported unless the employer enabled the mobile app; bandwidth of "512 kbps" for webcam-proctored tests. The test-taker guide tells you to allow pop-ups for tests.mettl.com, clear the browser cache, and disable automatic updates for the duration.

Step 3: Registration and OTP

You enter registration details and accept the terms. Some employers add a one-time code: the Start Assessing Better guide says candidates "enter the OTP sent to their email address to begin the test. The generated OTP is valid for 5 minutes." Have that inbox open.

Step 4: Camera, microphone, and screen

The proctored guide describes a browser pop-up to "enable the webcam and microphone permissions," then a "Start Screen Capture" button where you select the entire screen and click Share. Both are required; Mettl's SecureProctor exam guide puts it flatly: "If you do not give your permission at this stage, you will not be able to start the proctoring."

Step 5: Face and ID

"Capture Your Face" photographs you, with a retake option. "Capture Your ID" photographs an identity document through the same webcam. Keep the document ready and the lighting even. What happens to these images afterward is in whether Mettl uses your camera.

Step 6: Authorization, if enabled

Some employers review the photos before letting you in. The Start Assessing Better guide says an administrator can "manually authorize the candidates based on their submitted details and not automatically let them proceed to the test." The Proctoring Guide says the authorizer can request a resubmission. This wait is normal and is not a flag.

Step 7: Instructions

Read this page slowly. It carries the browsing rule, the allowed materials, and the time limit. Mettl's browsing tolerance "keeps track of the number of times a candidate navigates away from the test window," warns you each time, and can terminate at a limit the employer set; the details are in whether Mettl detects tab switching. Copy-paste is off by default.

Step 8: During the test

Expect these behaviors:

• A warning each time the test window loses focus, possibly with a count of warnings remaining.
• A chat box if a live proctor or authorizer is assigned; they can message you, pause the test, or end it.
• Snapshots of your camera and screen "at every 60 seconds," per Mettl's anti-cheating measures page, or a full recording.
• Do not refresh. The non-proctored guide warns it "will lead to immediate submission of your responses."
• If the connection drops, wait. The technical issues page says the Resume button takes "7-8 minutes" to enable, and "All attempted answers are automatically saved and the assessment starts from the same disconnected question."

Step 9: Submitting

The proctored guide: "Click on 'Yes, End Test' button. Note: You cannot modify/attempt questions once you click this button." A feedback form follows and is mandatory. If time runs out first, the test auto-submits. Closing the window also submits.

Step 10: What the employer sees

The report carries your score plus a Candidate Credibility Index of High, Medium, or Low, built from the proctoring flags and whether you finished. Recorded snapshots or video sit behind it. You do not receive any of this. The full inventory is in what Mettl proctoring records and flags.

Preparation checklist

1. Ask the recruiter in writing what materials and tools are allowed.
2. Use a laptop or desktop on a wired connection above 512 kbps, one display, no casting.
3. Update the OS, then pause antivirus and automatic updates for the session.
4. Close every other application and silence notifications.
5. Test the webcam and microphone; uninstall third-party webcam software, as Mettl advises.
6. Keep your ID, the invitation email, and the recruiter's contact within reach.