How to Pass the Outlier Assessment: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Outlier is a remote work platform by Scale AI that pays people to help train and evaluate artificial intelligence. Many applicants fail the Outlier assessment—not because they lack skills, but because they don’t understand what Outlier is really testing.

This blog explains how the Outlier assessment works and how to pass it confidently.

What Outlier Is Really Looking For

Outlier does not want perfect geniuses.
They want people who can:

• Follow instructions carefully

• Think logically

• Explain reasoning clearly in English

• Evaluate AI responses accurately and professionally

If you can do these four things, you can pass.

Structure of the Outlier Assessment

The assessment usually includes some or all of the following:

1. Logical Reasoning Questions

These test your ability to draw correct conclusions from given information.

Example:

All servers are computers. Some computers are laptops. Are some servers laptops?

Correct reasoning:
You cannot conclude that servers are laptops unless explicitly stated.

💡 Tip: Never assume. Only use the information given.

2. Explanation / Writing Tasks

You may be asked to explain a process or solve a problem in words.

What Outlier wants:

• Clear structure

• Step-by-step thinking

• Simple English

Good structure:

1. Identify the problem

2. Explain steps

3. Give a clear conclusion

Short, well-organized explanations score higher than long, messy ones.

3. AI Response Evaluation (Most Important Section)

This is where many people fail.

You’ll see:

• A question

• An AI-generated answer

• You must judge whether the AI answer is correct

Your response must include:

1. Whether the AI is correct or incorrect

2. Why

3. The correct answer or better approach (if needed)

Example:

Question: What is 12 × 5?
AI Answer: 12 × 5 = 50

Correct evaluation:

The AI response is incorrect. The correct calculation is 12 × 5 = 60. The provided answer contains a mathematical error.

⚠️ Never say “wrong” without explaining why.

Common Reasons People Fail

Avoid these mistakes:

• Rushing through questions

• Giving one-word answers

• Ignoring instructions

• Writing casually or emotionally

• Not explaining reasoning

Outlier prefers careful and slow over fast.

Best Practices to Pass

✅ Read every instruction twice
✅ Take your time (speed is not graded)
✅ Be neutral and professional
✅ Explain your thinking clearly
✅ Use simple English, not complex vocabulary

You are being tested on clarity, not style.

How Long Does It Take?

• Assessment: 30–90 minutes

• Results: A few days to a few weeks

• Work availability: Project-based (not daily guaranteed)

Patience is important.

Payment for Kenyans

If accepted, Outlier pays via:

• PayPal (most common)

• Payoneer (some roles)

Make sure your PayPal is verified and linked to your bank.

Final Advice

Outlier is not a scam, but it is selective.
People who pass usually:

• Take assessments seriously

• Write clear explanations

• Follow instructions exactly

If you treat the assessment like an exam—not a quiz—you greatly increase your chances.