The 7 Secrets to 'Passing' the Walmart Pathways Graduation Assessment (And Its Modern Replacements for 2025)

The search for direct "answers" to the Walmart Pathways Graduation Assessment Test is a journey into the company's past. As of December 2025, the specific test known as the Pathways Graduation Assessment (PGA) is largely considered obsolete, having been retired or significantly replaced following a major shift in Walmart’s training and assessment strategies. The original Pathways Training Program, which required this assessment for completion and career progression, was a key component of the company's entry-level associate training starting around 2015.

However, the underlying intent—finding the key to advancing your career at Walmart—is more relevant than ever. This comprehensive guide will reveal the history of the controversial Pathways test, expose why direct answers are unhelpful, and, most importantly, provide the proven, current strategies for passing the modern assessments that truly control your promotion and pay increases in 2025: the Retail Associate Assessment (RAA) and the Teaming Employment Assessment (TEA).

The Legacy of the Pathways Graduation Assessment (PGA)

The original Pathways Training Program was a structured, multi-module learning system designed to equip new, entry-level associates across 31 positions with foundational retail skills. The Pathways Graduation Assessment was the final hurdle, a comprehensive test associates were required to pass to complete the program, which was often tied to eligibility for pay increases or promotions.

The test quickly became a source of anxiety and controversy. A key reason the specific "Pathways Graduation Assessment" is no longer the central focus of Walmart's training is its history with legal challenges.

  • The EEOC Lawsuit: In 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Walmart, alleging that the PGA discriminated against employees with disabilities. The lawsuit claimed the assessment was an unlawful qualifications standard.
  • High Stakes: For many years, associates reported that failure to pass the Pathways Graduation Assessment after multiple attempts could lead to termination, making the search for "answers" a desperate measure.
  • Program Status: While the Pathways *concept* of career development continues through programs like Live Better U and the Home Office Pathways Experience (HOPE), the specific 2015-era "Pathways Graduation Assessment" is widely considered a retired or defunct assessment tool, replaced by more validated and legally compliant testing structures.

The modern Walmart assessment landscape is dominated by tests tailored to specific roles, focusing on behavioral and situational judgment rather than simple knowledge recall from training modules.

The Real Tests for Career Advancement in 2025: RAA and TEA

If you are looking for the 'answers' to the modern equivalent of the Pathways Graduation Assessment, you need to focus on two major assessments. These are the current "gatekeepers" for most positions, from entry-level to supervisory roles.

1. The Retail Associate Assessment (RAA)

The RAA is typically required for entry-level roles such as Cashier, Stocker, and Sales Associate. It assesses basic retail knowledge, customer service skills, and problem-solving abilities.

2. The Teaming Employment Assessment (TEA)

The TEA is the key assessment for internal candidates seeking promotion to supervisory roles, such as Team Lead, Department Manager, and other leadership positions. This test is the modern equivalent of a "graduation" assessment for career advancement.

The TEA has five critical sections designed to evaluate your leadership potential and decision-making skills:

  • Work with Associates: Assesses your ability to collaborate and delegate.
  • Manage Your Area: Focuses on organizational skills and prioritization.
  • Manage Your Day: Evaluates time management and efficiency.
  • Tell Us Your Story: Behavioral questions about past work experiences.
  • Describe Your Approach: Situational judgment questions.

7 Proven Strategies to 'Ace' the Walmart Assessments (RAA and TEA)

While you can find purported "answers" online, these are often outdated, incorrect, or lead to failure because the tests (especially the TEA) are designed to detect inconsistent responses. The true "secret" is a strategic approach based on understanding the company's core values.

1. Master the 'Always Agree' Principle

For questions that ask you to rate how much you agree or disagree with a statement about workplace behavior (e.g., "It is important to follow all rules, even if they slow down the process"), always choose the most extreme positive answer ("Strongly Agree" or "Always"). Walmart assessments are looking for candidates who are highly reliable, compliant, and customer-focused.

2. Prioritize Customer Service and Safety

In situational judgment questions, when faced with a choice between efficiency, customer satisfaction, or safety, you must always choose the option that prioritizes Customer Service first, followed closely by Safety and Integrity. Never choose an option that involves ignoring a customer, cutting corners, or compromising a safety rule, even if it saves time.

3. Be Consistently Team-Oriented

The Teaming Employment Assessment (TEA) heavily screens for leadership qualities. When asked about conflict, teamwork, or helping others, choose the answer that demonstrates you are a collaborative, supportive, and communicative team player. Avoid answers that suggest you would work in isolation, blame others, or refuse to help a struggling associate.

4. Practice the Situational Judgment Questions

The most challenging part of the RAA and TEA is the situational judgment section, where you are presented with a scenario (e.g., "A customer is angry because an item is out of stock") and given multiple choices on how to respond. The correct answer is always the one that aligns most closely with Walmart's official policies and cultural values (e.g., de-escalation, finding an alternative solution, and involving a manager when necessary).

5. Utilize Free Practice Tests and Study Guides

While direct answers are unreliable, practicing with free Walmart assessment practice tests and study guides available online (often found by searching for "Walmart RAA Practice Test 2025" or "Walmart TEA Study Guide") is the best way to familiarize yourself with the format, question types, and time constraints.

6. The 'Live Better U' Advantage (Modern Pathways)

To demonstrate your commitment to a long-term career path, leverage Walmart's current educational programs. Mentioning or utilizing resources from the Live Better U program or the Home Office Pathways Experience (HOPE) in an interview shows you are aligned with the company's modern vision for associate development, which is the true 'Pathways' to promotion today.

7. Use the Full Spectrum of Answers

For questions that ask you to rank a series of actions (e.g., "Rank these actions from most effective to least effective"), make sure you use the full range of options. A common mistake is to rate all good actions as "Most Effective." The test wants to see that you can distinguish between a *good* action and the *best* action that aligns with company policy.

By shifting your focus from finding outdated "Walmart Pathways Graduation Assessment Test Answers" to mastering the strategic, behavioral, and situational principles of the current RAA and TEA, you will be successfully navigating the modern path to career advancement at Walmart in 2025.