diff --git a/tests/test_iot/test_iot.py b/tests/test_iot/test_iot.py
index af7abfdcd..8524bcbc1 100644
--- a/tests/test_iot/test_iot.py
+++ b/tests/test_iot/test_iot.py
@@ -958,56 +958,14 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     group_name_3c = "my-group-name-3c"
     group_name_3d = "my-group-name-3d"
 
-    # --1a
-    #    |--2a
-    #    |   |--3a
-    #    |   |--3b
-    #    |
-    #    |--2b
-    #        |--3c
-    #        |--3d
-    # --1b
-
-    # create thing groups tree
-    # 1
-    thing_group1a = client.create_thing_group(thingGroupName=group_name_1a)
-    thing_group1a.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_1a)
-    thing_group1a.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    thing_group1b = client.create_thing_group(thingGroupName=group_name_1b)
-    thing_group1b.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_1b)
-    thing_group1b.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    # 2
-    thing_group2a = client.create_thing_group(
-        thingGroupName=group_name_2a, parentGroupName=group_name_1a
-    )
-    thing_group2a.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_2a)
-    thing_group2a.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    thing_group2b = client.create_thing_group(
-        thingGroupName=group_name_2b, parentGroupName=group_name_1a
-    )
-    thing_group2b.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_2b)
-    thing_group2b.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    # 3
-    thing_group3a = client.create_thing_group(
-        thingGroupName=group_name_3a, parentGroupName=group_name_2a
-    )
-    thing_group3a.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_3a)
-    thing_group3a.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    thing_group3b = client.create_thing_group(
-        thingGroupName=group_name_3b, parentGroupName=group_name_2a
-    )
-    thing_group3b.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_3b)
-    thing_group3b.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    thing_group3c = client.create_thing_group(
-        thingGroupName=group_name_3c, parentGroupName=group_name_2b
-    )
-    thing_group3c.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_3c)
-    thing_group3c.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
-    thing_group3d = client.create_thing_group(
-        thingGroupName=group_name_3d, parentGroupName=group_name_2b
-    )
-    thing_group3d.should.have.key("thingGroupName").which.should.equal(group_name_3d)
-    thing_group3d.should.have.key("thingGroupArn")
+    tree_dict = {
+        group_name_1a: {
+            group_name_2a: {group_name_3a: {}, group_name_3b: {}},
+            group_name_2b: {group_name_3c: {}, group_name_3d: {}},
+        },
+        group_name_1b: {},
+    }
+    group_catalog = generate_thing_group_tree(client, tree_dict)
 
     # describe groups
     # groups level 1
@@ -1059,7 +1017,7 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     ].should.match(group_name_1a)
     thing_group_description2a["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][0][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group1a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_1a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description2a.should.have.key("version")
     # 2b
     thing_group_description2b = client.describe_thing_group(
@@ -1085,7 +1043,7 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     ].should.match(group_name_1a)
     thing_group_description2b["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][0][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group1a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_1a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description2b.should.have.key("version")
     # groups level 3
     # 3a
@@ -1112,13 +1070,13 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     ].should.match(group_name_1a)
     thing_group_description3a["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][0][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group1a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_1a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3a["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupName"
     ].should.match(group_name_2a)
     thing_group_description3a["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group2a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_2a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3a.should.have.key("version")
     # 3b
     thing_group_description3b = client.describe_thing_group(
@@ -1144,13 +1102,13 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     ].should.match(group_name_1a)
     thing_group_description3b["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][0][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group1a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_1a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3b["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupName"
     ].should.match(group_name_2a)
     thing_group_description3b["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group2a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_2a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3b.should.have.key("version")
     # 3c
     thing_group_description3c = client.describe_thing_group(
@@ -1176,13 +1134,13 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     ].should.match(group_name_1a)
     thing_group_description3c["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][0][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group1a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_1a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3c["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupName"
     ].should.match(group_name_2b)
     thing_group_description3c["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group2b["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_2b]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3c.should.have.key("version")
     # 3d
     thing_group_description3d = client.describe_thing_group(
@@ -1208,13 +1166,13 @@ def test_describe_thing_group_metadata_hierarchy():
     ].should.match(group_name_1a)
     thing_group_description3d["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][0][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group1a["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_1a]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3d["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupName"
     ].should.match(group_name_2b)
     thing_group_description3d["thingGroupMetadata"]["rootToParentThingGroups"][1][
         "groupArn"
-    ].should.match(thing_group2b["thingGroupArn"])
+    ].should.match(group_catalog[group_name_2b]["thingGroupArn"])
     thing_group_description3d.should.have.key("version")