Aptitude Tests

Aptitude Tests/Psychometric Tests

Aptitude tests (also called Psychometric Tests) are structured systematic ways of evaluating how graduates perform on tasks or react to different situations. They have standardised methods of administration and scoring with the results quantified and compared with how others have done at the same tests. They are increasingly administered online after candidates' initial job applications and used to filter unsuitable applicants out of the selection process, without the need for one-to-one interviews.

Employers use aptitude tests (such as SHL, PSL and GTIOS) alongside interviews, personality tests, application forms, academic results and other selection methods, as a way of working out if candidates would be suitable for the job they have applied for. No test is perfect, but they aim to give an indication of the challenges that will be faced in the day-to-day life of your role at the firm.

Tests can be taken online or sat at the firm’s offices. Often a firm may ask you to do both if you successfully pass the online test. Tests are timed and are typically multiple choice. It is not uncommon for some answer choices to be deliberately misleading so you must take care as you work through the tests. Some tests escalate in difficulty as the test progresses- typically these tests are not designed to be finished by candidates.

Many tests incorporate negative marking. If this is the case, you will normally be told beforehand. In any test that does incorporate negative marking, you must not guess answers, even if you are under extreme time pressure, as you will undo your chances of passing.

Your score relates your performance to an average group. Your aptitude, ability or intelligence has a relative value to this average result.

Typically, an ‘average’ performance is all that is required to pass the tests. Most employers take people’s backgrounds into consideration. For example, maths graduates will have an unfair advantage over arts graduates on a numerical test. Consequently, most employers use these tests as only part of the assessment.

Preparation

Evidence suggests that some practice of similar tests may improve your performance on real tests. Practice exam technique and try to become more familiar with the types of test you may face by completing practice questions. Even basic word and number puzzles may help you become used to the comprehension and arithmetic aspects of some tests.

Treat aptitude tests like an interview: get a good night's sleep, plan your journey to the test site, and arrive on time and appropriately dressed. Listen to the instructions you are given and follow them precisely.

Before the actual test, you will be almost certainly be given practice examples to try. Make sure you ask questions if anything is unclear at this stage. You will normally be given some paper on which to make rough workings. Often you can be asked to hand these in with the test, but typically not form part of the assessment.

You should work quickly and accurately through the test. Don’t get stuck on any particular question: should you have any problems, return to it at the end of the test. You should divide your time up per question as accurately as you can- typically this will be between 50 and 90 seconds per question.

Remember that the tests are difficult and often you will not be expected to answer all the questions. Be particularly cautious if the tests uses negative marking, however if this is not the case, answer as many questions as possible in the time given. Remember that multiple choice options are often designed to mislead you, with incorrect choices including common mistakes that candidates make.

In Conclusion Treat the test like any other exam. Work swiftly and accurately through any test. Work out the maximum time you can spend on any question and stick to it religiously. You can return to questions at the end. Never get stuck on any particular question, even if you think you nearly ‘have it’. If you are going to an assessment centre, take a calculator you understand with you. If you do not, you will be forced to use whatever they might provide you with. Answer as many questions as possible in the time given, but be wary of negative marking.