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Aptitude, ability and skills testing - How to succeed at aptitude and skills testing
including hints and tips.
Introduction
The basic aptitude, ability and skills tests assess the following: Your basic arithmetic, literacy;
Your verbal and numerical reasoning and your IT skills, technical skills, language skills, etc.
More complex testing analyses the way in which your brain processes information,
how logical and lateral a decision maker you are and how your emotions effect your
decision making and performance. Many tests are designed to analyse your 'raw brain
horsepower' -
Most testing is now conducted online but the more complex tests are undertaken in
a strict exam-
Different Types of Testing
Different tools are used for different roles, for instance verbal reasoning for sales, spatial awareness for engineers, proof checking/data checking for administrative roles, etc.
Some test speed, others accuracy and the majority a combination of both speed and
accuracy, i.e. someone who completes four accurate answers out of twenty will score
higher than someone who completes eighteen and scores five out of twenty. Different
tools work to different algorithms and they can be adjusted to the role -
Although 'old hat' now, and now normally used as an 'icebreaker', you do still hear of the tests where you have to read all instruction before completing with the final instruction being 'write your name in the box, put your pen down and sit quietly for three minutes'. Whilst having done so those around you work out the square root of 141,706 and draw concentric circles to form a Golden Eagle, stand up and shout 'I'm the Leader', etc.
Speed and Power Tests
Sped tests are timed and you are expected to answer as many questions as possible within the allotted time scale. They tend to be pretty simple calculations but do often contain some 'red herrings'. Power Tests end to be more problem solving or scenario based questions and used in graduate and management assessment.
Verbal Reasoning
Normally you will need to read a paragraph and answer questions that relate to the paragraph and require logical deduction. Used to test how well you follow instruction and follow reasoned logical arguments they are often not as simple as they appear. It is well worth reading the paragraph several times to ensure that you have understood the argument correctly. Sometimes they are one paragraph arguments such as:
Karen is taller than Sam
Sam is shorter than Simon
Simon is taller than Karen
Who is the tallest?
The answer is Simon and if you read the paragraph understanding the requirement first,
i.e. from the bottom up -
Your understanding of Spelling and grammar could also play a part in the tests.
Numerical Tests
In its most basic form it is a Maths test designed at 12-
Spatial Awareness Tests
Testing your ability to imagine shapes in relation to each other this requires high
levels of visualization skills. Often they are like 'tetris' shapes that you have
to rotate to fit each other and a common test involves rotating a capital letter
'R' and it's mirror image to form matching pairs. Spatial awareness tests are used
for engineering, manufacturing, designing and technical jobs -
Mechanical Reasoning Tests
Used to test candidates for engineering roles -
Long Term memory tests
Most people raised in the Western World learned the alphabet at around 4-
Interview and Selection Tests - Guide to Psychometric Profiling, Aptitude tests,
Numerical and Verbal reasoning
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