Psychometric and aptitude tests

Abstract, diagrammatic and inductive tests are a form of logical reasoning tests. You'll often be presented with different shapes and images (displayed in groups) and asked to either work out particular patterns to identify a sequence or choose an image to complete a chronological sequence.

Research suggests that people who do well in these tests tend to perform better in the job, and many companies use these tests to predict a candidate’s job performance.

To further explore tests of this nature, please view the following web links:

• Assessment Day – diagrammatic reasoning
• Assessment Day – inductive reasoning
• Graduates First – diagrammatic reasoning
• Graduates First – inductive reasoning
• GradTests – practice inductive reasoning test
• GraduateWings – inductive reasoning
• GraduateWings – logical reasoning
• JobTestPrep – practice logical reasoning questions
• JobTestPrep – preparation for abstract reasoning tests
• Practice Reasoning – inductive reasoning practice test
• Test Partnership – inductive reasoning test
• WikiJob – abstract reasoning
• WikiJob – diagrammatic reasoning
• WikiJob – practice diagrammatic and inductive reasoning tests

Concentration tests assess your ability to focus for long periods of time and are often used when selecting candidates for roles where mistakes could have serious or expensive consequences (such as train drivers, particular occupations in the armed forces, or jobs of a technical, financial or legal nature).

While concentration tests have varying levels of complexity, tests will typically assess your reaction times and precision when dealing with repetitive or routine tasks, such as analysing changes in a series of shapes or in combinations of numbers and letters.

For further information on (and examples of) concentration tests, please view the following websites:

• Cambridge Brain Sciences – concentration tests
• Intelligence Tests – memory game
• JobTestPrep – concentration tests and how to prepare
• Psychometrictests.com – concentration practice tests

Critical thinking is the ability to analyse and evaluate an issue effectively to reach an informed judgement or decision. This quality is key to many professions that require significant, analytical and independent thought such as managerial/senior positions and occupations in the legal sector.

The Watson Glaser and Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) are considered common tools to evaluate the cognitive and critical thinking abilities of professionals. These tests are considered highly valid predictors of a candidate’s future performance in work or when undertaking a programme of learning.

The following links provide further information on critical thinking tests:

• Assessment Day – Watson Glaser critical thinking appraisal
• JobTestPrep – Watson Glaser test preparation: practise critical thinking skills
• Psychometric Test – critical thinking tests
• Test Partnership – critical thinking test
• WikiJob – Watson Glaser practice tests

Gamification (or game-based assessment) is a relatively new type of test that uses online games or game-based tools to assess a candidate’s suitability for a job. Often used to assess the different competencies and personality traits of candidates, companies are increasingly adopting computer-generated games as part of their recruitment process to shortlist prospective and suitable employees. 

Large firms such as KPMG, PwC and JP Morgan have all started to use gamification as part of their recruitment processes and this is set to expand over the next few years as online tools and programmes become more accessible to employers. The benefits of these assessments - both for candidates and for recruiters - is less of a focus on verbal and numerical reasoning tests, taking a more natural and intuitive approach to assessing your abilities and behaviours. The games will typically measure social, cognitive and behavioural traits, which may include resilience, intelligence, memory, imagination, attention duration, planning speed, flexibility and decision making. The criteria of the assessments will be matched to the organisation’s values and the specific role or programme requirements. 

If you have not had the opportunity to experience a game-based assessment yet, it is highly likely that you will do in the future. To find out more information on gamification or game-based assessment, the following websites provide useful insights: 

• Higher Education Academy - an overview of gamification and game-based learning

• TARGETjobs - the Graduate Job Hunter’s Guide to Gamification 

• Arctic Shores - a major provider of assessments to employers/recruiters, combing AI and game technology 

• Test Partnership - offers examples of professional gamified assessments, which predict job performance using cutting-edge technology. Includes the MindmetriQ series of assessments used by employers to select the best candidates. 

• Graduates First

• Assessment Day 

Non-verbal reasoning is often used as an umbrella term for tests that use diagrammatic or pictorial-type questions. The questions assess a person’s ability to recognise shapes and patterns in regards to formations - such as inductive, abstract, diagrammatic, logical or spatial tests.

As non-verbal reasoning tests do not rely on specific language abilities, they're particularly effective for international assessment. The term 'non-verbal reasoning' is used to indicate that verbal competency is not necessary for (or assessed by) the test.

Please view the following websites to further explore information on non-verbal reasoning tests:

• WikiJob – non-verbal reasoning tests
• TamilCube – non-verbal reasoning
• Practice Aptitude Tests - non-verbal reasoning assessments

These are mathematical tests that assess your numerical abilities. Questions often involve tables, charts and graphs, and ask you to calculate ratios and percentages based on the information presented to you.

Depending on the test environment, you may be allowed to use a calculator during the test. However, it is highly recommended that you're always prepared with a pen or pencil and some paper to work your calculations out on.

The following links provide access to practice numerical reasoning tests along with further information on these type of tests:

• Assessment Day – numerical reasoning test
• JobTestPrep – free numerical reasoning test
• Graduates First – numerical estimation
• Graduates First – numerical reasoning
• GraduateWings – free numerical reasoning practice tests
• Practice Aptitude Tests – numerical reasoning tests
• Psychometric Test – numerical reasoning
• Practice Reasoning – numerical practice test
• Test Partnership – numerical reasoning test
• WikiJob – numerical reasoning practice tests

If you've not used maths for a while or need to improve your general mathematical and numerical ability, it may be useful to explore online learning resources:

• BBC Bitesize
• IXL Maths
• Maths is Fun
• StudyMaths.co.uk

Personality tests (or questionnaires) are designed to assess particular characteristics of a job applicant to ascertain whether they have the relevant personality traits to perform in the job. To help prepare for these tests, it's advisable to research the organisation you're applying for to gain an understanding of their core values and also what qualities they consider important in an employee.

For more information on personality tests, please access the following links:

• Graduates First – personality tests
• JobTestPrep – sample personality test
• Psychometric Test – personality test
• Test Partnership – complete personality profile
• WikiJob – personality tests
• 123 Test – personality test

With situational judgement tests (SJTs), you'll often be presented with a series of work-based scenarios, usually involving a conflict or dilemma, and be required to solve the problem by selecting the best possible solution or action to take based upon a series of options. They're a popular psychological tool used by employers to evaluate applicants' cognitive and behavioural abilities when presented with situations that may occur in the workplace.

To prepare for SJTs, you should research the company you're applying for to gain an understanding of their core principles and values – this may help you to answer questions in ways that match the company's ethos or code of ethics. Also, when answering SJTs, try to imagine yourself in the workplace – this will help you answer questions in a more logical and reasonable 'work' version of yourself.

To sample free situational judgement questions and for further information on SJTs, please access the links below:

• Assessment Day – situational judgement test
• JobTestPrep – situational judgement test preparation
• Graduates First – situational judgement tests
• Practice Aptitude Tests – situational judgement tests
• Psychometric Test – situational judgement test
• Test Partnership – situational judgement test
• WikiJob – situational judgement test

Verbal reasoning (or verbal ability/verbal comprehension) tests are designed to assess a person's ability to comprehend and reason with written information in the English language. While tests come in different formats (please see below for different types of verbal reasoning tests), a common test used by recruiters involves reading a passage of text and then answering 'true', 'false' or 'cannot say' to statements which correspond to the passage.

Studies have indicated that verbal reasoning tests may be challenging for individuals whose first language is not English. However, like all psychometric/aptitude tests, the best way to prepare and perform your best is through practice.

The following websites can help you prepare and know what to expect with different types of verbal reasoning tests:

• Aptitude-test.com – verbal logic test
• Assessment Day – verbal reasoning test
• Daily Writing Tips – grammar test
• Graduates First – verbal reasoning
• GraduateWings – free reasoning practice tests
• Practice Aptitude Tests – verbal reasoning tests
• Practice Reasoning – verbal reasoning practice test
• Psychometrictests.com – sample word meaning questions
• Psychometric Tests – verbal reasoning
• Test Partnership – verbal reasoning test
• The Telegraph – grammar test
• WikiJob – verbal reasoning test

Spelling tests can be used as part of the recruitment process for roles that require strong written communication skills, such as in supervisory, admin or clerical-related jobs.

Questions can be presented in multiple-choice format or in the form of a sentence, with words missing or misspelt. Test-takers are often required to select the correctly spelt word from several options provided or replace the missing or misspelt word with a correct one.

For further information on spelling tests, please view the following links:

• Graduates First – spelling tests
• Merriam Webster – spelling test
• The Guardian – spelling quiz
• The Telegraph – spelling quiz

Incorporating aspects of the tests above, Capp assessment tests may include critical reasoning, numerical reasoning and verbal reasoning. Capp is a consultancy and psychometric test publisher that specialises in strengths-based assessments that are becoming increasingly popular.

Capp also offer different psychometric tests that are widely used. Organisations that use these tests include Google, Atkins, Amazon and RBS. More information about Capp assessments can be found on the practice reasoning tests website.

BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) and UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) are tests used as part of a selection process by a some medical, dental and veterinary schools to select suitable candidates applying for their courses. The BMAT is a 2-hour pen-and-paper test which comprises of three sections and the UCAT is a two-hour exam which consists of five parts.

For candidates who have a documented medical condition or disability and require additional time to sit the UCAT exam, the UCATSEN (University Clinical Aptitude Test Special Educational Needs) will offer an extra 25% testing time and applicants can request a particular test-centre environment in advance of their test.

For further information on BMAT and UCAT, please view the following links:

• JobTestPrep – UCAT practice
• Medical Schools Council – information on BMAT and UCAT
• practiceukcat.ac.uk – practice tests
• UCAS – information on different admissions tests

Fault diagnosis tests (also referred to as fault finding aptitude tests) are likely to be undertaken by candidates applying for an electrical engineering or technician role. They often involve assessing diagrams made up of switches and circuits to test a person's ability to identify problems that are not readily apparent to the naked eye.

The rationale behind these tests is to assess a person's logical and abstract reasoning skills when they're looking for faults or errors in the diagram presented.

The following web links provide samples and further insights into fault diagnosis tests:

• JobTestPrep – fault diagnosis aptitude tests
• Psychometrictests.com – sample fault diagnosis tests

IQ or intelligence quotient tests are a way of measuring a person’s mental agility. While IQ tests are not widely used as a form of psychometric testing, many psychological studies support a link between a high IQ score and performance at work. As a result, some employers (particularly blue-chip companies) will use IQ tests as part of their recruitment process to select the most able and suitable employees.

Although IQ tests indicate the level of intelligence you were born with, you can improve your IQ score with practice.

The following web sites provide further information on and access to practice IQ tests:

• Genius Tests – sample Mensa quiz
• Mensa – online workout

Mechanical or technical comprehension tests are predominantly used in careers where an ability to understand and work with mechanical and technical concepts are essential. These careers include aircraft engineers, mechanical engineers, motor mechanics, train drivers and certain armed forces jobs. Tests can include fault diagnosis questions, but will often also include questions relating to:

• Electricity - electrical currents, circuits and voltages
• Physical forces - motion, gravity, pressure, acceleration and friction
• Calculations such as area or mass
• Pulleys and levers
• Magnetism
• Dynamics of liquids as well as water and air pressure
• Terminologies, conventions and tools

The following websites provide useful information on mechanical and technical comprehension tests:

• JobTestPrep – free mechanical aptitude test
• Psychometric Test – free mechanical practical reasoning tests
• Practice Aptitude Tests - mechanical reasoning tests

Normative, ipsative and nipsative tests are terms used to describe the way questions are presented – usually in personality assessments.

• Normative tests are very common for assessing personality and often require test takers to agree with a behavioural statement on a scale of 1 to 5
• Ipsative tests use a 'forced-choice' format where candidates are presented with 3 or 4 behavioural statements and required to choose a statement which is 'most' and 'least' like them
• Nipsative tests include an element of normative and ipsative assessment, requiring test-takers to indicate on a scale of 1 to 5 their preferred behavioural statement, but also rank the statement in terms of which one describes them the most

For more information on normative, ipsative and nipsative tests, please view the following links from Graduates First:

• Ipsative Tests
• Nipsative Tests
• Normative Tests

Also termed 'spatial reasoning' or 'spatial awareness', spatial ability tests are often used by the military and recruiters of architects, surveyors, engineers and designers to assess a candidate's ability to think spatially and mentally. Tests usually involve reviewing and rotating shapes in two or three dimensions to perceive patterns between them.

People with the ability to visualise or form mental images of shapes and objects from different formats, angles and perspectives are often able to perform well in these tests. However, if this isn't a skill that comes naturally to you, don't worry as studies have shown that practice can greatly improve spatial awareness abilities and performance in such tests.

The following links provide further information on spatial ability tests:

• Aptitude exercises – spatial reasoning
• Assessment centre HQ – spatial reasoning tests
• JobTestPrep – free spatial reasoning test
• Psychometrictests.com – spatial ability tests
• WikiJob – spatial awareness test