Psychometric and Aptitude Tests: What They Are and How to Succeed

Are you facing specialised testing in your interviews? Have you already attended numerous interviews, but find that you become really nervous? Are you applying for a job that you simply can’t afford to lose?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, don’t despair, there are solutions for you; Interview Skills Consulting can help.

Psychometric tests

Often used to filter candidates, psychometric and aptitude tests are designed to assess your logical reasoning and thinking capabilities. They consist of a number of multiple choice questions and are strictly timed. In most instances, the questions address traits of your personality and various behaviours.

They can also measure your sociability, leadership skills, anxiety levels, assertiveness, if you’re an introvert or an extrovert, and any other things that make you unique over other candidates.

Psychometric testing also takes a number of parameters into consideration. These can include:

• Verbal reasoning
• Abstract testing
• Numerical testing
• Inductive reasoning
• Motivational testing
• Comprehension
• Diagrammatic reasoning
• Spatial reasoning

These tests can be conducted online from your home, at an employment agency, under supervised exam conditions or as part of the actual interview. When the test is taken online, the results are available immediately.

Psychometric testing is a means of providing employers with a level and objective playing field among their job candidates. This type of testing also works to compare candidates’ strengths.

Practice makes perfect

Just the mere thought of taking a test can potentially send people into a tail-spin of nerves. However, you can actually improve your testing performance by knowing what to expect in advance—and then practice. After all, it’s better to be forearmed than forewarned! In doing your preparation prior to your test, you can face the psychometric test with confidence.

When you do practise tests, you become familiar with the formats and how the questions are asked. You also improve your accuracy and speed as well as identify any weak areas.

Aptitude tests

Aptitude tests are fairly straightforward with the format being how many questions you can answer in a set time period.

Aptitude tests present you with a number of complex questions that are in multiple choice or true or false formats. If you are applying for graduate, managerial or professional roles, this form of testing is used fairly often.

These tests essentially examine your ability to learn a skill that’s required for the job. Numerical testing feature how well you interpret graphs, charts, data or statistics. An IT-, science- or engineering-related role may test you for your ability in diagrammatic or abstract reasoning.

Again, you should practice. In some instances, these tests are designed so that’s impossible to complete them before the time is up. Don’t let this upset you

To learn more about psychometric and aptitude tests and how they can help in your career aspirations, contact us using our online form or call us on 0203 507 0002 or via Skype on 0845 226 9487

Why not start getting prepared for your next job search? Download a series of free helpful documents on CVs, covering letters and even a job tracker. You can also prepare for your next interview with “The Successful  Interview Guide”