Preparation Before The Test
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 aptitude test itself, you will 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 they do not form part of the assessment.
How To Prove Your Cognitive Aptitude During A Job Interview
Today, companies are focusing less on resumes and work experience when evaluating candidates and more on data-driven metrics like cognitive aptitude.
Fast becoming a key metric for many hiring managers, cognitive aptitude is the ability to think, process, and react nimbly to solve problems or learn new information. While resumes can lay out a persons history in a role or industry, they rarely provide insight into a persons full potential. Cognitive aptitude delivers this broad perspective, allowing companies to evaluate the long-term potential of an applicant by assessing their ability to learn quickly, adapt, and grow within a role.
Some companies gauge cognitive aptitude with assessments that measure job-relevant cognitive abilities, such as creative thinking, problem solving, attention to detail, and learning ability. But what if the organization doesnt give you an assessment? How can you, as a job seeker, prove you have the cognitive aptitude to succeed?
You can do so by demonstrating these key components of cognitive aptitude in your interview:
1. Intellectual Curiosity
Employees who want to know more about the world around them and how things work are likely to strive to improve themselves and the business. The intellectually curious will grow with a company and be able to think outside the box to face any challenges that may arise.
How to Showcase Your Intellectual Curiosity
2. Problem-Solving Skills
How to Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
4. Learning Ability
Tips For Interview Tests
To prepare for and do your interview test:
- find similar tests online to practise.
- try to relax before you do the test.
- read or listen to the instructions carefully. Plan what youll do in the time you have.
- ask questions if youre not sure of anything.
- try to concentrate on each question, but don’t waste time on hard questions if you get stuck. Its better to move on and come back to them at the end if you can.
- don’t worry if you don’t finish the test. Just try and answer as many questions as you can.
- review your test when youve finished.
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How Can I Improve In Aptitude Tests By Practicing
The best way to prepare for aptitude tests and improve your scores is by practicing. The first thing you need to do is understand what type of aptitude tests you will be required to take.
Based on your chosen position and company, you can check to see which aptitude test/s you are likely to take by checking their recruitment website, through email communication, or by seeing what other candidates say about the process on online forums and employee websites. Visit our website to take a free aptitude test and see how you score.
. You can practice a free aptitude test under real timed conditions and also receive a personalised performance report with a list of recommendations to work on any improvement areas. Each aptitude test also comes with worked solutions, so you can study the most common types of questions in your own time to avoid surprises when you take the real test.
What else can help me improve in aptitude tests? Continue reading for our list of top tips.
Understanding The Importance Of Aptitude Tests For Hiring
Aptitude tests for hiring are an accurate method of predicting candidates potential contributions and their likelihood of success within the organization based on their core mental abilities. On the one hand, these tests identify sharp candidates. Conversely, they weed out unsuitable applicants. Since these tests are customizable and cover several reasoning areas, their content can vary depending on recruiters preferences. For example, hiring for positions that need stronger number-based reasoning can have a greater focus on numerical aptitude assessments. Similarly, when testing decision-making abilities, abstract reasoning questions and logical ability tests would assume foremost significance.
Employers must assess candidates mental abilities during the recruitment process because these often reflect their ability to do the job. An appropriate pre-employment aptitude test can help highlight exemplary individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to the businesss prospects.
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Test Tip : Know Your Test
It’s important to understand the type of aptitude test you’re sitting. Each test is very different and will test different skills and will take different formats. Practising the tests you are required to sit will familiarise yourself with the format and help develop the skills they target. Some of the most common aptitude tests are listed below:
It is very difficult to distort the results of a psychometric personality questionnaire, however, if you research what sort of person the company is looking for, you might be more likely to answer with that company’s values in mind. Companies often list the competencies they are looking for in each role. It’s worth reminding yourself of these before you take your personality questionnaire. Don’t consciously try to answer how you think they want you to answer though as you are likely to get it wrong and if you’re not answering honestly your answers will appear disjointed in the results.
Your first answer is probably the most accurate reflection of how you feel about a question.
Interview Test On Excel Tips
Here are some tips you can use to complete your next Excel interview test:
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Research. If you have an Excel interview test coming up, you can research Excel uses for the job title to get an idea of what information you’ll need for the test. Some jobs may require a basic knowledge of Excel while others may look for applicants with more advanced skills.
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Study. You can take online practice tests to ready yourself for a pre-employment interview test on Excel.
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Take courses. There are several online courses and instructional videos that can help you familiarize yourself with spreadsheets.
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Learn the layout. An Excel test may require you to know the names and locations for the different areas on the screen, like the ribbon. Studying the layout and terminology of Excel can help you perform better on multiple-choice test questions.
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Logical Reasoning Tests Example
Logical reasoning tests are often the most challenging for candidates as they are often presented in a format that is not familiar. Logical reasoning assesses the applicant on their ability to use logic to form a conclusion based on the information given as part of the question.
In some cases, this can be based on statements, while in others it can be related to finding a rule that creates a pattern.
Logical reasoning tests ask the candidate to think clearly and logically to make decisions.
What Is An Online Aptitude Testing
Online Aptitude Test through NinjaInterview helps you evaluate applicants and choose skillful employees for your organization. Conduct profound tests customized to your needs and examine the results to analyze a candidates performance.
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Test Tip : Eliminate Distractions
Try to block out distractions at the assessment centre and at home. If you notice that someone else has turned a page before you, or that everyone else has left their calculator on the table whilst you think you need it, try to ignore them. As soon as you lose concentration, or get flustered over what other people are doing, you will be losing time. If someone is causing a distraction though, politely ask the invigilator to have a word with them. A few minutes of being distracted might make all the difference.
When taking this test online at home it should be easier to eliminate distractions. Don’t have your phone in front of you or in the room don’t have facebook or any messaging platform as an open tab on your computer that can distract you and also don’t have other people in the room that could distract you. You will know what environment you work best in, so try and produce that.
Types Of Aptitude Tests
There are a number of aptitude tests that a business can administer to candidates.
- Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests your ability of logical reasoning, using diagrams and flowcharts.
- Numerical Reasoning Tests your mathematical ability through percentages, averages and the like.
- Verbal Reasoning Assesses you on your ability to assess verbal logic.
- Inductive Reasoning Tests your ability to see patterns and analyse data, in a pressurised environment.
- Situational Judgement Tests your problem-solving ability.
- Logical Reasoning Tests your ability to recognise patterns, sequences or relationships between shapes and imagery.
- Abstract Reasoning These are similar to IQ tests and assess general knowledge, and ability to utilise your knowledge in new situations.
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What Is A Career Assessment
A career assessment is a way to learn about career options that may be a match for your skills, interests, and values. There are different types of assessments that can help you determine which types of careers may interest youand which dont.
Most assessment tools ask questions about what you like, what you dont like, the type of work environment youre comfortable in, and how your personality meshes with different jobs, and then suggest careers that are a match.
Career aptitude tests wont give you a definitive answer on what the best job for you is, but they will give you options to explore and can help you narrow down your career interests.
Test Tip : Realistic Simulation
If your aptitude test is at an assessment centre, find out when it is and try to practice at the same time of the day. Also sit your practice aptitude tests in one go donât take a break half way through because you wonât get to do that in the real test!
If you have been asked to take your aptitude aptitude test online, practice in the same room as you will sit your real test. It’s important to also use the same device to practice on as you will with the actual test. We strongly recommend you use a desktop computer not a phone,tablet or laptop. These other devices can be restrictive, you can’t utilise the ease of a mouse, and sometimes the publisher’s test may not respond perfectly on a smaller screen.
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How To Prepare For An Aptitude Test
Practice Tests
The best way to prepare for an aptitude test is to practice to build more confidence and achieve higher results. If there is a topic area you are not comfortable in, answer practice questions, these will help you learn from your mistakes. Analyse where you went wrong and complete the questions again.
Time Yourself
Most ability-based tests require you to answer a set of questions within a specific time frame. Working under time restrictions is stressful and can impact on performance. The best way to condition yourself is to set a time limit and practice answering a range of questions within the time frame.
Read the Instructions
You will receive pre-reading material that helps to explain the process. Read this carefully, so you understand how to prepare for the questionnaire and know which type of questions will appear. Before you start the test, note how much time you have and how many questions there are to pace yourself accordingly.
When You Might Take An Aptitude Test
Some schools administer aptitude tests to students beginning in elementary school. Combined with intelligence and achievement tests that measure student mastery of academic content, aptitude tests may be used to determine placement in gifted and talented programs or other specific educational tracks.
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How To Explore Career Options
Once youve generated a list of potential career options, you can take a closer look at what each job entails to learn whether it would be right for you. Enter a job title in CareerOneStops Occupation Profile tool to get details on the occupation, including a job description, required experience, education or training, earnings potential, and job outlook.
The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook is a career guide with information on occupation groups and individual jobs. It provides details on what workers do on the job, the work environment, training, education, and certification needed to get started in the occupation, median pay, and expected job prospects.
Where Can I Practice Aptitude Tests
This will largely depend on the exact aptitude test you are taking. There are several websites where you can practice the style of questions you will find on aptitude tests.
Many of these will offer free sample questions, although some will have paid test packages offering more in-depth questioning.
You may also find that there are practice papers and test booklets available to purchase.
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How Are Aptitude Tests Conducted
In most of the cases, aptitude tests are conducted online either as a part of some competitive exam or as a part of job interview process. Aptitude tests are organized before any interview to take place to filter out the suitable candidates. Aim of aptitude test is primary to check if the candidate can face the challenges in his day-to-day activities of the job. Some companies takes test in form of paper also.
Test Tip : Be Alert And Stay Focused
Concentration and stamina are as important in timed psychometric aptitude tests as natural intelligence. If your concentration wanes during your test, you will waste valuable time. Ensure you slept well and are ready to focus and your mind stimulated for a sustained period of time. You must treat the psychometric test like a sprint you should be mentally exhausted at the end of it from concentration. This sprint mentality is good for online tests you can complete at home, but if you have to take several tests over the course of the day at an assessment centre, it will not be as effective. Try to rest between tests and treat the day more as a marathon comprising of several short sprints. Psychometric tests are a competition and you should treat them as such.
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What Is An Aptitude Test
An aptitude test is a pre-employment test that screens your cognitive ability, giving meaningful insights about your general intelligence including critical thinking and problem-solving skills, ability to grasp a piece of information, interpret it and put it to use. Aptitude test for interview help in determining your efficiency and how well youll perform in your respective job profile. However, the testing is administered with a standard approach so that judgement can be done in a quantifiable manner and in an unbiased atmosphere.
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Industries That Often Use Aptitude Tests
Many industries routinely use aptitude tests for recruitment. These tend to be industries with highly specific skill requirements. They are often high pressure or complex roles that need to be filled by the right person. Here are some examples of what aptitude tests are good for:
- Computer programming
- Accounting
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Truity Photo Career Quiz
This quiz only takes a few minutes, and its fun and easy to take. Simply click on which picture you like best in a series of photographs to take the free . Youll receive a profile of your career interests, and then you can search for careers and review more information based on your interest profile.
Aptitude Interview Questions With Sample Answers And Tips
When applying for a job, companies conduct different aptitude tests to objectively screen and shortlist suitable candidates. Understanding what aptitude tests are can help you prepare for the interview and make you feel at ease. With adequate preparation and commonly asked aptitude interview questions, you can enhance your chances of getting a desirable job. In this article, we explore common types of interview questions and review 14 aptitude questions with sample answer responses and discover some preparation tips.
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