Psychometric testing is reported to be used by 75% of Fortune 500 companies. The types of tests may vary for different companies and industries, making it a very important element of the application process. It is important to remember, that you are not competing against other candidates on these tests but achieving to pass the provider’s standards.
The tests are used to help the provider find candidates suitable for their company. Employers want to understand as much as they can about you before seeing you, 90% of fortune 500 companies will use the Myers Briggs test (personality test) to see how you respond to other colleagues’ personalities. Many of these tests will be asked to be performed online with different testing styles depending on the publisher. Practising for these tests online can be extremely difficult, you can check out our
courses page for how to get virtually limitless test practice.
During the application process, you may be asked to participate in 1 or many different tests. The most common tests used by recruiters are Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Situational Judgment. Each different test has a purpose to successfully match the right candidate for the role and company.
The most popular psychometric test is Numerical Reasoning, largely used in
spring week applications and financial roles. Numerical reasoning is designed to put your basic mathematics and calculation skills to the test, the provider wants to know how you interpret the data presented to you. Some general top tips for helping you pass the numerical reasoning test:
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Do not overestimate your numerical skills, make sure you not only practise your basic skills but the methods in which they may want you to apply.
- Double-check the question. This simple tip can make sure you understand the questions and measurements.
- Time Management. As you are timed, make sure you pace yourself throughout the test, rushing can cause mistakes.
Verbal reasoning is designed to test your ability to understand written data and informative text. This sectional will be much harder for those whose English is not their first language, if this is true practising this more than others will see improvements in results.
- Read the question at least twice. Tonality and understanding of a question will become clearer from reading the question twice.
- Use only the information given to you. Reading between the lines can cause distractions, taking what is literally said can make a more informed decision.
- Question the question. If it is not clear to yourself if the statement is true or false, you can answer that you are unsure, however, try your best to come to a defined answer.
- Take practise questions. There are many places in which to improve your English and your understanding of the Verbal reasoning test. Look into our courses to find out more about how to practise.
logical reasoning tests are used to test your problem-solving skills. In these tests, you can expect to find multiple logical answers through images, shapes or sequences, and you have to find the correct missing part. One of the most common forms of this test includes sequences of shapes, whereby your knowledge of identifying patterns will be tested.
Some tips to help you through these tests are:
- Lots of practice. The only way to master pattern-identifying skills is through practising your abilities to determine logical answers from a sequence.
- Look at the question before the answers: Try to avoid looking at the answers until you have an idea in your head of what the next pattern in the sequence could be. You can then use the missing pattern pieces to make a better-informed decision.
- Double-check that the sequence works both ways. When you have chosen the missing piece of the pattern, check the answer can work both forward and backwards, this will ensure your answer is correct.
The situational judgement test is designed to assess your ability in teamwork, empathy, intuition, problem-solving and more. This test is not as easy to "study" for us there is no pass/fail rate. They say there are "no wrong answers", however, each company will have a particular attribute, behavioural trait or personality that they would prefer.
Some general tips to help you pass:
- Search the company you are being tested for. What are their company values? What do they specialise in? Private or public sector? Make a profile for this company and understand more clearly who and what it is they are looking for.
- practise. practise. practise.
Graduate Scheme Success can help students and graduates to succeed in all psychometric tests. We also assist with internships and graduate job applications.
We can help you reach your full potential with our 1:1 mentoring, online courses and 5* rated services.
Need guidance and support in succeeding in your applications? Contact us and book a free consultation today.
