Aptitude Test

Aptitude test, sometimes also referred to as psychometric tests, are a great way of assessing an individual’s abilities. Almost all the colleges take an aptitude test for their admission processes. However, the type of aptitude tests differs from situation to situation. 

Today, aptitude tests play a critical factor in the hiring process. Follow us through this blog to get to know more about aptitude tests in detail.

What is an Aptitude Test?

Aptitude tests are tests designed for measuring an individual’s abilities. They are an indicator of how that particular person would react to different situations and the given tasks. 

There are a variety of aptitude tests in place that are performed for assessing different kinds of abilities. Aptitude tests are a great way of testing the competency of a job applicant for the role they are applying for. Some common abilities tested through an aptitude test are critical thinking, verbal skills, numerical skills, problem-solving, etc.

Types of Aptitude Tests

Here is a list of some of the most common aptitude tests used for recruitment purposes-

• Cognitive Ability Tests– These tests assess the problem-solving skills of an individual and are an indicator of their intelligence.
• Numerical Reasoning Tests– These tests assess how good a person is with numbers. It tests the mathematical ability of a person such as averages, fractions, etc. 
• Diagrammatic Tests– Diagrammatic tests are administered to test reasoning abilities using flowcharts and diagrams.
• Situational Judgement Tests– These tests are administered to see how an individual would perform in a particular situation. They are widely used by employers during the recruitment process to assess the behavior of the candidate towards work.
• Verbal Reasoning Tests– These tests measure a person’s grip over the language. It tests a person’s ability to make logical deductions from a written passage of text. 
• Inductive Reasoning Tests– These tests are an indicator of a person’s abstract reasoning. It measures how well a person can find solutions in new situations.

Types of questions asked in an Aptitude Test

Aptitude test questions are mostly related to the job role that the candidate is applying for.  Questions vary according to the type of aptitude tests. For eg.- a person applying for the job of an equity analyst would be required to undergo a numerical reasoning test. As the job demands someone who is good with numbers, numerical reasoning questions and some other reasoning questions will be asked. 

There is no set standard of questions in a test, however, understanding the type of questions is the key here. 

Here are a few examples of the type of aptitude test questions-

1. Find a missing number, shape at the end of a series.
2. After reading the passage, tell whether a certain statement is true or false.
3. How will you react in a particular given situation, you will have to choose between the given options.

How are Aptitude Tests Administered?

Aptitude tests are highly standardized tests in terms of administration and scoring. All the data is converted into quantitative results which help in calculating the final result as well as comparing the result with others.

Although, these tests do not give exact results but prove to an indicator of candidates’ abilities. 

Why is Aptitude Test Important?

Aptitude tests are really important for making hiring decisions. Aptitude tests provide some really meaningful insights about the candidate.

The main purpose of aptitude tests is to hire the right person with adequate skills. Aptitude tests act as an indicator of the skills and abilities possessed by the candidate. 

Aptitude tests are highly standardized which means they are valid and reliable. So, they help in assessing the true abilities of the candidate.

Aptitude tests provide scientific backing for all hiring decisions.

Here are some ways aptitude tests affect an organization in the long run-

• Expedite the hiring process
• Improves efficiency
• Reduces job turnover rate
• Reduces turnover costs
• Better hiring decisions

How to Prepare for Aptitude Test?

Although there is no fixed set of questions asked in an aptitude test, a candidate can still prepare for aptitude tests. This starts with a basic understanding of the types of questions asked in an aptitude test. 

Here are a few key points to keep in mind while preparing for an aptitude test-

• Get familiar with the type of aptitude test you will be sitting for.
• Understand the types of questions in that particular aptitude test.
• Practice mock aptitude tests with realistic simulation.
• Watch aptitude test interviews on the internet and analyze them carefully.
• Be relaxed while sitting for an aptitude test.

There is no certain way of knowing about the exact questions in an aptitude test. However, preparing well in advance is the only thing that the candidate can do which can actually improve the performance in the tests.  To know more;