Preparing for aptitude tests
During the recruitment process, particularly during or even prior to assessment centres, employers may use some form of test. These include personality inventories, aptitude tests, and psychometric tests as a way of measuring particular skills or abilities such as logical thinking, numerical or customer focus, that are required for the role in question. Employers may also carry out group exercises to see how you work as part of a team, such as through a practical exercise, role play situation or group discussion.
In order to help you prepare, explore the sites listed below, which illustrate the variety of tests available.
- Prospects
- TARGET jobs
- Shl people performance – test provider, frequently used by graduate recruiters
- Kenexa and PSL – test provider, widely used
- Mensa International
- Graduate Record Examinations
- Civil Service Fast Stream – self-selecting questionnaires (tests only available during the recruiting process)
- Emotions & Behaviours at Work – test provider
- Royal Air Force
- PILAPT – information about the assessment tests often used by flight training schools, airlines etc. to test for potential pilot ability
- Hogrefe UK – this company provides information about a variety of recruitment tests available, including an overview of the Watson Glaser tests, designed to test verbal reasoning and reading comprehension.
TIP: When preparing for numerical tests, think about practising your mental arithmetic skills, especially if they are a little rusty!