Many employers and recruitment agencies use a form of psychometric testing as part of their selection process. For some people this testing can be quite daunting, particularly if it's your first time or it's been some time since you were tested. By using practise tests to prepare not only will know what to expect but you can identify areas you need to brush up on.
Preparation and Practise can make a Difference
Many components in psychometric test are based on acquired knowledge and skills therefore, those who received a better education are more likely to do well in the test. Also recent graduates are likely to perform better than people who completed their education a few years ago. However, all of them are likely to find a psychometric test much more difficult than those who recently experienced solving psychometric tests, as neither university nor schools prepare students for psychometric tests.
The good news is that research has identified that effective preparation can improve results in tests such as IQ, innovation and psychometric tests. A study from the 60s that investigated the impact of intensive training (six hours of training) revealed that such training can improve people’ s IQ (intelligence) by nine points on average. Although this is not a huge improvement (and it's usually temporary) it can be all that you need to get in front of other applicants for the same job.
The most detailed research on the effects of test preparation on adults was published in North America in 1979 by the US Federal Trade Commission. The research focused on the SAT exam, which is an intelligence test completed by adults in the US who would like to study in a college. The SAT exam, similar to the psychometric test, has verbal and numerical reasoning components. The research proved that effective preparation improves people’s scores in the verbal and numerical reasoning tests.
Other research, done by the US Education Testing Services, found that with the proper preparation people improve their scores on the verbal and numerical reasoning tests by 20 to 35 points on average. The conclusion is clear – you can prepare for psychometric testing, but you must take the proper training to ensure you maximise the benefits. To help you do this you'll find some quick tips on this page with more detailed advice in Excellerate's article Success Tips for Personality and Psychometric Employment Testing.
Disclaimer: This information has been compiled by Excellerate to assist you with your career development. No endorsement is made of the services, nor is warranty given as to the completeness or accuracy of the information provided by the sites listed. Each link will take to you the site where you should use your discretion when providing personal details or actiing upon the information provided.
Free Online Psychometric Tests
Approach these online practise tests in the same way as you would the actual test so that you get a proper feel for what the test will be like.
SHL Example Tests » SHL is a reputable international firm of psychometric test designers. Many HR departments and recruitment companies use their instruments. Their website provides you with the opportunity to practise their "real" online questionnaires. These examples tests (with answers) give you an ideas of the type of questions you may be asked to complete when applying for a job
Verbal reasoning
Numerical reasoning
Inductive reasoning
Personality questionnaire
Motivation questionnaire
SHL Full Length Practice Tests » To help prepare you for an upcoming assessment you can complete a full-length SHL practice test in one or all of the following:
Verbal and numerical reasoning tests
Inductive reasoning tests
Personality questionnaires
Motivation questionnaires
Interview-style tests
Speed and Accuracy
Morrisby Select the ‘Test-taker’s guide’ tab then ‘sample questions’ to access the practice questions. Question types include: abstract reasoning (diagrammatic), verbal ability (pick the odd word out), numerical ability (fill in gaps in a sequence), perceptual (pick the odd image out), shapes (recognising a flipped or rotated shape) and mechanical.
Psychometric Success From this website you can download a number of practice tests with answers. Tests include: data interpretation (tables), reasoning (spotting number patterns), computation (basic arithmetic) and estimation (coming up with sensible, but not exact answers). The site also includes information on the tests and on assessment centres in general.
Numerical Tests - EFinancialCareers Practice makes perfect - designed by test specialists, online practice tests with answer booklets which help you to revise for the real thing.
More Free Online IQ Tests
Professional IQ Tests International High IQ Society | IQ Test A multiple choice timed test consisting of 50 questions assessing your verbal, math and spatial reasoning and problem solving skills. The High IQ Society website states that they're the first to provide a range of standardised free IQ tests on the internet. And with more than 20 million users since 2001 their question pool enables them to provide more than 2.4 billion tests.
Fun Mensa Test | IQ Test From Mensa International this quiz is provided for entertainment purposes only; it is not an IQ test. Answers to questions and discussion of the answers are provided at the time you submit your answers. Mensa accepts anyone with an IQ score in the top two per cent of the population, measured on a recognised IQ test
Free IQ Test | IQ Test Previously offered only to corporations, schools, and in certified professional applications, this IQ test is now available free online. In addition to measuring your general IQ, this test assesses your performance in 13 different areas of intelligence, revealing your key cognizant strengths and weaknesses.
Multiple Intelligence Quiz | MI Quiz Use this quiz, based on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, to discover your unique preferences and style of thinking Contains 60 questions Time approx 10 minutes
A Few Quick Tips for Taking IQ Tests
Some Background Information on IQ Testing
The term IQ usually refers to the attempt to measure a person's general ability to solve problems and understand concepts. IQ tests measure this general intellectual ability in a number of different ways such as:
Spatial ability: Visualising the manipulation of shapes
Mathematical ability: Solving problems and using logic
Language ability: Completing sentences or recognizing words when letters have been rearranged or removed.
Memory ability: Recalling things presented either visually or aurally
IQ (intelligence quotient) is the number derived from a set of standardized tests that measure a person’s cognitive abilities (”intelligence”) in relation to their age group within the general population. IQ is described as a “quotient” because, originally, it represented the ratio between a person’s “mental age” and actual chronological age.
Understanding the IQ Scale and Your Score
IQ tests use a standardized scale with 100 as the median score. The ranking of typical ranges of IQ scores and what they mean are summarized below:
Over 140: Genius or near genius 120 - 140: Very superior intelligence 110 - 119: Superior intelligence 90 - 109: Normal or average intelligence 80 - 89: Dullness 70 - 79: Borderline deficiency Under 70: Indicates mental retardation
On most tests, a score between 90 and 110, (or the median 100 plus or minus 10) indicates average intelligence. Roughly 5% of the population has IQ scores under 70. On the other end of the scale, only 1% of the population falls in the 135 and above category, which is the benchmark for genius.
Can you increase your IQ?
Because IQ tests measure your ability to understand ideas and not the quantity of your knowledge, learning new information does not automatically increase your IQ. There is evidence that maintaining an intellectually stimulating atmosphere (by learning new skills) boosts some ability, in a similar way that an exercising boosts physical ability, but these changes aren't permanent. However, IQ tests are only one imperfect method of measuring different aspects of intellectual ability. Critics point out that IQ tests don't measure social skills, wisdom or physical intelligence as demonstrated by athletes or creativity as demonstrated by musicians and artists or a host of other things we consider to be aspects of intelligence. (which is why we included Gardner's Multiple Intelligence quiz)
The value of IQ tests however is that they measure general cognitive ability, which has been proven to be a fairly accurate indicator of intellectual potential. There is a positive correlation between IQ and success in an academic environment but there are many, many cases where IQ and success do not coincide.
IQ scores and Occupational Groups (A rough ranking)
140: Top Civil Servants; Professors and Research Scientists.
130: Physicians and Surgeons; Lawyers; Engineers (Civil and Mechanical)
120: School Teachers; Pharmacists; Accountants; Nurses; Stenographers; Managers.
100+ Machine Operators; Shopkeepers; Butchers; Welders; Sheet Metal Workers.
100: Warehousemen; Carpenters; Cooks and Bakers; Small Farmers; Truck and Van Drivers.
90: Laborers; Gardeners; Upholsterers; Farmhands; Miners; Factory Packers and Sorters
More Useful Career Development Resources
Excellerate Success Tips for Candidates Taking Employment Tests | IQ Test Tips Get up to speed with success test taking tips for personality and psychometric testing
Excellerate Personal Impact Career Smart Strategies | Personal Impact Practical professional development and career smart strategies to help you achieve a competitive edge
Free Online Personality Tests | Free personality tests Online personality and career orientatation tests to identify your personality type and best job fit
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