How To Clear Aptitude Test Without Preparation

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What Is an Aptitude Test?

An aptitude test is a systematic means of testing a job candidate's abilities to perform specific tasks and react to a range of different situations.

The tests each have a standardised method of administration and scoring.

The results are quantified and compared with all other test takers.

No prior knowledge is needed, as the tests measure innate ability at a particular competency.

How Are Aptitude Tests Administered?

Aptitude tests are usually administered online – most often after a candidate has made their initial job application – and are used to filter unsuitable applicants out of the selection process, without the need for time-consuming one-to-one job interviews.

Employers use aptitude tests from a variety of providers – such as SHL, Talent Q and Cubiks – alongside general interview advice, application forms, assessment centres, academic results and other selection methods.

No test is perfect, but all aim to give an indication of how candidates will respond to the challenges they will face in their day-to-day role at a firm.

The tests can be taken online or at a testing centre, such as a firm's offices, where they are usually paper-based.

Often a firm may ask you to complete both types of test, to confirm you did not cheat during the initial unsupervised online test.

Watch JobTestPrep's video on why you should prepare for a psychometric test.

Take a Numerical Reasoning Test

Take a Verbal Reasoning Test

Take an In-Tray Exercises

Take a Diagrammatic Test

Take a Situational Judgement Test

Take an Inductive Reasoning Test

Take a Cognitive Ability Test

Take a Mechanical Reasoning Test

Take a Watson Glaser Test

Take an Abstract Reasoning Test

Spatial Awareness Tests

Spatial awareness tests assess your ability to form mental images and visualize movement or change between them. They are often used in applications for jobs in design, engineering and architecture.

Learn more about spatial awareness tests by visiting our dedicated article

Take a Spatial Awareness Test

Take an Error Checking Test

Take practice aptitude tests to improve your performance

Take a Free Practice Numerical, Verbal and Diagrammatic Test

If you would like to practise simulation numerical, verbal and diagrammatic reasoning tests, please try the ones below, which were created by WikiJob in association with psychometric experts, and which are closely modelled on real tests.

The numerical test consists of 10 questions to be answered in 10 minutes, while the diagrammatic and verbal tests consist of 5/10 questions to be answered in 5 minutes (although there is no timer on the test itself).

Our tests are slightly harder than the real thing, in order to make them sufficiently challenging practice.

Don't forget to first check out the test tips and techniques mentioned further down this page.

You can take the tests as many times as you like.

Click the 'Take test' link below on either to get started.

WikiJob also has a psychometric tests app, available for both Android and Apple devices, which includes 10 numerical tests and 8 verbal tests.

The tests include a timer and worked solutions at the end.

Questions	10
Pass Percentage	80%
Time Limit	7 min

Take Test

Questions	10
Pass Percentage	80%
Time Limit	5 min

Take Test

Questions	5
Pass Percentage	80%
Time Limit	5 min

Take Test

Test Structure for Aptitude Tests

Tests are timed and are typically multiple-choice.

It is not uncommon for some available answers to be deliberately misleading, so you must take care as you work through.

Some tests escalate in difficulty as they progress.

Typically these tests are not designed to be finished by candidates.

Scores and Marking

Your score relates your performance to an average group.

Your aptitude, ability or intelligence has a relative value to this average result.

Typically, an 'average' performance is all that is required to pass an aptitude test.

Most employers take people's backgrounds into consideration for marking.

For example, maths graduates will have an unfair advantage over arts graduates on a numerical test.

Consequently, most employers use these tests as only part of the assessment process.

Negative Marking

Many aptitude tests incorporate negative marking.

This means that for every answer you give incorrectly, a mark will be deducted from your total (rather than scoring no mark).

If this is the case, you will normally be told beforehand.

In any test that does incorporate negative marking, you must not guess answers, even if you are under extreme time pressure, as you will undo your chances of passing.

What exactly is an aptitude test and how should you approach one? Find out more in this short video.

Aptitude Tests: Preparation and Practice

Practice in Advance

Evidence suggests that some practice of similar aptitude tests may improve your performance in the real tests.

Practice exam technique and try to become more familiar with the types of test you may face by completing practice questions. Even basic word and number puzzles may help you become used to the comprehension and arithmetic aspects of some tests.

WikiJob recommends practising aptitude tests prior to the real assessment. JobTestPrep offers a wide range of professionally constructed psychometric questions, written in the same style as PSL and SHL tests (the tests most graduate employers use to assess candidates).

Aptitude tests can also be practised with similar providers such as AssessmentDay.

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.

Taking the Test

You should work quickly and accurately through the test. Don't get stuck on any particular question: should you have any problems, return to it at the end of the test.

You should divide your time per question as accurately as you can – typically this will be between 50 and 90 seconds per question.

Remember that the tests are difficult and often you will not be expected to answer all the questions. Be particularly cautious if the aptitude test uses negative marking; if this is not the case, answer as many questions as possible in the time given.

Remember that multiple-choice options are often designed to mislead you, with incorrect choices including common mistakes that candidates make.

How should you prepare for a psychometric test? Watch this video from JobTestPrep for some insights.

Tips for Success

These five tips are well worth remembering before you take an aptitude test for real:

Treat the test like you would any other exam
Work swiftly and accurately through any test
Work out the maximum time you can spend on any question and stick to it religiously. You can return to questions at the end. Never get stuck on any particular question, even if you think you nearly have it.
If you are going to an assessment centre, take a calculator you understand with you. If you do not, you will be forced to use whatever they might provide you with.
Answer as many questions as possible in the time given. But be wary of negative marking.

WikiJob recommends taking practice reasoning tests for better performance during the examination.

Our partner JobTestPrep has copious sample tests to try, until you have really mastered this type of assessment.

Prepare with JobTestPrep

You may also want to look at this psychometric workbook, which covers numerical, verbal and spatial reasoning tests, with hundreds of practice questions.

Who Are the Different Test Providers?

There are numerous organisations that produce aptitude tests, including:

SHL. An international company operating in over 50 countries, providing tests in over 30 languages.
Kenexa. An IBM company providing recruitment services to organisations in a variety of industries.
Cubiks. An international HR consultancy that provides psychometric tests and runs assessment centres for employers.
Talent Q. An organisation owned by Hay Group, which provides assessments whereby a single test can be used to measure a number of different aptitudes.
CAPP. A provider of aptitude packages that test powers of analysis, comprehension and technical ability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a career aptitude test?

A career aptitude test is designed to assess a person's work-related cognitive ability or intelligence. Test questions are designed to assess logical reasoning skills and mental ability.

A career aptitude test assesses a range of abilities, including diagrammatic reasoning, mechanical reasoning, numerical reasoning and verbal reasoning.

Each test has a standardised process for administration and scoring, with test results being quantified and compared with the results of other test-takers.

A career aptitude test measures a person's innate ability in certain competencies, so no prior knowledge of the subject matter is required.

What do aptitude tests measure?

Aptitude tests measure a person's logical reasoning skills and mental ability.

During an aptitude test, test-takers must answer questions designed to assess their diagrammatic reasoning, mechanical reasoning, numerical reasoning and verbal reasoning skills.

Aptitude tests are a useful way to assess a person's intelligence and find out what they are capable of doing, rather than how they do things.

What is a job assessment test?

A job assessment test is used by many employers as part of the vetting and hiring process. Some employers ask shortlisted candidates to complete a job assessment test prior to the interview stage, whereas others incorporate them as part of the interview or assessment centre.

Results from a job assessment test help employers to narrow down the selection pool to make an informed hiring decision.

Each job assessment test is slightly different, but they usually focus on soft skills and general competencies.

What is an aptitude test in psychology?

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is an example of a psychological aptitude test. During an SJT, the test-taker must solve a range of problems related to typical workplace scenarios.

Each question has a set of multiple-choice answers, with candidates being asked to choose the most effective and least effective answers, or rank the answers according to how effective they would be in the given scenario.

SJT's are a popular tool for hiring managers, as they are designed to measure a person's aptitude for solving problems, making decisions and maintaining effective working relationships.

Other types of job assessment tests are designed to assess a candidate's suitability for a certain job role, whereas the SJT assesses whether a candidate will be a good fit for a particular working environment.

What are ability tests?

Ability tests are a type of cognitive assessment. They are designed to measure a candidate's mental performance.

Many employers use ability tests as part of the recruitment or hiring process. Popular examples include the Predictive Index, Revelian and Wonderlic tests.

In this type of psychometric assessment, test-takers must solve logic puzzles, reasoning assessments and problem-solving questions.

A person's test results are used to determine their overall intelligence.

Cognitive ability tests tend to be computer-based, with questions presented in multiple-choice format. For most ability tests, candidates are given a time limit within which to answer as many questions as possible, but in some cases, candidates will be expected to answer all of the test questions.