Here’s our Children’s aptitude test tips. We hope you find our Children’s aptitude test tips useful.
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Aptitude test design specialists
We are aptitude test design specialists for both adult and child aptitude tests. For more insights into meaningful assessments contact Rob Williams Assessment for a comprehensive appraisal.
Our top aptitude test practice tips
With all psychometric tests it is important to read and fully understand the test instructions before starting the test. With such complex test formats as these it’s worth repeating this advice again. There are many different types of question format when it comes to critical thinking tests and you must know in advance exactly what each type of question is asking for.
- Do not let your own general knowledge lead you stray. It’s vital that you do not let any of your personal opinions or your general knowledge influence your answers even slightly. This recommendation applies even if it seems that the correct answer is in direct contradiction to what you know to be true.
- You need to be very careful when interpreting the meaning of complex words. Particularly when you are being asked to make a judgement on the basis of a shade of meaning.
- Look out for any words that imply something definitive, such as “always”, “never”, “all”. Do not confuse these with similar words or phrases that do not imply the same strength, for exmaple “almost always, most of the time, invariably” and “often”.
- These are a precursor to the wide range of formats covered in the subsequent LNAT practice testing section. You would be advised to complete all these practice sections!
Practice Aptitude Tests Dos and Don’ts
Practice Aptitude Tests Dos
√ Practice right up to the day before you are going to be taking your test. Just as top tennis players practice their serve and strokes before each and every match, you need to keep practicing for as long as you can.
√ Study the format of the questions that you will be taking and focus your initial practice sessions on these questions.
√ Continue practicing with questions of a similar format and difficulty level. If you are comfortable doing more difficult questions, challenge yourself by working forwards in this book; attempt the preceding questions if you need practice with easier questions.
√ Use all other opportunities for practice that come your way. Look up new words in the dictionary. Read the more difficult parts of the newspaper that you normally ignore or immediately throw away.
√ Focus on understanding why you keep getting particular questions wrong and on avoiding any common mistakes.
Practice Aptitude Tests Dont’s
X Think that buying a more erudite newspaper, a dictionary (or even a thesaurus) is going to make an immediate difference. You need to use such tools proactively over a period of time. X Just read the strategies and decide that that is exactly what you are going to do on the day – you will have forgotten them by then. To embed the strategies as part of your test-taking approach you need to apply them to the practice questions in this book. X Don’t think that merely improving your vocabulary will be sufficient to pass some of the more difficult verbal reasoning tests. Yes, you do need to understand all the words when reading a passage. But for certain tests you also need to be able to step back and to interpret what the passage or the paragraph as a whole is saying.. |
Children’s aptitude test tips example
Children’s intelligence tests are of great interest to many people. Comparing scores and finding which ‘category’ you fall into is however not the main function of these. The use of these tests in educational psychology has much further reach than just that.
GL Education published its very popular CAT4 tests range a few years ago now. We’ve CAT4 practice tests (Year 7) plus, CAT4 practice tests (Year 8). You can find al other CAT4 levels of this children’s aptitude test at these llinks: CAT4 practice tests (Grade 8). and Year 4 CAT4 practice test.
You also like to try our CAT4 test practice ; parents guide to the CAT4; and the type of questions in the CAT4 test.
Plus, find out what your CAT4 results mean for your child.
Our Practice Aptitude Test Books (listings on Amazon)
Further career-specific aptitude tests for lawyers (LNAT), the Army, RAF, navy, teachers, managers etc are available in our two aptitude test books. Please see the links above for our:
Aptitude Test Validation
The key benefit is the production of a report that highlights those personality factors that are important for success leading to improvements in future recruitment. Other possible benefits include the following:
- Development of clear decision rules to make recruitment both more efficient and more effective;
- Information on the areas in which staff are seen as working more effectively or less effectively;
- How the client’s staff differ in terms of personality from other groups; and
- Depending on what data is collected, analysis of information relating to fairness and diversity
Incentives, such as discounts on materials, are something that need to be negotiated on a case by case basis – depending on the quality of the data that might be given to us. It is likely that the analysis would be conducted free of charge.
What is validity?
“Convergent” or “construct” validity scientifically checks whether we’re really measuring what we’ve set out to measure.
- In the case of pre-hire assessments, are we really measuring personality?
- Are we identifying something else about our test-takers — their reading ability, English fluency, memory, or ability to stick with a task?
- Are we left with actual personality data, or just a dataset of people who could finish a lengthy questionnaire?
Validation Stages
Personality Test Validation Stage 1
Identify the following:
- Who should complete the personality. Each participant should be doing a similar role. A sample in excess of 40-50 is required.
- What job performance measures should be used and are available from HR. Examples of suitable job performance criteria:
- sales figures
- appraisal ratings
- development or assessment center competency ratings or pass/fail criteria
- length of service
Personality Test Validation
Stage 2 – Personality Test Validation
An excellent way of obtaining job performance data is to use a managerial Performance Rating form. Managers rate behavioural criteria that are important in their particular role. Some of the benefits include getting better quality data, getting around the “political” problems of appraisal ratings and covering all aspects of job performance focusing on those which would be more likely to correlate to the 16PF.
At the same time it is worthwhile asking people to rate themselves on the same criteria using a Performance Rating form.
Stage 3 – Personality Test Data Collection
Arrange for identified employees to complete the personality test. Also for their respective managers to complete individual Performance Rating forms.
Final Stage of Personality Test Validation
ROB WILLIAMS ASSESSMENT will conduct all the statistics – requiring a couple of days work – and share the results with the client in the form of a short report – also requiring a couple of days work.
FREE psychometric test practice
Most of our psychometric test practice resources are free! Aptitude tests are designed to measure intellectual ability, focusing on analytic and problem solving skills rather than specific knowledge.
Free Literacy Skills Test Practice
Firstly, LITERACY Practice Questions –
Secondly, LITERACY Practice Test Type 2 Questions.
Thirdly, LITERACY Practice Test Type 3 Questions.
Fourthly, LITERACY Practice Test Type 4 Questions.
Example Numeracy Tests
Navy Practice Test (Number Series)
Practice Test Answers (Number Series)
Navy Practice Test 2 (Number Series)
Practice Test 2 answers (Number Series)
Our numeracy test practice
This is our Numerical Reasoning Practice Test for your free practice. And here are the respective numerical reasoning online practice test answers.
Also, our Mental Arithmetic Practice Test for your practice. And here are the respective Mental Arithmetic practice test answers.
Numeracy practice skills
- Firstly, our number series practice test download and our number series practice test answers
- Secondly, our numerical Estimation practice test download and our numerical estimation practice test answers.
Premium Situational judgement test practice
Our free practice situational judgement test tips are listed after our premium situational judgement test practice links.
Additional situational judgment test tips are available in Rob Williams Assessment Ltd’s latest Career Builder articles. In particular, you may find this article useful, What you need to know about situational judgement tests.
Police Situational Judgement Test practice; and
Train Driver Situational Judgement Practice Tests.
Firefighter Situational Judgement Test practice.
Here’s our SJT practice Youtube video:
Critical Reasoning Aptitude Test tips
The Watson Glaser test is produced by test publisher TalentLens and are considered one of the most trusted methods of evaluating critical reasoning.
Watson Glaser critical reasoning test practice
These critical reasoning puzzle books: Critical-thinking-puzzle-book_1 and Critical-thinking-puzzle-book_2.
Our other personality test resources
Here’s our OPQ personality test tips and our MBTI personality test tips.
Situational judgment test tips.
Even more aptitude test practice at our Ten Minute Aptitude Quizzes
Maths Test Tips / Numeracy Test tips
Although you may not finish the test, the best strategy is to answer as many questions as you can in the time available.
- Before deciding upon your final answer, you may be able to rule out one or two of the multiple choice questions as incorrect.
- Read each question and review each chart very carefully – taking one chart and its associated questions at a time. Only start looking at the answer options once you have done this.
- Ensure that you are aware of the units of measurement that each question is referring to.
- Each question is worth the same so don’t spend too long on a single question. Remember that you may find subsequent questions easier to answer and that if there is time at the end of the test you can return to any unfinished questions.
- Work efficiently, but do not rush. Although you may not finish the test, the best strategy is to answer as many questions as you can in the time available.
- Remember to only use the information that is provided in the charts and not any of your own background knowledge.
- Round up any decimal points and any pence (whilst taking account of any specific instructions provided).
How to do well on different types of aptitude test
Pre-employment tests are used by many companies as a standard part of the recruitment process. If you’re currently applying for jobs, you’re likely to face psychometric testing. Both personality assessment and some of the most commonly used aptitude tests. These measure numerical, verbal and logical reasoning.
How you perform matters. Nearly 90 percent of companies said they would reject candidates if the test showed them to be deficient in basic skills, according to a survey by the American Management Association.
Companies use pre-employment tests to identify which candidates are most likely to perform well on the job, potentially saving time and cost in the recruitment process and decreasing employee turnover. Skills tests are used to verify whether a candidate has the skills they say they have and are proficient enough to do the job. Skills test are specific to the job – for example, a design challenge using Photoshop for graphic designers or a proofreading test for editors. Aptitude tests are more general and are used to evaluate an applicant’s ability to learn new skills and indicate how they may react to different situations once hired.
Employers may ask you to take a test – often delivered online at home – after you’ve made an initial application or may invite you to an assessment centre after a successful interview.
How to do well on numerical reasoning tests
The general advice given is typically that some focussed test practice will improve your score. Unfortunately, there aren’t any quick wins for being good at Maths.
- Give your “first response”. Don’t second guess what is being looked for since “faking” and lying are easily picked up.
- As a timed test, you need to average around one minute per question. Work briskly but accurately.
- Each question counts the same so pick off the easy ones first and don’t waste your test time on the most difficult questions.
- Practise some of the most common numerical test types at the main test publisher websites. For this reason alone, we strongly advise practising sample questions from Kenexa-IBM, TalentQ and SHL sites. ensure that you are comfortable using data tables, interpreting graphs and manipulating large financial figures.
How to do well on verbal reasoning tests
These come in many different types of format. The traditional comprehension format is to have a short text passage followed by a series of questions about facts, opinions, conclusions from the passage content. A bit like those English tests in primary school where you answered questions on a novel extract. Regardless of the type of test, it’s vital to remember:
- To carefully read each question. Often questions hinge on 1-2 keywords so you must take more care to interpret these accurately.
- If questioned whether something “always” applies whilst the passage states that it is “sometimes” the case, then this is a false interpretation.
- One useful strategy is to scan the passage initially, then to read it in more detail.
- It’s more efficient as you answer each question if you can recall roughly where to find the answer in the passage.
How to do well on abstract reasoning tests
Abstract reasoning tests ask you to look for the changing pattern(s) in the “pictures”. The easier questions typically at the start of the test, will involve one change in colour, position, size etc of the figures shown.
Here’s our abstract reasoning aptitude test tips Youtube video:
Questions become more difficult as you must spot two or three changes in any of the features shown. It can help, once you’ve worked out at least one of the feature changes, to check through the answer options to discount those that do not conform said feature changes.
As always, test practice and your familiarity with the test format help – with these tests you are strongly advised to learn the range of possible feature changes. leading test publishers Kenexa-IBM and TalentQ have excellent sample questions for you to practise any of these test types. Alongside SHL’s practise test pages these three sites cover most of the psychometric tests you are likely to find. You can ask in advance which test publisher’s test you will take.
You can find more detailed advice in our non-verbal reasoning test article for City Kids online magazine.
Introduction to Numerical Reasoning
Numerical reasoning ability links to job performance, which is why numerical reasoning tests are now used as part of the selection criteria for certain professions and postgraduate degree courses in which it is essential to work effectively with numerical reasoning information. Many medium-sized and large employers also make extensive use of ability tests – such as numerical reasoning tests – as part of their standard recruitment and promotion processes.
Why test numerical reasoning?
A well-designed numerical reasoning test is a reliable and consistent means of assessing the skills required for effective performance in that working environment. Ability tests allow employers and university admissions offices to assess a large number of applicants for competitive positions in a standardised way. This standardisation makes the process much fairer than relying upon old-fashioned, unstructured interviews where every applicant would be asked different questions. Even if you don’t like the idea of being tested on your numerical reasoning skills, at least you know that it is fair since everyone has to do the same test!
Numerical reasoning test design
We are specialists in psychometric test design. In particular aptitude test design:
- Verbal reasoning test design.
- Numerical reasoning test design.
- Abstract reasoning test design.
Numerical Reasoning Tests need to accommodate the very wide difference in mathematical ability from school leavers to senior managers. Correspondingly there is a range of increasingly difficult Numerical Reasoning Tests from the basic Numeracy Tests (which only require mathematical knowledge of the 4 basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) to the most complex and numerical reasoning involved in the interpretation of complex statitistical data.
When are Numerical reasoning tests used?
Many medium-sized and large companies now use Numerical Reasoning Tests as part of their standard recruitment processes. A standardised Numerical Reasoning Test gives everyone the same numerical reasoning questions.
In fact, everyone uses numerical reasoning skills in daily life – from checking their change in a shop to calculating how long a journey will take. Many different jobs require an ability to work confidently with numbers in order to carry out a range of responsibilities effectively. This could involve anything from interpreting production quotas to carrying out technical work that relies upon detailed calculations. Whereas an accountant will have demonstrated his or her numerical reasoning abilities in the process of acquiring a professional qualification, other career paths depend on numerical reasoning tests to measure applicants’ skill in this area.
Numerical reasoning test intro
A numerical reasoning test is a type of ability test, sometimes referred to as a psychometric or aptitude test. It is designed to measure specific numerical reasoning abilities relevant for success in a particular course, profession or job. Numerical reasoning tests are an objective and accurate means of assessing a candidate’s potential effectiveness whenever there is a numerical reasoning component to a particular job role or course. At the more advanced numerical reasoning level, these more advanced numerical reasoning abilities are measured:
- Interpreting stats.
- Analysing complex maths in graphs, pie-charts and tables.
- Using financial data correctly.
Numerical reasoning test for employees The employers who use these numerical reasoning assessments mainly evaluates how much snug you’re with numbers, basic mathematical functions and analyzing information underneath a substantial time pressure. It is no surprise, that corporation and organizations who take a look at their candidates with numerical reasoning tests typically place confidence in giant numbers and information.
Levels of numerical reasoning skills
These tests are challenging for college students who have a mathematical background, therefore it is no surprise this could be a real problem for students who spent much of their time at the university reading or writing, instead of really tackling with huge numbers and solving various formulas.
Answering numerical reasoning tests
Numerical reasoning tests also come in the form of multiple choice questions. The answers, in contrast to with verbal reasoning tests, are going to be definite. That doesn’t mean it will be easier and this becomes the point of pressure and it is also the reason why the candidates find them so challenging. Usually, candidates are provided with a variety of questions in accordance with the rule of one question = one minute. Certain numerical reasoning tests have a repeated pattern and this gives you an idea on how to prepare for it. The common topics that you can prepare for include fractions, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, estimations, percentages, data analysis and graphical interpretation. So, ensure that you practice these portions thoroughly and make yourself comfortable with the different types of questions in these areas.
Numeracy aptitude tips YouTube video
Numerical reasoning practice test tips
There are always some tips that you can utilize while preparing for your numerical reasoning assessment which are as follows. These tips will easily help you to get through the numerical reasoning assessment easily.
- Whether you would like to sharpen your number skills or learn everything from the beginning, taking some of the mock tests can help you to improve more. It would not turn you into an excellent mathematician in just one day; however, it will certainly improve your performance to a great extent. It will also prevent you from having too many sleepless nights before the assessment day by rising your accuracy, speed and confidence as well. And you may honestly want a good night’s sleep.
- Don’t spend too much time on one question. Get a rough calculation of what proportion of time you have got per question before you begin every check and try maintaining those timings. If it feels that it is getting tough, keep going anyway, keeping in mind the fact that the best and easiest questions are yet to come.
CAREER SPECIFIC APTITUDE TEST PRACTICE
- Here is our How to Pass Army Aptitude Tests and Army aptitude test practice.
- Then next is our Navy Aptitude Test Practice; and
- Also there is our RAF Aptitude Test Practice.
* * * Our popular RAF test practice.
Then next our Army test practice.
And Navy test practice. * * *
Rob Williams Assessment’s Armed Services Aptitude Test Entry Intros on YouTube:
Army aptitude test practice
RAF Aptitude Test Practice
Royal Navy Aptitude Test Practice
More numeracy test tips
- While you are practising for the test, try doing it in the same way in which you’ll be sitting your real numerical reasoning assessment. Take your seat in a quiet surrounding with as less distraction as possible at a table. This will increase your focus and also make silence less intimidating and let you practice more thoroughly.
- The numerical reasoning assessment will definitely not kill you but try to figure out the areas that you are getting wrong most of the time and practice those areas thoroughly. Focusing on those problems will help you to improve your overall test.
- Thus, following these tips can be really helpful during the day of your numerical reasoning assessment. Do not stress. So, the type of job position you are applying for doesn’t matter, as it can be an investment bank, consultancy firm or the position of a manager, it is compulsory for you to take the numerical reasoning test.
More Aptitude Test Tips
Practice can benefit both the beginner and the more experienced test-taker. There are many psychometric test types for which you may wish to practice. So it’s important to practice on psychometric practice tests which are as close as possible to your actual test format. The specific nature of the tests varies, with verbal and numerical reasoning tests as a common feature. Review the Answer Options Narrowing down the number of answer options is a good strategy. Review the answer options. Mentally remove any that are of the wrong magnitude. Ensure that your answer always remains within the range of the remaining answer options.
Our Aptitude test-taking strategies
- If not then you must have the wrong method of calculation and will need to rethink your calculation.
- What about ehen your answer is close to one of the answer options? Then you’ve most likely made one (or more!) errors in your calculation.
- If you get an answer equal to one of the answer options then don’t assume that it’s the correct answer.
Check Question Context Numerical reasoning questions often involve financial figures or other sales data commonly used at work, such as sales figures. Also, remember your answer needs to be realistic.
So, if you are being asked to total a company’s sales figures try to picture the magnitude of the answer. Familiarise Yourself With All Data Presented Resist diving straight in to answering questions. Review each table and graph that is presented to you. Make sure that you know the range of information sources being made available.
Passing pre-employment tests
How you perform matters. Nearly 90% of companies said they would reject candidates if the test showed them to be deficient in basic skills, according to a survey by the American Management Association.
Companies use pre-employment tests to identify which candidates are most likely to perform well on the job, potentially saving time and cost in the recruitment process and decreasing employee turnover.
Aptitude Tests
Aptitude tests are more general and are used to evaluate an applicant’s ability to learn new skills and indicate how they may react to different situations once hired.
How to do well on numerical reasoning tests
The general advice given is typically that some focussed test practice will improve your score. Unfortunately, there aren’t any quick wins for being good at Maths.
- Give your “first response”. Don’t second guess what is being looked for since “faking” and lying are easily picked up.
- As a timed test you need to average around one minute per question. Work briskly but accurately.
- Each question counts the same so pick off the easy ones first and don’t waste your test time on the most difficult questions.
- Practise some of the most common numerical test types at the main test publisher websites. For this reason alone, we strongly advise practising sample questions. For example, from Kenexa-IBM, TalentQ and SHL sites. Always ensure that you are comfortable using data tables, interpreting graphs and manipulating large financial figures.
Verbal reasoning aptitude test tips – Youtube video
How to do well on verbal reasoning tests
These come in many different types of format. There is a traditional comprehension format. This is to have a short text passage followed by a series of questions. On facts, opinions, conclusions from the passage content. Remember to:
- Carefully read each question. Often questions hinge on 1-2 key words so you must take more care to interpret these accurately.
- If questioned whether something “always” applies whilst the passage states that it is “sometimes” the case, then this is a false interpretation.
- Scan the passage initially, then to read it in more detail.
- Efficiently answer questions. For example, by roughly recalling where to find the answer in the passage.
Introduction to abstract reasoning tests
- Abstract reasoning tests ask you to look for the changing pattern(s) in the “pictures”.
- Questions become more difficult as you must spot two or three changes in any of the features shown.
- Once you know one of the feature changes, check each answer option to discount any in conflict with it.
- The easier questions typically at the start of the test, will involve one change in colour, position, size etc of the figures shown.
- You can find more detailed advice in our non verbal reasoning test article for City Kids online magazine
- 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Test One
- £3.49 – 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Test Two
- Verbal Reasoning 11 plus Practice Test One
- 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Practice Test Two
- Free – 11 Plus Maths Practice Test One.
School aptitude test practice for Maths:
School aptitude tests for English
How to improve your written English language skills
School aptitude tests for Verbal reasoning
11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test 2
Verbal Reasoning Test 1 for the 11 plus
CLOZE Verbal Reasoning 11 plus Test
Our Practice Aptitude Test Books
- Passing Verbal Reasoning practice test book. This is regularly featured in Amazon’s top ten study guide.
- Plus, our Numeracy Test Practice book, which reached Number One when the publisher Pearson offered it for free (throughout the UK’s first 2020 lockdown)
- Infact, our Numerical Reasoning Test Practice book reached Number One when the publisher Pearson offered it for free (throughout the UK’s first 2020/21 lockdowns) .
Free aptitude test practice in
Other aptitude tests:
- Firstly, our recommended Literacy test practice and our Numeracy test practice.
- Secondly,some useful numeracy test tips.
- Thirdly, our popular SHL test practice.
- Fourth our critical reasoning test practice / critical thinking skills tests.
- Then next our Situational judgement test practice.
- And some UCAT test practice 2021.
- Then next our Non-verbal reasoning test tips.
- And also our Critical Numerical Reasoning Test Practice.
- Finally our verbal reasoning test tips.
Aptitude test tips
