Psychometric Tests

Paul Gratrick, Careers Manager

• What are they?

• Who uses them?

• Some specimen questions

• Does practising help?

• Your questions

Dictionary:

Psychometrics (n)    

‘The branch of psychology that deals with the design, administration, and interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits.’

AGR Survey

92% of employers considered psychometric

testing to be a useful or very useful aid to

the recruitment process.

(Association of Graduate Recruiters survey)

Types of tests used in Recruitment

1. Ability or Aptitude Tests• Verbal• Numerical• Logical

2. Personality or Interest Inventories

Why do employers use tests?

• To identify key abilities or personalities

• To support other selection tools

Selection Tools

Tests are usually part of the selection process together with:

• application forms and CVs

• interviews

• group exercises

• presentations

Selection Methods - Advantages

• Application FormsGood for checking facts, demonstrating written communication skills

• InterviewsGood for oral communication skills, quickness of thought, personality

• Psychometric TestsGood for measuring candidates’ abilities/personality against objective criteria (and other candidates)

Selection Methods - Disadvantages

• Application Forms

Measures ability to fill in form - not to do the job

• Interviews

Intensely subjective, they might not like the look of you

• Psychometric Tests

Not good for seeing how an individual works with others

Characteristics of Tests

Ability or Aptitude Tests

• Under exam conditions

• Usually timed

• Right and wrong answers

• Unusual to finish all questions

• Results compared with norm group

Specimen questions

(Time allowed 2 minutes)Read the paragraph below and then say whether the numbered statements are true or false, given the information contained in the passage or whether you cannot say they

are true or false without further information –

There have been marked changes in the age-structure of the population during the past few decades. A current trend is towards starting a family later in life, and towards restricting the number of children in a family. This has an impact on the percentage of older people in the population, and on the average age of the labour force, and subtly alters the political and class structure of a society

1. Government policies have been an important influence on the birth rate in recent decades. --- True/False/Cannot Say

2. The relative numbers of people in different social classes is influenced by changes in the size of families. --- True/False/Cannot Say

3. Voting patterns are influenced by changes in class structure. ---

True/False/Cannot Say

Answers

1.Cannot say true or false without further information

2. True

3. Cannot say true or false without further

information

Next specimen questions

Which number, below, is one quarter of the distance from 5.1 to 5.3

A 5.125

B 5.15

C 5.2

D 5.25

E None of the above

(Time allowed 40 seconds)

Answer - B

Next specimen question

The driving time for a 100 mile trip from Townsville to Cityville was two and a half hours.The return trip was made by the same route but at an average speed that was 50% faster.

What was the total amount of driving time for the entire round trip?

A 3hrs 45 minutes B 4hrs 10 minutes C 4hrs 16 minutes D 4hrs 45 minutes E 6hrs 15 minutes

(Time allowed 1 minute 10 seconds)

Answer B

• 1st trip 100 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes = 40mph

• 2nd trip 50% faster = 60mph

• 100 miles at 60 mph = 1⅔ hours = 1 hour 40 minutes

• 2 hours 30 minutes + 1 hour 40 minutes = 4hours 10 minutes

Next specimen question

(Time allowed 1 minute)

Answer A, B, C, D or E

• A normal visit to a specialist physician costs £68. Private health insurance that covers specialist treatment costs £350 per annum. How many visits to a specialist physician will justify buying private health insurance?

A. 5

B. 6

C.7

D.8

E. 9

Answer - B

Next specimen question

(Time allowed 1 minute)

Answer A, B, C, D, E or F

• It takes 8000 medium sized oranges to make 500 litres of orange juice. How many oranges does it take to make 1,279 litres of orange juice?

A. 79.9

B. 3,127.4

C. 6,254.8

D. 12,509.6

E. 18.947

F. 20,464

Answer - F

Next specimen question

(Time allowed 45 seconds)

Answer A, B, C, D or E

• A high quality 100ml perfume is made of a mixture of 12ml perfume essence and 88ml water. What is the ratio of perfume essence to water?

A.1:7

B.3:22

C.1:8

D.3:12

E.1:9

Answer - B

Next specimen question

(Time allowed 30 seconds)In the example given below, you will find a logical sequence of five boxes. Your task is to decide which of the boxes in the bottom row completes this sequence. To give your answer, select one of the boxes marked A to E.

) [+ ) [ +

+) [

+ ) [

) [+

A B C D E

) [+ ( [ +

+ ) [

) [ +

+( [

Answer - D

Next specimen question

(Time allowed 30 seconds)In the example given below, you will find a logical sequence of five boxes. Your task is to decide which of the boxes completes this sequence. To give

your answer, select one of the boxes marked A to E.

A B C D E

Answer - B

How did you do?

Characteristics of Tests

Personality or Interest Inventories

• Not usually timed

• No right and wrong answers

• Contain internal checks for inconsistent answers

• Results in the form of a profile should be shared with candidate

Types of Personality Questionnaire

• Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)• 16PF Personality Questionnaire• Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-

Behaviour (Firo-B)• Occupational Personality Questionnaires (OPQ32) • California Psychological Inventory (CPI434) • Strong Interest Inventory Instrument• Innovation Potential Indicator• Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

Personality or Interest InventoriesExample question

Mark the statement most (M) likeyou and the one least (L) like you

a) I don’t feel that time is wasted on planningb) I feel uneasy in the company of

unconventional peoplec) If I’m annoyed with someone I don’t show it

Personality or Interest InventoriesExample question

Pick the statement that best describes you from each pair

a) I try very hardb) I put everything in its place

a) I want to be excitingb) I want to be successful

a) I like to try new thingsb) I’d rather not work on my own

Tips for success in tests

• Arrive in good time, sober and alert

• Listen to instructions and follow them carefully

• Tests always begin with practice - ask if you don’t understand

• Work quickly, but if you get stuck- move on

• Keep calm!

How to prepare

• Practise as much as possible• Become familiar with test conditions• Brush up basic maths - percentages, ratios, etc• Use reference books in the Careers Service• Use examples and practice tests on SHL &

others’ websites