Psychometric Testing Blackburn College CEIAG Team Session Aims

Psychometric Testing Blackburn College CEIAG Team

Session Aims • To give you an understanding of what psychometric tests are. • To give you a better understanding of the different types of tests that you might have to undertake. • To help you prepare for psychometric tests. Addressing Gatsby Benchmark 2

Graduate Recruitment Process Online application and psychometric test 100 Telephone interview 45 Assessment Centre 12 -15 Offers 4

Has anyone had experience of sitting a psychometric test?

What is a Psychometric Test? • Used to identify a candidate’s aptitudes, personality or ability. • Tests have been established over many years and are often used with specific groups defined by age, prior educational level or type of job. • Most psychometric tests are performed online, although you may find some remain as hard copy questionnaires. • Timings • Tests are often used for preliminary screening or may be used as part of an assessment centre.

Types of Psychometric Test (1) • Aptitude or ability tests: Used to measure a candidate’s knowledge level in a specific field, so can vary in content. • Aptitude tests are usually timed and include: verbal tests, numerical tests, spatial reasoning and subject/job specific tests • To prepare for an aptitude test: practice as many tests as possible, try to find out whethere are particular tests for your type of job or industry. • http: //www. kent. ac. uk/careers/psychotests. htm • http: //www. morrisby. com/practice

Types of Psychometric Test (2) • Critical Thinking Tests – require you to be aware of assumptions you’ve made based on information provided. Often, without realising it, you may have taken something for granted as ‘true’ within a particular statement. It’s all about balanced thinking. • Situational Judgement Tests – present candidates with a range of different situations that they might experience in the job for which they are applying. For each situation, a number of possible actions are suggested. • Personality Tests – involve a large number of questions, to analyse behaviour, personality type and your fit to a role. There are no specific right and wrong answers. The recruiter will select candidates who respond in line with the profile of the ideal person they wish to recruit. • To prepare, practice using tests so that you are familiar with the style and format of questions, answer questions honestly and without trying to guess which is the ‘right’ answer.

Practice tests – Test 1 Numerical: 1. What is the missing number? 1, 4, 9, ? , 25 A. 15 B. 16 C. 17. D. 18 E. 19 2. 45/9 = 12 - ? A. 5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8 E. 9

Practice Tests – Test 2 Verbal 1. What is the meaning of irksome? A. Friendly B. Handsome C. Disagreeable 2. What is the meaning of colossal A. Gigantic B. Pedantic C. Frantic

Practice Tests – Test 3 Lateral Thinking A graduate applying for pilot training with a major airline was asked what he would do if, after a long-haul flight to Sydney, he met the captain wearing a dress in the hotel bar. What would you do? Offer to buy her a drink! The captain was of course a woman. Many airlines are now hot on equal opportunities and a candidate who had difficulty envisaging that an airline captain might be female would not go very far!

Practice Tests – Test 4 Verbal Reasoning • • Six friends live in a two storey block of flats Rachel lives between Joey & Monica Ross lives on the ground floor Ross’ flat number is not odd Phoebe is below Monica Joey lives in flat 6 In which flat does Chandler live?

Practice Tests –Test 5 Situational Judgement You are working in a call centre for a major UK telecommunications company. You have received a call from a customer who has been waiting in for an engineer who has failed to arrive within the scheduled time slot. The customer is upset and is talking in a raised voice. Of the following options indicate which would be the ‘most effective action to take first of all: 1) Apologise to the customer and say you will arrange for a re-scheduled appointment. 2) Listen to the customer’s feedback and tell them that you can understand why they are upset and that it must be very inconvenient for them. 3) Explain that the engineer has a very busy schedule and its difficult for her to always be on time but you’re sure she will arrive soon. 4) Apologise and ask the customer to hold while you contact the engineer to establish where she is.

Hints and Tips Find the practice tests: search for examples from the main test publishers and check what tests will be used by your preferred recruiters. Test out the tests: Have a go at a good range of practice tests, and determine your strengths and weaknesses. Check the worked examples: For those that you find tough, make use of the worked examples. Immerse yourself in tests: Take a sample test every day for 2 weeks. Re-activate your primary school brain: Refresher arithmetic and comprehension books. Get into word games and mental puzzles: Keep your brain in training. Check instructions: Listen carefully and/or read with full concentration. Best guess: If struggling and multiple choice.

Useful websites www. gradintel. com (can register and try free tests) Graduates First www. graduatesfirst. com/ (Allows you a free sample test as well as a large range of tests that you have to pay for. Provides advice, solutions and solutions. ) www. kent. ac. uk/careers/psychotests. htm www. assessmentday. co. uk www. psychometric-success. com/ downloadable e-book www. shldirect. com www. 16 personalities. com (free personality tests) Mark Parkinson's psychometric test information www. markparkinson. co. uk/psychometric_links. htm Contains details of 30+ websites which offer the opportunity to take tests and questionnaires for free! The website also gives an insight into the work of Business Psychologists. http: //www. bbc. co. uk/skillswise/0/ Really useful website for practicing and refreshing your skills.

Resources The following websites have lots of information to help you prepare.

1: 1 Appointments available each day Book via Main Reception – 01254 292929 Drop-in Advice without an appointment available: Monday – Friday 11 -1 pm (Careers & Student Finance) Thursday – 4 -6 pm (Careers & Student Finance) For e-advice contact us on careers@blackburn. ac. uk studentfinance@blackburn. ac. uk thehub@blackburn. ac. uk