Aptitude tests are exercises used to determine a candidate’s ability or personality. Aptitude tests seek to examine your logic, how fast you are able to think, how you react to situations, and how you use prior knowledge or the information given to you to solve problems.
These tests are strictly timed for about 30 minutes regardless of how they are administered (in written form or online).
Aptitude tests are subdivided depending on the role and skills assessed by the employer. Therefore knowing these categories of aptitude tests while you prepare can get you one step ahead from your competition.
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Types of Aptitude Tests
Let’s take a look at the different types of aptitude tests you should know about.
They can be classified into two: power tests or speed tests.
1. Power tests
Power tests are usually used to test candidates applying for managerial positions. These kinds of aptitude tests examine your fluid intelligence which entails your ability to reason abstractly, think strategically and solve issues.
These tests contain relatively few questions that are complex and require a lot of reasoning. The specific skills an employer looks for by administering these tests include:
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to easily comprehend information
- Strategic thinking
- Ability to learn new skills
- Level of creativity
Examples of Power aptitude tests include;
- Abstract aptitude tests; these measure your ability to think abstractly, identify important information and apply that information to solve problems.
- Diagrammatic reasoning tests; these tests are similar to the abstract aptitude tests but involve questions that are in the form of diagrams where you have to follow a number of logical rules and think abstractly to complete the diagram.
- Logic reasoning tests; these tests entail questions about solving puzzles that require you to understand the logical rules a certain puzzle follows and then use that information to solve the puzzle.
2. Speed tests;
Speed tests are used to test candidates applying for entry and mid-level positions. Contrary to power tests, speed tests seek to examine the ability to apply the knowledge you have acquired from past experiences or education to workplace situations.
Such situations include coming up with reports, comprehending rules, and instructions, to mention but a few. The specific skills an employer looks for by administering these tests include;
- Communication skills
- Numerical skills
- Ability to understand rules and instructions
Examples of Speed aptitude tests include;
- Verbal aptitude tests; these tests examine your ability to communicate and use the English language.
- Numerical aptitude tests; these test your numerical ability, ability to understand information from numerical data and apply it to the workplace.
- Mechanical reasoning tests; these are administered for engineering or technical positions and seek to examine your ability to apply mechanical concepts to solve problems at the workplace.
In conclusion, While you prepare for any aptitude test it’s important to know the type of role in which the job you applied falls, the type of skills commonly assessed in that role and the type of aptitude test the job category falls in.
This gives you a clear picture of the type of questions you should expect in your aptitude test: hence gives you higher chances of passing.
