Careers > Application Process
Preparing for Psychometric Tests
Psychometric tests are now commonplace within the recruitment process. They are designed to test your cognitive ability, often under timed conditions, through various skill-based tests. Psychometric tests are done at varying stages of the application process. Some companies will do them at the start as a part of screening; some may do them at the assessment centre, and others might test you at multiple stages.
In This Article
Common Tests
How to Prepare
Common Tests
- Personality Profiling
Tests used to measure specific personality traits that are valued in the workplace. There are no right or wrong answers, just more suitable profiles based on the employer’s preference. While you may feel tempted to predict what the employer is looking for, it’s best to be yourself and answer honestly. You might not win them all, but at least you know you’ll be a good fit for those you do.
- Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning is designed to measure how well you understand written passages. You will likely be presented with a passage, followed by a series of questions with true, false or cannot say options. It tests your ability to understand key pieces of information without making assumptions or jumping to conclusions.
- Numerical Reasoning
Numerical tests mainly utilise tables and graphs to test your ability to interpret large numerical data sets. They measure your ability to solve problems and analyse data, often through comparing company data at two different points or something similar. When practising these tests it’s important to go back and assess where you went wrong. Certain calculations will frequently appear, e.g. percentage increase between two numbers, and therefore grasping the most common calculations will save you time when sitting the real test.
- Spatial Reasoning
Spatial reasoning tests your ability to spot patterns and logical rules between shapes. For example, you could be given a shape and asked which answer would be an accurate 90-degree rotation of that shape. Much like the others, practice is the best way to improve at these tests. We highlight a good site for practice tests below.
- Situational Judgement
Situational judgement tests determine how you would respond, or think the best way to respond, to a certain situation. You are often given a scenario, followed by a list of potential responses. Your job is to rank the response based on its effectiveness for that specific scenario. It is likely the scenarios will be similar to those you will face in the role you are applying for, so it gives the employer a good indication of whether you would respond in line with their preferences.
How to Prepare for Psychometric Tests
- Practice
Like many other tests, the best way to prepare for psychometric tests is to practice. There are many online test sites to choose from, but our favourite is Assessment Day. You get access to a range of free timed tests, alongside a solution PDF with all answers worked through step-by-step. If the number of free tests on Assessment Day isn’t sufficient, then many others are available online, or you can purchase the Assessment Day bundle pack for £39.99. The employer may also provide a few practice tests, so it’s worth checking for these as well – these will likely be the closest to the real thing you can get. Also, make sure you contact the recruitment team to ask for hints and tips.
- Surroundings
Even though this test doesn’t occur in an exam hall, it’s worth trying to replicate this environment by finding a comfortable and quiet space to sit your test. They are often fast-paced, and you only get one chance, so avoiding minor distractions could have a big impact on your result. Also, ensure you are connected to strong and stable WiFi to avoid lagging or a crashed test.
- Equipment
Have a pen, paper and calculator handy. You will likely need a calculator for numerical reasoning, and a pen and paper will be useful for any workings.
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In This Article
Common Tests
How to Prepare
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