What You Should Know About Psychometric Tests

By Victor Wachira

If you have ever attended an interview at any multinationals in Kenya e.g Cocacola, Nestle etc or even some government agencies like the Parliament of Kenya, then you might be aware of psychometric tests.

What is a Psychometric Test?

Psychometric testing is designed to find job-relevant information about you which an interview wouldn’t be able to do. Psychometric testing typically includes a combination of aptitude and personality tests online which measure your job-relevant cognitive abilities and personality.

When is psychometric testing used?

In addition to using selection tools like assessing your CV, a written statement addressing the job selection criteria or a face-to-face interview, employers and recruitment agencies increasingly use this method to help determine a candidate’s suitability.

There are a number of different psychometric tests available that are designed to produce your behavioral profile for the position you are applying for. Psychometric tests can measure your analytical skills, intelligence, personality traits, behavior style and other characteristics relevant for the job you are applying for. The type of psychometric test used for a selection process always depends on the job requirements.

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The Personality test assesses your personality and behavioral style through a self-report personality questionnaire, as they relate to the job and workplace environment. The personality test asks you relevant questions, which you need to answer by selecting a response from a scale of pre-set answers. Based on your responses a personality profile is developed.

This profile can be either desirable or undesirable based on its ‘fit’ with the position requirements. You should expect to take around 30 to 45 minutes to complete a standard personality test.

Most personality tests are designed in a way that also enables employers to learn whether you were ‘honest’ in your response. Therefore, understanding what each question asks and in what context the question should be answered is crucial to your success in such a test. It is also very important to thoroughly research what the employer is looking for in the job applicant so you are aware which personality strengths you should emphasize in your test.

All these issues can be managed if you prepare and practice for your personality tests online.

Aptitude Tests are timed and generally have multiple choice questions which must be completed in a very short time. All questions are scored the same, be they easy or difficult to answer. The level of difficulty and complexity of aptitude test questions depends on the industry, function and job level of the position you are applying for.

The different types of psychometric tests are designed to measure your skills, aptitude and intelligence as they relate to the job specifications, and how well your personality matches the job requirements.The Personality test uses ‘covert questions’ about aspects of your personality that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

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The Various Aptitude Tests are:

1.  Verbal Reasoning  – it tests how well you can process written information and how quickly you can identify critical issues from written material.
2.  Numerical Reasoning – it test  your ability to interpret and analyse numerical data such as graphs and tables to make business decision .
3. Abstract reasoning – it  tests your lateral thinking skills or fluid intelligence, which is your ability to quickly identify patterns, logical rules and trends across situations, integrate this information, and apply it to solve problems.
4. Spatial reasoning – it tests  your ability to efficiently organise a space, e.g. a warehouse or open office design.
5. Mechanical reasoning  –  it tests your ability to quickly comprehend mechanical concepts and solve mechanical problems.