Sitting selection tests
Some employers use selection or 'aptitude' tests to try to measure specific abilities or skills. The employer identifies the most important skills for the job, and then asks applicants to take a test or a series of tests to measure these skills.
Tests might be used to measure your ability to:
- learn new things
- solve problems
- understand and use words
- understand and use numbers
- understand and use diagrams
- understand basic mechanical or electrical principles
- do practical work-related tasks such as using a soldering iron or sewing machine, or typing out a piece of text quickly and accurately (work sample tests).
Your ability to do the job should relate to how well you do in the test. This helps employers to decide who to interview, and to work out who will be the best overall candidate.
Sometimes, the employer will be looking for a specific ‘pass’ mark. This will vary according to the level of work. For example, an employer recruiting craft and technician engineering apprentices may use the same test, but the pass mark for technicians will be higher than for craft applicants.
Sitting a selection test is a bit like sitting a school exam:
- the employer will hand out the test paper or booklet and tell you about the test
- the employer will give you detailed instructions about how to complete it and tell you how much time you have
- there are usually some practice questions at the beginning to help you to understand what the test is about
If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask about it before you begin.
Some examples of test questions
Most tests are multiple-choice, where there is a range of answers and you have to choose the right one by ticking a box. The time limit is often quite short so don’t be surprised or worried if you don’t finish on time. Before you start, ask if you can do rough work on scrap paper and if you’re allowed to use a calculator.
The following questions are not part of any particular test. However they should give you a feel for the different types of questions that might be set. The answers are at the end of this section.
Questions to assess ability in reasoning
(Measures the ability to understand the connections within a series of words, numbers or symbols)
1. Dangerous is to safe as slow is to ……………………………
A) empty B) shut C) argue D) quick E) enter
2.Which of the following comes next?
3. Which number comes next in the following sequence?
1 2 4 8
A) 5 B) 16 C) 64 D) 12 E) 32
Questions to assess knowledge of vocabulary
(measures knowledge of the meanings of words)
4. Which one word has a meaning which includes the meaning of all the others?
A) truck B) car C) train D) bus E) vehicle
5. Request means the same as ………………………………………
A) reply B) talk C) write D) ask for E) suppress
6. The following sentence has a word missing. Which one word makes the best use of the sentence?
The defender’s foul was obvious, so the referee made a quick and clear ……………………
A) diversion B) diagnosis C) diagram D) recovery E) decision
Questions to assess ability in arithmetic and maths
(measures accuracy and speed in using numbers to make calculations)
7. 8571 minus 583 equals?
A) 7998 B) 8018 C) 7988 D) 7888 E) 8088
8. If one carton of screws weighs 100 Kilograms, what will be the weight of six and a half cartons?
A) 6.5 kg B) 6500 kg C) 65 kg D) 650 kg E) none of these
9. The premium for motor insurance for a particular car owner is £360. He is entitled to 40% discount off this figure for not having any accidents or claims for the last two years.
How much will the car owner pay to the insurance company?
A) £320 B) £144 C) £216 D) £270 E) none of these
10. How many minutes are there in 4 hours?
A) 140 B) 80 C) 160 D) 150 E) 240
11. 0.75 x 0.5 equals?
A) 0.5 B) 0.375 C) 1.5 D) 0.25 E) none of these
12. A rectangle has an area of 21 square cm. The length of one side is 3cm. What is the perimeter of the rectangle?
A) 20cm B) 21cm C) 18cm D) 14cm E) none of these
13. In producing electrical contacts from a copper tape, the average waste is 15%. If the cost of the copper was £31,000 what is the cost of the waste?
A) £4550 B) £4650 C) £4350 D) £4800 E) none of these
Questions to assess mechanical and electrical knowledge
(Measures knowledge of mechanical and electrical principles and the ability to apply that knowledge)
14. Which gear will make the least number of turns in a minute?
A B C D
15. After collision, in which direction will the black ball go?
A) B) C) D)
16. A ………………………… is part of the cooling system of a car
A) contact break B) shock absorber C) ballast resister D) radiator E) camshaft
17. Electricity can be conducted through ………………………………
A) wool B) plastic C) water D) concrete E) wood
18. What is the colour of the neutral lead in household electrical wiring?
A) brown B) black C) yellow/green D) blue E) none of these
19. Which strut would best support the mail box?
A) B) C)
20. Which truck will turn over more easily? (If the same mark C)
B A
A) B) C)
Answers:
|
1 |
D |
11
|
B |
|
2
|
D
|
12
|
A
|
|
3
|
B
|
13
|
B
|
|
4
|
E
|
14
|
C
|
|
5
|
D
|
15
|
C
|
|
6
|
E
|
16
|
D
|
|
7
|
C
|
17
|
C
|
|
8
|
D
|
18
|
D
|
|
9
|
C
|
19
|
A
|
|
10
|
E
|
20
|
A
|
Types of tests currently in use
The following list will give you some idea of the types of tests used by some of the biggest employers in Scotland, when they are recruiting school and college leavers or unemployed young people.
Army: For Soldier recruitment, the Army uses a test called the British Army Entrance Test or British Army Recruitment Battery (BARB). (‘Battery’ means a group or series of tests).
These tests assess your ability for training. You do the test on a computer using touch screen techniques to answer the questions. Your local Army Careers Information Office will give you a booklet explaining the BARB test and giving some sample questions when they give you a test time.
Royal Air Force: For Support Trades the RAF uses seven multiple choice tests to measure ability in:
The tests take about an hour. If you apply to NCO Aircrew you have to sit the Aircrew Aptitude Tests (AAT), which take up to 6 hours in total. Some sample tests are on the website: http://www.rafcareers.com%20(look/ (Look in 'Tests and Interviews' under 'Next Steps').
Royal Navy: For Ratings the selection process takes place at an Armed Forces Careers Office. Tests are used to assess ability in:
- reasoning
- English language
- numeracy
- mechanical comprehension.
Candidates get examples of the questions asked in the tests before sitting them.
Artificer Apprentice candidates who pass the test must take a further test of mental arithmetic.
Constructionskills: For apprentice selection and assessment Constructionskills uses tests which assess:
- spatial awareness (reading plans or drawings)
- numeracy (understanding measurements)
- reasoning ability.
They send a booklet of sample questions to applicants in advance of the tests. You can also download a practice booklet from the bConstructive website at http://bconstructive.co.uk/apprenticeships/scotland.asp.
|
Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation (SNIPEF): Plumbing companies use the BPEC (British Plumbing Employers Confederation) entrance selection test to assess potential apprentices. The test lasts for 45 minutes and covers numerical and problem solving skills, including questions on using the 24 hour clock (relevant because plumbers work with different types of timing devices). |
|
|
Local Authorities: For craft recruitment, some Councils have a half-day practical test. You are shown how to do a specific task, normally something that you might do in the craft you are applying for. They will then ask you to repeat the task. (This is a ‘work sample’ test). A written test may follow, in which you might be asked to name the tools and materials used in the practical exercise. This measures your ability to listen and understand.
Engineering Companies: In general, for craft and technician recruitment manufacturing companies use mechanical/electrical aptitude tests and general intelligence tests.
Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT): For recruitment of apprentice electricians SECTT use arithmetic and technical understanding tests. Have a look at the sample questions on their web site at http://www.sectt.org.uk/assess.htm if you are thinking about electrical apprenticeships.
Garage Trades: Many garages use a mechanical ability test combined with a general ability test.
Fire Service: Uses a variety of general ability tests. These can take up to 2 hours to complete. They normally send sample questions to applicants before they sit the test.
Police: Applicants sit the Standard Entrance Test for the Police Forces. This includes three papers with questions based on:
- language skills - listening, reading and understanding
- information handling skills
- number skills - carrying out calculations and number work
Each paper lasts 30 minutes. You cannot use a calculator.
Police Forces advise applicants to revise work from Standard Grade English and Mathematics before taking the test. There are downloadable sample question papers on the Strathclyde Police website at www.strathclyde.police.uk/recruitment.
Post Office Counters Ltd: applicants for counter clerk jobs sit an aptitude test that covers basic numeracy skills, mental flexibility and copying accuracy.
Selection Tests Checklist
- Work out in advance how to get to the test site and how long it will take you
- Arrive in good time - at least 10 minutes before the time stated
- Dress smartly, because there may be an interview after the test
- Arrive mentally prepared to work hard
- Read the test instructions carefully
- If you are in any doubt about the test instructions ask for help
- Work through the test as quickly and accurately as you can
- Remember you may be working to a time limit - you will be told if you are
- If you cannot answer a question move quickly on to the next one
- If you feel a panic attack starting focus on your breathing – slow it down for a few minutes
- If there are questions you cannot answer you can go back and try them again if you have time at the end
- If the test is multiple choice and you are not sure of the answer, guess
- If you do manage to finish with time to spare, check your answers.
|