Aptitude

Test
 What is Aptitude?

1. capability; ability; innate or

1. :inclination, tendency <an
1. An inherent ability, as for acquired capacity for something;
aptitude for hard work>
learning; a talent talent
: a natural ability : talent
2. Archaic The condition or 2. readiness or quickness in
2. : capacity for learning <an
quality of being suitable; learning; intelligence
aptitude for languages>
appropriateness. 3. the state or quality of being
3. : general suitability : aptness
apt; special fitness.

merriam-webster.com
thefreedictionary.com dictionary.com
What are aptitude tests?
• Measures specific abilities, such as
mechanical or clerical skills.
• Measures the capability for a relatively
specific task or type of skill; are narrow forms
of ability testing
• These are often used to predict success in
an occupation, training course, or
educational endeavor such as SAT (Scholastic
Assessment Test)
What are aptitude tests?
• Designed to measure your work-related
cognitive capacity.
• Examination that attempts to determine
and measure a person’s ability to acquire,
through future training, some specific set of
skills (intellectual, motor, and so on).
• The tests assume that people differ in
their special abilities and that these differences
can be useful in predicting future achievements.
“Each test question has only one correct answer, and
everyone can correctly solve all the test questions. The only
difference between people is in how quickly they can
correctly complete the test (i.e. answer all the test questions).
That’s why these tests are always timed. The time is defined
in such a way that only 1% to 5% of the population can
correctly solve all the test questions within the allowed time
frame.”

Concept
 What does it really measure?
• “The theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence suggests that
people’s intelligence is composed of a number of different abilities
that interact and work together to produce overall individual
intelligence.”
 What does it really measure?
FLUID INTELLIGENCE CRYSTALLIZED INTELLIGENCE
    
– Is the ability – Is the ability to learn from past experiences
to think and reason abstractly and solve and relevant learning, and to apply this learning to
problems.  a situation. 
– Commonly known as ‘street smarts’ or the ability – Examples: comprehending written reports and
to ‘quickly think on your feet’  instructions, ability to produce reports, ability to
use numbers as a tool to make effective decisions,
– Considered independent of learning, past etc. 
experience, and education. 
– Based upon facts and rooted in experiences
– Examples: coming up with problem-solving and becomes stronger as we age and accumulate
strategies, ability to quickly learn new skills, new knowledge and understanding. 
ability to quickly integrate new – There are many aptitude tests: verbal reasoning,
information, strategic thinking, etc.  numerical reasoning, spatial reasoning and
– The aptitude test: abstract reasoning. mechanical reasoning.
– Developed during World War 
– Carl Brigham a psychologist developed this test.
– First used in the recruitment of Army called Army Alpha. 
– Use as a college admissions test in 1926. 
– In 1933 James Bryant Conant decided to start a new scholarship program .
– In 1938 all the member schools of the College Board started using the SAT as a uniform exam, but only
for scholarship applicants. 
– In 1942, because of the war, all the pre-existing College Board admissions tests were abolished, so the
SAT became the test for all applicants.
– In 1944, under contract to the Army and the Navy, administered the SAT to more than 300,000 people
all over the country on a single day. 
– In 1948 the Educational Testing Service was chartered and the SAT was on its way to becoming the
basic college admissions device for millions 

History & Origin

Importance of Aptitude Test
“Statistics reveal that 70% of the of world’s
recruitment companies used aptitude test as part
of their recruitment procedure.”
 Importance of Aptitude Test
• This permits the potential companies to learn about their candidate's personality
and abilities. 
• This test can also evaluate individuals overall academic proficiency and specific
abilities. 
• It can also evaluate how an individual reacts to the situation and accomplishes
task.
• It tests work related perceptions, judgment and reasoning. 
 Importance of Aptitude Test

• It is an important tool in identifying personal and career goals of individuals.

• It provides assistance and direction for future growth in any particular field. 
• This helps individuals in discovering the career path according to their interests
while companies can find if the strength of the applicant complements with the
job designation.
 Importance of Aptitude Test

• The result of the aptitude test can be used for analysis of interests and strengths of
any individual. 
• These detailed reports based on results of the tests then identify the industry and
job designations that best suit for the individual based on the analysis of strengths
and interests.
Difference of Aptitude Test
from other tests
Aptitude Test to
IQ Test

• Aptitude Test is a measure of separate intelligences. It is linked to

intelligence, but is commonly thought to be a specific set of skill where
intelligence is broad generalization. You get score in each areas to see
your strength and weaknesses.
• IQ Test is a measure of general intelligence of how smart and
knowledgeable the person is.
– Aptitude test – was designed to determine a person’s
ability in a particular skill or field of knowledge. It
measures potential achievement or predicts the level
of future performance.
– Attitude test – assesses an individual’s feelings about a
particular object and also is used to determine
individual preferences.
– Personality test – is designed to reveal aspects of an
individual’s character or psychological make up.
– Achievement test – is used to measure the attained
ability. Aptitude Test to
Attitude Test,
Personality Test, &
Achievement Test
 Difference between Aptitude and Ability
Tests
APTITUDE TEST ABILITY TEST
    
– A standardized test designed to – A standardized test designed to
predict an individual's ability to learn evaluate an individual’s performance
certain skills. in a specific area.
 Verbal Reasoning

Numeric Reasoning

Abstract Reasoning
Aptitude & Spatial Reasoning
Ability Tests
Mechanical Reasoning

Data Checking

Work Sampling

Types of Aptitude Tests
 – Is understanding and reasoning using
concepts framed in words.
– Aims at evaluating ability to think
constructively, rather than at simple
fluency or vocabulary recognition.

Verbal
Reasoning
 – Numeracy is the ability to reason and
to apply simple numerical concepts.
– Basic numeracy skills consist of
comprehending
fundamental mathematics like
addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division.
– Substantial aspects of numeracy also
include number sense, operation sense,
Numerical computation, measurement, geometry,
probability and statistics.

Reasoning
 – Is the ability to identify patterns
amongst abstract shapes where
irrelevant and distracting material may
lead to incorrect conclusions.
– Measures your ability to change track,
critically evaluate and generate
hypotheses and requires you to query
judgments as you go along.
Abstract
Reasoning
 – Ability to manipulate shapes in two
dimensions or to visualize three-
dimensional objects presented as two-
dimensional pictures.

Spatial
Reasoning
 – Is knowledge of physical and
mechanical principles.
– No specialist knowledge is required to
answer these questions, only an
understanding of the principles.

Mechanical
Reasoning
 – These tests present you with number
of tables of information which must be
checked against each other. 
– This type of test is used to measure
how quickly and accurately errors can
be detected in data.

Data Checking
 – Is the statistical technique for
determining the proportion of time
spent by workers in various defined
categories of activity.
– It permits quick analysis, recognition,
and enhancement of job
responsibilities, tasks, performance
competencies, and organizational work
flows.

Work Sampling
– Offer efficient, objective comparisons
• The main reason companies use aptitude testing: improve the quality of hiring and
promoting. 
– Reputable tests are standardized 
– They help you 'screen in' aptitudes for key competency areas 
• For example, in a retail setting, customer service aptitude is crucial. Some numerical
ability is also good if you want your salespeople to run the cash register. 
– They're easy and cost-effective to deliver 

Strengths
– They may have a cultural bias
– Previous experience impacts performance on any given task 
• For example, if you helped your mother sew when you were younger, you might
show more aptitude for handling small objects than someone who lacks that
experience. 
– There's not a perfect connection between aptitude and performance

Potential Problems of
Aptitude Testing 
 – Watson Glaser 
• Measure an individual's critical or logical thinking
skills and abilities in drawing inferences,
recognizing assumptions, argument evaluation,
Other deductive reasoning, & logical interpretation.
• Application: Law firms

Aptitude – Thomas International General Assessment

Tests Test
• Measures  indications of the candidates in
likelihood in responding to training. It  consist of
a series of tests including reasoning, perceptual
speed, number speed, accuracy, spatial
visualization and
word meaning. 
 – Rust Alpha 
• Assesses an individual's capacity for deduction,
interpretation and evaluation. It’s not a
computational Math test, but an assessment of
mathematical knowledge and real-life problem

Other solving ability.

• Application: assess the higher level numerical

Aptitude
skills required of managers

Tests – Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)

• Assesses how well the test takers analyze
and solve problems—skills they learned in
school that they will need in college.
• Application: Tests the readiness of a
student for college
 – Inventory of Work-Relevant Abilities
(IWRA)
• A self-assessment test focusing on common
workplace skills such as sales,
leadership/management skills, organizational skills,
clerical skills, numerical/mathematical skills, etc. 

Other
Aptitude – OASIS-3 Aptitude Survey
• This measures broad aptitude factors.

Tests – Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test

• This measures three primary aspects of mechanics:
Mechanical information, Spatial visualization,
Mechanical reasoning and understanding.
 Differential Aptitude
Test (DAT)

INTRODUCTION
– Examination that attempts to determine and measure a person’s ability to
acquire, through future training, some specific set of skills
– Assumes that people differ in their special abilities and that these
differences can be useful in predicting future achievements
– Measures individual's capacity to succeed in a variety of careers
– Developed in the US but have been standardized for use in Irish schools.
 Differential Aptitude
Test (DAT)
– Designed for use in educational and vocational guidance
– Used by school counsellors, personnel officers, psychologists and all persons
concerned with assessing the intellectual characteristics and educational or
vocational aptitudes of adolescents.
– Suitable for grades 7-12 and adult learners multiple subsets
– Administered through individual or group testing
– Teachers can choose to administer the test using hand-scorable answer sheets or
machine-scorable answer sheets
– Restricted to qualified persons with training in the administration and
interpretation of psychological tests
DAT for Selection - General Abilities Battery combines
the following tests together:

Verbal Reasoning Numerical Reasoning Abstract Reasoning

– How well can you understand – How well can you understand – How well can you understand
ideas expressed in words? ideas expressed in numbers? ideas that are not expressed in
– How clearly can you think – How clearly can you think words or numbers?
and reason with words? and reason with numbers? – How well do you think out
problems even when there are
no words to guide you?
 – Verbal Reasoning
• How well can you understand ideas expressed in words?
The eight • How clearly can you think and reason with words?
– Numerical Reasoning
abilities • How well can you understand ideas expressed in numbers?

are: • How clearly can you think and reason with numbers?
– Abstract Reasoning
• How well can you understand ideas that are not expressed in
words or numbers?
• How well do you think out problems even when there are no
words to guide you?
– Perceptual Speed and Accuracy
• How fast and how well can you do the paperwork that is so
important in all offices, scientific laboratories, stores,
warehouses and wherever records are made, filed or checked?
 – Mechanical Reasoning
• How easily do you grasp the common principles of physics as

The eight you see them in everyday life?

• How well do you understand the laws governing simple

abilities machinery, tools and bodies in motion?

– Space Relations
are: • How well can you visualize, or form mental pictures of, solid
objects from looking at flat paper plans?
• How well can you think in three dimensions?
– Spelling
• How well can you recognize correct and incorrect spellings of
common English words?
– Language Usage
• How well can you use the English language?
• How well do you handle punctuation, capitalization, and
choice of words?