Psychometric
Tests
Paul Gratrick, Careers Manager
• What are they?
• Who uses them?
• Some specimen questions
• Does practising help?
• Your questions
Dictionary:
Psychometrics (n)
‘The branch of psychology that deals
with the design, administration, and
interpretation of quantitative tests for the
measurement of psychological variables
such as intelligence, aptitude, and
personality traits.’
AGR Survey
92% of employers considered psychometric
testing to be a useful or very useful aid to
the recruitment process.
(Association of Graduate Recruiters survey)
Types of tests used in Recruitment
1. Ability or Aptitude Tests
• Verbal
• Numerical
• Logical
2. Personality or Interest Inventories
Why do employers use tests?
• To identify key abilities or personalities
• To support other selection tools
Selection Tools
Tests are usually part of the selection process
together with:
• application forms and CVs
• interviews
• group exercises
• presentations
Selection Methods - Advantages
• Application Forms
Good for checking facts, demonstrating written
communication skills
• Interviews
Good for oral communication skills, quickness of
thought, personality
• Psychometric Tests
Good for measuring candidates’ abilities/personality
against objective criteria (and other candidates)
Selection Methods - Disadvantages
• Application Forms
Measures ability to fill in form - not to do the job
• Interviews
Intensely subjective, they might not like the look
of you
• Psychometric Tests
Not good for seeing how an individual works with
others
Characteristics of Tests
Ability or Aptitude Tests
• Under exam conditions
• Usually timed
• Right and wrong answers

• Unusual to finish all questions

• Results compared with norm group
Specimen questions
(Time allowed 2 minutes)
Read the paragraph below and then say whether the numbered statements are true or
false, given the information contained in the passage or whether you cannot say they
are true or false without further information –
There have been marked changes in the age-structure of the
population during the past few decades. A current trend is
towards starting a family later in life, and towards restricting the
number of children in a family. This has an impact on the
percentage of older people in the population, and on the average
age of the labour force, and subtly alters the political and class
structure of a society
1. Government policies have been an important influence on the birth
rate in recent decades. --True/False/Cannot Say
2. The relative numbers of people in different social classes is
influenced by changes in the size of families. --- True/False/Cannot Say
3. Voting patterns are influenced by changes in class structure. --True/False/Cannot Say
Answers
1. Cannot say true or false without further
information
2. True
3. Cannot say true or false without further
information
Next specimen questions
(Time allowed 40 seconds)
Which number, below, is one quarter of
the distance from 5.1 to 5.3
A
B
C
D
E
5.125
5.15
5.2
5.25
None of the above
Answer - B
Next specimen question
(Time allowed 1 minute 10 seconds)
The driving time for a 100 mile trip from Townsville to
Cityville was two and a half hours.The return trip was made
by the same route but at an average speed that was 50%
faster.
What was the total amount of driving time for the entire
round trip?
A
B
C
D
E
3hrs 45 minutes
4hrs 10 minutes
4hrs 16 minutes
4hrs 45 minutes
6hrs 15 minutes
Answer B
• 1st trip 100 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes = 40mph
• 2nd trip 50% faster = 60mph
• 100 miles at 60 mph = 1⅔ hours = 1 hour 40 minutes
• 2 hours 30 minutes + 1 hour 40 minutes = 4hours 10 minutes
Next specimen question
(Time allowed 1 minute)
Answer A, B, C, D or E
• A normal visit to a specialist physician costs £68.
Private health insurance that covers specialist treatment
costs £350 per annum. How many visits to a specialist
physician will justify buying private health insurance?
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
E. 9
Answer - B
Next specimen question
(Time allowed 1 minute)
Answer A, B, C, D, E or F
• It takes 8000 medium sized oranges to make
500 litres of orange juice. How many oranges
does it take to make 1,279 litres of orange juice?
A. 79.9
B. 3,127.4
C. 6,254.8
D. 12,509.6
E. 18.947
F. 20,464
Answer - F
Next specimen question
(Time allowed 45 seconds)
Answer A, B, C, D or E
• A high quality 100ml perfume is made of a
mixture of 12ml perfume essence and 88ml
water. What is the ratio of perfume essence to
water?
A.1:7
B.3:22
C.1:8
D.3:12
E.1:9
Answer - B
Next specimen question
(Time allowed 30 seconds)
In the example given below, you will find a logical sequence of five boxes.
Your task is to decide which of the boxes in the bottom row completes this
sequence. To give your answer, select one of the boxes marked A to E.
+
)
[+
)
[
+) [
)
[
)
[+
+
A
B
C
D
E
+
)
[+
(
[
+
)
[
)
[
+
+( [
Answer - D
Next specimen question
(Time allowed 30 seconds)
In the example given below, you will find a logical sequence of five boxes.
Your task is to decide which of the boxes completes this sequence. To give
your answer, select one of the boxes marked A to E.
A
B
C
D
E
Answer - B
How did you do?
Characteristics of Tests
Personality or Interest Inventories
• Not usually timed
• No right and wrong answers
• Contain internal checks for inconsistent
answers
• Results in the form of a profile should be
shared with candidate
Types of Personality
Questionnaire
• Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
• 16PF Personality Questionnaire
• Fundamental Interpersonal Relations OrientationBehaviour (Firo-B)
• Occupational Personality Questionnaires (OPQ32)
• California Psychological Inventory (CPI434)
• Strong Interest Inventory Instrument
• Innovation Potential Indicator
• Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)
• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Personality or Interest Inventories
Example question
Mark the statement most (M) like
you and the one least (L) like you
a) I don’t feel that time is wasted on planning
b) I feel uneasy in the company of
unconventional people
c) If I’m annoyed with someone I don’t show it
Personality or Interest Inventories
Example question
Pick the statement that best describes
you from each pair
a) I try very hard
b) I put everything in its place
a) I want to be exciting
b) I want to be successful
a) I like to try new things
b) I’d rather not work on my own
Tips for success in tests
• Arrive in good time, sober and alert
• Listen to instructions and follow them carefully
• Tests always begin with practice - ask if you don’t
understand
• Work quickly, but if you get stuck- move on
• Keep calm!
How to prepare
•
•
•
•
•
Practise as much as possible
Become familiar with test conditions
Brush up basic maths - percentages, ratios, etc
Use reference books in the Careers Service
Use examples and practice tests on SHL &
others’ websites