APTITUDE TEST

INTRODUCTION
A test or examination is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill,
aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs). A test may be
administered orally, on paper, on a computer, or in a confined area that requires a test taker to
physically perform a set of skills. Tests vary in style, rigor and requirements. For example, in a
closed book test, a test taker is often required to rely upon memory to respond to specific items
whereas in an open book test, a test taker may use one or more supplementary tools such as a
reference book or calculator when responding to an item. A test may be administered formally or
informal.
DEFINITION
A standardized test is any test that is administered and scored in a consistent manner to ensure
legal defensibility. Standardized tests are often used in education, professional certification,
psychology (e.g., MMPI), the military, and many other fields.
A non-standardized test is usually flexible in scope and format, variable in difficulty and
significance. Since these tests are usually developed by individual instructors, the format and
difficulty of these tests may not be widely adopted or used by other instructors or institutions. A
non-standardized test may be used to determine the proficiency level of students, to motivate
students to study, and to provide feedback to students. In some instances, a teacher may develop
non-standardized tests that resemble standardized tests in scope, format, and difficulty for the
purpose of preparing their students for an upcoming standardized test.Finally, the frequency and
setting by which a non-standardized tests are administered are highly variable and are usually
constrained by the duration of the class period.
Modern Day Use Of Test

Education
Some countries such as the United Kingdom and France require all their secondary school
students to take a standardized test on individual subjects such as the General Certificate of
Secondary Education (GCSE) (in England) and Baccalaurat respectively as a requirement for
graduation. These tests are used primarily to assess a student's proficiency in specific subjects
such as mathematics, science, or literature
Finally, standardized tests are sometimes used to compare proficiencies of students from
different institutions or countries. For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) uses Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to evaluate
certain skills and knowledge of students from different participating countries.

Licensing and certification

Standardized tests are sometimes used by certain governing bodies to determine if a test taker is
allowed to practice a profession, to use a specific job title, or to claim competency in a specific
set of skills. For example, a test taker who intends to become a lawyer is usually required by a
governing body such a governmental bar licensing agency to pass a bar exam.

Immigration and naturalization

Standardized tests are also used in certain countries to regulate immigration. For example,
intended immigrants to Australia are legally required to pass a citizenship test as part of that
country's naturalization process.

Intelligence quotient
Competitions
Tests are sometimes used as a tool to select for participants that have potential to succeed in a
competition such as a sporting event. For example, serious skaters who wish to participate in
figure skating competitions in the United States must pass official U.S. Figure Skating tests just
to qualify.

Group memberships
Tests are sometimes used by a group to select for certain types of individuals to join the group.
For example, Mensa International is a high I.Q. society that requires individuals to score at the
98th percentile or higher on a standardized, supervised IQ test.
CONDUCTION TEST

TYPES OF APTITUDE TEST

1. VERBAL ABILITY TEST(Verbal Reasoning)

Verbal test usually involve grammer analogie and following detailed instructios they can
also include spelling sentence completion and comprehension.

TOOL

1.

Most illnesses in developing countries are caused by vitamin and mineral

deficiencies.

2.

Micronutrients provide inadequate nourishment to maintain a healthy life.

3.

Vitamin A, iodine and iron are the only micronutrients that people need in their
diet.

4.

Correcting micronutrient deficiencies would cost about $2 per person per year.

5.

Only mild cases of asthma can be helped by anti-inflammatory therapy.

6.

Use of bronchiodilators has been increasing since 1991.

7.

Doctors are reluctant to treat asthma with inhaled steroids for fear of potential sideeffects.

8.

Bronchiodilators are the single most prescribed treatment for asthma.

ANSWER KEY
1. Cant say
2. False
3. Cant say
4. False
5. False
6. False
7. Cant say
8. True

2. NUMERICAL ABILITY TEST(Numeric Reasoning)

The first type of numerical ability test covers basic airthmatic (addition, substraction,
multiplication and division ) number sequence and simple mathematics (percentage,
powers, fractions etc.). This type of test can be categorized as a speed test and used to
determine the basic numeracy. Calculator will not be allowed to use.

TOOL
1. 139+235=
A.) 372
B.) 374
C.) 376
D.) . 437
2. 139-235=
A.) -69
B.) 96
C.) 98
D.) -96
3. 5X16=
A.) 80
B.) 86
C.) 88
D.) 78
4. 45/9=
A.) 4.5
B.) 4
C.) 5
D.) 6
5. 15% of 300
A.) 20
B.) 45
C.) 40
D.) 35
6. +1/4X3/4=
A.) 3/8
B.) 13/8
C.) 9/16
D.) 3/4

ANSWER KEY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

B
D
A
C
B
C

3. ABSTRACT REASONING TESTS

Abstract reasoning tests on the other hand , seem to consist of questions which have little or no
application in the real world. Yet these types of question appear in most graduate and
management aptitude test.
Abstract reasoning tests date back to the research done by the psychologist Charles Spearman in
the 1920s. Spearman used a statistical technique called factors analysis to examine relationship
between peoples scores on different test or sub test of intelligence.
TOOL
1. Which symbol in the answer figure completes the sequence in the problem figure ?

2. Which of the answer figures fits the missing space in the question figures?

3. Which of the answer figures belongs in neither group?

ANSWER KEY
1. C- the question figures is rotated clockwise through 90 degrees each time.
2. D each row and column contains one line of each type.
3. A,B,&Dsame
color
shapes
are
diagonally
opposite(Group1)
above/below(Group2)

or

4. SPATIAL ABILITY TEST

Spatial Ability can be defined as The ability to interpret and make drawings, form mental
images, and visualize movement or change in those images. Spatial ability tests measure your
ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to visualize three-dimensional objects
presented as two-dimensional pictures. These tests are usually of 20-40 minutes duration and
contain 20-30 questions.

Spatial ability test soften involve the visual diseasembly of the objects that been rotated of
which are viwed from different angles or objects that have different markoing on their surfaces.

Shape Matching
In this type of question will be presented with a number oif objectsonly two of which are
identical. These are speed question and will need to work quickly and to attempt to answer as
many as possible in the given time. Generally speaking if the questions involve the manipulation
of 2 dimensional objects then they are probably fairly straight forward but it will be chalanged to
answer them all in the given time.
Group Rotation
This is slightly more complex than the rotation in the two dimensional shape matching question.
Combining Shape
These question show a series of 2-dimensional shapes. One of the shapes has been cut up in to
pieces. The question presented with in pieces and asked to work out which of the shape has
been cut up.
Cube Views in 3-Dimensions
These question sjhows the several usually three view of of 3-dimensiojal cube with unique
symbols or making on each face and then ask question about it. E.g. which symbol is on rhe
opposite face?
Other solids in 2 and 3-Dimension
These question are similar to the cube question above but rather than cubes they use other solids
shapes which may be irregular. In some respects, these questions as there are more relationship
to work with. Each face of solid shape of its own rather than just being square.
Maps and Plans
These questions often appear in test for emergency services, military and law enforcement jobs
where the ability to give or follow directions based on map or street plan is essential.

5. MECHANICAL REASONING TESTS

Mechanical reasoning tests measure your knowledge of straightforward mechanical and physical
concepts. They do not measure your underlying mechanical aptitude in the same way that
abstract reasoning questions measure your underlying intellectual ability.

For example, you could sit an abstract reasoning test without having seen one before and still get
a reasonable score. the same is not usually true of mechanical reasoning where the score will
depend significantly on the learner knowledge of :

Levers

Pulleys

Gears

Springs

Simple Electrical Circuits

Tools

Shop Arithmetic

6. DATA CHECKING TESTS

Data Checking 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. It is used to select candidates for clerical and data input jobs, particularly where
accuracy is important, for example, accounting and banking. In these tests you will usually be
given two columns of data to check for consistency and you will be asked to mark up any
differences.

Example Question
Check the right hand column of data against the one on the left and mark any differences with
the red marker provide.

ANSWER

7. WORK SAMPLE TESTS

Work sample tests involve a sample of the work that you will be expected to do. This may be
mechanical, for example, repairing a piece of equipment. It may involve a specific skill, for example,
a typing exercise where you need to demonstrate your ability to type at or above a set speed whilst
making less than a given percentage of errors. At the graduate or management level, work sample
tests often involve one or more of the following:

In Tray Exercises
If you are asked to do an in-tray exercise, you may be asked to assume a particular role as an
employee of a fictitious company and work through a pile of correspondence in your in-tray. These
tests commonly measure job skills such as: ability to organize and prioritize work; analytical skills;
communication with team members and customers; written communication skills; and delegation.
Group Exercises
Group exercises involve candidates working together as a team, to resolve a presented issue. These
exercises commonly measure interpersonal skills such as group leadership, teamwork, negotiation,
and group problem solving skills. Group exercises may range from 'leaderless group discussion'
formats to problem solving scenarios.
CaseStudies
Project Managers may be asked to plan for the release of a new product. This usually includes:
devising a schedule, setting a budget and allocating resources. This type of exercise measures your
ability to: analyze data, consider a mixture of issues, offer multiple solutions, plan the project, and
finally to present your findings using your presentation skills.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Thissen, D., & Wainer, H. (2001). Test Scoring. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. Page 1, sentence 1.
2.

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, NCREL.org

3.

Goswami U (1991) Put to the Test: The Effects of External Testing on Teachers. Educational
Researcher 20: 8-11".

4.

Advanced Level Examination, Chinese Language and Culture, Paper 1A

5.

Kaplan, R.M., & Saccuzzo, D.P. (2009) Psychological Testing. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth

6.

http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/ap/ap_history_english.pdf

7. "GCSEs: The official guide to the system"

8. Airasian, P. (1994) "Classroom Assessment," Second Edition, NY" McGraw-Hill.

9. Cangelosi, J. (1990)
NY: Addison-Wesley.

"Designing

Tests

for

Evaluating

Student Achievement."

10. Gronlund, N. (1993) "How to make achievement tests and assessments," 5th edition,
NY: Allyn and Bacon.
11. Haladyna, T.M. & Downing, S.M. (1989) Validity of a Taxonomy of Multiple-Choice ItemWriting Rules. "Applied Measurement in Education," 2(1), 51-78.
12. Monahan, T. (1998) The Rise of Standardized Educational Testing in the U.S. A
Bibliographic Overview.
13. Ravitch, Diane, The Uses and Misuses of Tests, in The Schools We Deserve (New
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