What is an Aptitude Test?

An aptitude test measures your ability to reason and learn new skills. Aptitude tests are used throughout the world to screen applicants for jobs or educational programs.

Depending on your industry and role, you may have to take one or more of the following kinds of test, each focused on specific skills:

Numerical Reasoning Test
Verbal Reasoning Test
Abstract Reasoning Test
Mechanical Aptitude Test
Inductive Reasoning Test


Why is it Crucial to Score Well?

Most of the world's companies recruit online and are overwhelmed with applicants. Aptitude tests are used as an initial screening tool to identify highly qualified candidates with exceptional abilities. Candidates who score well on aptitude tests then have their resumes reviewed by staff, are often invited to take a personality test and are potentially scheduled for a job interview.

A high aptitude test score can open the door to getting a job offer, negotiating a higher salary and starting on the fast track to promotion.

It is essential to score in the top 20% of applicants in order to be invited for an interview. Furthermore, candidates scoring in the top 5% are most likely to receive job offers and generous salaries. 


How Can I Prepare for my Aptitude Test?

Each of JobTestPrep's PrepPacks™ is designed to simulate a specific pre-employment aptitude test as realistically as possible. You will be prepared not just for the content of the real test, but also for its look, feel and timing. Study guides, drills and expert tips are also included. Every practice question is a learning experience—we explain the reasoning behind both the correct answer option and the incorrect ones. We constantly update our PrepPacks™ based on thousands of customers' feedback.

Our PrepPacks™ are tailored for specific employers, test providers and skill sets. Just fill out this form to find the right PrepPack™ for your needs. 

Our Customer Success staff will be happy to answer any questions and further assist you in finding a suitable PrepPack™.

Using our PrepPacks™ improves your score because they are tailored to the specific test you'll be taking, are constantly updated and focus both on building skills and developing test-taking strategy.


If the Test is in Just 1-2 Days, is It Still Possible to Prepare?

It is ideal to start preparing for a test as long in advance as possible. However, job applicants are often given little advance notice before aptitude tests. In just one day of intensive preparation, you can significantly improve your aptitude test scores and your likelihood of getting invited for a job interview. Spreading your practice out over two or more days is even better.

  • In just two or three hours of practice you can significantly improve your score on a numerical reasoning test.
  • In an additional two hours of practice you can learn how to score high on a verbal reasoning test.
  • Invest another two or three hours and you'll be on your way to an excellent logical reasoning test (abstract, inductive and deductive reasoning) score as well.

What if I Fail the Test?

Companies save job applicants' test results. If you apply to a company and do not pass the test, the company will still consider your poor test result if you later apply for a different position. Even if you are hired, your test results still may be taken into consideration when you are up for a promotion.

 

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How are Aptitude Tests Integrated with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

The world's largest companies use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to select the best from thousands or even millions of job applicants. ATS software is usually managed by third party contractors (i.e. SHL,  Saas, Greenhouse), and commonly includes aptitude tests embedded in the platform.

As soon as you click on a link that says "apply now" you will be re-directed to the ATS company's website, and the selection process will begin.

The selection process commonly includes: providing basic information, uploading your resume, writing short responses to questions, an aptitude test, a personality test and an online interview.

The ATS system ranks applicants based on resume, responses to written and online interview questions, aptitude test results and personality test results. Your goal is to be part of the 20% of applicants who get past the ATS and have their resumes forwarded to a hiring manager.


How Long Does the Test Take?

Online job applicant screening tests are often short, between 10-20 minutes. Companies use short tests in order to improve the likelihood that candidates will complete them. The test may begin with one short section (i.e. a 12 minute numerical reasoning test) and only invite applicants who score high on this first section to continue taking the test.

Applicants who are invited to take tests at an assessment centre or interview at the company's offices may take a variety of additional tests, usually lasting between one and four hours in total. Several kinds of test may be encountered, including aptitude tests, personality tests, situational judgement tests, in-tray exercises, and test questions asked during an interview.


Free Aptitude Test Practice

The following section gives an overview of each of the main kinds of aptitude test, including sample questions from JobTestPrep's library of thousands of questions and links to more free practice.

 

Numerical Reasoning Test

If you are applying for a position in management or finance, you will take a high-level numerical reasoning test designed to identify the most highly qualified applicants. A high score will help ensure that you are invited to continue the application process.

If you are applying for a position in customer service, clerical work or work with the public, you will take a more straightforward numerical reasoning test designed as a test of basic skills.

Numerical reasoning tests may cover a variety of skills, including financial analysis and data interpretation, currency conversion, percentages, ratios, number sequences and more.

 


Sample Question


Read the graph. Then answer the question:

numerical reasoning Sample Question

Between which two months was there the smallest proportional increase or decrease in the mileage of Surveyor 1 in comparison to the previous month?
A) Months 1 and 2
B) Months 2 and 3
C) Months 3 and 4
D) Months 4 and 5
E) Cannot say

Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is (D).

In order to determine the rate of increase or decrease between two months, use this formula:
|Mileage in current month – Mileage in previous month| / Mileage in previous month


Between months 1 and 2: |3,256 ― 2,675| / 2,675 = 0.217 = 21.7%


Between months 2 and 3: |1,890 ― 3,256| / 3,256 = 0.419 = 41.9%


Between months 3 and 4: |3,892 ― 1,890| / 1,890 = 1.059 = 105.9%


Between months 4 and 5: |3,401 ― 3,892| / 3,892 = 0.126 = 12.6%

The answer is Months 4 and 5.

More Free Numerical Reasoning Practice

 

Verbal Reasoning Test

Verbal skills are crucial for positions in management, law, economics, and other fields that require nuanced reading, writing and analysis of texts. Verbal reasoning tests focus on reading comprehension, with subject matter varying by sector, position and job level.

 

Sample Question

If the first two statements are true, is the third statement true?

Mr. Brown's rabbits are grey.
All grey creatures are kind.


Mr. Brown's rabbits are unkind.                                                           

Answer & Explanation

The final statement is not true.

Because Mr. Brown's rabbits are grey and all grey creatures are kind, we can deduce that Mr. Brown's rabbits are definitely kind.

Therefore, the final statement is not true.

More Free Verbal Reasoning Practice

 

Abstract Reasoning Test

Abstract reasoning is the ability to recognise patterns in shapes and images. Abstract reasoning skills are required in a variety of fields and positions. An abstract reasoning test will ask you to recognise patterns in a series of diagrams within a time limit.

 

Sample Question

 

Look at the two sets of shapes. Then determine whether a test shape belongs in Set A, Set B or neither.

Abstract reasoning test

The following test shape belongs to:

Abstract Reasoning Sample Question

A) Set A

B) Set B

C) Neither

Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is (A).

Set A: If the arrow points upwards, it crosses only the square. If it points to any other direction it crosses both the square and the triangle.

Set B: One type of shape (triangle, arrow, etc.) appears 3 times.

The test shape belongs to set A, since the arrow points upwards and crosses the square.

More Free Abstract Reasoning Practice

 

Mechanical Aptitude Test

Mechanical aptitude tests measure your ability to apply mechanical concepts to solve problems. Candidates for engineering positions take complex mechanical aptitude tests, while candidates for positions as craftsmen or labourers take simpler mechanical aptitude tests. Regardless of job level, it is often difficult for test-takers to complete mechanical aptitude tests within the time allotted.

 

Sample Question

Which fisherman has to pull his fishing rod harder in order to lift the caught fish?

mechanical-aptitude-test

A) 1
B)
C) Both have to apply equal force
D) There is not sufficient data

 

Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is (A).

A lever is a long, rigid beam or bar used to lift heavy weights, allowing to apply less force for a longer distance in order to move a weight around a fixed pivot. A lever consists of three parts:

Fulcrum - the fixed point at which the lever pivots (usually marked as a triangle)
Load - load is the weight or resistance that is moved by the lever.


Effort arm - the amount of force required to the work, i.e., the force used to push down or pull up the lever to move the load.


There are 3 types of levers, classified according to the placement of the fulcrum, load and effort.

Class 1 - the fulcrum is located between the applied force and the load, e.g. a crowbar or a pair of scissors.
Class 2 - the load is situated between the fulcrum and the force, e.g. a nutcracker.
Class 3 - the force is applied between the fulcrum and the load, e.g. tweezers.

In this question the fisherman rod is a class 3 lever in which the effort is between the fulcrum and the load. The fulcrum is the end of the fishing rod (the end without the fishing line), the load is the fish and the effort is the force applied by the fisherman. It is the position of the effort required to lift the fish that changes between the two figures.

Since the work (or more precisely torque) is constant, the longer the distance between the effort and the fulcrum, the easier it is to lift the load because the force required to do work is distributed over a longer distance.

Therefore, (A) is the correct answer, since in this figure the fisherman applies his effort at a shorter distance from the fulcrum and hence has to pull his fishing rod harder.

More Free Mechanical Reasoning Practice

 

Inductive Reasoning Test

Inductive reasoning tests are used to assess your general intelligence, creativity, and capacity to learn and apply new information. You'll be presented with diagrams and asked to spot the logical pattern, possibly using verbal, abstract, and/or mechanical reasoning. Inductive reasoning tests are taken by job-seekers in all fields and at all levels.

 


Sample Question

Look at the sequence of images. Then pick the image that goes with Z the same way that Y goes with X.

inductive reasoning sample question
Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is 3.

The relationship between figure X and figure Y is as follows:
1) The outer shape of figure Y is the same as the inner shape of figure X.
2) The format of the outer shape of figure Y (dotted line) has the same format as the outer shape of figure X.
3) The inner shape does not change.

The correct answer must have the same relationship with figure Z.

Answers 1, 4 and 5 can be eliminated as they show a change to the inner shape.
Answer 2 can be eliminated as the outer shape is in a different format than that of the outer shape in figure Z. In other words, the outer shape in figure Z has a solid line, so the outer shape of the correct answer must also have a solid line.

We are left with answer 3, which is the correct answer, as the outer shape takes on the form of the inner shape in figure Z, i.e. it becomes a circle, the format of the outer shape is the same format as that of figure Z (solid line), and the inner shape does not change.

More Free Inductive Reasoning Practice


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