Aptitude tests are often used to assess academic potential or career suitability and may be used to assess either mental or physical talent in a variety of domains.
An aptitude test is designed to assess what a person is capable of doing or to predict what a person is able to learn or do given the right education and instruction.
It represents a person’s level of competency to perform a certain type of task.
What are aptitude tests?
People encounter a variety of aptitude tests throughout their personal and professional lives, often starting while they are children going to school.
Here are a few examples of common aptitude tests:
- An aptitude test is given to high school students to determine which type of careers they might be good at
- An aptitude test given to people applying for a job to determine if they are suitable candidates for the job
- A test that measures a person’s potential for success in a particular profession such as a doctor, lawyer or air traffic controller
- A computer programming test to determine how a job candidate might solve different hypothetical problems
- A test designed to test a person’s physical abilities needed for a particular job such as a police officer or firefighter
Benefits of aptitude testing
- Aptitude testing can help identify an individual’s vocational strengths and weaknesses in specific areas, which can help them succeed in a particular job or career.
- Testing can also help identify an individual’s level of intelligence, which can help them learn more effectively and achieve their goals.
- Testing can also help employers by identifying the best candidates for positions, allowing them to make better hiring decisions.
- The tests can also help employers by giving them a good idea of how much training or retraining is needed for a particular job, so they can determine if the employee has the necessary skills for the position.
- They can also help students by allowing them to focus their studies on the areas in which they excel.
- They can also be used in conjunction with other tests, such as a verbal test, to help identify strengths and weaknesses.
- An aptitude test can also be used to find the best candidates for training programs or internships, which can be an effective way to increase the number of qualified applicants.
Which aptitude tests do you provide?
Following is an outline of validated aptitude tests provided by Life Psychologists:
The WIAT-III is a comprehensive, individually administered test for assessing the achievement of children, adolescents, tertiary students and young adults who are aged 4 year through to 19 years, 11 months or in preschool through to Year 12.
The WIAT-III is often requested by parents and school counsellors as the detailed results are invaluable for teachers developing Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) for the school setting.
It is usually conducted in conjunction with the WISC-V (IQ Test) for a comprehensive academic and cognitive assessment.
Test age range: 4 to 50 years
Structure:
- Intake Interview: 30mins – 1 hour
- Assessment: 60-90 mins
- Report & Feedback
The MAB-II assesses 10 distinct domains of human intellectual functioning grouped into two broader categories of scores – verbal and performance. The MAB-II can add an objective measure of ability to any selection battery and has been used successfully in military, government, and law enforcement settings.
Test age range: 16+ years
Structure:
- Intake Interview: 30mins – 1 hour
- Assessment: 1.5-2 hours
- Report & Feedback
The PAF is a convenient, objective measure of general mental ability and intelligence. The PAF measures cognitive ability designed to identify candidates who will learn quickly, make sound decisions, communicate effectively, and “think on their feet.”
Test age range: 16+ years
Structure: 1-2 sessions
Test Duration – 15-20 mins
Report & Feedback – 1 hour