Selection tests

Selection Tests

Catherine Reynolds

Careers and Employability Adviser

Careers and Employability Centre

Selection Tests

Types of tests

Employers’ views

Preparing to take selection tests

During the tests

Resources to help you

Types of test

Ability Tests

• taken under standardized conditions and with strict time limits

• paper and pencil or online, multiple choice questions

• marked by trained person or machine, scored against norms

Personality Questionnaires

• provide information on a person’s

preferences and personal style

• not timed, no right or wrong

• answer, usually get feedback

Ability Tests

Used as a predictor of future performance in a jobAim to measure intellectual capabilities

Types include• Numerical reasoning tests – assess accuracy and problem solving • Verbal reasoning tests – assess accuracy and comprehension• Diagrammatic reasoning

Before an Ability Test

Brush up your maths – times tables, percentages, long multiplication!

Practise as much as you can under timed conditions to simulate the real thing – there are lots of examples online or in books

Read instructions carefully and check with the test organiser or administrator if you need to clarify anything

Contact the employer beforehand if you require special provisions or adjustments

Answering the Questionsin Ability Tests

• Work accurately and fast and be positive

• Avoid spending too long on questions you find difficult

• If you are uncertain about an answer, enter your best choice

• Keep working hard throughout the test

• If you have any time at the end go back to any blank answers

• Don’t worry if you don’t complete them all – you won’t

Personality Questionnaires

Used as an assessment for a particular type of job or sometimes further training or course and focuses on individual differences

Aim to measure typical performance –no right or wrong answers

Psychological assessment of personality based on 5 global factors:Extraversion; anxiety; tough mindedness; independence; self control

Before a Personality Questionnaire

Build in preparation time to focus on yourself and the job you are

applying for

Questions often focus on how you work with others – in a team,

under pressure…

Try out some online personality tests

Be yourself - no right or wrong answers

Answering the Questions in Personality Questionnaires

Be yourself - no right or wrong answers

Although it is un-timed, don’t take too long on each question

– go with your first reaction

Reference books

Careers and Employability Centre

Web resources

www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/applyingforjobs/selectiontests

Events

Bloomberg 12 December 2012

www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/newsandevents/events