Industry leading aptitude practice tests, games, video interviews for candidates
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GF tests significantly help candidates increase their chances of passing job assessments. I highly recommend GF to all those applying for graduate, managerial or professional roles.
Edson Hato
Senior Vice President Human Resources (previous HR Executive at ABN AMRO, Astra Zeneca, UBS, Philip Morris International, ING Group)
GF provided lots of practise with hundreds of questions, although I didn’t manage to get through all of them. The aptitude tests mirrored what I faced in the real job and helped me score my job at HSBC.
Abdul Iqbal
HSBC Commercial Manager
An aptitude, or psychometric test is a test that measures ability, preference or behavioural competence.
Ability tests have right and wrong answers, such as a numerical reasoning test.
Preference is measured using personality, whilst behavioural competence can be measured using situational judgement tests.
Sometimes ability and preference tests are grouped as cognitive assessments or IQ tests.
This is because they ultimately test one’s cognitive intelligence.
The most common aptitude tests are numerical reasoning tests, verbal reasoning tests, situational judgement tests, logical reasoning tests, and personality questionnaires.
Aptitude assessments (especially online aptitude tests) allow employers to quickly measure the IQ and skills of large quantities of candidates.
Aptitude tests are a quick and proven method to select top talent at a low cost.
Most of the large global employers use aptitude tests in their recruitment process.
Top employers compare aptitude test results of candidates against the job profile and select the talent with the best “fit”.
Companies often use a combination of aptitude test results to select, e.g. numerical, verbal, personality, situational to have a more rounded picture of a candidate’s skills.
Practicing aptitude tests is the only scientifically proven way to get better results in recruitment processes (Bradley et al., 2019).
To pass aptitude tests you need to practise.
This helps you get familiar with how questions are asked, and better at working under time pressure.
Select practice sites that offer not only questions in a pdf format but the entire test experience. Details matter when you answer questions under stress.
SHL assessment tests are some of the most commonly used aptitude tests in the world.
They are designed by a company called SHL and based on decades of research and training.
These tests are renowned for helping organisations select the best job candidates.
There are ability and personality SHL tests and these are typically taken online.
Aptitude tests ultimately measure one’s cognitive intelligence.
This ability test looks at how well you reason with numerical information.
Preference is measured using personality and situational judgement tests. These look at how you would respond at work.
Aptitude tests are used where the cognitive intelligence needs to be measured. In particular in the job application process, development, internal selection for career progression, and internal assessment and performance management.
Most industries use aptitude tests in their recruitment. It is a cost effective and proven method to sift through candidates quickly. Key industries using aptitude tests include: Consulting, Banking, Finance, FMCG, Tech, Engineering, and so many more. All major multinationals such as Big 4 (e.g. PwC, KPMG), P&G, Goldman Sachs, IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, Amazon, Apple, etc. use psychometric tests for selection.
To prepare for numerical reasoning tests, you need knowledge of basic maths and its practical use. Refresh your high school maths: ratios, percentages, reading and interpreting charts.
For verbal reasoning tests, you need a good understanding of written texts and be able to spot cause-effect relationships. Reading helps but you can also seek and analyse text where the writer is looking for causation or patterns.
Preparation for logical reasoning tests is different because it requires the ability to find patterns quickly to pass. Sudoku, simple math games, and puzzle books can help with preparation.
SHL is one of the oldest and most respected assessment test providers globally.
All SHL aptitude tests go through a rigorous scientific validation process.
These tests are built on decades of experience and have been used for a long time.
They are proven to select the best job candidates by the largest organisations globally.
SHL tests allow employers to quickly and accurately sift candidates to hire people with the best possible job capabilities.
SHL provides both the tests and required consultancy and training for HR departments using their assessment tests.
There are several providers of tests similar to SHL assessments.
We (GF) are one of them.
GF is trusted by over 100 universities and business schools worldwide, and helps hundreds of thousands of students and graduates pass their SHL candidate assessment tests the first time.
Our online test platform provides a range of SHL online practice tests with free questions and answers.
We also provide SHL practice test packages through a one-time purchase.
All GF’s SHL tests come with worked solutions and explanations to help you prepare and succeed.
Our team of organisational psychologists have developed the most popular online aptitude tests for SHL.
Try our free SHL practice tests to learn more.
SHL tests measure ability and preference.
Ability tests require right answers.
One of SHL’s most popular ability tests is the numerical reasoning test.
This looks at how well you can interpret numerical information to answer questions.
Preference, on the other hand, is measured using SHL’s personality and situational tests.
These include the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (or OPQ).
The SHL OPQ test asks you to rate statements based on your preferences at work.
SHL tests score you using percentiles.
Percentiles tell you how well you’ve done in comparison to others, or a norm group.
For example, scoring at the 20th percentile means you did better than 20% of the people you were compared with.
Employers usually select candidates scoring at the 30th percentile and higher in their aptitude tests.
For your SHL test practice, do not select provider(s) that only provide worked solutions – select those that also share the percentile at which you scored.
Practice tests from these providers are ideal as, like employers, they compare you to similar test takers and tell you how you rank in comparison.
Graduates First work with 100+ universities and business schools and score you using percentiles, so you can compare your results vs. other students and candidates.
Psychometric practice tests are widely available online.
Always check for quality before you buy.
Reading provider reviews on trusted sites like Trustpilot can help.
We provide SHL certified psychometric tests to over 100 universities and business schools worldwide.
Examples of practice psychometric tests offered by providers include Numerical Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning tests.
Check out our free SHL practice tests here.
8 winning steps that help with psychometric tests practice and will drive your success:
Utilising the tips provided will maximise performance and greatly increase your chances of success in psychometric tests.
Game assessments do not have a simple trick or solution that you can utilise, however you can prepare by focusing on these key factors:
By understanding and utilising these key tips you can ensure you are fully prepared for any game assessments you may face in future applications.
Best psychometric practice tests should:
We at GF offer leading psychometric practice tests used by over 100 universities and MBA schools in the UK, US, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and many more countries. Check our free psychometric practice tests.