SUMMARY
CONTENTS
Interested in applying for graduate programs in the engineering industry? Are you exploring professional opportunities in the engineering industry? The guide below is for you.
The text below provides a full engineering assessment process preparation and practice guide for those applying for jobs, internships, and graduate programs in the engineering industry around the world.
Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessment tests, interviews, and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practise and prepare for the engineering recruitment process.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Arup Assessment Guide
Siemens Assessment Guide
Rolls-Royce Assessment Guide
BAE Systems Assessment Guide
Boeing Assessment Guide
Not sure if you should practice to prepare for engineering assessment tests? Research shows 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. Research has shown that practice increases your chances of getting hired.
A study found that candidates who do not practice assessments tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers (Bradley et al., 2019).
Companies in the engineering industry use different assessment tests to measure your cognitive abilities and behaviours during the engineering hiring process. These tests may include the following:
These tests sift out 50-80% of candidates at this stage during the engineering application process. Some engineering companies may send a report on your performance and areas where you need to improve.
Prepare for your engineering interviews by running mock interviews and answering typical company interview questions. For engineering interview practice, use the following:
Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times. Review your responses and enhance your interview skills.
Our video interview practice platform provides interview questions that test your skills and knowledge in specific industries. It is similar to other popular employer interview platforms like HireVue and Pymetrics.
Organisations in the engineering industry typically use an assessment centre to measure your potential and compatibility with the company and the role. These exercises may include:
Continue reading to get answers to these critical engineering questions:
Ensure you practice assessments similar to engineering online tests by clicking on any of the assessments below to stay ahead!
Practice Numerical Reasoning Tests
Practice Logical Reasoning Tests
Practice Situational Judgement Tests
Practice Work Personality Questionnaire
Practice Video Interviews
Prepare for your Assessment Centre
Practice for your upcoming engineering online assessments with all of our above practice tests as part of our Go Premium package.
Before we break down the various engineering job tests, let’s find out more about the engineering industry!
The engineering industry is the sector of the economy involved in the design, development, manufacturing, construction, and maintenance of physical systems, structures, devices, and processes using scientific and mathematical principles.
The engineering industry consists of civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, chemical engineering, automotive engineering, etc.
The engineering industry receives hundreds of thousands of applications yearly to organisations such as:
Good to Know: The companies listed above are just a few of the many organisations operating in the engineering industry. Check out our step-by-step employer guides for 100+ of the world’s largest organisations, including engineering companies.
What skills do these engineering firms look for during the engineering application process? Keep reading to find out below!
The engineering industry looks for different skills and competencies to find the best candidates. Depending on the role, companies within the engineering industry will typically look for some of the following skills:
Technical Skills
Solid knowledge and ability in your discipline. Mathematical proficiency for calculations, modelling, or simulations.
Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
Ability to break down complex problems and find logical, cost-effective solutions.
Communication Skills
Ability to explain technical ideas to non-technical people, write clear reports, and present ideas.
Teamwork & Collaboration
Ability to work in diverse teams, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and contribute effectively in group tasks or project teams.
Time Management & Organisation
Ability to prioritise tasks, manage workload, and deliver quality work under pressure.
Adaptability
Flexibility in working on new problems or in different locations and awareness of emerging trends.
Commercial Awareness
Ability to understand the bigger picture, cost, quality, and safety constraints.
Companies in the engineering industry use assessment tests from well-known test providers to assess you for these various skills.
Read on as we explore the top engineering aptitude test providers below.
Engineering companies around the world use some well-known test providers to hire during the engineering application process. These top test providers include the following:
Now let’s go ahead and cover the engineering online assessment tests that these test providers create for engineering companies to use below.
Engineering assessment tests are used by companies to evaluate you for various required skills for the job. The tests you will be required to complete will vary depending on the role, the level of the role, and the company’s specific hiring process.
The engineering assessment tests you can most likely expect to take for many roles include the following:
Good to Know:
Depending on the engineering role you applied for, you may be required to also complete other tests, such as verbal reasoning tests, coding tests or game-based assessments.
Practice with our assessments ahead of your engineering job tests today!
Let’s break down each of the engineering tests and find out how you can pass them, starting with the engineering numerical reasoning test.
An engineering numerical reasoning test is an assessment that assesses your ability to work with numbers, interpret financial data, and perform calculations using questions that involve charts, graphs, and data tables through multiple-choice questions.
A typical engineering numerical reasoning test aims to measure your ability to carry out basic arithmetic calculations and understand and interpret data.
Watch our short video below to understand more about this type of engineering online assessment!
Let’s check out our simple, actionable tips to help you pass this engineering aptitude test below!
Practice a FREE numerical reasoning test question with us in preparation for your engineering tests, or attempt our example numerical reasoning question below!
Engineering Numerical Reasoning Test Example
Did you get the correct answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.
Apply each of our tips above while practising our example numerical test question to see how they help you during this commonly used type of engineering test.
Looking for more practice questions to prepare you for your engineering assessment? Get access to more with us!
Another engineering aptitude test you may be required to complete for an engineering role is the engineering logical reasoning test.
An engineering logical reasoning test is an assessment that involves analysing shapes or symbols in a sequence to identify patterns and determine what comes next in the sequence. This engineering test may also come in a numerical or written format.
Good to Know: An engineering logical reasoning test may also be referred to as an abstract reasoning test, but it will still measure the same skills.
An engineering logical reasoning test aims to measure your logical thinking, pattern recognition skills, and problem-solving ability.
Check out our short video below for key details on an engineering logical reasoning test.
Let’s go ahead and cover tips that will help you pass this engineering job test.
Practice a FREE logical reasoning question to improve your logical skills, or attempt our engineering logical reasoning test example below.
Engineering Logical Reasoning Test Example
Try and apply each of the tips we gave above while practising our example logical test question to see how they help you during this engineering test.
Practice more logical reasoning test questions with us to improve your logical skills before you take this engineering job test.
Another engineering online test you may be required to take for many engineering jobs is the engineering situational judgement test.
An engineering situational judgement test is an assessment that involves you choosing the best and worst responses or actions to potential workplace scenarios, typically related to the engineering role you applied for.
An engineering situational judgement test measures your problem-solving, decision-making, and customer service skills. This engineering test also assesses whether you align with the work approach of the engineering company you applied to.
Watch our short video below to understand more about an engineering situational judgement test:
Read on for our helpful tips to help you pass the engineering situational judgement test.
Practice for this engineering online assessment using our practice situational judgement test questions!
Organisations in the engineering industry may also look to assess your personality using an engineering personality test.
An engineering personality test is an online questionnaire featuring statement-based ratings, situational judgement scenarios, and forced-choice questions. This engineering test typically consists of a series of simplified questions, ranging from 50 to 200.
An engineering personality test aims to measure your work preferences, working style, and workplace behaviours in line with the company’s values and culture. It evaluates how you align with the company, its values, and its approach.
Watch our short video below to further understand what the engineering personality test measures.
So, how do you pass an engineering personality test? Find out with our top tips below!
Prepare for your engineering personality test by understanding your workplace preferences with our personality test.
After the online assessment stage, for most companies, you will be invited to complete some engineering interviews.
Engineering interviews are typically conducted to get to know you better in terms of your experience, skills and abilities and to assess your technical knowledge and cultural fit with the company.
Engineering interviews can come in different types. You can expect companies to use one or a few of the following types of interviews:
Phone Interviews
A phone interview is a phone conversation with your recruiter. They are often used at the beginning of the hiring process.
Video Interviews
Video interviews are online interviews that are conducted virtually. Many companies are opting to use video interviews as part of the recruitment process, rather than waiting until the final stage.
Strength-based Interviews
This engineering interview looks to identify your strengths and how they align with the role to ensure proper compatibility.
Competency-based Interviews
This engineering interview is used to evaluate key competencies the company requires for the particular role.
Technical Interviews
This engineering interview aims to assess your technical knowledge in relation to the role and your problem-solving skills.
Prepare for your engineering interviews by practising some typical engineering interview questions with our video interview tool!
Below are our important tips to help you pass your engineering interviews.
Let’s use the tips above to practice some common engineering interview questions.
Some common engineering interview questions you can typically expect include:
Read on as we give example answers to some of the engineering interview questions.
Good Answer:
Watch our short video below for tips on how to answer the common engineering interview question, ‘Tell me about yourself’:
How to Answer: Focus on showing that you use a logical step-by-step method, understand complexity and are not afraid of ambiguity, research, collaborate, or test to find solutions, and prioritise safety, feasibility, and efficiency.
When I’m faced with a complex engineering challenge, I start by breaking the problem down into smaller components so I can understand the root causes and key constraints. I like to gather any available data, then consider which principles or formulas apply, and whether simulations or calculations can help predict outcomes.
If I’m unsure about a certain aspect, I look into technical documentation, similar case studies, or reach out to colleagues for input, as collaboration often reveals options I hadn’t considered. Once I have a potential solution, I try to test it through a small-scale prototype before applying it at full scale.
I’ve found that remaining systematic but open-minded helps me avoid tunnel vision. I always finish by checking if the solution is not only effective but also safe, cost-efficient, and practical to implement.
How to Answer: Use the STAR+R method to structure your answer. Focus on your planning, communication, and the impact of the methods you employed to manage the deadline.
Situation
During my final year, I worked on a team project to build a small wind turbine prototype. A week before the review, a key part of our rotor cracked.
Task
We needed to redesign and retest the rotor, within five days, to meet our deadline and avoid losing crucial marks.
Action
I assessed the failure and pinpointed the cause, which was insufficient internal support structures. I redesigned the rotor with a stronger internal lattice and documented every step for the team so we could stay aligned.
Result
The new rotor was completed and tested on time. The team submitted the prototype with full documentation, and the assessors specifically praised our problem-solving under pressure.
Reflection
The experience taught me the importance of clear communication, quick decision-making, and task delegation when under time constraints, and these are skills I now apply in all my engineering work.
Discover even more engineering interview questions to practice with for your next engineering interview using our Question Identifier Tool!
After the interview stage, many companies may invite you to an engineering assessment centre.
An engineering assessment centre is typically used by most companies as the last stage of their recruitment process. The engineering assessment centre involves participating in some exercises to measure your potential and skills.
A typical engineering assessment centre will require you to complete some exercises. The engineering assessment centre may be held online or in person at a specific location and may include one or several of the following exercises:
Let’s go ahead and learn more about these exercises, starting with the engineering case study exercise.
An engineering case study exercise involves reviewing engineering designs or engineering data to analyse, identify problems or findings, and provide recommendations to resolve them.
An engineering case study exercise measures your ability to apply engineering principles, analytical thinking, and practical judgment to a real-world problem.
Read on for tips we have curated to help you pass this engineering exercise.
Gain more insights and excel in your engineering case study exercise by practising with our Assessment Centre Package, packed full of practice assessment centre exercises to help you prepare for the engineering assessment centre.
The next engineering assessment centre exercise you are likely to face is the engineering presentation exercise.
An engineering presentation exercise typically involves you creating and delivering a presentation based on a given topic that will be assigned to you ahead of the assessment day or at the beginning of the exercise.
An engineering presentation exercise measures your ability to analyse information, structure key points, and communicate effectively under time constraints.
Below are 7 top tips to help you ace an engineering presentation exercise.
Gain more insights and excel in your engineering presentation exercise by practising with our Assessment Centre Package, packed full of practice assessment centre exercises to help you prepare for the engineering assessment centre.
The next activity you may face during the engineering assessment centre is the engineering group exercise.
An engineering group exercise involves you getting paired with other candidates to analyse a given issue or scenario. This engineering assessment centre exercise puts you in a team and evaluates how the analysis is carried out.
An engineering group exercise measures your ability to collaborate, communicate, and work effectively in a team setting.
Watch our video below for a proper breakdown of what the engineering group exercise is about:
Let’s check out our top tips that can help you pass your next engineering group exercise.
Gain more insights and excel in your engineering group exercise by practising with our Assessment Centre Package, packed full of practice assessment centre exercises to help you prepare for the engineering assessment centre.
The next engineering assessment centre exercise you can anticipate is the engineering e-tray exercise.
An engineering e-tray exercise is a computer-based test that typically involves a simulated email inbox where you respond to emails, analyse data, and prioritise urgent tasks within a set time limit.
An engineering e-tray exercise measures your ability to manage tasks, prioritise tasks, and make decisions under pressure.
Read on for our quick tips on how to pass an engineering e-tray exercise.
Gain more insights and excel in your engineering E-tray exercise by practising with our Assessment Centre Package, packed full of practice assessment centre exercises to help you prepare for the engineering assessment centre.
The next engineering assessment centre exercise you can anticipate is the engineering in-tray exercise.
An engineering in-tray exercise involves a work scenario and a list of tasks that you must complete within a time frame. These tasks could include replying to complaints, writing reports, evaluating engineering designs, or analysing.
An engineering in-tray exercise measures your ability to manage workload, prioritise tasks, and make decisions under pressure.
Below are top tips for you to consider to help you pass the engineering in-tray exercise.
Practice the engineering assessment centre exercises with us to improve your skills and performance.
After the exercises, many companies conclude the assessment centre with a final interview.
An engineering final interview is the last stage where you meet with department heads, senior managers, HR managers, or team leads. This engineering interview will typically look to understand more about your skills, experience, and motivations.
An engineering final interview will typically measure your technical skills, industry knowledge, potential, and cultural fit with the company before making a hiring decision.
Good to Know: In an engineering final interview, you are likely to face technical interview questions that are specific to the role or job you applied for. This is to check that you have the required expertise to succeed in the role.
Read on for important tips to use for your engineering interview questions and answers to help pass your engineering final interview.
For your engineering final interview, below are some questions you may ask:
Prepare for your engineering interview questions with our engineering interview question and answer practice sets to improve your technique!
And with this, we have covered all you need to know about engineering assessment tests and the engineering recruitment process of many global companies.
But wait, before you go!
Keep reading below for common FAQs about engineering assessment tests.
The difficulty of engineering assessment tests varies depending on the role and company, but they are generally challenging due to strict time limits and high competition. Strong numerical and analytical skills are essential for success.
Not usually, but some employers, especially those in consulting, management, or client-facing roles, may include verbal reasoning tests to evaluate your communication and comprehension skills.
The duration of engineering assessment tests varies depending on the role, company, and the tests you are required to take. Typically, they range from 20 to 60 minutes.
Not all companies use tests to hire, but many large engineering firms like Arup, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Siemens use them. Smaller companies may rely more on interviews and project portfolios.
Yes. Graduate engineering tests may be broader and test general aptitude, whereas experienced roles often involve more advanced or role-specific technical engineering tests during the engineering hiring process.
Do you want to pass your engineering online assessment tests, first time? Sign up to take numerical, logical, situational judgement, and personality practice tests today with us, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests. Correct answer to example questions: Numerical Reasoning Question: C Logical Reasoning Question: C
Do you want to pass your engineering online assessment tests, first time? Sign up to take numerical, logical, situational judgement, and personality practice tests today with us, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Correct answer to example questions:
Numerical Reasoning Question: C
Logical Reasoning Question: C
Start Preparing Today