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Are you a recruiter or hiring manager seeking pre-employment assessment tools, including aptitude tests? Visit our Assess Candidates website to learn more.
What are ability assessments? What is a general mental ability test, and what are the differences between ability and aptitude tests? Find out the answers to all these questions in this complete guide.
Want to boost your ability test scores and stand out in your job hunt? Join GF today and try our FREE practice ability tests, designed by former SHL experts who’ve built assessments for over 8,000 companies.
Let’s get started as we unravel the knowledge behind ability tests.
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Not sure if practising for your ability tests is worth it? Studies show that 60–80% of candidates get rejected due to their aptitude test scores. Practising can significantly boost your chances of landing the job.
Studies have found that general mental ability tests are highly valid predictors of job performance. They show a strong correlation with various organisational criteria, including ratings, job knowledge, productivity, promotions, and wages, across diverse job roles. Salgado and Moscoso (2019).
Are you prepared to learn all there is to know about ability tests and how to ace them when you come across them? Let’s keep going!
An online ability test is an assessment employers use to evaluate a candidate’s cognitive abilities relevant to job performance. It predicts how well candidates handle tasks, learn new concepts, and make decisions under pressure.
Ability tests measure general mental skills, including problem-solving, logical thinking, information processing and understanding.
What are the differences between online ability assessments and aptitude tests? Sit back and stay with us as we explain this.
While ability tests and aptitude tests are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between the two assessments. The key difference is that aptitude tests are a type of ability tests used in the context of candidate selection and recruitment for job positions.
Aptitude tests are typically designed to assess your specific job-related skills and abilities. They are often named after the job title or skill they are assessing, such as the numerical reasoning test.
Good to Know: Aptitude tests are designed to predict and assess your potential for success within a particular job or field. Employers use these tests to see which candidate best suits the role.
On the other hand, ability tests are designed to measure the underlying mental processes that contribute to aptitude.
Kick start your online ability tests with us!
Keep reading as we dive into the different types of ability tests and the abilities they assess.
Here are some of the most common types of general mental ability tests used by employers around the world:
Good to Know: The format and content of the ability assessment may differ depending on the publisher. Be sure to read the test invitation carefully to grasp the details, which will help you focus your preparation.
Check out our sample logical ability test example question below!
Logical Ability Test Example Question
Don’t forget to check the bottom of the page for the answers to this example question!
These tests are commonly used as aptitude tests for recruitment at initial stages of the application process. However, there are further types of ability tests as well.
Here are some other types of ability tests which may be used in employment or development:
Good to Know: Ability tests may be combined into a General Mental Ability Test (GMAT) that assesses various aspects of your abilities including numerical, verbal, logical and spatial reasoning.
Keep scrolling as we cover even more example ability tests!
Ability Tests such as these are commonly used by employers in various industries:
Cappfinity Capptivate Assessments
Capptivate Assessments: It assesses a candidate’s strengths, behaviour, personality, and motivations through an interactive online experience.
Clevry Ability Tests
These tests are available in three categories: Utopia for graduates, professionals, and managers; B2C for customer-facing roles; and Mechanical for manufacturing and engineering positions.
Cubiks Logiks General Test
The Cubiks logiks general test has Intermediate and Advanced levels. It assesses candidates’ ability to apply their language, numerical, and logical reasoning skills to solve problems.
IBM Kenexa Assessment Test
Evaluates numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning abilities within a set time limit.
Korn Ferry Talent Q Elements Tests
Korn Ferry offers various tests that assess verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, and situational judgment.
Matrigma Abstract Reasoning Tests
It evaluates your logical skills and ability to identify established patterns through abstract reasoning.
Saville Assessment Series
It provides industry-specific tests for various job levels, covering numerical, verbal, abstract, error-checking, mechanical, spatial, and diagrammatic reasoning.
SHL General Ability
The SHL general ability test focuses on numerical, inductive, and deductive reasoning. It helps evaluate a candidate’s problem-solving abilities and overall thinking skills. SHL ability tests are widely used by employers worldwide.
Thomas GIA Test
A fast assessment of your ability to understand and remember information, consisting of five sections, each lasting 2-3 minutes.
At GF, we offer online practice ability assessments such as our numerical ability test question below. Our practice tests are created by former SHL test developers to emulate the experience of top-tier ability assessments.
Numerical Ability Test Example Question
So, when can I expect to take these ability tests?
From our research, we have found that many industries use ability tests early in the application process. But which industries use them?
We’ve got you covered there too!
The following are some of the many industries that often will require you to complete their employers’ general mental ability tests:
Having seen the industries that require ability tests, you must be curious about the types of ability tests and the skills assessed by each test.
Good to Know: According to a recent survey, employers who use assessments are 3.7 times more likely to rate the quality of their hires as excellent than those who don’t (Wonderlic, 2022).
Having understood why employers use these ability test examples, you must be wondering why employers use ability assessments. Let’s find out!
General mental ability tests are used by employers for various reasons, and here are five reasons why:
Looking for quick tips to ace ability tests? Check out this short video on how to save time by swiftly eliminating incorrect answers:
To fully understand ability tests, you should know the science behind the psychometric test, how it came about and what it was initially created for.
Ability tests have been around since the early 20th century, with the first dedicated laboratory established by James McKeen Cattell at the University of Cambridge. He aimed to measure a range of mental functions, such as reaction time, colour recognition, memory, and attention.
Good to Know: Psychometrics, the field focused on psychological measurement, is the foundation of ability tests. Psychometricians apply statistical techniques to design, validate, and assess the reliability and accuracy of these tests.
Modern ability tests are based on theories of cognitive abilities and how they relate to job performance. For example, general mental ability, also known as “g,” is considered to be a core cognitive ability that underlies many other specific abilities.
The idea is that if someone is good at one cognitive task, they are likely to be good at others.
In 1963, R. Cattell divided general intelligence into two categories:
Fluid intelligence
This is the ability to perceive things, absorb new information, and retain it to handle new and unfamiliar situations.
Crystallised intelligence
This is the capacity to recall and use information obtained over a lifetime and apply it to perform specific tasks.
Good to Know: As well as ability tests, employers also screen CVs, use interviews and personality assessments to further understand your behaviours and preferences to determine if you are the best fit for a particular job.
So how do we pass these tests? First, we should know the common pitfalls that you should avoid.
Candidates taking ability tests often make these common mistakes, and here is how to avoid them:
Good to Know: Ability assessment test questions aren’t usually as tricky, but the time limits can make things more stressful. When practising, try to recreate the exam environment at home.
Check out our short video below for some quick tips to increase your speed in your ability tests:
Avoiding common mistakes can help you perform better during the ability assessments, and here are some tips for passing the tests.
Looking forward to passing the Ability Tests with ease? Check out these tips below.
Ready to take your ability test lessons to the next level? Get the complete practice with us!
Don’t miss our FAQs to check out even more answers to top ability test questions!
The difficulty level of an ability test depends on the specific test, the individual’s prior knowledge, and the area being assessed. Generally, the more advanced the role or position, the more challenging the ability test will likely be.
It varies by type but typically lasts between 10 to 60 minutes. Make sure to check your test invitation email for more details on the time limit set for your assessment before you begin.
A cognitive ability test is a type of assessment used to measure a person’s mental capabilities, such as problem-solving, reasoning, memory, and learning. These tests evaluate how well a person understands and processes information, thinks critically, and applies logic to different situations.
Common skills tested by ability tests include:
The length of an ability test depends on its type. Usually, ability tests range from 20 minutes to an hour, with some specialised tests lasting longer.
It depends on the employer’s policy. Some employers allow you to retake the test after a certain period, while others may not permit retakes.
Do you want to pass your online ability assessments on the first try? Take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning and situational judgment practice tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test experts 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 answers to example questions: Logical reasoning example answer: C Numerical reasoning example answer: C
Do you want to pass your online ability assessments on the first try? Take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning and situational judgment practice tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test experts 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 answers to example questions:
Logical reasoning example answer: C
Numerical reasoning example answer: C
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