Preparing for Aptitude

Tests
Career Skills
By Chools Consulting Services

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 P repari n g f o r Aptitude TESTS

Preface
This eBook describes management aptitude tests including: numerical, verbal, abstract,
and spatial reasoning tests. These tests often form part of the job selection process and
are designed to assess your ability to communicate and solve numerical and logical
problems.

You will learn:

● How and why organizations incorporate aptitude tests into their management
selection processes.
● Why even a small improvement in your score can result in you being perceived as
a much more capablecandidate.
● What types of questions you will be expected to answer in each test.
● Where to find free practice questions that will allow you to get all the practice you
need to succeed at these types of test.

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introduction
Organizations are putting more time and money into the recruitment process than
ever before. The personnel industry press quotes a typical cost of $10,000 to recruit a
management-level candidate. Some of this can be accounted for by the cost of advertising
the role, but the majority is made up of specifying the role and then selecting the best
possible candidate to fill it. From the perspective of an organization this has meant the
introduction of various tests and exercises to ensure that they learn as much about the
individual as possible to ensure the best fit with the role.

Recruitment
In-Tray Tests &
exercise Exercises

Role Play Aptitude

exercise tests

Competency Personality
frameworks tests

The chart above shows you some of the most popular tests and exercises used when
assessing potential management candidates. Traditional format interviews where you
talk about your competencies and achievements are increasingly complemented by
tests and interview exercises where you are required to show what you do rather than
just talk about it.

Some selection exercises like in-tray and role play are designed to mimic certain aspects
of the job you will be expected to do. Others, such as personality tests and aptitude
tests, seem rather more arbitrary. However, employers have good reasons to use both.
Personality tests are dealt with in detail in the ‘Preparing for Personality Tests’ eBook
available from the Career Skillsarea of our website.

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This eBook is designed to help you prepare for aptitude tests, which are used to test
your logical reasoning and thinking abilities. These tests are made up of between 30–50
multiple-choice questions and are strictly timed. Whether taken online or in an office it
is vital that you give them 100% of your concentration.

Prepare for them as you would any exam and you will gain the high score you need to
stand out from the crowd. Practice and familiarity with the type of questions asked in
each kind of test is extremely important because it will save you wasting valuable time
working out what the question is asking rather than working out the answer.

Management Aptitude Tests

Verbal Reasoning & Ability

Numerical Reasoning & Ability

Abstract Reasoning

Spatial Reasoning

Mechanical Reasoning

The most commonly used aptitude tests are:

● Verbal Reasoning and Ability—this test assesses your level of grammar and
spelling capability, as well as your ability to understand analogies and follow
detailed written instructions.
● Numerical Reasoning and Ability—looks at how good your basic mathematical
skills are including number sequences. It also gauges your reasoning skills of
more complex numerical questions and how well you interpret quantitative
information.
● Abstract Reasoning Tests—assess your ability to identify the logic of a pattern
to determine the next in the sequence or the missing item. These tests determine
your logical thinking skills.

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● Spatial Ability Tests—are designed to evaluate your ability to manipulate two-

dimensional shapes. They also assess your capacity to visualize two-dimensional
pictures as three-dimensional objects.
● Mechanical Aptitude Tests—these tests are very specific to technical roles and
are not included in general management tests as they assess an individual’s
knowledge of physical and mechanical principles. (Further information on
mechanicaltests.)

Maximum
Performance Speed Power
Tests

Aptitude tests frequently have more questions than most people can be easily answer
in the time allocated and the complexity of the questions may also increase as you work
through the test. They are designed to see what you can achieve when maximizing your
efforts and take two forms as shown in the diagram above.

● Speedtests—focus on how many questions you can answer correctly in the time
allowed. For example:

Question: 139+235=
A) 372 B) 374 C) 376 D) 437

● Power tests—focus on your ability to identify the ‘best’ strategy for answering
the question and obtain the correct answer. For example, you will be presented
with a table of sales figures to use to answer the questions:

Server January February March

Units $ Units $ Units $
ZXC-43 32 480 40 600 48 720
ZXC-53 45 585 45 585 45 585
ZXC-63 12 240 14 280 18 340

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Question: Inwhich monthwas thesales valuehighest?

A) January B) February C) March

Question: What is theunit cost of server type ZXC-53?

A) 12 B) 13 C) 14

Practice tests will enable you to become familiar with these types of tests and attain the
best score possible.

Employers use your test scores to gauge how well your competencies and capabilities
match those required by the role. Knowing how these scores are interpreted helps you
appreciate how important improving your score is to be selected to continue in the
recruitment process.

Aptitude Test Scores

Statistically Not proven

Valid statistically

Criterion Percentile
Referenced Scores
Interpretation

Norm
Referenced
Interpretation

There are two statistically proven methods—criterion-referenced interpretation and norm-

referenced interpretation and a third method—percentile scores—that is not statistically
valid but used by organizations when proficiency standards and norms are not available.

● Criterion-Referenced Interpretation—in tests using this method your score

reflects your level of knowledge or skill in the test area. It does not compare your
score to those attained by others.

The organization or test publishers set a score to reflect a minimum level of

competency required for a role that is then converted into proficiency standards.

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● Norm-Referenced Interpretation—this method compares an individual’s scores

with that of a norm reference group. This norm group is made up from a large
representative sample of people. It is their score average and distribution that
become the test norms.

ABC Aptitude Test Norm Groups

350

300

250

200
High
150 Low
Average
100

50

0
Citizens Clerical Graduates Managers
18-60yrs staff

The chart shows the wide variation between groups’ abilities and qualities,
whilst emphasizing the importance of the norm group you will be compared to.
A norm group will be selected that best matches the educational and cultural
backgrounds including other characteristics of the test group.

● Percentile Scores—are not statistically valid as they simply compare your score
with that of the other candidates. This method is used when no appropriate
proficiency standards are available. As they are easy to understand this type of
score is commonly used when candidates are being compared to one another.

To calculate a percentile score an individual’s raw score is represented as a

percentage of the group who scored below them. For example, if your raw score
is higher than 6 0 % of the group your score is in the 60th percentile.

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1 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99

Percentile Scores

This method tends to exaggerate differences close to the mean and minimize
those at the extremities. What this means for someone taking tests scored in
this way is that each extra point you can add to your score will have a significant
impact on your percentilescore.

For example, imagine that a group of graduates with similar backgrounds

score between 35 and 45 out of 50 questions, and the mean score is 40. In
this scenario a score of 40 is in the 50th percentile whereas a score of 45 is
in the 90th percentile. In other words, five extra marks would take you from
being‘average’ tobeing‘outstanding’.

This illustrates one of the problems of using percentile scores with such a small
and homogenous group, and an experienced statistician would realize that
ranking candidates in this group by percentile was inappropriate and misleading.
However, percentile scores are often used this way, which is why it is so important
to get every mark you can in these types of test.

Key POINTS
 Organizations use various tests and exercises as part of the management
selection process.
 Aptitude tests are used to test your logical reasoning and thinking abilities.
 They usually contain between 30–50 multiple-choice questions and are
strictly timed.
 Verbal ability tests are used to assess your grammar and spelling, as well
asyour ability to understand analogies and follow detailed written
instructions.

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 Numerical reasoning tests look at your mathematical skills and your ability
to interpret quantitative information.
 Abstract reasoning tests assess your ability to identify the logic of a pattern
and determine the next in the sequence or the missing item.
 Spatial ability tests are designed to evaluate your ability to manipulate two-
dimensional shapes and your capacity to visualize two-dimensional pictures
as three-dimensional objects.
 Mechanical aptitude tests are very specific to technical roles and are not
included in general management tests.
 Speed tests focus on how many questions you can answer correctly in the
time allowed, whereas power tests focus on your ability to identify the ‘best’
strategy for answering thequestion.
 The common misuse of percentile scores mean that even a small improvement
in your actual score can make you look like a far more capable candidate.

Verbal Ability and Reasoning Tests

These tests are designed to assess your ability to understand and conduct written
communications. Verbal ability questions involve spelling, grammar, sentence completion,
analogies, and comprehension. When they are being used for management selection,
these tests usually focus on higher-level skills like critical reasoning and analogies.

Verbal Ability Verbal

Word Groups
& Reasoning Deductions

Spelling Analogies Instructions

Sentence Critical
Grammar
Completion Reasoning

However, unless you know in advance that this is the case, it is worth ensuring that your
re-familiarize yourself with the definitions and correct spellings of commonly misused
words because this is an essential part of effective communications.

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Spelling Questions
Focus on the most commonly mis-spelt words, for example.The answer is shown in bold.

1.Which of thefollowingwords are incorrectly spelt?

A) separate B) ordnance C) obviously D)sucess E) none ofthese

2.Choose thepair of words that bestcompletes thesentence

The -------- of the timetable caused some----------

A) rivision B)revision C) revission D) revition

A)inconvenience B) inconvenince C) inconveneince D) inconveniance

3.Highlighttheincorrectly spelt words fromthislist.

A) occurence K) acidently
B) dissipate L) liaison
C) weird M) memento
D) accommodate N) millenium
E) embarassment O) yield
F) ecstacy P) existance
G) repetition Q) independent
H) batallion R) insistant
I) dispair S) excede
J) irritable T) privilege

The use of computers and devices that automatically correct our spelling means that our
spelling skills have deteriorated, but practice tests will quickly restore this ability.

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MissingWordQuestions
These questions look at the level of understanding of the exact meaning of words used in
your vocabulary. These types of questions use a multiple-choice format for your answers
to aid test takers to complete the majority of the test. Some examples are shown below,
with the answer inbold.

4.Whichof thesewords completesthesentenceinthewaythatmakesmostsense?

A spirit-levelshouldbeusedto ensurethat thesurface is -----------

A) straight B) flat C)horizontal D) parallel E) aligned

5.Whichof thesewords completesthesentenceinthewaythatmakesmostsense?

Heavoided--------- because hewas ----------- (answerC& Brespectively)

A) redundency B)indispensable C)redundancy D) indispensible

6.Whichof thesewords completesthesentencein thewaythatmakesmostsense?

Theplan mustbe--------- to maketheproject ------------ (answerB& A
respectively)
A) feasible B)revised C) rivised D) feasable

It is important to take care when reading the sentences to ensure you select the most
appropriate word. This is because it can be testing either: your spelling skills, your
understanding of how best to use a specific word, or both.

RelatedWordQuestions
These questions are designed to assess your reasoning skills as well as the extent of
your vocabulary. You need to be familiar with the exact meaning of words to ensure you
establish the correct relationship. By practicing this type of question you will be able to
more easily recognize the required relationships, as shown in the questions below
(answers are inbold).

7.Which of these is themissingword?

kick, -----------,walk
A) throw B) toes C) shin D)feet E) hand
(feet are used for both kicking and walking)

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8.Which of these is themissingword?

key, -----------,walk

A) lock B) stand C)board D) fob E) stone

(board forms the words ‘keyboard’and ‘boardwalk’)

9.Whichof these is themissingword?

water, -----------,over

A) ice B) drive C) wet D) flow E)fall

(fall forms ‘waterfall’ and‘fall over’)

These questions assess how carefully you read the words in front of you and discern the
correct meaning—an essential part of communication for managers.

SynonymandAntonym Questions
These questions use another way to assess your ability to discern the exact meaning of
words and the breadth of your vocabulary. The sample questions below ask you to select
the appropriate synonym (same meaning) or antonym (opposite meaning). The answers
are in bold.

10.Which twoof these words are opposite in meaning?

A) lose B)winner C) victor D)loser E) vanquish
(exact opposites)

11.Which of these words is theodd oneout?

A) swindle B) harass C) provoke D) annoy E) pester
(the others aresynonyms)

12.Which of these words is theodd oneout?

A) verify B) authenticate C) confirm D)ask E) substantiate
(the others aresynonyms)

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WordPair Questions
This group of questions measures your ability to recognize a relationship between two
words. Mentally repeating the question to yourself is a useful technique enabling you to
recognize relationships more quickly. Practicing this will make a significant difference to
your speed and accuracy. The answers to the sample questions are shown in bold.

13.Dog is to canineaswolf is to ---------

A) vulpine B) ursine C) piscine D) bovine E)lupine
(lupine means ‘relating to the characteristics of wolves’)

14.Sadnessis to happinessasdefeat is to---------

A) joy B)victory C) tears D) victor E)none of these
(the word pairs areopposites)

15.Paperis totimberas--------- is tohide

A) tree B) seek C) ox D) animal E) leather
(paper is made from timber, leather is made from hide)

ComprehensionQuestions
When tackling comprehension questions it is important to ONLY use the information
provided in the text. Do not be tempted to bring in your own personal knowledge.
Remember this type of question is evaluating your ability to extract the relevant facts.

The example below shows you the type of thing you can expect.

16.Readthe following short passage and say whether or not the statements
are true.
There are seven species of deer living wild in Britain. The Red Deer and the
RoeDeerarenativespecies.FallowDeerwereintroducedbytheRomansand,
since the seventeenth century, have been joined by three other nonnative
species: Sika, Muntjac, and Chinese Water Deer which have escaped from
parks. In addition, a herd of Reindeer was established in Scotland in 1952.
Most oftheRedDeerinBritainarefoundinScotland,buttherearesignificant
wildpopulationsin south-westandnorth-westEngland,EastAnglia,andthe
north Midlands. Red deer can interbreed with the introduced Japanese Sika
deerand in someareas,hybridsare common.

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16a. All of the Red Deer in Britain are found in Scotland.

A) true B)false C) can’tsay

16b. Red Deer can interbreed with Fallow Deer.

A) true B) false C) can’t say
(You must select this answer because the passage does not tell you if this
is possible, even if you know it to be false.)

16c. The Fallow Deer is not native to Britain.

A)true B) false C) can’tsay

16d. There are no Reindeer inEngland.

A) true B) false C) can’t say

VerbalReasoningQuestions
These questions are popular for management recruitment because they evaluate your
ability to discriminate a series of facts and then use them to resolve an issue. This is best
illustrated in an example (answers are in bold).

17.Workingtogether,Tom,Dick,andHarryneed9hoursto paint a400 meter

long fence. Working alone, Tomcould complete the task in 18hours. Dick can
not work as fast andneeds36 hoursto paint the fence by himself. If Tomand
Dicktakethedayoff,howlongwill it takeHarry topaintthefencebyhimself?
A) 9 B) 12 C) 18 D)36
(Explanation: You are told Dick works at half the speed of Tom—the whole
fence would take Tom 18 hours and Dick 36 hours. If the whole fence takes
them all 9 hours then this means Tom would have painted half of it and Dick
and Harry between them would have painted the other half. So the 400m
fence would take Harry 9 hours x 4 = 36 hours.)

In summary, verbal ability tests are speed tests where you need to answer 30–40
questions in 15–20 minutes. They are simply testing whether or not you know the answer.
Verbal reasoning tests assess your reasoning and problem-solving skills, asking between
10–15 questions with 20–30 minutes to complete them. They also gauge your ability
to recognize and comprehend verbally expressed ideas and concepts. Download free
verbal reasoning practicetests.

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Key POINTS
 Verbal ability questions involve spelling, grammar, sentence completion,
analogies, and comprehension.
 Management-level tests tend to focus on higher-level skills like critical
reasoning and analogies.
 If you are expecting a test of this type then it is a good idea to download some
free practice tests and work through them systematically.

Numerical Ability and Reasoning Tests

Numerical skills are a vital part of any manager’s role, so it is not surprising that numerical
ability and reasoning tests are an essential element of aptitude tests. Management-level
tests usually concentrate on higher-level skills like data interpretation but if you feel as
though your math is a bit rusty then it is worth spending some time working through
some basics to refresh your memory.

Numerical
Ability & Number Data
Reasoning Sequences Interpretation

Basic Arithmetic Alphabetic

-,+,x,÷ Fractions Sequences

Missing
Percentages Powers
Numbers

These speed tests are designed to determine your skills at basic arithmetic and
mathematics including number sequences and data interpretation. You will not be able
to use a calculator so practice is essential to achieve the necessary speed and accuracy
to attain a high score when answering 25–35 questions in 20–30 minutes. Here are some
examples of arithmetic questions (answers are in bold):

1.139+235 =
A) 372 B)374 C) 376 D) 437

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2. 139- 235=
A) -69 B) 96 C) 98 D)-96

3. 5 x 16=
A)80 B) 86 C) 88 D) 78

4. 45 / 9 =
A) 4.5 B) 4 C)5 D) 6

5. 15%of 300=
A) 20 B)45 C) 40 D) 35

6.½ +¼ +¾ =
A) 1 ¾ B) 1 ¼ C) 1 ½ D) ¾

NumberSequences
You will be presented with a sequence of numbers and have to identify the missing one
from the multiple choices. Here are some of the more simplistic examples (their answers
are shown inbold):

7.Findthenext numberin theseries

48 16 32 --

A) 48 B)64 C) 40 D) 46
(the numbers double eachtime)

8.Findthenext numberin theseries

4 8 12 20 --

A)32 B) 34 C) 36 D) 38
(each number is the sum of the previous two numbers)

9.Findthemissingnumberin theseries
54 49 -- 39 34

A) 47 B)44 C) 45 D) 46
(the numbers decrease by 5 each time)

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10.Findthefirst numberin theseries

-- 19 23 29 31
A) 12 B) 15 C) 16 D)17
(the numbers are primes—divisible only by 1and themselves)

Other number sequences are more complex and you have to look at the interval between
the numbers to identify thesequence.

11.Findthenext numberin the

series 3 6 11 18
--

A) 30 B) 22 C)27 D) 29
(the first interval is 3, and the interval increases by 2 each time)

48 46 42numberin
12.Findthenext 36 --
theseries
A) 32 B)28 C) 29 D) 30
(the first interval is 2 which is subtracted from the first number; each
further subtraction increases by 2 each time)

More complex number sequenceswillshow over fournumbersso thatthemore complicated

patterns can be figured out. See the examples below (answers shown in bold).

13.Findthemissingnumberin theseries
4 3 5 9 12 17 --
A) 32 B) 30 C) 24 D)26
(this sequence starts with the fourth digit as the three previous digits are
used for its and subsequent numbers in the sequence—for example, 9 = 5
+ 4, 12 = 9 + 3, etc.)

14.Findthemissingnumbersin theseries
5 6 7 8 10 11 14 -- --
A)19 B) 17 C) 15 D) 16
(C is first answer, A is second answer. This sequence is two simple
interleaved sequences i.e. 5 7 10 14 19.Then 6 8 11 1 5
—
the difference increases by 1each time.)

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15.Findthemissingnumbersin theseries
1 -- 4 7 7 8 10 9 --
A)6 B) 3 C) 11 D)13
(A is first answer, D is 2nd answer. Once again they are interleaved
sequences i.e. 6 7 8 9—increases by 1each time. Then 1 4 7
10 13—increases by 3 each time.)

The most effective way to tackle these types of questions is to look for an arithmetic
relationship between the numbers first and the look at intervals for a relationship. It is
common when there are more than four numbers shown in a sequence that there will
be two interleaved sequences. Sometimes the relationship can be in multiples, powers,
divisions, or a mixture of two options.

Alphabet SequenceasNumbers
This type of sequence tests your ability to substitute a letter in the place of a number
and assess your capacity to work with the unexpected. If you see any of these sequences
make sure to write down the alphabet with the numbers below to help answer these
questions quickly andefficiently.

AlphabetSequences
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
20

24

26
22
23

25
11
10

14

16

18
19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

12
13

15

17

21

Remember that these sequences may interleave and that in all cases the alphabet will
loop back around in a continuous loop. This is illustrated by the examples below (answers
shown inbold).

16.Findthenext letterin theseries

B E H K --

i) L ii) M iii) N iv) O

(this sequence skips two letters each time B E H K N)

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17.Findthenext letterin theseries

A Z B Y --

i)C ii) X iii) D iv) Y

(this is two interleaved sequences A B Cand Z Y)

18. Findthenextletterin theseries

T V X Z --

i) Y ii) B iii) A iv) W

(this looping back sequence skips a letter each time T V X Z B)

Familiarity with this sort of concept will be the key to your success; the more practice you
have of working in this way the higher your score will be.

DataInterpretation
You are not expected to have in-depth knowledge of the data presented; as with the
verbal comprehension questions all you need to do is use the information supplied and
interpret the data to answer each question. The questions are likely to have a managerial
context that would assist decision making.

In this sort of question you are often permitted to use a calculator, but make sure that
you mentally estimate the answer it gives you. Don’t lose marks through careless keying
or hitting ‘+’ instead of ‘-’. Some examples of data interpretations questions are shown
below (answers inbold).

Server January February March

Units $ Units $ Units $
ZXC-43 32 480 40 600 48 720
ZXC-53 45 585 45 585 45 585
ZXC-63 12 240 14 280 18 340

19a.Statethemonthwith thelowest salesvalue.

A)January B) February C) March

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19b. What is theunitcost of server type ZXC-63?

A)12 B) 13 C) 14

19c.How manyZXC43units couldbeexpectedto sell in April?

A)56 B) 58 C) 60
(there has been an increase of 8 units per month)

19d.Which server had its unitprice changed in March?

A) ZXC43 B) ZXC53 C)ZXC63

20.Thefollowingchart showsagriculturalimportsforJanuarytoMay.Answer
thefollowingquestionsusingthedata provided.(You mayusea calculator.)

Agricultural Imports Jan-May

45

40
40
37
36
35 34 34
33 33
31
30 29 30
27 27 27
26
25
25

20

15

10

0
Jan Feb M ar Apr M ay

 Potatoes (Av.$120/ton)  Wheat (Av.$156/ton)  Rice (Av.$75/ton)

20a. Which month showed the largest total decrease in imports over the
previousmonth?
A) March B)April C) May

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20b.What percentage of ricewas importedin April?

A) 17% B) 19% C)21%
(30 tons out of a total of 141)

20c. What was thetotal cost of wheatimportsin thefive-monthperiod?

A)$27,500 B) $25,000 C) $22,000
(176 tons at an average of $156/ton)

These numerical reasoning questions determine how logical and rational your approach
is to interpreting data. They are designed to assess your ability to understand series of
numbers, numerical transformations, relationships between numbers, and your ability to
perform numerical calculation. Download free numericalreasoningpractice tests.

Key POINTS
 Management-level numerical tests usually focus on higher-level skills like
data interpretation and mathematicalrelationships.
 If you feel as though your basic math skills are rusty then spend some time
going over the basics of fractions, percentages, etc.

Abstract Reasoning Tests

Abstract reasoning tests use diagrams, symbols, or shapes to assess how well you can
establish logical relationships and can identify the underlying logic of a pattern so the
solution can beidentified.

• Missing Symbols
• Next in Sequence
Abstract • Shape & Symbol
Rotation
Reasoning • Pattern Recognition
• Flow Chart
Comprehension

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These tests are particularly suited to management selection because management roles
involve:

● A high degree of problem solving

● Dealing with complex data or concepts
● Developing strategies orpolicies
● Performing non-routine tasks where initiative is required

The inclusion of abstract reasoning tests in management selection is also popular

because it does not discriminate against candidates who do not have English as their
first language.

MissingSymbolsandNextin Sequence
Instead of using letters or numbers in a sequence, abstract reasoning questions use a
variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns. The following examples show you the
variety of questions you are likely to answer during this 30-minute test. Typically it will
consist of approximately 20 questions giving you just over a minute for each question.

1.WhichsymbolintheAnswerFigurecompletesthesequencein theProblem
Figure?

Answer=C—The figure is rotated clockwise through 90 degrees each

time.

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2.Which of theAnswerFiguresbelongsin neithergroup?

Answer=D&E—Group 1shapes are all straight lines, Group 2 shapes are

all curved.

3.Which of theAnswerFiguresbelongsin neither group?

Answer=A, B&D—Same color shapes are diagonally opposite (Group1)

or above/below (Group 2).

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4.Whichof theAnswerFiguresfitsthemissingspaceintheQuestionFigure?

Answer=D—each row and column contains one line of each type.

FlowchartComprehensionandDiagrammatic Reasoning
The use of flowcharts is a standard management tool and an individual’sability to understand
and infer rules from these charts is an essential skill. This is especially significant in
organizationsthat areproject based and utilizematrix management within theiroperations.

This type of abstract reasoning question gauges your ability to deduce the rules linked to
a flowchart or diagram and then use them in a new situation.

For example:

The functions ‘M’ and ‘S’ transform the input shapes in a certain way. You
need to use the diagram to determine what effect each of these functions
has. Apply them to the input shape in the question to arrive at the correct
output.

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Answer =B—from the diagram you can infer that the function ‘M’ inverts
color (black white and white black). Function ‘S’ rotates shapes
counterclockwise through 90 degrees.

It is essential to practice these types of questions because your score will reflect your
ability to handle abstract concepts and ideas. It also gives a potential employer a clear
indication of your general intellectual ability and indicates how well you assimilate new
information that is outside your previous experience. Download free abstract &
diagrammatic reasoning practicetests.

Key POINTS
 Abstract reasoning tests assess how wellyou can establishlogical relationships.
 They do not discriminate against candidates who do not have English as their
first language.
 They are well suited to management selection because management roles
often involve problem solving at a conceptual level.

Spatial Ability Tests

These questions evaluate how well you can visually manipulate and assemble two-
dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) shapes as described in the diagram below.
Spatial ability can be definedas:

‘The ability to interpret and make drawings, form mental images, and
visualize movementor changein thoseimages.’

2D 2D & 3D
Spatial • Shape Matching 3D
Ability & • Cubes
• Visual Comparison • Cube
• Group Rotation • Other
Reasoning Solids
Views
• Combining Shapes

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Spatial ability tests are a combination of speed and power tests, as the following
examples illustrate. These types of question are often used in scientific and engineering
management selection.

ShapeMatching—2D shapes
These questions require an individual to manipulate of 2D objects then they are probably
fairly straightforward, but you will be challenged to answer them all in the time you are
given. It is important to read the question carefully so that you understand exactly what
youare being asked to identify:

● One-to-one match ofshapes.

● Match shapes that have been repositioned and possiblyrotated in some instances.
● Identify missing ormirrored shapes.

1.Which shape in Group 2corresponds totheshape in Group 1?

Answers
1.X 2.P 3.M 4. V 5.G
6.A 7.D 8.T 9.C 10. B
11.W 12.E 13.U 14.Y 15.F
16.S 17.H 18. K 19.J 20.L
21.O 22.N 23.Q 24.R 25.I

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When presented with a large number of shapes as in this example many people find it
distracting and stressful to answer. This is where your practice of such questions is
vital to your success because it identifies your best strategy for answering it quickly and
accurately. For example, you can work sequentially through Group 1or spot the matches
by visually comparing the two groups.

VisualComparison of 2DShapes
These questions require you to spot the only two identical objects in the selection. You
need to be able to work through this type of question quickly. Two useful strategies are:

● Cover up the other questions so you are not distracted by them.

● Try to match the far left shape first and move through the row systematically until
you find the pair of matching shapes.

26.Which twopictures are identical?

26—C &E.

GroupRotationof2Dobjects
These are more complex than the previous group. The most effective strategy is to work
in terms of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations and to select one shape in the
group—often the most asymmetrical shape—and find its rotation options first, and then
work through the other shapes to find the answer.

27. Which of theAnswerFiguresis arotation of theQuestion Figure?

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27—C (Explanation—the white square is clockwise from the arrow. So A,

B, and D cannot be rotations of the Question Figure, leaving only C which
you’ll quickly check element by element to ensure you’re right.)

Combining2DShapes
You will be asked to put together the 2D cut pieces or components so that they make one
of the complete shapes shown. The best strategy for this style of question is to look for
any distinct feature that makes it impossible to construct the complete shape from the
given components.

28.Which oftheCompleteShapescanbemadefromtheComponentsshown?

28—B (Tip: in this example the complete shape has no sticking out parts,
which tells you that the components fit together so that sides of the same
length are together.)

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3D CubeViews
You are usually shown three views of a cube in 3D. Each face will have a unique symbol
on it, or be blank. You will then be asked to identify the symbol opposite the stated one,
i.e. which one is on the opposite face. Only by practicing such questions will you find the
best strategy for you to quickly identify the answer.

29.Threeviewsof thesamecubeareshownbelow.Whichsymbolisopposite
theX?

29—D (Tip: you can eliminate the symbols A, B, and C on the cubes
showing the ‘X’ because these cannot be opposite it. This leaves ‘D’ and
‘other.’But as D has edges shared with A and B that are consistent with the
third cube it isthe answer.)

Unlessit is stated in thequestion it is implicitthateach symbolis only used once.This means

that rotating a cube in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction will help find the answer.

Cubesin2Dand3D
In these questions you will be asked to make a cube up from a 2D pattern or to identify
the 2D pattern that makes up the 3D cube shown. Each face will have a symbol or design
on that you will manipulate in your mind’s eye to create the pattern or cube that is the
answer, as shown in the examples below.

30.Which of thecubesshowncouldbemadefromthepattern?

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30—A (Tip: each answer can only show three faces of the cube so look at
the relationship between these three elements and see if it is in the pattern.
Name one face the top and then name the others in relation to it as shown
below.)

31.Which of thepatterns whenfolded will makethecube shown?

31—B(Use the same strategy as above: name the faces and look for
relationships between them.)

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Other SolidsinTwoandThreeDimensions
In these questions you will be asked to perform the same task but using other shapes,
which can be irregular. Many individuals find these questions easier than the cube ones
because each face of the solid shape is different. This makes it easier to identify the
relationships between them, as shown in the example below.

32.Which of thesolidshapes showncould bemadefromthepattern?

32—D (Explanation—A and C can be eliminated because they show an

unshaded face below a triangular face. B is eliminated because it has a
shaded roof above the shaded side. None of these appear on the pattern.)

Spatial tests rely on an individual’s ability to visualize in their mind’s eye how the 2D or
3D shape alters and this is not an innate skill that comes easily to everyone. So it is
essential to practice these types of spatial ability questions because with only 20–40
minutes to answer between 20–30 questions every second counts if you want to achieve
a high score. Download free spatial ability practicetests.

Key POINTS
 Spatial ability questions evaluate how well you can visually manipulateand
assemble two-dimensional and three-dimensionalshapes.
 They are usually restrictedto scientific or engineering management selection.

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Summary
Aptitude and ability tests are designed to assess your verbal, numerical, and logical
reasoning performance. They consist of multiple-choice questions that are strictly timed
and administered under exam conditions. They tend to be fairly short and a typical test
might allow 30 minutes for 30 or so questions.

There are literally hundreds of proprietary aptitude and ability tests on the market, but
the most common ones can be classified as follows:

Verbal Ability Tests—Include spelling and grammar, and the ability to understand
analogies andfollow detailed written instructions.

Numeric Ability Tests—Include basic arithmetic, number sequences, and simple

mathematics. In more complex numerical critical reasoning questions, blocks of
information are provided that requireinterpretation.

Abstract Reasoning Tests—Measure your ability to identify the underlying logic of a

pattern and then determine the solution. They are deliberately designed so that the
visual problem-solving strategy will work better than any other approach.

Spatial Ability Tests—Measure your ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to

visualize three-dimensional objects presented as two-dimensional pictures.

You may be asked to answer the questions either on paper or online. The advantage of
online testing is that once the test is completed, an analysis of the results can be
calculated straightaway. This means that the organization can continue with the selection
process with the results ‘in hand’ rather than keep you waiting or send you home and
call you back in at a later date. Another advantage is that you can take the test at a
recruitment agency or even in your own home. Online testing is particularly suitable for
initial screening as it is very cost-effective.

Whichever type of test you are given, the questions are almost always presented in
multiple-choice format and have definite correct and incorrect answers. As you proceed
through the test, the questions may become more difficult and you will usually find that
there are more questions than you can comfortably complete in the time allowed. Very
few people manage to finish these tests and the object is simply to give as many correct
answers as youcan.

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Use of Cut-off
Scores

Candidate Rank
Profiling Ordering

There are three approaches organizations can adopt when making recruitment and
employment decisions. They are:

● Rank ordering of testresults

● Using cut-offscores
● Candidate profiling

RankOrdering of TestResults
By simply accepting the highest-ranking scores the organization could take on candidates
over-qualified for the position in times of high unemployment. Or in the opposite
environment take on someone who is poorly qualified for the role even thought they got
one of the highest scores of their group.

Results from this approach must not be used in isolation if the organization wants to
achieve a positive outcome.

Cut-offScores
Organizations can go some way to protecting themselves by setting a minimum score for
a role. Candidates who score below this will be rejected and those that greatly exceed it
can be assessed to see if they are too high powered for the role.

CandidateProfiling
Using candidate profiling enables a profile of the ‘ideal’person as well as a minimum test
score to be used together in selecting candidates. Job specifications are usually used to
produce the role profile map. Individuals’ competencies will need to meet or surpass this
profile to continue in the recruitment process.

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Ideally, your score should then be compared with the results of a control group that has
taken the tests in the past. This control group could consist of other graduates, current
job-holders, or a sample of the population as a whole. Your reasoning skills can then be
assessed in relation to this control group and judgments made about your ability. This
does happen sometimes. Often however, your score is simply compared to the other
candidates.After all, the control group is not applying for the job.

● Management Assessment
● Interview Preparation
● Answering InterviewQuestions
● Interview Exercises
● Preparing for AptitudeTests
● Preparing for PersonalityTests

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