• Join Mind Tools

The Mind Tools Content Team

How Good Is Your Problem Solving?

How Good Is Your Problem Solving?

© iStockphoto Entienou

Use a systematic approach.

Good problem solving skills are fundamentally important if you're going to be successful in your career.

But problems are something that we don't particularly like.

They're time-consuming.

They muscle their way into already packed schedules.

They force us to think about an uncertain future.

And they never seem to go away!

That's why, when faced with problems, most of us try to eliminate them as quickly as possible. But have you ever chosen the easiest or most obvious solution – and then realized that you have entirely missed a much better solution? Or have you found yourself fixing just the symptoms of a problem, only for the situation to get much worse?

To be an effective problem-solver, you need to be systematic and logical in your approach. This quiz helps you assess your current approach to problem solving. By improving this, you'll make better overall decisions. And as you increase your confidence with solving problems, you'll be less likely to rush to the first solution – which may not necessarily be the best one.

Once you've completed the quiz, we'll direct you to tools and resources that can help you make the most of your problem-solving skills.

How Good Are You at Solving Problems?

Instructions.

For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, please click the 'Calculate My Total' button at the bottom of the test.

Your last quiz results are shown.

You last completed this quiz on , at .

Score Interpretation

Answering these questions should have helped you recognize the key steps associated with effective problem solving.

This quiz is based on Dr Min Basadur's Simplexity Thinking    problem-solving model. This eight-step process follows the circular pattern shown below, within which current problems are solved and new problems are identified on an ongoing basis. This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. 

Figure 1 – The Simplexity Thinking Process

Reproduced with permission from Dr Min Basadur from "The Power of Innovation: How to Make Innovation a Part of Life & How to Put Creative Solutions to Work" Copyright ©1995

Simplex Process Diagram

Below, we outline the tools and strategies you can use for each stage of the problem-solving process. Enjoy exploring these stages!

Step 1: Find the Problem

(Questions 7, 12)

Some problems are very obvious, however others are not so easily identified. As part of an effective problem-solving process, you need to look actively for problems – even when things seem to be running fine. Proactive problem solving helps you avoid emergencies and allows you to be calm and in control when issues arise.

These techniques can help you do this:

  • PEST Analysis   helps you pick up changes to your environment that you should be paying attention to. Make sure too that you're watching changes in customer needs and market dynamics, and that you're monitoring trends that are relevant to your industry.
  • Risk Analysis   helps you identify significant business risks.
  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis   helps you identify possible points of failure in your business process, so that you can fix these before problems arise.
  • After Action Reviews   help you scan recent performance to identify things that can be done better in the future.
  • Where you have several problems to solve, our articles on Prioritization   and Pareto Analysis   help you think about which ones you should focus on first.

Step 2: Find the Facts

(Questions 10, 14)

After identifying a potential problem, you need information. What factors contribute to the problem? Who is involved with it? What solutions have been tried before? What do others think about the problem?

If you move forward to find a solution too quickly, you risk relying on imperfect information that's based on assumptions and limited perspectives, so make sure that you research the problem thoroughly.

Step 3: Define the Problem

(Questions 3, 9)

Now that you understand the problem, define it clearly and completely. Writing a clear problem definition forces you to establish specific boundaries for the problem. This keeps the scope from growing too large, and it helps you stay focused on the main issues.

A great tool to use at this stage is CATWOE   . With this process, you analyze potential problems by looking at them from six perspectives, those of its Customers; Actors (people within the organization); the Transformation, or business process; the World-view, or top-down view of what's going on; the Owner; and the wider organizational Environment. By looking at a situation from these perspectives, you can open your mind and come to a much sharper and more comprehensive definition of the problem.

Cause and Effect Analysis   is another good tool to use here, as it helps you think about the many different factors that can contribute to a problem. This helps you separate the symptoms of a problem from its fundamental causes.

Step 4: Find Ideas

(Questions 4, 13)

With a clear problem definition, start generating ideas for a solution. The key here is to be flexible in the way you approach a problem. You want to be able to see it from as many perspectives as possible. Looking for patterns or common elements in different parts of the problem can sometimes help. You can also use metaphors   and analogies to help analyze the problem, discover similarities to other issues, and think of solutions based on those similarities.

Traditional brainstorming   and reverse brainstorming   are very useful here. By taking the time to generate a range of creative solutions to the problem, you'll significantly increase the likelihood that you'll find the best possible solution, not just a semi-adequate one. Where appropriate, involve people with different viewpoints to expand the volume of ideas generated.

Don't evaluate your ideas until step 5. If you do, this will limit your creativity at too early a stage.

Step 5: Select and Evaluate

(Questions 6, 15)

After finding ideas, you'll have many options that must be evaluated. It's tempting at this stage to charge in and start discarding ideas immediately. However, if you do this without first determining the criteria for a good solution, you risk rejecting an alternative that has real potential.

Decide what elements are needed for a realistic and practical solution, and think about the criteria you'll use to choose between potential solutions.

Paired Comparison Analysis   , Decision Matrix Analysis   and Risk Analysis   are useful techniques here, as are many of the specialist resources available within our Decision-Making section . Enjoy exploring these!

Step 6: Plan

(Questions 1, 16)

You might think that choosing a solution is the end of a problem-solving process. In fact, it's simply the start of the next phase in problem solving: implementation. This involves lots of planning and preparation. If you haven't already developed a full Risk Analysis   in the evaluation phase, do so now. It's important to know what to be prepared for as you begin to roll out your proposed solution.

The type of planning that you need to do depends on the size of the implementation project that you need to set up. For small projects, all you'll often need are Action Plans   that outline who will do what, when, and how. Larger projects need more sophisticated approaches – you'll find out more about these in the Mind Tools Project Management section. And for projects that affect many other people, you'll need to think about Change Management   as well.

Here, it can be useful to conduct an Impact Analysis   to help you identify potential resistance as well as alert you to problems you may not have anticipated. Force Field Analysis   will also help you uncover the various pressures for and against your proposed solution. Once you've done the detailed planning, it can also be useful at this stage to make a final Go/No-Go Decision   , making sure that it's actually worth going ahead with the selected option.

Step 7: Sell the Idea

(Questions 5, 8)

As part of the planning process, you must convince other stakeholders that your solution is the best one. You'll likely meet with resistance, so before you try to “sell” your idea, make sure you've considered all the consequences.

As you begin communicating your plan, listen to what people say, and make changes as necessary. The better the overall solution meets everyone's needs, the greater its positive impact will be! For more tips on selling your idea, read our article on Creating a Value Proposition   and use our Sell Your Idea   Bite-Sized Training session.

Step 8: Act

(Questions 2, 11)

Finally, once you've convinced your key stakeholders that your proposed solution is worth running with, you can move on to the implementation stage. This is the exciting and rewarding part of problem solving, which makes the whole process seem worthwhile.

This action stage is an end, but it's also a beginning: once you've completed your implementation, it's time to move into the next cycle of problem solving by returning to the scanning stage. By doing this, you'll continue improving your organization as you move into the future.

Problem solving is an exceptionally important workplace skill.

Being a competent and confident problem solver will create many opportunities for you. By using a well-developed model like Simplexity Thinking for solving problems, you can approach the process systematically, and be comfortable that the decisions you make are solid.

Given the unpredictable nature of problems, it's very reassuring to know that, by following a structured plan, you've done everything you can to resolve the problem to the best of your ability.

This site teaches you the skills you need for a happy and successful career; and this is just one of many tools and resources that you'll find here at Mind Tools. Subscribe to our free newsletter , or join the Mind Tools Club and really supercharge your career!

Rate this resource

The Mind Tools Club gives you exclusive tips and tools to boost your career - plus a friendly community and support from our career coaches! 

problem solving skills test

Comments (220)

  • Over a month ago Sonia_H wrote Hi PANGGA, This is great news! Thanks for sharing your experience. We hope these 8 steps outlined will help you in multiple ways. ~Sonia Mind Tools Coach
  • Over a month ago PANGGA wrote Thank you for this mind tool. I got to know my skills in solving problem. It will serve as my guide on facing and solving problem that I might encounter.
  • Over a month ago Sarah_H wrote Wow, thanks for your very detailed feedback HardipG. The Mind Tools team will take a look at your feedback and suggestions for improvement. Best wishes, Sarah Mind Tools Coach

Please wait...

  • Brain Development
  • Childhood & Adolescence
  • Diet & Lifestyle
  • Emotions, Stress & Anxiety
  • Learning & Memory
  • Thinking & Awareness
  • Alzheimer's & Dementia
  • Childhood Disorders
  • Immune System Disorders
  • Mental Health
  • Neurodegenerative Disorders
  • Infectious Disease
  • Neurological Disorders A-Z
  • Body Systems
  • Cells & Circuits
  • Genes & Molecules
  • The Arts & the Brain
  • Law, Economics & Ethics
  • Neuroscience in the News
  • Supporting Research
  • Tech & the Brain
  • Animals in Research
  • BRAIN Initiative
  • Meet the Researcher
  • Neuro-technologies
  • Tools & Techniques
  • Core Concepts
  • For Educators
  • Ask an Expert
  • The Brain Facts Book

BrainFacts.org

Test Your Problem-Solving Skills

Personalize your emails.

Personalize your monthly updates from BrainFacts.org by choosing the topics that you care about most!

Find a Neuroscientist

Engage local scientists to educate your community about the brain.

Image of the Week

Check out the Image of the Week Archive.

Facebook

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Dana Foundation logo

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Manage Cookies

Some pages on this website provide links that require Adobe Reader to view.

loading

How it works

For Business

Join Mind Tools

Self-Assessment • 20 min read

How Good Is Your Problem Solving?

Use a systematic approach..

By the Mind Tools Content Team

problem solving skills test

Good problem solving skills are fundamentally important if you're going to be successful in your career.

But problems are something that we don't particularly like.

They're time-consuming.

They muscle their way into already packed schedules.

They force us to think about an uncertain future.

And they never seem to go away!

That's why, when faced with problems, most of us try to eliminate them as quickly as possible. But have you ever chosen the easiest or most obvious solution – and then realized that you have entirely missed a much better solution? Or have you found yourself fixing just the symptoms of a problem, only for the situation to get much worse?

To be an effective problem-solver, you need to be systematic and logical in your approach. This quiz helps you assess your current approach to problem solving. By improving this, you'll make better overall decisions. And as you increase your confidence with solving problems, you'll be less likely to rush to the first solution – which may not necessarily be the best one.

Once you've completed the quiz, we'll direct you to tools and resources that can help you make the most of your problem-solving skills.

How Good Are You at Solving Problems?

Instructions.

For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, please click the 'Calculate My Total' button at the bottom of the test.

Answering these questions should have helped you recognize the key steps associated with effective problem solving.

This quiz is based on Dr Min Basadur's Simplexity Thinking problem-solving model. This eight-step process follows the circular pattern shown below, within which current problems are solved and new problems are identified on an ongoing basis. This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only.

Below, we outline the tools and strategies you can use for each stage of the problem-solving process. Enjoy exploring these stages!

Step 1: Find the Problem (Questions 7, 12)

Some problems are very obvious, however others are not so easily identified. As part of an effective problem-solving process, you need to look actively for problems – even when things seem to be running fine. Proactive problem solving helps you avoid emergencies and allows you to be calm and in control when issues arise.

These techniques can help you do this:

PEST Analysis helps you pick up changes to your environment that you should be paying attention to. Make sure too that you're watching changes in customer needs and market dynamics, and that you're monitoring trends that are relevant to your industry.

Risk Analysis helps you identify significant business risks.

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis helps you identify possible points of failure in your business process, so that you can fix these before problems arise.

After Action Reviews help you scan recent performance to identify things that can be done better in the future.

Where you have several problems to solve, our articles on Prioritization and Pareto Analysis help you think about which ones you should focus on first.

Step 2: Find the Facts (Questions 10, 14)

After identifying a potential problem, you need information. What factors contribute to the problem? Who is involved with it? What solutions have been tried before? What do others think about the problem?

If you move forward to find a solution too quickly, you risk relying on imperfect information that's based on assumptions and limited perspectives, so make sure that you research the problem thoroughly.

Step 3: Define the Problem (Questions 3, 9)

Now that you understand the problem, define it clearly and completely. Writing a clear problem definition forces you to establish specific boundaries for the problem. This keeps the scope from growing too large, and it helps you stay focused on the main issues.

A great tool to use at this stage is CATWOE . With this process, you analyze potential problems by looking at them from six perspectives, those of its Customers; Actors (people within the organization); the Transformation, or business process; the World-view, or top-down view of what's going on; the Owner; and the wider organizational Environment. By looking at a situation from these perspectives, you can open your mind and come to a much sharper and more comprehensive definition of the problem.

Cause and Effect Analysis is another good tool to use here, as it helps you think about the many different factors that can contribute to a problem. This helps you separate the symptoms of a problem from its fundamental causes.

Step 4: Find Ideas (Questions 4, 13)

With a clear problem definition, start generating ideas for a solution. The key here is to be flexible in the way you approach a problem. You want to be able to see it from as many perspectives as possible. Looking for patterns or common elements in different parts of the problem can sometimes help. You can also use metaphors and analogies to help analyze the problem, discover similarities to other issues, and think of solutions based on those similarities.

Traditional brainstorming and reverse brainstorming are very useful here. By taking the time to generate a range of creative solutions to the problem, you'll significantly increase the likelihood that you'll find the best possible solution, not just a semi-adequate one. Where appropriate, involve people with different viewpoints to expand the volume of ideas generated.

Tip: Don't evaluate your ideas until step 5. If you do, this will limit your creativity at too early a stage.

Step 5: Select and Evaluate (Questions 6, 15)

After finding ideas, you'll have many options that must be evaluated. It's tempting at this stage to charge in and start discarding ideas immediately. However, if you do this without first determining the criteria for a good solution, you risk rejecting an alternative that has real potential.

Decide what elements are needed for a realistic and practical solution, and think about the criteria you'll use to choose between potential solutions.

Paired Comparison Analysis , Decision Matrix Analysis and Risk Analysis are useful techniques here, as are many of the specialist resources available within our Decision-Making section . Enjoy exploring these!

Step 6: Plan (Questions 1, 16)

You might think that choosing a solution is the end of a problem-solving process. In fact, it's simply the start of the next phase in problem solving: implementation. This involves lots of planning and preparation. If you haven't already developed a full Risk Analysis in the evaluation phase, do so now. It's important to know what to be prepared for as you begin to roll out your proposed solution.

The type of planning that you need to do depends on the size of the implementation project that you need to set up. For small projects, all you'll often need are Action Plans that outline who will do what, when, and how. Larger projects need more sophisticated approaches – you'll find out more about these in the article What is Project Management? And for projects that affect many other people, you'll need to think about Change Management as well.

Here, it can be useful to conduct an Impact Analysis to help you identify potential resistance as well as alert you to problems you may not have anticipated. Force Field Analysis will also help you uncover the various pressures for and against your proposed solution. Once you've done the detailed planning, it can also be useful at this stage to make a final Go/No-Go Decision , making sure that it's actually worth going ahead with the selected option.

Step 7: Sell the Idea (Questions 5, 8)

As part of the planning process, you must convince other stakeholders that your solution is the best one. You'll likely meet with resistance, so before you try to “sell” your idea, make sure you've considered all the consequences.

As you begin communicating your plan, listen to what people say, and make changes as necessary. The better the overall solution meets everyone's needs, the greater its positive impact will be! For more tips on selling your idea, read our article on Creating a Value Proposition and use our Sell Your Idea Skillbook.

Step 8: Act (Questions 2, 11)

Finally, once you've convinced your key stakeholders that your proposed solution is worth running with, you can move on to the implementation stage. This is the exciting and rewarding part of problem solving, which makes the whole process seem worthwhile.

This action stage is an end, but it's also a beginning: once you've completed your implementation, it's time to move into the next cycle of problem solving by returning to the scanning stage. By doing this, you'll continue improving your organization as you move into the future.

Problem solving is an exceptionally important workplace skill.

Being a competent and confident problem solver will create many opportunities for you. By using a well-developed model like Simplexity Thinking for solving problems, you can approach the process systematically, and be comfortable that the decisions you make are solid.

Given the unpredictable nature of problems, it's very reassuring to know that, by following a structured plan, you've done everything you can to resolve the problem to the best of your ability.

This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is just one of many Mind Tool quizzes that can help you to evaluate your abilities in a wide range of important career skills.

If you want to reproduce this quiz, you can purchase downloadable copies in our Store .

You've accessed 1 of your 2 free resources.

Get unlimited access

Discover more content

Problem Solving

4 Logical Fallacies

Avoid Common Types of Faulty Reasoning

Add comment

Comments (2)

Afkar Hashmi

😇 This tool is very useful for me.

about 1 year

Very impactful

problem solving skills test

Enhance your in-demand workplace skills

Top skills - leadership, management, communication and more - are available to develop using the 3,000+ resources available from Mind Tools.

Join Mind Tools today!

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

Subscribe now

Business Skills

Personal Development

Leadership and Management

Most Popular

Newest Releases

Article azazlu3

Locke's Goal-Setting Theory

Article aq7esry

The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything

Mind Tools Store

About Mind Tools Content

Discover something new today

How to do a personal swot analysis.

Spotting career opportunities and threats

How to Deal With Unfair Criticism

Handling harsh or personal criticism calmly and professionally

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?

Boosting Your People Skills

Self-Assessment

What's Your Leadership Style?

Learn About the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Way You Like to Lead

Recommended for you

How to stay productive while traveling.

Being Efficient on the Road

Business Operations and Process Management

Strategy Tools

Customer Service

Business Ethics and Values

Handling Information and Data

Project Management

Knowledge Management

Self-Development and Goal Setting

Time Management

Presentation Skills

Learning Skills

Career Skills

Communication Skills

Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence

Working With Others

Difficult Conversations

Creativity Tools

Self-Management

Work-Life Balance

Stress Management and Wellbeing

Coaching and Mentoring

Change Management

Team Management

Managing Conflict

Delegation and Empowerment

Performance Management

Leadership Skills

Developing Your Team

Talent Management

Decision Making

The AI-Powered Talent Assessment Tool – See Testlify in action

The ai-powered talent assessment tool – view demo, choosing a problem-solving skills assessment: how and why.

Choosing a problem-solving skills assessment How and why

Choosing the right problem-solving skills assessment is more than just a hiring step; it’s an investment in your team’s future. In a survey by the World Economic Forum , problem-solving was ranked as one of the top skills needed in the 2020s workforce. This blog will guide you through the essentials of selecting an assessment that effectively measures this critical skill, ensuring your candidates are equipped to tackle challenges creatively and efficiently in today’s dynamic work environment .

Understanding the importance of problem-solving skills in the workplace

It’s not just about fixing what’s broken but about navigating through challenges and finding innovative solutions. This skill is essential for almost every job, from a manager figuring out how to improve team performance to an IT specialist resolving system glitches.

Now, here’s where a skills assessment becomes a game-changer. Companies can spot the superheroes in their team by using a skills assessment designed to gauge problem-solving abilities . It’s like having a special lens to see who’s really good at untangling complex situations and who might need a bit more training.

Imagine you’re a coach picking players for a puzzle-solving contest. You’d want people who can think quickly, adapt to new problems, and come up with clever solutions, right? That’s what this skills assessment does – it helps identify the employees who can do just that.

So, why does this matter? Well, employees who excel at problem-solving are often the ones driving innovation and efficiency within an organization. They’re the ones who keep things running smoothly, come up with fresh ideas, and help the company adapt and thrive, no matter what challenges come their way.

Criteria for selecting a problem-solving skills assessment

Choosing the right skills assessment for problem-solving is a bit like picking the perfect tool for a job. You want something that fits just right and really gets the job done. When it comes to problem-solving assessments, there are a few key things to look out for.

First, think about what makes an effective assessment. It should be challenging enough to really test someone’s skills but not so tough that it’s discouraging. It’s like a puzzle that’s fun yet makes you think. The assessment should cover different types of problems – some that need quick thinking and others that require deep analysis.

Next, consider the variety of assessments available. You’ve got simulations that put people in real-world scenarios, case studies that make them think through complex situations, and logical reasoning tests that check how well they can think on their feet. Each type has its own way of shining a light on a person’s problem-solving skills.

Remember, the goal is to find a skills assessment that tests problem-solving abilities and feels relevant to the jobs you’re hiring for. It’s about finding that sweet spot where the assessment reflects the challenges employees will face in their roles. This way, you get a clear picture of how well they’ll tackle real-life problems in the workplace.

Aligning assessment with business goals and job requirements

When it comes to finding the right skills assessment for problem-solving , it’s like matching puzzle pieces to the bigger picture of your business. You want to make sure the assessment fits not just the job but also your company’s goals and values.

First, let’s talk about tailoring the assessment to specific job roles. Imagine you’re hiring a project manager. Their problem-solving assessment might focus on handling project delays or managing team conflicts. On the other hand, if you’re hiring a software developer, their assessment might be more about troubleshooting coding issues or optimizing algorithms.

Now, think about your company’s unique culture and values. Your ideal skills assessment should reflect these too. For instance, if creativity is a big deal at your company, include problem-solving scenarios that require out-of-the-box thinking. If teamwork is key, consider assessments that evaluate how well a person collaborates to solve problems.

In short, the assessment should mirror the challenges an employee will face in their role and the qualities your company cherishes. This way, you’re more likely to find candidates who are skilled and a great fit for your business culture.

Implementing the assessment: Best practices

Introducing a new skills assessment into your hiring process is a bit like adding a new recipe to your cookbook. You want to make sure it blends well with your existing ingredients and enhances the overall flavor. Here are some tips to smoothly integrate a problem-solving skills assessment into your hiring process.

First, plan out how the assessment will fit into your existing hiring stages. It’s like figuring out the right time to add a spice to a dish. Decide whether the assessment should come early to screen candidates or later as a deeper evaluation. Ensure it complements other steps like interviews or group activities.

Next, focus on fairness and objectivity. This is crucial. The assessment should be the same for every candidate to ensure a level playing field. Think of it as following a recipe to the letter – every candidate gets the same ingredients and instructions. This way, you’re judging everyone by the same standards.

Remember, clear communication is key. Inform candidates about what to expect from the assessment. It’s like giving diners a menu; they should know what they’re in for. This helps reduce anxiety and allows candidates to perform at their best.

By following these steps, you can ensure your problem-solving skills assessment not only identifies the most capable candidates but also enhances your overall hiring process.

Analyzing and utilizing assessment results

After conducting a problem-solving skills assessment, it’s like having a treasure trove of information about your candidates. Now, it’s time to dive in and make sense of these valuable insights.

First up, analyzing the results. Think of it like reading a map that guides you to the right candidates. Look for patterns and standout performances. Did some candidates excel in creative problem-solving while others shone in logical reasoning? This helps you understand not just who is good, but also how they’re good at solving problems.

But it’s not just about who you hire. These assessment results can be a goldmine for your team’s development too. Maybe you’ll spot areas where many candidates struggled. This could indicate a skill gap in your existing team and highlight areas for training and growth.

Finally, use these insights to enhance your hiring and training processes. It’s like fine-tuning a machine; with each assessment, you learn more about what makes a great problem-solver for your company. This way, you can continuously improve the skills assessment to better match your company’s evolving needs.

In short, the results from your problem-solving skills assessment aren’t just a one-time thing. They’re a resource for making smarter hiring decisions and for guiding ongoing employee development.

In summary, choosing the proper problem-solving skills assessment is key to unlocking the potential of your workforce. It’s not just about finding candidates who can think independently but about fostering a culture of innovative problem-solving that propels your organization forward. By prioritizing these assessments, you invest in individuals who can navigate complex challenges, drive change, and contribute to your business’s overall success and resilience.

Choose Testlify as your new remote assessment tool and assess your candidates quickly. Sign up now with Testlify and check out the vast test library.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

A problem-solving skills assessment is a tool used in hiring to evaluate a candidate’s ability to handle challenges and find solutions in work-related scenarios.

These assessments help identify candidates with strong analytical and creative thinking skills, crucial for navigating workplace challenges effectively.

By matching assessment challenges to real job scenarios, businesses can ensure candidates possess skills that align with their specific goals and needs.

Key practices include integrating the assessment smoothly into the hiring process, ensuring fairness, and clearly communicating its purpose to candidates.

Results are used for making informed hiring decisions and identifying skill gaps for employee training, enhancing overall team performance.

Similar Posts

Pre-hire assessments for retail industry

Pre-hire assessments for retail industry

The importance of typing speed and accuracy in the workplace

The importance of typing speed and accuracy in the workplace

Pre-hire assessments for marketing and advertising industry

Pre-hire assessments for marketing and advertising industry

Importance of assessing analytical skills in recruitment for data-driven decision-making

Importance of assessing analytical skills in recruitment for data-driven decision-making

The importance of technical assessments when hiring iOS (Objective c) Developers

The importance of technical assessments when hiring iOS (Objective c) Developers

How to tailor excel assessments to your company needs

How to tailor excel assessments to your company needs

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Hire with Facts, not Fiction.

Resumes don’t tell you everything! Testlify gives you the insights you need to hire the right people with skills assessments that are accurate, automated, and unbiased.

Test library

ATS integrations

Reseller plan

What’s new

White label

Video interviews

Product roadmap

Lateral hiring

Diversity and inclusion

Volume hiring

Remote hiring

Blue collar hiring

Freelance hiring

Campus hiring

Information technology

Logistics & supply chain

Recruitment

Hospitality

Real estate

Careers We are hiring

For subject matter experts

Our partners

Role specific tests

Language tests

Programming tests

Software skills tests

Cognitive ability tests

Situational judgment tests

Typing test

Coding test s

Psychometric tests

Engineering tests

Company type

Non-profits

Public sector

Help center

Join Testlify SME

Integration program

Referral program

Partnership program

Success stories

Competitors

Hiring guides

HR glossary

Privacy policy Terms & conditions Refund policy

GDPR compliance

Cookie policy

Security practices

Data processing agreement

Data privacy framework

Trust center

Testgorilla

Vervoe Adaface Maki People Xobin TestDome Mettl

Greenhouse JobAdder JazzHR

Zoho Recruit

[email protected]

[email protected]

©2024 Testlify All Rights Reserved

Get email notifications whenever Workable  creates ,  updates  or  resolves  an incident.Email address:

Get incident updates and maintenance status messages in Slack.

Recruiting is complex, time-consuming, and risky.

We hope this blog post provided you with some amazing insights.

Want to 4x your recruitment goals? Sign up for the free trial and try it for yourself.

[fluentform id=”23″]

Get 40% off on your first year’s billing!

Hurry and make the most of this special offer before it expires., new customers only..

[fluentform id=”21″]

Test library request

These are upcoming tests. If you wish to prioritize this test request, we can curate it for you at an additional cost.

Accounts Assistant (UK)

The Accounts Assistant (UK) test is a targeted assessment tool for evaluating candidates’ aptitude in UK-specific accounting tasks. It streamlines the hiring process and reduces onboarding time.

Budgeting & Forecasting

This test helps to evaluates candidate’s ability to develop and manage budgets , create accurate financial forecasts, and make informed financial decision.

Budget Manager Aptitude

This test assesses candidates’ skills in financial planning, analysis, budget management, spending optimization, and forecasting, crucial for effective resource allocation.

Intellectual Property Law

The IP Law test on Testlify assesses candidates’ expertise in patent, trademark, copyright law, and more. It ensures hiring professionals who safeguard intellectual property, reducing legal risks.

System Administrator (Advanced)

A system administrator is responsible for maintaining, configuring, and troubleshooting computer systems, networks, and servers.

Sales Profiler

The Sales Profiler test is a strategic assessment designed to identify top sales talent, evaluating key competencies like resilience, strategic thinking, and empathy.

Relationship Manager (Event Management – Wedding)

The Relationship Manager test is an essential tool in the hiring process, offering a comprehensive evaluation of key skills like empathy, customer centricity, and stress management.

Stakeholder Management

The Stakeholder Management test identifies candidates skilled in managing diverse stakeholder relationships, crucial for roles requiring negotiation and collaboration.

Change Leadership

The Change Leadership test identifies candidates adept at leading through transformation, focusing on strategic visioning, effective communication, adaptability and collaborative problem-solving.

16 PF Personality

The 16 PF Personality test assesses 16 primary personality factors, aiding employers in evaluating candidates beyond qualifications.

Enneagram Personality

The Enneagram Personality Test offers deep insights into candidates’ motivations and behaviors, aiding in hiring decisions. It assesses work style, communication and leadership potential.

Organizing Skills for Managers

The Organizing Skills for Managers test evaluates a candidate’s ability to strategize, prioritize, and manage resources effectively.

Construction Assistant

The Construction Assistant test effectively assesses technical skills, safety knowledge, and teamwork, streamlining hiring for construction roles.

Cashier Aptitude

The Cashier Aptitude assessment evaluates a candidate’s ability to handle transactions, process payments, manage cash, and interact with customers.

SEO Specialist (Beginner)

The SEO Specialist test evaluates a candidate’s ability to analyze traffic, develop keyword strategies, and optimize content for search engines.

SEO Specialist (Intermediate)

The SEO Specialist test evaluates a candidate’s ability to analyze web traffic, devise keyword strategies, and optimize content for search engines.

Oracle PeopleSoft

The Oracle PeopleSoft Test assesses expertise in PeopleSoft applications, vital for roles in HR, finance, and supply chain management.

Workday Software

The Workday Software Test evaluates proficiency in Workday solutions, essential for roles involving HR and financial management systems.

Microsoft Windows Server

Microsoft Windows Server is an enterprise-level operating system designed to manage and serve network resources, making it a cornerstone of IT infrastructure.

Adobe Creative Cloud software

Adobe Creative Cloud is a comprehensive suite of creative tools and software, that enables professionals to create, design, and innovate.

Autodesk Revit

The Autodesk Revit test assesses candidates’ proficiency in industry-standard software for architecture, engineering, and construction roles, ensuring they can create accurate 3D models.

Epic Systems

The Epic Systems Test assesses candidates’ proficiency in healthcare IT, focusing on software solutions, system analysis, and user interface design.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is an email and calendar management tool, offering robust features for communication, scheduling, and task organization.

Shell script

Assessing shell scripting skills, this test measures a candidate’s proficiency in automating tasks, managing system operations, and scripting in Unix/Linux environments.

Microsoft Teams

The Microsoft Teams test evaluates proficiency in using Teams for collaboration, communication, and productivity in workplace settings.

The Zoom test assesses candidates’ proficiency in using Zoom for effective communication and collaboration in a remote work environment.

Google workspace

The Google Workspace assessment tests are designed to evaluate a candidate’s proficiency in using the various tools and functionalities offered by Google Workspace.

Atlassian Bamboo

The Atlassian Bamboo Test assesses knowledge in Bamboo CI/CD processes, integration with development tools, and automation skills for software deployment.

Objective C

The Objective C Test assesses proficiency in Objective C programming, focusing on language syntax, object-oriented principles, and iOS development.

Marketo Marketing Automation

The Marketo Marketing Automation Test evaluates proficiency in Marketo tools, understanding marketing automation strategies, and the ability to leverage Marketo for effective marketing campaigns.

Talk to our product advisor

Schedule a product demo meeting, and we’ll show you Testlify in action

problem solving skills test

See our features in action

How skills-based hiring works

Explore all of our integrations

Assess coding skills

Discover what drives candidates

Test thinking and problem-solving

Evaluate language proficiency

Hire industry-leading tech talent

High-volume hiring done right

Find skilled candidates fast

Our customer success stories

Expert talent assessment articles

Insights into candidate potential

Why it works and how to adopt it

problem solving skills test

Learn how TestGorilla uses industry-leading science to create skills-based hiring solutions.

Problem-solving tests for adults: Your top recruitment guide

problem-solving tests for adults - A recruitment guide

Problem-solving is fundamental for achieving targets in the workplace: Good problem solvers will work productively and efficiently. But how can you evaluate and recruit applicants with excellent problem-solving skills? 

Our Problem Solving skills test offers one of the best options to help you spot logical thinkers, especially when you follow it up with effective problem-solving questions in an interview. Get all the information about these recruitment methods in this recruitment guide.

Table of contents

What is problem solving, and what makes it so important in the workplace, 2 examples of creative problem-solving, what are good problem-solving questions, what are some examples of problem-solving questions for adults, what are some examples of excellent problem-solving skills, find a problem solver fast: review your applicants’ skills with testgorilla.

Problem solving is a process in which employees complete four essential steps:

Step one – employees define a problem that they need to solve

Step two – they find out the root cause or causes of the problem

Step three – they identify and prioritize potential solutions for the problem

Step four – they implement the most efficient solutions

It’s a process that requires perceptive deduction, effective tools, and the best practices to help your team tap into innovative solutions for complex challenges. 

Problem solving is vital in the workplace , helping your organization achieve its objectives. It will ensure your business implements effective solutions to resolve critical issues and keep your organization performing well.

If your employees and new hires have exceptional problem-solving skills, they will be less apprehensive when confronting challenges and have the confidence to assist their team members. 

Let’s now consider a couple of examples of creative problem solving in the work environment .

2 examples of creative problem-solving

1. Aligning a company’s customer service to the changing needs of consumers

Even when an organization considers its customer service to be exceptional, it can strive to better align its standards with the changing requirements of its consumers. Organizations hoping to ada[t their customer service in this way will have to implement top problem-solving strategies, such as gathering information through interviews, creating journey maps to review the consumer experience, and building insights reports.

Having completed the research, organizations can then identify and prioritize potential solutions (such as rolling out inquiry centers or online support for products) and implement the most efficient solutions.

2. Catering to clients’ online services requirements during a pandemic

When face-to-face communication isn’t possible such as during a global pandemic), organizations must seek creative ways to meet their clients’ online service requirements. 

Businesses may consider solutions few organizations offer, such as developing and finding universally accepted and easily navigable tools that all clients can use. Your company may plan to build inclusive software, solution, or tools, and the smoother the user experience, the better.

With such plans developed, you simply need to set up the software or solution to resolve the issue and retain customer loyalty.

You can ask your applicants problem-solving questions for adults to review their problem-solving abilities, which may include gathering data, assessing a problem, reviewing the advantages and disadvantages , and implementing a decision. You should decide on several creative problem-solving questions and answers before beginning the interview to streamline your hiring process. 

To hire exceptional problem solvers, you will need to ask candidates creative problem-solving questions. Here are five problem-solving interview questions and the answers you may consider asking your applicants before hiring.

Some examples of problem-solving questions for adults

1. Which method do you use to consider solutions to a problem?

Applicants and employees may mention that research is critical to finding solutions for a complex problem. They may also consider methods that others have used to solve similar problems and review the efficiency of these methods to decide which is the best solution.

2. What is the ideal way to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a solution?

Do your candidates know that making a list of the advantages and disadvantages of a strategy is critical when weighing up the potential solutions they want to implement? Do they know that seeking the support of their co-workers or manager can also help them review these pros and cons?

3. Which approach would you use to satisfy an unhappy customer?

Applicants and employees may begin by using empathy to diffuse tension and learn the root cause of the customer’s dissatisfaction. They may also discuss other important details, such as the previously implemented solutions, to determine what has gone wrong. Can your candidates use the information they gather and communicate with the customer to solve their problem?

4. Have you ever had to find a solution to a problem without sufficient information? 

When responding to this problem-solving interview question, interviewees should note that gathering information is a critical first step to solving the problem. They may use strategies such as conducting interviews or distributing surveys to receive the information required to understand the problem. Finally, they may implement solutions based on the information they have.

5. Have you ever had to alter your plans when solving a complex problem? 

Your interviewees may have had to change their plans in the process of addressing complex problems. One strategy might be to gather ideas for an article or change their software development plans to create the perfect end product. Listen for answers that prioritize planning.

When hiring a top problem solver, make sure to pay attention to the top three problem-solving skills:

3 examples of problem-solving skills

1. Analytical skills and attention to detail 

If your candidates are analytical, they can pinpoint a problem’s causes and foresee its potential knock-on effects. They should also know how to identify the effectiveness of different solutions, using reason to deduce which solution is most suitable. To find the best candidates, review your applicants’ analytical skills with our Attention to Detail skills test before you hire.

2. Communication and active listening skills

Communication and active listening skills help individuals gather accurate and valuable information from co-workers and customers. Employees effective at this are more likely to implement appropriate solutions based on relevant information. Use our Communication skills test to ensure your candidates and employees have top communication and active listening skills.

3. Critical thinking

Deductive reasoning and critical thinking are fundamental for problem-solving. These skills help employees evaluate any information they gather and make logical conclusions when deciding on the best course of action. Make sure your employees and potential new hires have critical-thinking skills by assessing them with our Critical Thinking test .

Finding a problem solver doesn’t have to be impossible. Combining our problem-solving questions for adults and skills tests is the best way to identify the best candidates for your open role.

Gauge every candidate’s analytical skills to learn more about their creativity and problem-solving abilities, and make use of our Problem Solving and Critical Thinking skills tests to simplify your hiring process by signing up for your free plan today.

Related posts

How to attract and assess virtuoso ISTP candidates featured image

How to attract and assess Virtuoso (ISTP) candidates

Compensation-management-softwar-A-guide-for-efficiency-driven-HR-professionals featured image

How to write a Snowflake developer job description

How to write a program management job description featured image

How to write a program management job description

Hire the best candidates with testgorilla..

Create pre-employment assessments in minutes to screen candidates, save time, and hire the best talent.

problem solving skills test

Latest posts

food and beverage manager job description featured image

The best advice in pre-employment testing, in your inbox.

No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Hire the best. No bias. No stress.

Our screening tests identify the best candidates and make your hiring decisions faster, easier, and bias-free.

Free resources

problem solving skills test

Anti-cheating checklist

This checklist covers key features you should look for when choosing a skills testing platform

problem solving skills test

Onboarding checklist

This resource will help you develop an onboarding checklist for new hires.

problem solving skills test

How to find candidates with strong attention to detail

How to assess your candidates' attention to detail.

problem solving skills test

How to get HR certified

Learn how to get human resources certified through HRCI or SHRM.

problem solving skills test

Improve quality of hire

Learn how you can improve the level of talent at your company.

problem solving skills test

Case study: How CapitalT reduces hiring bias

Learn how CapitalT reduced hiring bias with online skills assessments.

problem solving skills test

Resume screening guide

Learn how to make the resume process more efficient and more effective.

problem solving skills test

Important recruitment metrics

Improve your hiring strategy with these 7 critical recruitment metrics.

problem solving skills test

Case study: How Sukhi reduces shortlisting time

Learn how Sukhi decreased time spent reviewing resumes by 83%!

problem solving skills test

12 pre-employment testing hacks

Hire more efficiently with these hacks that 99% of recruiters aren't using.

problem solving skills test

The benefits of diversity

Make a business case for diversity and inclusion initiatives with this data.

problem solving skills test

Get 25% off all test packages.

Get 25% off all test packages!

Click below to get 25% off all test packages.

Logical Reasoning Tests

  • 100 questions

Logical reasoning tests are a type of psychometric test used to measure your problem-solving skills. They come in various forms, but all have the underlying purpose of assessing your logical aptitude and your ability to draw conclusions from a given set of information.

What is a logical reasoning test?

A logical reasoning test is an assessment that measures your ability to interpret information, apply logic to solve problems and draw relevant conclusions. It is typically non-verbal and in a multiple-choice format, and requires the use of rules and deduction to reach answers, rather than prior knowledge.

That said, logical reasoning is actually an umbrella term for multiple types of assessment, and you may find you’re asked to take any one of the following five test types as part of a job application.

Deductive reasoning

Commonly presented as a series of word problems, deductive reasoning tests require you to apply top-down-logic; that is, you must draw the right conclusion from a set of given premises.

Typically, you’ll be presented with a short paragraph, or stimulus, detailing an argument, scenario or a number of stated facts, and a set of possible answers. Only one of these answers can be true, based on the evidence provided.

You may also be given a conclusive statement and asked to decide if it is true or false, or if there’s insufficient information to conclude either way.

Inductive reasoning

Unlike deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning tests ask you to make general inferences – probable conclusions based on a set of information, rather than unquestionable outcomes.

This is most often done through the use of shapes, patterns, sequences and diagrams.

You’ll need to quickly identify relationships and rules, then apply these to find the most logical answer from the multiple-choice options. This could be identifying the odd one out, filling in the missing part of a pattern, or finding the next part of a sequence.

Diagrammatic reasoning

Similar to inductive reasoning, diagrammatic reasoning tests offer visual representations of a problem and require you to make logical connections to draw a conclusion.

Questions often take the form of a diagram with inputs and outputs, and you’ll be required to select which processes from a list of operators would achieve the documented effect.

You may also be presented with sets of abstract sequences, given a standalone visual, and asked to select which set it belongs to.

Abstract reasoning

Abstract reasoning tests are essentially inductive and/or diagrammatic reasoning tests under another name.

They too require you to find relationships and rules between visual sequences, then apply these to select the correct image from multiple options, be it a missing part or a continuation of the sequence in question.

Critical reasoning

Critical reasoning tests are more akin to deductive reasoning tests, in that you’ll be dealing with word-based scenarios, arguments, evidence and conclusions.

These tests tend to evaluate a range of skills. Argument analysis is common, in which a question is posed, and a yes/no answer given with a supporting statement. You’ll need to decide whether the statement is a strong or weak argument.

Other question types involve scenarios and statements from which you’ll be asked to make assumptions, deductions and inferences based on the evidence provided.

Critical reasoning tests are most commonly used in sectors where evidence-based judgement is an everyday requirement, such as law.

Why do employers use logical reasoning tests?

As with any form of psychometric assessment, employers use logical reasoning tests as a way to filter applicants, most commonly in the pre-interview stages of selection.

Logic forms a fundamental part of day-to-day decision making. Our reasoning capabilities determine how effectively we interpret the world around us, and how we use what we know to be fact to inform our choices. As such, logical reasoning is a vital part of many job functions.

In administering a logical reasoning test, employers are evaluating how well you’re likely to perform tasks like strategy development, risk assessment and forecasting, as well as general problem solving.

Common logical reasoning test publishers

Below are listed five of the most widely used publishers of logical reasoning tests, each of which has its own approach to this type of assessment.

SHL publishes and administers both inductive and deductive reasoning tests, the lengths of which vary depending on the level of role applied for. Typically though, they last no longer than 25 minutes and follow a standard format.

Kenexa’s logical reasoning test focuses on inductive or abstract reasoning, with candidates required to assess and manipulate shapes and sequences. It also has a deductive reasoning test, which it refers to as verbal reasoning.

Cut-e offers both inductive and deductive reasoning tests, with individual variations of each. The layout of Cut-e’s tests is known to be somewhat different to other publishers, so if you’re taking one be sure to practice specifically for this format.

As one of the best-known publishers of psychometric and aptitude assessments, Saville’s logical reasoning tests are widely used. They’re offered as either abstract or diagrammatic reasoning and have a time limit of around 20 to 25 minutes.

Logical reasoning tests from Talent Q are adaptive, which means the difficulty rating of a question is related to your performance on the question prior. Do well initially, and they’ll get harder. Struggle, and they’ll become a little easier.

How to prepare for logical reasoning tests

The best way to prepare for a logical reasoning test of any description is to train your brain to think more critically – and that means practice.

Try making puzzles a part of your daily routine or use brain-training apps in your downtime. If you’re preparing for a deductive or critical thinking test , take an analytical approach to reading the daily news. Instead of simply taking things on face value, ask yourself questions based on the evidence provided, and whether or not it’s enough to draw solid conclusions.

And make sure you take plenty of practice tests. This will help you understand how to answer logical reasoning tests , and will make you familiar with many of the common relationships found in abstract sequences, including orientation, shading, rotations and reflections.

If you’re struggling to identify relevant rules, work backwards from the answer. The better you understand where and how certain rules apply, the more picking them out will become second nature.

As you progress with your practice tests, start taking them under exam conditions, including setting yourself a time limit. Pacing is a key skill in logical reasoning tests, as your score will not only indicate how many correct answers you gave, but how long it took you to answer each question.

Lastly, be sure to practice the right type of test. Ask your prospective employer which of the five types of logical reasoning assessment you’ll be sitting, and if possible, which test provider they use. This will allow you to target your preparation to the specific test format you’ll face on assessment day.

Prepare yourself for leading employers

BBC

Free example logical reasoning questions

Below you’ll find example questions for the different types of logical reasoning test. Answers to each are given below the set of questions.

For further practice, check out our free logical reasoning test questions and answers .

Deductive reasoning test

All footballers are fit and healthy.

All famous sports players are footballers.

Given that the above is true, which of the following is the logical deduction?

  • All footballers are famous sports people
  • All famous people are fit and healthy
  • All famous sports players are fit and healthy
  • All fit and healthy people are footballers
  • All football players are men

Inductive reasoning test

inductive reasoning practice question

How many triangles will be in the 6th shape?

Diagrammatic reasoning test

diagrammatic reasoning practice questions

In the grid, one box is missing. You must work out what rules are being applied in the other boxes in order to work out which of boxes A to F will complete the grid.

Abstract reasoning test

abstract reasoning practice questions

Which of the boxes comes next in the sequence?

Using deductive reasoning, the only logical answer is 3. To get to this answer, you need to simplify the given facts. All famous sports players are footballers, and all footballers are fit and healthy.

  • We can’t deduce that all footballers are famous sports people, as we haven’t got that information.
  • We can’t deduce that all famous people are fit and healthy, because the fact is about famous sports people.
  • This is the logical answer.
  • This information is not given; all footballers are fit and healthy but we can’t logically link that all fit and healthy people are footballers.
  • This is obviously incorrect, as gender is not mentioned at all in the question.

The number of triangles is increasing by 2 as you move along the sequence. I you continue to add 2 until you reach the 6th shape you reach 14, so the answer is C).

In the question the key rule is that the number of ‘star’ shapes in the central column must always equal the number of double circle shapes.

If there are no star shapes there should be no circle shapes. If there are three star shapes, there should be three circle shapes. Option F is the only one that abides by this rule.

Please note: shapes are not in a set position within this sequence. It is merely the presence of the shapes that is important. 1. There are always two squares in the frame. 2. There are always two circles in the frame. 3. There is always one triangle in the frame. So the answer is D).

problem solving skills test

After using the platform for two weeks, I’ve never felt more prepared for an Aptitude test.

Logical Reasoning Tests FAQs

How are logical reasoning tests scored.

Logical reasoning tests are scored comparatively. That is to say, you’ll receive one mark for each correct answer, and your total score will be compared to the average results of other test-takers. Different employers may assess your results in different ways. Some will look only at your raw score against an average benchmark, while others may also consider your pace.

What are logical reasoning tests used for?

No matter the type of logical reasoning test used, you’re being assessed on your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Employers are trying to determine if you have the required ability to interpret information, identify patterns and relationships, and draw solid conclusions. These are skills used on a daily basis in many job roles, so logical reasoning tests are widely used.

How is logical thinking measured?

Logical reasoning tests give a good indication of your lateral thinking skills by measuring your ability to analyse and interpret information to make evidence-based decisions – be they inferences, assumptions or unquestionable conclusions.

Why is logical reasoning important?

Logical reasoning is important in work-based environments because it is this skill set that allows you to work through many everyday business problems and come to the right resolution. Logical thinkers make decisions based on what they know to be true, rather than gut feeling; set achievable goals based on past performance; and approach complex problems in a systematic manner.

Where can I practice logical reasoning tests?

You can find practice tests for all types of logical reasoning assessments on our website, along with detailed answer explanations and guides. You can also find practice tests online from individual publishers which will help you get to grips with specific formats and time constraints.

Which employers use logical reasoning tests?

Logical reasoning tests are commonly used for managerial-level roles and above in many corporate job sectors, including law, investment banking and consultancy, as well as human resources, customer service and market research. It’s also likely you’ll be required to sit some form of logical reasoning test for acceptance onto a graduate scheme with many larger employers.

Neuroworx

Hire better talent

At Neuroworx we help companies build perfect teams

Join picked

Logical Reasoning Tests Tips

1 read each question carefully.

It’s vital you understand exactly what is being asked of you, so be sure to read every question thoroughly. There may well be distractors in the multiple-choice options; picking one of these because you’ve misinterpreted the question is a common error.

2 Analyse the stimulus

In deductive or critical reasoning tests, it’s important to fully digest the stimulus before drawing your conclusion. Again, a simple misunderstanding can be the difference between scoring or missing out on a mark, so make sure you’re aware of all the evidence presented to you.

3 Work out your answer before looking at the options

When working with abstract sequences or patterns, try to get an idea in your head of what the missing piece or next part of the sequence is likely to be, before you look at the multiple-choice options. This will help you zone in on the right response, rather than get distracted by irrelevant choices.

4 Make notes

There may be several relationships in any given sequence, and in diagrammatic reasoning tests you’ll need to be aware of multiple processes. Make notes as you go through to keep track of your thought process. It will help you to work methodically and avoid confusion.

5 Pay attention to pacing

You only have a set amount of time to work through all the questions, so be sure to pace yourself. Typically, problems become more complex as the test progresses, so aim to spend less time on questions at the start. Good pacing takes practice. You want to work quickly but not to the detriment of your accuracy.

6 Don't panic

Logical reasoning tests can be a little daunting if you’re not used to them but remember, we apply logic everyday without even realising it. Stay calm and remind yourself that the steps you need to take are familiar to you, it’s just that the problem you’re solving is presented in an unfamiliar way.

Enjoy what you’ve read? Let others know!

  • Share on whatsapp
  • Share on linkedin
  • Share on twitter
  • Share on facebook
  • Share via email

Logical Reasoning Video Tutorials

problem solving skills test

Mirror Images

problem solving skills test

Rotated Views

Try logical reasoning tests for free, logical reasoning 01.

20 Questions | 20 Minutes

Logical Reasoning 02

Logical reasoning 03, improve your scores with our intelligent learning system, prepare for your logical reasoning test.

Immediate access. Cancel anytime.

  • 30 Numerical reasoning tests
  • 30 Verbal reasoning tests
  • 30 Diagrammatic reasoning tests
  • 30 Situational judgement tests
  • 34 Publisher packages e.g. Watson Glaser
  • 252 Employer packages e.g. HSBC
  • 29 Extra packages e.g Mechanical
  • Dashboard performance tracking
  • Full solutions and explanations
  • Tips, tricks, guides and resources
  • Access to free tests
  • Basic performance tracking
  • Solutions & explanations
  • Tips and resources

Reviews of our Logical Reasoning tests

What our customers say about our Logical Reasoning tests

South Africa

October 23, 2023

Fun & challenging!

I enjoyed the variety that this test offered. I would have preferred instant, question-by-question feedback over feedback at the end.

TheReal MacBen

Philippines

October 14, 2023

The varying patterns of the figures in each box, and what could be the next chain in that pattern.

I like how the test contained fun and interesting questions that needed logical thinking. However, it is not as complex as one test I answered, so the website should give an option of difficulty in tests.

MARTINE METIEKAM

September 26, 2023

Interesting

I have difficulty identifying the sequence. Honestly, I am not very familiar with the test. Thank you.

Andreas Karlsson

September 15, 2023

I found some of the patterns challenging at first but I do love to solve these little puzzles and recognize the patterns within

United States of America

September 10, 2023

Take one peice at a time

each task was a test to see if you could follow the pattern, some were difficult but it was a nice brain teaser.

September 02, 2023

Quick access to test, without any unnecessary sale propositions

I should not have to create an account to just take a sample test. I am happy to make an account once I take 1 or 2 tests and see whether I want to create an account

Paul Kitchener

United Kingdom

August 29, 2023

Good prep for recruitment test

I liked that I could skip a question and come back to it if I found it difficult under the time limit

Nkosingiphile Nzimande

August 22, 2023

Tricky: Thinking out of the box is key

I like that it is a simple test but if you analyze too much you might get the answers wrong, I kind of felt like I didn’t understand what was going on until the 3rd question.

Daniel Nelson

August 21, 2023

Challenging but fun

I love these tests, not too difficult but hard enough to be able to work through to get your answer,

Talha Iftikhar

August 03, 2023

Good level of test

I like the website and the construction of different questions. The level of free evaluation is quite testing and good.

By using our website you agree with our Cookie Policy.

15 Common Problem-Solving Interview Questions

Ebook: How to Build a Tech Talent Brand: The Definitive Guide

In an interview for a big tech company, I was asked if I’d ever resolved a fight — and the exact way I went about handling it. I felt blindsided, and I stammered my way through an excuse of an answer.

It’s a familiar scenario to fellow technical job seekers — and one that risks leaving a sour taste in our mouths. As candidate experience becomes an increasingly critical component of the hiring process, recruiters need to ensure the problem-solving interview questions they prepare don’t dissuade talent in the first place. 

Interview questions designed to gauge a candidate’s problem-solving skills are more often than not challenging and vague. Assessing a multifaceted skill like problem solving is tricky — a good problem solver owns the full solution and result, researches well, solves creatively and takes action proactively. 

It’s hard to establish an effective way to measure such a skill. But it’s not impossible.

We recommend taking an informed and prepared approach to testing candidates’ problem-solving skills . With that in mind, here’s a list of a few common problem-solving interview questions, the science behind them — and how you can go about administering your own problem-solving questions with the unique challenges of your organization in mind.

Key Takeaways for Effective Problem-Solving Interview Questions

  • Problem solving lies at the heart of programming. 
  • Testing a candidate’s problem-solving skills goes beyond the IDE. Problem-solving interview questions should test both technical skills and soft skills.
  • STAR, SOAR and PREP are methods a candidate can use to answer some non-technical problem-solving interview questions.
  • Generic problem-solving interview questions go a long way in gauging a candidate’s fit. But you can go one step further by customizing them according to your company’s service, product, vision, and culture. 

Technical Problem-Solving Interview Question Examples

Evaluating a candidates’ problem-solving skills while using coding challenges might seem intimidating. The secret is that coding challenges test many things at the same time — like the candidate’s knowledge of data structures and algorithms, clean code practices, and proficiency in specific programming languages, to name a few examples.

Problem solving itself might at first seem like it’s taking a back seat. But technical problem solving lies at the heart of programming, and most coding questions are designed to test a candidate’s problem-solving abilities.

Here are a few examples of technical problem-solving questions:

1. Mini-Max Sum  

This well-known challenge, which asks the interviewee to find the maximum and minimum sum among an array of given numbers, is based on a basic but important programming concept called sorting, as well as integer overflow. It tests the candidate’s observational skills, and the answer should elicit a logical, ad-hoc solution.

2. Organizing Containers of Balls  

This problem tests the candidate’s knowledge of a variety of programming concepts, like 2D arrays, sorting and iteration. Organizing colored balls in containers based on various conditions is a common question asked in competitive examinations and job interviews, because it’s an effective way to test multiple facets of a candidate’s problem-solving skills.

3. Build a Palindrome

This is a tough problem to crack, and the candidate’s knowledge of concepts like strings and dynamic programming plays a significant role in solving this challenge. This problem-solving example tests the candidate’s ability to think on their feet as well as their ability to write clean, optimized code.

4. Subarray Division

Based on a technique used for searching pairs in a sorted array ( called the “two pointers” technique ), this problem can be solved in just a few lines and judges the candidate’s ability to optimize (as well as basic mathematical skills).

5. The Grid Search 

This is a problem of moderate difficulty and tests the candidate’s knowledge of strings and searching algorithms, the latter of which is regularly tested in developer interviews across all levels.

Common Non-Technical Problem-Solving Interview Questions 

Testing a candidate’s problem-solving skills goes beyond the IDE . Everyday situations can help illustrate competency, so here are a few questions that focus on past experiences and hypothetical situations to help interviewers gauge problem-solving skills.

1. Given the problem of selecting a new tool to invest in, where and how would you begin this task? 

Key Insight : This question offers insight into the candidate’s research skills. Ideally, they would begin by identifying the problem, interviewing stakeholders, gathering insights from the team, and researching what tools exist to best solve for the team’s challenges and goals. 

2. Have you ever recognized a potential problem and addressed it before it occurred? 

Key Insight: Prevention is often better than cure. The ability to recognize a problem before it occurs takes intuition and an understanding of business needs. 

3. A teammate on a time-sensitive project confesses that he’s made a mistake, and it’s putting your team at risk of missing key deadlines. How would you respond?

Key Insight: Sometimes, all the preparation in the world still won’t stop a mishap. Thinking on your feet and managing stress are skills that this question attempts to unearth. Like any other skill, they can be cultivated through practice.

4. Tell me about a time you used a unique problem-solving approach. 

Key Insight: Creativity can manifest in many ways, including original or novel ways to tackle a problem. Methods like the 10X approach and reverse brainstorming are a couple of unique approaches to problem solving. 

5. Have you ever broken rules for the “greater good?” If yes, can you walk me through the situation?

Key Insight: “Ask for forgiveness, not for permission.” It’s unconventional, but in some situations, it may be the mindset needed to drive a solution to a problem.

6. Tell me about a weakness you overcame at work, and the approach you took. 

Key Insight: According to Compass Partnership , “self-awareness allows us to understand how and why we respond in certain situations, giving us the opportunity to take charge of these responses.” It’s easy to get overwhelmed when faced with a problem. Candidates showing high levels of self-awareness are positioned to handle it well.

7. Have you ever owned up to a mistake at work? Can you tell me about it?

Key Insight: Everybody makes mistakes. But owning up to them can be tough, especially at a workplace. Not only does it take courage, but it also requires honesty and a willingness to improve, all signs of 1) a reliable employee and 2) an effective problem solver.

8. How would you approach working with an upset customer?

Key Insight: With the rise of empathy-driven development and more companies choosing to bridge the gap between users and engineers, today’s tech teams speak directly with customers more frequently than ever before. This question brings to light the candidate’s interpersonal skills in a client-facing environment.

9. Have you ever had to solve a problem on your own, but needed to ask for additional help? How did you go about it? 

Key Insight: Knowing when you need assistance to complete a task or address a situation is an important quality to have while problem solving. This questions helps the interviewer get a sense of the candidate’s ability to navigate those waters. 

10. Let’s say you disagree with your colleague on how to move forward with a project. How would you go about resolving the disagreement?

Key Insight: Conflict resolution is an extremely handy skill for any employee to have; an ideal answer to this question might contain a brief explanation of the conflict or situation, the role played by the candidate and the steps taken by them to arrive at a positive resolution or outcome. 

Strategies for Answering Problem-Solving Questions

If you’re a job seeker, chances are you’ll encounter this style of question in your various interview experiences. While problem-solving interview questions may appear simple, they can be easy to fumble — leaving the interviewer without a clear solution or outcome. 

It’s important to approach such questions in a structured manner. Here are a few tried-and-true methods to employ in your next problem-solving interview.

1. Shine in Interviews With the STAR Method

S ituation, T ask, A ction, and R esult is a great method that can be employed to answer a problem-solving or behavioral interview question. Here’s a breakdown of these steps:

  • Situation : A good way to address almost any interview question is to lay out and define the situation and circumstances. 
  • Task : Define the problem or goal that needs to be addressed. Coding questions are often multifaceted, so this step is particularly important when answering technical problem-solving questions.
  • Action : How did you go about solving the problem? Try to be as specific as possible, and state your plan in steps if you can.
  • Result : Wrap it up by stating the outcome achieved. 

2. Rise above difficult questions using the SOAR method

A very similar approach to the STAR method, SOAR stands for S ituation, O bstacle, A ction, and R esults .

  • Situation: Explain the state of affairs. It’s important to steer clear of stating any personal opinions in this step; focus on the facts.
  • Obstacle: State the challenge or problem you faced.
  • Action: Detail carefully how you went about overcoming this obstacle.
  • Result: What was the end result? Apart from overcoming the obstacle, did you achieve anything else? What did you learn in the process? 

3. Do It the PREP Way

Traditionally used as a method to make effective presentations, the P oint, R eason, E xample, P oint method can also be used to answer problem-solving interview questions.  

  • Point : State the solution in plain terms. 
  • Reasons: Follow up the solution by detailing your case — and include any data or insights that support your solution. 
  • Example: In addition to objective data and insights, drive your answer home by contextualizing the solution in a real-world example.
  • Point : Reiterate the solution to make it come full circle.

How to Customize Problem-Solving Interview Questions 

Generic problem-solving interview questions go a long way in gauging a candidate’s skill level, but recruiters can go one step further by customizing these problem-solving questions according to their company’s service, product, vision, or culture. 

Here are some tips to do so:

  • Break down the job’s responsibilities into smaller tasks. Job descriptions may contain ambiguous responsibilities like “manage team projects effectively.” To formulate an effective problem-solving question, envision what this task might look like in a real-world context and develop a question around it.  
  • Tailor questions to the role at hand. Apart from making for an effective problem-solving question, it gives the candidate the impression you’re an informed technical recruiter. For example, an engineer will likely have attended many scrums. So, a good question to ask is: “Suppose you notice your scrums are turning unproductive. How would you go about addressing this?” 
  • Consider the tools and technologies the candidate will use on the job. For example, if Jira is the primary project management tool, a good problem-solving interview question might be: “Can you tell me about a time you simplified a complex workflow — and the tools you used to do so?”
  • If you don’t know where to start, your company’s core values can often provide direction. If one of the core values is “ownership,” for example, consider asking a question like: “Can you walk us through a project you owned from start to finish?” 
  • Sometimes, developing custom content can be difficult even with all these tips considered. Our platform has a vast selection of problem-solving examples that are designed to help recruiters ask the right questions to help nail their next technical interview.

Get started with HackerRank

Over 3,000 companies and 40% of developers worldwide use HackerRank to hire tech talent and sharpen their skills.

Recommended topics

  • Coding Questions
  • Interview Preparation

Abstract, futuristic image generated by AI

6 REST API Interview Questions Every Developer Should Know

Problem Solving Test

Problem solving tests assess an individual's ability to solve complex problems under pressures. Selecting good problem solvers is important if you want to build a proactive and solution orientated team.

More than 3000 Companies trust Neuroworx

  • What is a problem-solving test?

A problem-solving test is a pre-employment assessment, used to determine the extent to which a candidate is able to apply their problem-solving abilities.

The test challenges candidates through a series of hypothetical scenarios that look at problem-solving in a professional context. For each scenario, a candidate must conclude the most effective course of action by identifying the problem, weighing up potential approaches, and choosing which they believe will result in the best outcome.

Those that perform well on the problem-solving test have the ability to navigate complex situations, adapt quickly to moving goalposts, and bring fresh ideas to the table - all attributes that make an employee a valuable asset to your organisation.

Jump to a section on this page:

Why should you use a problem-solving test for recruitment, how our test assesses problem-solving skills.

  • Problem Solving Test FAQs

About the Problem Solving Test

Problem-solving skills are critical to so many job roles . It is the skill set that enables an employee to effectively work towards and achieve personal, team and business objectives. Yet it is among the most difficult skills to assess during recruitment.

Neuroworx's problem-solving test provides a solution. It gives your hiring team a practical and efficient way to test and compare the entire applicant pool - so you can progress those not just with the most impressive resume, but also the most developed and demonstrated problem-solving ability.

There are very few job roles that do not require at least some degree of problem-solving ability. In a professional setting, solving a problem is essential to achieve a specific goal. An employee must be able to determine the objective, identify any obstacles that stand in the way, and develop workable solutions to overcome them.

Problems may relate to a personal situation like a conflict with a coworker, be project-based like a tight deadline, or apply to business success, such as how to attract new prospects, increase sales, or lower overheads.

In all cases, employers that invest in talented problem solvers are likely to see the benefits of increased collaboration, productivity and innovation.

The difficulty comes in knowing which applicants are in fact, strong problem solvers. It's a skill that can't really be expressed on paper, and while competency-based interview questions might give you greater insight, it is neither time nor cost-effective to interview every single candidate.

By using a problem-solving test as a screening tool, you'll get objective and comparable data for your entire applicant pool. You can then shortlist those candidates that show the most promise, confident in the knowledge that their problem-solving skills meet the standards you're looking for.

Ultimately, a problem-solving test minimises the risk of a bad hire. It can be used for a broad range of roles - in particular, those that involve shifting variables or innovative design, like project management, software development and engineering .

Sample Problem Solving Test question

You are preparing a summary of monthly accounts for the Finance Director. This financial summary is important as it will inform company spending for the next three months. However, something doesn’t seem right to you. Your summary has to be ready for tomorrow morning.

What would you do?

Organize all available financial data into a spreadsheet to analyze line by line, identifying any discrepancies.

Share your financial summary with a colleague and ask them to look over what you have prepared.

Make a note of what you think may be wrong to include in the report so the Director can look into the issue.

Work backwards in scrutinising the monthly accounts to track down what seems to be causing the discrepancy.

View a sample report

Results for the Problem Solving Test along with other assessments the candidate takes will be compiled to produce a candidate report.

The report is automatically generated and available both online and as a downloadable pdf so they can be shared with other team members and employees alike.

Neuroworx Sample Report

In Neuroworx's problem-solving skills test, candidates will need to answer a range of questions designed to indicate how well they can solve problems and work under pressure based on a final test score, which can then be compared to the scores of other applicants.

The test presents different problems for the candidates to review before selecting what they believe to be the correct answer. The other available options are mostly generic mistakes or misconceptions, which makes the test challenging and helps measure a candidate's ability more accurately.

During the development process, the test was rigorously analysed to maximise reliability and validity in line with industry best practices. It was created and tested by psychometric experts, and designed to assess interpersonal skills in a sample of job applicants who have varying professional experience.

Each test is reviewed by a panel of individuals representing diverse backgrounds to check for any sensitivity, fairness, face validity and accessibility issues. This ensures each test-taker has a fair chance of demonstrating their true level of interpersonal skills and feels the test is high quality.

Our problem-solving skills test is monitored to ensure it is up-to-date and optimised for performance.

Predictor of job success

Neuroworx provides evidence-based recommendations for tests to use for over 750 jobs. Our recommendation engine leverages data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Instant access to our full testing suite.

Fully accredited : All our Problem Solving tests are written by accredited psychologists and fully validated. matching, promoting diversity, mitigating bias, and aligning with your company culture.

For all levels : We offer Problem Solving tests for all levels so you can assess all roles within your organisation.

Analytics dashboard : Our full array of candidate performance metrics will provide actionable data on each of your candidates.

Candidate comparison : Simple, easy-to-use candidate comparison reports mean you don’t need to be a psychologist to interpret them.

Streamline hiring with our out-of-the-box tools.

Smart automations : Automated actions such as alerts and reminders ensure a smooth candidate experience.

Instant results : Receive candidate results in real-time so you can make decisions in hours, not days.

You’re in good company

“The platform's dedication to fostering diversity has reshaped our workforce. We're now benefiting from a melting pot of unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that drive innovation.”

Nicholas Twigg

“With Neuroworx, it's no longer about just hiring; it's about strategic alignment. Their algorithms ensure that our hires not only have the skills but also resonate with our organizational ethos.”

Michael Freeman

“Communication is now a two-way street. We're not only reaching out effectively but also receiving invaluable feedback, which has enhanced our candidate relationships manifold.”

Christina Li

Curated by our team of experts

problem solving skills test

Scientifically validated by psychometric specialists

  • Our team of assessment experts is made up of I/O psychologists, psychometricians, and subject matter experts who work closely together to ensure each test is accurate and reliable.
  • Our subject matter experts are rigorously vetted and typically have several years of experience working in their industries and hold advanced credentials.

Frequently asked questions

In addition to Neuroworx's problem-solving test, there are other tools and techniques you can use to measure this highly sought-after skill. These include practical assessments, role-play exercises, group-based tasks and behavioural style interview questions.

There are several styles of problem-solving. Some involve logical thinking and some practical thinking, whilst others rely on intuition and social sensitivities. Neuroworx's problem-solving test has been expertly designed to ensure all aspects are covered.

Neuroworx operates on a monthly or annual subscription basis. We have several plans to suit your hiring needs, which you can check out here . Alternatively, you can get in touch with us to discuss a custom plan.

Yes, sign up (no credit card required) and we'll give you a 7 day trial completely free. You'll get unlimited access to create as many jobs and test as many candidates as you like. You can cancel any time and you won't be charged anything.

Boost your hiring power. Start using Neuroworx today.

Talk is cheap. We offer a 7-day free trial so you can see our platform for yourselves.

Find out how Siemens has benefited from our services

of the DAX 30 companies work with us​​

  • Solutions Use cases Answer to your HR questions. smartData Market Intelligence Access to the world’s largest labor market database to tune your business and HR. smartPlan Future Workforce Planning Design your future workforce & uncover skills risks and gaps. smartPeople Skills Fulfillment Discover your internal skills and build a future-fit workforce.
  • Podcasts & interviews
  • ROI calculator
  • HR Glossary

information technology skills in demand

See why 100+ companies choose HRForecast​.

  • Book a demo

How to assess problem-solving skills

Probelm-solving skills assessment

Human beings have been fascinated and motivated by problem-solving for as long as time. Let’s start with the classic ancient legend of Oedipus. The Sphinx aggressively addressed anyone who dared to enter Thebes by posing a riddle. If the traveler failed to answer the riddle correctly, the result was death. However, the Sphinx would be destroyed when the answer was finally correct.

Alas, along came Oedipus. He answered correctly. He unlocked this complex riddle and killed the Sphinx.

However, rationality was hardly defined at that time. Today, though, most people assume that it simply takes raw intelligence to be a great problem solver. However, it’s not the only crucial element.

Introduction to key problem-solving skills

You’ve surely noticed that many of the skills listed in the problem-solving process are repeated. This is because having these abilities and talents are so crucial to the entire course of getting a problem solved. Let’s look at some key problem-solving skills that are essential in the workplace.

Communication, listening, and customer service skills

In all the stages of problem-solving, you need to listen and engage to understand what the problem is and come to a conclusion as to what the solution may be. Another challenge is being able to communicate effectively so that people understand what you’re saying. It further rolls into interpersonal communication and customer service skills, which really are all about listening and responding appropriately.

Data analysis, research, and topic understanding skills

To produce the best solutions, employees must be able to understand the problem thoroughly. This is possible when the workforce studies the topic and the process correctly. In the workplace, this knowledge comes from years of relevant experience.

Dependability, believability, trustworthiness, and follow-through

To make change happen and take the following steps towards problem-solving, the qualities of dependability, trustworthiness, and diligence are a must. For example, if a person is known for not keeping their word, laziness, and committing blunders, that is not someone you’ll depend on when they provide you with a solution, will you?

Leadership, team-building, and decision-making

A true leader can learn and grow from the problems that arise in their jobs and utilize each challenge to hone their leadership skills. Problem-solving is an important skill for leaders who want to eliminate challenges that can otherwise hinder their people’s or their business’ growth. Let’s take a look at some statistics that prove just how important these skills are:

A Harvard Business Review study states that of all the skills that influence a leader’s success, problem-solving ranked third out of 16.

According to a survey by Goremotely.net, only 10% of CEOs are leaders who guide staff by example .

Another  study at Havard Business Review found a direct link between teambuilding as a social activity and employee motivation.

Are you looking for a holistic way to develop leaders in your workplace?

Numerous skills and attributes define a successful one from a rookie when it comes to leaders. Our leadership development plan (with examples!) can help HR leaders identify potential leaders that are in sync with your company’s future goals.

A man working by the laptop

Why is problem solving important in the workplace?

As a business leader, when too much of your time is spent managing escalations, the lack of problem-solving skills may hurt your business. While you may be hiring talented and capable employees and paying them well, it is only when you harness their full potential and translate that into business value that it is considered a successful hire.

The impact of continuing with poor problem-solving skills may show up in your organization as operational inefficiencies that may also manifest in product quality issues, defects, re-work and non-conformance to design specifications. When the product is defective, or the service is not up to the mark, it directly affects your customer’s experience and consequently reflects on the company’s profile.

At times, poor problem-solving skills could lead to missed market opportunities, slow time to market, customer dissatisfaction, regulatory compliance issues, and declining employee morale.

Problem-solving skills are important for individual business leaders as well. Suppose you’re busy responding to frequent incidents that have the same variables. In that case, this prevents you from focusing your time and effort on improving the future success of business outcomes.

Proven methods to assess and improve problem-solving skills

Pre-employment problem-solving skill assessment .

Recent research indicates that up to 85% of resumes contain misleading statements. Similarly, interviews are subjective and ultimately serve as poor predictors of job performance .

To provide a reliable and objective means of gathering job-related information on candidates, you must validate and develop pre-employment problem-solving assessments. You can further use the data from pre-employment tests to make informed and defensible hiring decisions.

Depending on the job profile, below are examples of pre-employment problem-solving assessment tests:

Personality tests: The rise of personality testing in the 20th century was an endeavor to maximize employee potential. Personality tests help to identify workplace patterns, relevant characteristics, and traits, and to assess how people may respond to different situations.

Examples of personality tests include the Big five personality traits test and Mercer | Mettl’s Dark Personality Inventory .

Cognitive ability test: A pre-employment aptitude test assesses individuals’ abilities such as critical thinking, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, problem-solving, decision-making, etc., which are indicators of a person’s intelligence quotient (IQ). The test results provide data about on-the-job performance. It also assesses current and potential employees for different job levels.

Criteria Cognitive Aptitude test , McQuaig Mental Agility Test , and Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory are commonly used cognitive ability assessment tests.

Convergent and divergent thinking methods

American psychologist JP Guilford coined the terms “convergent thinking” and “divergent thinking” in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking involves starting with pieces of information and then converging around a solution. An example would be determining the correct answer to a multiple-choice question.

The nature of the question does not demand creativity but rather inherently encourages a person to consider the veracity of each answer provided before selecting the single correct one.

Divergent thinking, on the other hand, starts with a prompt that encourages people to think critically, diverging towards distinct answers. An example of divergent thinking would be asking open-ended questions.

Here’s an example of what convergent thinking and a divergent problem-solving model would look like.

Probelm-solving skills assessment 1.

The 5 whys method , developed by Sakichi Toyoda, is part of the Toyota production system. In this method, when you come across a problem, you analyze the root cause by asking “Why?” five times. By recognizing the countermeasure, you can prevent the problem from recurring. Here’s an example of the 5 whys method.

' title=

Source: Kanbanzie

This method is specifically useful when you have a recurring problem that reoccurs despite repeated actions to address it. It indicates that you are treating the symptoms of the problem and not the actual problem itself.

Starbursting

While brainstorming is about the team coming together to try to find answers, starbursting flips it over and asks everyone to think of questions instead. Here’s an example of the starbursting method.

robelm-solving skills assessment 3

The idea of this method is to go and expand from here, layering more and more questions until you’ve covered every eventuality of the problem.

Use of data analysis to measure improvement in problem-solving skills for your organization

Problem-solving and data analytics are often used together. Supporting data is very handy whenever a particular problem occurs. By using data analytics, you can find the supporting data and analyze it to use for solving a specific problem.

However, we must emphasize that the data you’re using to solve the problem is accurate and complete. Otherwise, misleading data may take you off track of the problem at hand or even make it appear more complex than it is. Moreover, as you gain knowledge about the current problem, it further eases the way to solve it.

Let’s dig deeper into the top 3 reasons data analytics is important in problem-solving.

 1. Uncover hidden details

Modern data analytics tools have numerous features that let you analyze the given data thoroughly and find hidden or repeating trends without needing any extra human effort. These automated tools are great at extracting the depths of data, going back way into the past.

2. Automated models

Automation is the future. Businesses don’t have enough time or the budget to encourage manual workforces to go through loads of data to solve business problems. Instead, the tools can collect, combine, clean, and transform the relevant data all by themselves and finally use it to predict the solutions.

3. Explore similar problems

When you use a data analytics approach to solve problems, you can collect all the data available and store it. It can assist you when you find yourself in similar problems, providing references for how such issues were tackled in the past.

If you’re looking for ways to help develop problem-solving skills in the workplace and want to build a team of employees who can solve their own problems, contact us to learn how we can help you achieve it.

Stay up to date with our newsletter

Every month, we’ll send you a curated newsletter with our updates and the latest industry news.

More stories we think you will like

Eight steps to successfully democratize people analytics data

Tips and tricks to democratize people analytics data

Labor law and time tracking

Mandatory time tracking vs ‘New Work’ – What the Future – Ep. 12 (DE)

Attrition vs turnover: reviewing the most crucial HR metrics

Employee Attrition vs Turnover: What’s The Difference?

Subscribe

HRForecast newsletter

Get only relevant and insightful letters from us every month

HRForecast

Not a customer yet? Contact us

icon

Career at HRForecast

Why hrforecast.

  • Customer Stories
  • Trust and Security
  • Data Analytics Approach
  • IT Skills Analytics
  • smartPeople

Icon

2023 © Copyright - HRForecast | Imprint | Privacy policy | Terms and conditions (MSA)

Future marketing skills

The New York Times

The upshot | a quick puzzle to test your problem solving.

Advertisement

  • Visit The Upshot on Facebook
  • Visit The Upshot on Twitter
  • Follow The Upshot via RSS

Get the Upshot in your Inbox

A Quick Puzzle to Test Your Problem Solving

By DAVID LEONHARDT and YOU JULY 2, 2015

A short game sheds light on government policy, corporate America and why no one likes to be wrong. Related Article

problem solving skills test

Here’s how it works:

We’ve chosen a rule that some sequences of three numbers obey — and some do not. Your job is to guess what the rule is.

We’ll start by telling you that the sequence 2, 4, 8 obeys the rule:

Obeys the rule

Now it’s your turn. Enter a number sequence in the boxes below, and we’ll tell you whether it satisfies the rule or not. You can test as many sequences as you want.

Enter your first sequence here:

I don't want to play; just tell me the answer.

Guess wrong

The answer was extremely basic. The rule was simply: Each number must be larger than the one before it. 5, 10, 20 satisfies the rule, as does 1, 2, 3 and -17, 14.6, 845. Children in kindergarten can understand this rule.

But most people start off with the incorrect assumption that if we’re asking them to solve a problem, it must be a somewhat tricky problem. They come up with a theory for what the answer is, like: Each number is double the previous number. And then they make a classic psychological mistake.

They don’t want to hear the answer “no.” In fact, it may not occur to them to ask a question that may yield a no.

Remarkably, 80 percent of people who have played this game so far have guessed the answer without first hearing a single no. A mere 7 percent heard at least three nos — even though there is no penalty or cost for being told no, save the small disappointment that every human being feels when hearing “no.”

It’s a lot more pleasant to hear “yes.” That, in a nutshell, is why so many people struggle with this problem.

Confirmation Bias

This disappointment is a version of what psychologists and economists call confirmation bias. Not only are people more likely to believe information that fits their pre-existing beliefs, but they’re also more likely to go looking for such information. This experiment is a version of one that the English psychologist Peter Cathcart Wason used in a seminal 1960 paper on confirmation bias. (He used the even simpler 2, 4 and 6, rather than our 2, 4 and 8.)

Most of us can quickly come up with other forms of confirmation bias — and yet the examples we prefer tend to be, themselves, examples of confirmation bias. If you’re politically liberal, maybe you’re thinking of the way that many conservatives ignore strong evidence of global warming and its consequences and instead glom onto weaker contrary evidence. Liberals are less likely to recall the many incorrect predictions over the decades, often strident and often from the left, that population growth would create widespread food shortages. It hasn’t.

This puzzle exposes a particular kind of confirmation bias that bedevils companies, governments and people every day: the internal yes-man (and yes-woman) tendency. We’re much more likely to think about positive situations than negative ones, about why something might go right than wrong and about questions to which the answer is yes, not no.

Sometimes, the reluctance to think negatively has nothing to do with political views or with a conscious fear of being told no. Often, people never even think about asking questions that would produce a negative answer when trying to solve a problem — like this one. They instead restrict the universe of possible questions to those that might potentially yield a “yes.”

Government Policy

In this exercise, the overwhelming majority of readers gravitated toward confirming their theory rather than trying to disprove it. A version of this same problem compromised the Obama administration’s and Federal Reserve’s (mostly successful) response to the financial crisis. They were too eager to find “green shoots” of economic recovery that would suggest that the answer to the big question in their minds was, just as they hoped and believed: “Yes, the crisis response is aggressive enough, and it’s working.” More damaging was the approach that President George W. Bush’s administration, and others, took toward trying to determine whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction a decade ago — and how the Iraqi people would react to an invasion. Vice President Dick Cheney predicted in 2003, “We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.”

Corporate America

Corporate America is full of more examples. Executives of Detroit’s Big Three didn’t spend enough time brainstorming in the 1970s and 1980s about how their theory of the car market might be wrong. Wall Street and the Fed made the same mistake during the dot-com and housing bubbles. To pick an example close to home, newspapers didn’t spend enough time challenging the assumption that classified advertisements would remain plentiful for decades.

One of the best-selling business books in history — about negotiation strategy — is “Getting to Yes.” But the more important advice for us may instead be to go out of our way to get to no. When you want to test a theory, don’t just look for examples that prove it. When you’re considering a plan, think in detail about how it might go wrong.

Some businesses have made this approach a formal part of their decision-making: Imagine our strategy has failed; what are the most likely reasons it did? As Jason Zweig has written in The Wall Street Journal, “Gary Klein, a psychologist at Applied Research Associates, of Albuquerque, N.M., recommends imagining that you have looked into a crystal ball and have seen that your investment has gone bust.”

When you seek to disprove your idea, you sometimes end up proving it — and other times you can save yourself from making a big mistake. But you need to start by being willing to hear no. And even if you think that you are right, you need to make sure you’re asking questions that might actually produce an answer of no. If you still need to work on this trait, don’t worry: You’re only human.

Guess right

You Draw It: How Family Income Predicts Children’s College Chances

You Draw It: How Family Income Predicts Children’s College Chances

The Roberts Court’s Surprising Move Leftward

The Roberts Court’s Surprising Move Leftward

The Best and Worst Places to Grow Up: How Your Area Compares

The Best and Worst Places to Grow Up: How Your Area Compares

A 3-D View of a Chart That Predicts The Economic Future: The Yield Curve

A 3-D View of a Chart That Predicts The Economic Future: The Yield Curve

Where We Came From and Where We Went, State by State

Where We Came From and Where We Went, State by State

How Nonemployed Americans Spend Their Weekdays: Men vs. Women

How Nonemployed Americans Spend Their Weekdays: Men vs. Women

Critical Thinking Assessment: 4 Ways to Test Applicants

Juste Semetaite

In the current age of information overload, critical thinking (CT) is a vital skill to sift fact from fiction. Fake news, scams, and disinformation can have a negative impact on individuals as well as businesses. Ultimately, those with finer CT skills can help to lead their team with logical thinking, evidence-based motivation, and smarter decisions.

Today, most roles require critical thinking skills. And understanding how to test and evaluate critical thinking skills can not only help to differentiate candidates but may even predict job performance .

This article will cover:

What is critical thinking?

  • Critical thinking vs problem-solving
  • 5 critical thinking sub-skills
  • The importance of assessing critical thinking skills
  • 4 ways to leverage critical thinking assessments

Critical thinking is the process of analyzing and evaluating information in a logical way. And though a valuable skill since as far back as the early philosophers’ era, it is just as vital today. For candidates to succeed in the digital economy , they need modern thinking skills that help them think critically.

Whether we realize it or not, we process tons of data and information on a daily basis. Everything from social media to online news, data from apps like Strava – and that’s on top of all the key metrics in relation to our professional role.

Without a shadow of a doubt, correctly interpreting information — and recognizing disinformation — is an essential skill in today’s workplace and everyday life. And that’s also why teaching critical thinking skills in education is so important to prepare the next generation for the challenges they will face in the modern workplace.

Critical thinking isn’t about being constantly negative or critical of everything. It’s about objectivity and having an open, inquisitive mind. To think critically is to analyze issues based on hard evidence (as opposed to personal opinions, biases, etc.) in order to build a thorough understanding of what’s really going on. And from this place of thorough understanding, you can make better decisions and solve problems more effectively. Bernard Marr | Source

Today, candidates with CT skills think and reason independently, question data, and use their findings to contribute actively to their team rather than passively taking in or accepting information as fact.

Why are critical thinking skills important?

In the workplace, those with strong CT skills no longer rely on their gut or instinct for their decisions. They’re able to problem-solve more effectively by analyzing situations systematically.

With these skills, they think objectively about information and other points of view and look for evidence to support their findings rather than simply accepting opinions or conclusions as facts.

When employees can turn critical thinking into a habit, it ultimately reduces personal bias and helps them be more open to their teammates’ suggestions — improving how teams collaborate and collectively solve problems.

Critical thinking vs. Problem solving – what’s the difference?

Let’s explore the difference between these two similar concepts in more detail.

Critical thinking is about processing and analyzing information to reach an objective, evidence-based conclusion. Let’s take a look at an example of critical thinking in action:

  • A member of the team suggests using a new app they’ve heard about to automate and speed up candidate screening . Some like the idea, but others in the team share reasons why they don’t support the idea. So you visit the software website and look at the key features and benefits yourself, then you might look for reviews about it and ask your HR counterparts what they think of it. The reviews look promising, and a few of your fellow practitioners say it’s worked well for them. Next, you look into the costs compared to the solution your team is already using and calculate that the return on investment (ROI) is good. You arrive at the conclusion that it’d be worth testing the platform with the free trial version and recommend this to your team.

On the other hand, problem solving can involve many of the same skills as critical thinking, such as observing and evaluating. Still, it focuses on identifying business obstacles and coming up with solutions. So, let’s return to the example of the candidate screening software and see how it might work differently in the context of problem-solving :

  • For weeks, the talent acquisition team has complained about how long it takes to screen candidates manually. One of the team members decides to look for a solution to their problem. They assess the team’s current processes and resources and how to best solve the issues. In their research, they discover the new candidate screening platform and test out its functionality for a few days. They feel it would benefit the team and suggest it at the next meeting. Great problem solving, HR leader!

Problem-Solving Skills: 5 Ways to Evaluate Them When Hiring

What are the 5 sub-skills that make up critical thinking?

the sub skills of critical thinking competency

Now that we’ve established what CT is, let’s break it down into the 5 core sub-skills that make up a critical thinking mindset .

  • Observation : Being observant of your environment is the first step to thinking critically. Observant employees can even identify a potential problem before it becomes a problem.
  • Analysis : Once you’ve observed the issue or problem, you can begin to analyze its parts. It’s about asking questions, researching, and evaluating the findings objectively. This is an essential skill, especially for someone in a management role.
  • Inference : Also known as construct validity, is about drawing a conclusion from limited information. To do this effectively may require in-depth knowledge of a field. Candidates with this skill can contribute a lot of value to a startup, for instance, where initially, there may be little data available for information processing.
  • Communication : This pertains to expressing ideas and your reasoning clearly and persuasively, as well as actively listening to colleagues’ suggestions or viewpoints. When all members of a team or department can communicate and consider different perspectives, it helps tasks (and, well, everything) move along swiftly and smoothly.
  • Problem solving : Once you begin implementing a chosen solution, you may still encounter teething problems. At that point, problem solving skills will help you decide on the best solution and how to overcome the obstacles to bring you closer to your goal.

What is a critical thinking assessment test?

Though there are a few different ways to assess critical thinking, such as the Collegiate Learning Assessment, one of the most well-known tests is the Watson Glaser™ Critical Thinking Appraisal .

Critical thinking tests, or critical reasoning tests, are psychometric tests used in recruitment at all levels, graduate, professional and managerial, but predominantly in the legal sector. However, it is not uncommon to find companies in other sectors using critical thinking tests as part of their selection process. This is an intense test, focusing primarily on your analytical, or critical thinking, skills. Source

These tests are usually timed and typically include multiple choice items, short answers or short scenario-based questions to assess students or prospective candidates. They test candidates’ ability to interpret data without bias, find logical links between information, and separate facts from false data .

Critical thinking example questions from the Watson-Glacer test rubric

But how do these tests measure critical thinking?

In addition to educational and psychological testing, many employers today use critical thinking tests to assess a person’s ability to question information — to ask What , Why , and How of the data. A standard critical thinking test breaks down this aptitude by examining the following 5 components:

  • assumption – analyzing a scenario to determine if there are any assumptions made
  • deduction – the ability to choose which deductions are logical
  • evaluating evidence – in support of and against something
  • inference – conclusions, drawn from observed facts
  • interpretation – interpreting the accuracy of a stated conclusion (based on a scenario)

Why is it important to assess critical thinking skills during the recruitment process?

Critical thinking skills may be considered a soft skill , but it’s become a prerequisite in certain industries, like software, and for many roles. Marketing managers, project managers, accountants, and healthcare professionals, for example, all require a degree of CT skills to perform their roles.

The kinds of businesses that require critical thinking include technology , engineering , healthcare , the legal sector , scientific research, and education . These industries are typically very technical and rely on data . People working in these fields research and use data to draw logical conclusions that help them work smarter and more efficiently.

In the hiring process, test takers with good critical thinking skills stand out . Why? Because they are able to demonstrate their ability to collaborate, problem-solve, and manage pressure in a rational, logical manner. As a result, they’re more likely to make the right business decisions that boost efficiency and, ultimately, a business’s bottom line.

Critical thinking assessment template for evaluating candidates

Examples of jobs that rely on critical thinking skills

Critical thinking is not rocket science, but it is an important skill when making decisions — especially when the correct answer is not obvious. Here are a few examples of job roles that rely on critical thinking dispositions:

  • computer programmers or developers : may use critical thinking and other advanced skills in a variety of ways, from debugging code to analyzing the problem, finding potential causes, and coming up with suitable solutions. They also use CT when there is no clear roadmap to rely on, such as when building a new app or feature.
  • criminologists : must have critical thinking abilities to observe criminal behavior objectively and to analyze the problem in such a way that they can be confident in the conclusions they present to the authorities.
  • medical professionals : need to diagnose their patients’ condition through observation, communication, analysis and solving complex problems to decide on the best treatment.
  • air traffic controllers: need a super clear, calm head to deal with their high-stress job. They observe traffic, communicate with pilots, and constantly problem-solve to avoid airplane collisions.
  • legal professionals : use logic and reasoning to analyze various cases – even before deciding whether they’ll take on a case – and then use their excellent communication skills to sway people over to their reasoning in a trial setting.
  • project managers : have to deal with a lot of moving parts at the same time. To successfully keep projects on time and budget, they continually observe and analyze the progress of project components, communicate continually with the team and external stakeholders and work to solve any problems that crop up.

What are the risks of not testing for critical thinking?

By not evaluating critical thinking beforehand, you may end up hiring candidates with poor CT skills. Especially when hiring business leaders and for key positions, this has the potential to wreak havoc on a business. Their inaccurate assumptions are more likely to lead to bad decisions , which could cost the company money .

Weak critical thinking can result in a number of issues for your organization and justifies the expense or added effort of asking your candidate to complete critical thinking tests in the hiring process. For example, poor CT skills may result in:

  • making mistakes
  • not being able to take action when needed
  • working off false assumptions
  • unnecessary strain on work relationships

4 ways to assess critical thinking skills in candidates

Now that we’ve seen how important it is for most candidates today to have strong critical thinking skills, let’s take a look at some of the assessment instruments the talent acquisition team can use.

#1 – A homework assignment

A homework assignment is a task that assesses whether test takers have the right skills for a role. If critical thinking is essential for a particular job, you could provide candidates with a homework assignment that specifically tests their ability to:

  • accurately interpret relevant evidence
  • reach logical conclusions
  • judge information skeptically
  • communicate their own viewpoint and others’ backed by facts

Top tips to enlarge those brains

Tip : use Toggl Hire’s skills screening tests to easily filter out the good candidates first and speed up your hiring process.

#2 – Behavioral and situational interview questions

Ask the candidate to provide examples of situations when they used CT for solving problems or making a decision. This can provide insight into the candidate’s ability to analyze information and make informed decisions. For example:

Critical thinking example questions:

  • Tell me about a time when you had to make a really difficult decision at work.
  • What would you do in a situation where your manager made a mistake in a presentation or report?
  • How would you respond if a colleague shared a new idea or solution with you?
  • How do you evaluate the potential outcomes of different actions or decisions?
  • Can you describe a situation where you had to think on your feet and come up with a creative solution to a problem?
  • How do you ensure that your decision-making is based on relevant and accurate information?

30 Behavioral Interview Questions to Ask Candidates (With Answers)

#3 – Discuss the candidate’s critical thinking skills with their references

Additionally, the hiring manager can ask the candidate’s references about how the candidate demonstrated CT skills in the past.

  • Can you recall a time when (the candidate) had to convince you to choose an alternative solution to a problem?
  • Tell me about a time when (the candidate) had to solve a team disagreement regarding a project.

#4 – Critical thinking tests

Ask the candidate to complete a critical thinking test and score against critical thinking rubrics. You can then share feedback on their test scores with them and explore their willingness to improve their score, if necessary. Or compare their score to other applicants, and prioritize those with higher scores if the role truly requires a critical thinker.

Create your next critical thinking assessment with Toggl Hire

Assessing critical thinking skills is becoming a key component in the hiring process, especially for roles that require a particularly advanced skillset. Critical thinking is a sign of future performance. Candidates that clearly demonstrate these skills have a lot to offer companies, from better decision-making to more productive relationships and cost savings.

If your team needs help automating the screening process, and creating custom skills tests based on specific roles, try Toggl Hire’s skills test questions engine or the Custom Test Builder to create the exact questions you want from scratch.

Juste Semetaite

Juste loves investigating through writing. A copywriter by trade, she spent the last ten years in startups, telling stories and building marketing teams. She works at Toggl Hire and writes about how businesses can recruit really great people.

Join 30,000+ subscribers getting the best tips on productivity, work management, hiring and more!

We promise we won't spam you and you can unsubscribe anytime.

You might also like...

Related to Talent Assessments

How to Design an Effective Writing Skills Assessment Test

How to Design an Effective Writing Skills Assessment Test

Toggl Blog, Read articles by Juste Semetaite

Interview Coding Challenges: A Way to Hire Developers Who Know their Code

A 7-Step Candidate Testing and Verification Process

A 7-Step Candidate Testing and Verification Process

Take a peek at our most popular categories:

The service you are accessing is either under high load or has detected unusual activity from your network location.

To protect this service from abuse please complete the challenge below to continue.

What code is in the image? submit

Your unique support ID for this request is: 4926348425608394148.

If you see this challenge frequently or believe you are seeing it in error please record this ID and contact the Deakin University IT Service Desk . Additional information is available from the IT Knowledge Base .

13 Problem-Solving Interview Questions to Assess a Candidate

Solving problems is something we do every day – whether it be at work or throughout our personal lives. However, what we often tend to forget about is that each one of us has different approaches to finding solutions and solving problems. 

As cognitive skills, according to World Economic Forum, especially complex problem-solving in the workplace, are reportedly growing in importance – so is the urgency to be able to assess these skills in candidates. However, these skills cannot be easily assessed by looking at someone’s CV or motivation letter. This is precisely why many employers have turned to assessing problem solving abilities during the interview process. 

In this blog, you will find out:

  • 5 aspects of what make up problem solving ability

2 different types of problem solving styles

  • 13 interview questions to determine problem-solving abilities

Disadvantages of assessing problem-solving in interviews

What is problem-solving skill/ability.

A problem can be defined as a gap between the current situation and the desired outcome. To fill this gap, problem-solving abilities are needed. Problem-solving in the workplace describes our way of thinking and the behaviour we engage in to obtain the desired outcome we seek, which could be attaining a certain goal or finding a satisfactory answer to our questions.

In the workplace, employees are expected to solve problems daily, ultimately ensuring the smooth functioning of the company. Therefore, problem-solving ability is one of the most important aspects which needs to be assessed prior to hiring. Problem-solving ability is associated with several sub-skills depending on the nature of the tasks involved in the profession. For instance, a successful business consultant might want to be equipped with good communication skills, empathy, and analytical thinking, all of which can be considered sub-skills of problem-solving ability. 

However, the thing is that assessing whether someone’s problem solving skills are high or low during an interview process is quite challenging . That is why you should focus on asking questions that allow to understand what kind of a problem solving style the candidate possesses.

Individuals might adopt different problem-solving strategies (otherwise also called styles) based on the information available for the problem, the time they spend on planning before they take action, or whether they like to test multiple solutions before deciding on which solution is the optimal one. The main problem-solving styles can be classified as intuitive and systematic, but what are the differences between these two styles of problem-solving?

Individuals with more systematic problem-solving style

  • They have a higher tendency to first identify the situation and analytically disentangle problems into several components, then logically evaluate the available alternatives and try to find a rule to solve problems.
  • At the end of the process, they may also evaluate the consequence of the whole process to possibly adjust their strategy in the future. However, they might face difficulty when tackling ill-structured or defined problems, whereby they cannot generate a promising plan to act.
  • They may also struggle under time constraints when intuitive decisions need to be made.

Individuals that prefer more intuitive problem-solving style

  • They prefer relying on their “gut feeling” when solving problems. While they may rely on their intuition to assess facts, they also often take their feelings and non-verbal cues from their surrounding into consideration.
  • They are open to quickly switching to alternative solutions when things do not work out. Using this strategy, they are good at dealing with uncertainty, ill-defined problems or novel problems with no real information.
  • However, this kind of thinking pattern might work sometimes but can be less effective with more complex problems and end up being more time-consuming overall than a more systematic approach.

Why you should assess problem solving style not ability during interviews?

Problem-solving style refers to an individual’s preferred approach to solving problems, such as relying on intuition or using a systematic approach. This is a relatively stable trait that can be identified through the candidate’s responses to interview questions.  

In contrast, problem-solving ability is a multifaceted skill that involves various cognitive processes, such as critical thinking, reasoning, and creativity. It can be difficult to assess a candidate’s problem-solving ability solely through interview questions because the interview setting may not provide a realistic representation of the types of problems the candidate would encounter on the job. 

13 problem-solving interview questions to assess candidates

Let’s go through each question and discuss how candidates might answer and what that could indicate about their problem-solving abilities & style:

1.Can you describe a situation where you had to solve a problem without having all the necessary information at hand? How did you approach it?

A systematic problem solver might approach answering this question by explaining that they would find it important to try to gather as much information as possible before making a decision, while an intuitive problem solver might mention they would rely more on their instincts and prior experience to make a quick decision.

2. Let’s say you need to solve an unexpected problem but don’t have much information about it. What steps would you take to solve it efficiently?

A systematic problem solver might approach answering this question by breaking down the problem into smaller components and analyzing each one systematically, while an intuitive problem solver might rely more on their gut instincts and previous experience to quickly identify potential solutions. 

If a candidate mentions that they would try to gather more information relating the potential causes of the problem to be able to grasp it better, that’s probably a better answer than just stating that they’d just decide to give up. 

  • Intuitive. “I would start by identifying the key issues and then brainstorming potential solutions. Once I had a few options, I would test them out and iterate until I found the best solution.”
  • Systematic. “I would begin by gathering as much information as possible, researching the problem, and analyzing the data. Then, I would create a plan to address the problem and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan as I go along.”

3. How do you approach making decisions? Do you consider all alternatives before deciding on a solution?

When answering this question by explaining the importance of weighing all available options and then considering each one carefully before making a final decision, the candidate might have a more systematic approach to problem solving. Whereas, someone who has a more intuitive approach to solving problems might be answering the question by explaining they prefer to make decisions quickly and based on their instincts.

4. Can you walk me through a situation where you had to solve a problem? What steps did you take to address it?

The main goal of asking this question during the interview is to be able to determine what steps the person chooses to take when addressing the problem. For example, people who seem to plan less and act more intuitively will likely prefer a more trial-and-error, rather than an analytical approach to solving a problem.

A systematic problem solver might approach this question by breaking down the problem into smaller components and explaining each step in a logical order, while an intuitive problem solver might give a more general overview of how they solved the problem without going into as much detail when describing the situation.

  • Intuitive. “There was a time when our team was behind on a project deadline, so I just started throwing out ideas for how we could catch up. We eventually settled on a strategy that worked and were able to finish the project on time.”
  • Systematic. “When faced with a problem, I like to break it down into smaller components and analyze each part separately. Then, I create a plan of action and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan as I go along.”

5. Tell me about a time when you made a mistake. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from the experience?

When asking the candidate this question, you are looking for an honest, self-critical answer. The candidate should also be able to explain how making this mistake led them to become better at their job. Their answer to this question will serve as an indication of how they deal with challenging situations. 

A systematic problem solver might approach this question by analyzing their mistake and coming up with a detailed plan to prevent it from happening again in the future, while an intuitive problem solver might reflect more on how they felt about the mistake and what they learned from the experience.

6. Describe a situation where you used a creative approach to overcome a problem.

Of course, when hiring new people, we want to hire those who take the most innovative and creative approaches to solving problems, as well as implementing these ideas in reality. In this case, you should be looking for an answer in which the candidate is focusing on explaining the creative approach they took, rather than the problem they were trying to solve. After all, you are looking for someone who can solve problems in a creative way rather than someone who can describe the problem.

An intuitive problem solver might excel in this question by describing a creative solution they came up with on the spot, while a systematic problem solver might struggle more with this question if they prefer to rely on logical and analytical approaches.

  • Intuitive. “There was a time when we were running out of storage space at work, so I came up with the idea to repurpose some unused areas of the office as storage. It was a bit unconventional, but it worked.”
  • Systematic. “When faced with a problem, I like to think outside the box and consider all possible options. I once used a design thinking approach to come up with a creative solution to a complex issue.”

7. Can you give an example of a time when you saw a potential problem as an opportunity? What did you do, and is there anything you would have done differently?

When answering the question, an intuitive problem solver might be better at recognizing potential opportunities in a problem, while a systematic problem solver might be more likely to focus on identifying and mitigating risks.

8. Imagine you’re in a stressful situation at work and you need to come up with a solution quickly. What would you do?

When asking this question to a candidate, you should be on the lookout for an answer that includes all of the following: an example story, placing their focus on how they handled the stressful situation. Basically – focusing more on actions rather than feelings, and highlighting what skills allowed them to deal with the situation successfully. 

Candidates’ answers to this question will allow you to determine whether they are better and more inclined to think on their feet and come up with quick solutions (more intuitive). Or in contrast, more comfortable dealing with stressful situations if there are a set of guidelines or procedures to follow (more systematic).

  • Intuitive. “In a stressful situation, I like to take a deep breath and then start brainstorming possible solutions. I find that staying calm and thinking creatively helps me come up with the best solution quickly.”
  • Systematic. “When faced with a high-pressure situation, I like to rely on the processes and systems that I have in place. I also prioritize the most important tasks and delegate when possible to ensure that everything gets done efficiently.”

9. Are you someone who prefers to solve problems very quickly, or very carefully and slowly?

This question can give insights into whether the candidate is more of an intuitive or systematic problem solver, with intuitive problem solvers often preferring to act quickly and systematically preferring to take a more measured approach.

10. Tell me about a situation where you were faced with multiple problems. How did you choose which problem to prioritize?

This question has everything to do with how the candidate works under pressure. As well as the extent to which they are capable of prioritizing. When faced with multiple problems, the individual should be able to prioritize between tasks that are of high importance and those that are not as urgent. 

When answering this question, the candidate should be able to walk you through their prioritization process and rationally argue their choices. While also placing focus on explaining their planning strategies to ensure that no problem is left unsolved.

A systematic problem solver might approach this question by analyzing each problem and weighing the potential impact of each one before making a decision, while an intuitive problem solver might rely more on their instincts and prioritize the problem that seems most urgent.

  • Intuitive. “When faced with multiple problems, I prioritize the ones that have the most immediate impact or are the most pressing. I also try to tackle the problems that I feel most confident in solving first.”
  • Systematic. “I like to use a decision matrix to evaluate and prioritize multiple problems. I analyze each problem based on factors such as urgency, impact, and feasibility, and then choose the one that has the highest priority.”

11. How do you know when to solve a problem by yourself? And when to ask for help from someone else?

An intuitive problem solver might be more likely to trust their instincts and try to solve the problem on their own, while a systematic problem solver might be more willing to ask for help if they feel that the problem is outside of their area of expertise.

What you should be looking for in the answer to this question is someone’s ability to be able to gauge in which situations they should most definitely ask for help. And in contrast, in which situations it’s not really necessary. This way you will be able to tell whether this person is capable of solving a problem independently or is always asking for help even when it comes to the little things.

12. What do you do in a situation when you cannot seem to find the right solution to a problem?

An intuitive problem solver might be more likely to experiment with different solutions and try to think outside the box, while a systematic problem solver might be more likely to analyze the problem in greater detail and break it down into smaller components to identify potential solutions.

  • Intuitive. “When I’m stuck on a problem, I like to step away from it for a bit and come back to it with fresh eyes. I also try to approach the problem from different angles and see if I can find a new perspective.”
  • Systematic. “If I can’t find the right solution to a problem, I’ll go back to the data and information I have collected to see if there’s anything I missed. I’ll also consult with colleagues or experts in the field to get their input and ideas.”

13. How would you react when your manager tells you to think more before taking action? 

Lastly, save the best for last – a question that will show to you how the candidate deals with feedback provided about the process of solving a problem and the solution itself.

A systematic problem solver might take this feedback as an opportunity to slow down and approach problems more carefully, while an intuitive problem solver might perceive this as a constraint.

In summary, the answers to these questions can provide insights into a candidate’s problem-solving style. While there isn’t necessarily a “right” or “wrong” style, understanding how a candidate approaches problem-solving can help employers identify individuals who are well-suited for different roles and environments.

Interviews are often perceived as the ultimate gateway to finding the perfect candidate, however, in reality, it’s littered with many pitfalls:

  • Interviewer bias. The interview process is where our unconscious biases tend to cloud our judgement of a candidate the most.
  • Interviews are often inconsistent. Using solely interview questions to assess problem-solving skills allows for no standardized way of presenting results as each candidate you interview will give a different answer to your question and it will become gradually more difficult to compare candidates with each other.
  • Interview answers are easily manipulable. Candidates can prepare their answers to these questions, thus leading to unreliable assessment from your side on whether they have the problem-solving skills you are looking for.
  • Extremely time-consuming & costly. You’ll probably end up interviewing more people than you should. Just imagine all the time spent interviewing, talking, asking questions, taking notes of the candidate’s answers, and then later on comparing them.

Read more about the 6 downsides assessing candidates problem-solving abilities solely through interviews.

What interview structure allows to best assess candidates problem-solving skills?

According to research , a structured interview is more reliable, valid, and less discriminatory than an unstructured interview. When you structure your interview process, the assessment of personality becomes a designed process. Every question should be carefully chosen to assess the candidate’s skills and knowledge.

Guide: How to set up a structured interview process

Get your guide here, our inspirational blogs, podcasts and video’s, listen to what they say about our product offering right here, why companies are losing out on women in the recruitment process with léonie kennepohl.

  • February 12, 2024

What are Game-based Assessments?

  • February 8, 2024

Treat every candidate like a perfect 10: Unbiased recruitment at Miro with Zanina Katira

  • January 30, 2024

Shaping the world of unbiased hiring

A game-based assessment, introduced at the beginning of the hiring process, to see the true potential of your candidates. Based on science, not bias.

  • How it Works
  • Implementation
  • Game-based assessments
  • Objective hiring framework
  • Integrations
  • Login to dashboard
  • Bias glossary
  • Hiring guides
  • Breaking Bias Summit 2024 [Event]
  • About Equalture
  • Equal opportunity hiring
  • Security & Compliance

EARly bird ticket sale is Live

Breaking bias summit 2024, from inspiration to implementation.

The conference for change makers and industry experts to discuss innovations in unbiased & objective recruitment.

Capital C – Amsterdam

April 25th 2024

Group 1

Problem-Solving Skills: Meaning, Examples, & How To Develop

Problem Solving Skills What Are They Definition & Examples

Problem-solving skills are valuable soft skills to have in today’s increasingly competitive and fast-changing workplace. In the workplace, problem-solving skills are about one’s capacity to deal with tough or unexpected challenges and situations.

They are also essential in other aspects of our life, such as building relationships and making decisions. Individuals who can properly assess the situations and offer solutions are in high demand in organizations. And problem-solving skills are abilities that allow you to do so.

In this article, we will discuss what are key problem-solving skills and the skills related to problem-solving. You will also learn about how to conduct a problem-solving process when you encounter a problem.

We will share with you the benefits and importance of key problem-solving skills and how to improve these skills.

What Are Problem-Solving Skills?

Problem-solving is a soft skill (a personal strength), not a hard skill learned from school or specialized training. Problem-solving skills assist you in resolving challenges swiftly and effectively.

It gives you a keen eye to spot underlying problems and put a solution in place. Problem-solving skills are crucial in every profession and at every level. As a result, technical expertise relevant to the sector or role may be required for effective problem-solving.

Problem-solving skills can be improved by familiarizing yourself with common organizational challenges and learning from more experienced employees. Although problem-solving is usually thought of as an independent skill, it depends on a combination of other skills (we will come to this in the next section).

Why is Problem Solving Skill Important in the Workplace & List of 10 Benefits

Having problem-solving skills enable you to be prepared to manage any problems that your employers throw at you. You can analyze, evaluate and act promptly when issues arise.

Furthermore, you are not frightened of the uncertainty because you are confident that you can handle anything that comes your way. Strong problem-solving skills are valuable to organizations that depend on their employees to identify and solve problems.

List of 10 Benefits that an excellent problem solver can contribute to their profession

  • Ability to manage their time effectively.
  • Ability to prioritize, plan and carry out plans.
  • Ability to think out of the box and identify opportunities in problems.
  • Ability to work under pressure and deal with stress.
  • Ability to evaluate and take calculated risks.
  • Ability to continuously improve performance and implement new improvements when necessary.
  • Ability to identify and seize opportunities in an ever-changing environment.
  • Recognized and appreciated by the people around them.
  • Increased confidence in one’s ability to deal with anything that comes their way.
  • Ability to make the impossible possible by synergizing their knowledge with systematic problem-solving approaches.

Skills Required for Problem-Solving

You will adopt a combination of different examples of skills to address a problem effectively.

Here is a list of skills you can leverage to solve a problem:

Research Skills

Problem-solving requires the use of research skills. As a problem solver, you must define the root cause of the issues before addressing them.

You can start by gathering deeper and related information about the topic. To do that, you can discuss with your team members, speak with senior colleagues, conduct online research, or learn from online classes.

Analysis Skills

Analyzing the situation is the first step in addressing any problem. Strong analytical skills allow you to grasp the issues quickly and develop effective strategies. You will also utilize analytical skills when researching to discern between good and poor ideas.

Decision-making Skills

Problem-solving and decision-making are distinct but interrelated skills. Decision-making is a crucial element of the problem-solving process because you will be presented with many choices and possibilities.

Sometimes you can make a quick decision if you happen to have related industry experience. Having strong research and analytical skills may be beneficial to those with less experience or industry knowledge.

There may be instances when it is necessary to set aside time to develop a solution for a challenging problem. Alternatively, you may decide to refer the situation to someone who is in a better position to tackle the issue.

Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are necessary when you are solving a problem. You will need to know how to explain the problem clearly to others and seek their input.

You will also need to know who to approach or which communication channels to use when asking for help. To eliminate uncertainty and make implementation easier, you will need to present and explain the solution to others.

Listening Skills

In general, active listeners are excellent problem solvers. They will listen to others to get the knowledge that will help them address the challenge at hand.

They value and appreciate other people’s perspectives and experiences. This way, they can understand why an issue happened and devise the best course of action to resolve it.

In most cases, problems are solved either spontaneously or methodically. You tend to use your intuition to solve a problem when no new information is required. You either know what you need to know to make a snap decision, or you use common sense or experience to solve them.

You will need to use a more structured approach to solve more complicated problems or issues that you’ve not encountered before. For such problems, you may also need to tap into your creative thinking.

Risk Management

Problem-solving happens when problems arise or when things do not go as planned, and we need to rectify them. During your initial planning stage, you will carry out risk management to weigh the benefits and risks of your solutions.

This way, you can prevent potential hazards or risks from happening the moment you implement the solution.

How Problem-Solving Skills Work? Solving Process Explained in 5 Steps

1. analyze the factors contributing to the problem.

This step entails identifying the presence of a problem, determining its nature, and articulating the problem. The first phase of problem-solving requires further research and investigation. It involves collecting and analyzing data, isolating potential contributing factors, and determining what has to be addressed for a solution.

What is the nature of the problem? Is there more than one problem? What is the best way to define the problem? Spending time identifying the problem will allow you to not only comprehend it better but also articulate the thought process to others.

2. Generate possible solutions

At this stage, you will start developing several possible solutions. But, you will not spend too much time examining them. Usually, a single approach is rarely the clear way to solve a complicated problem.

Generating a variety of alternatives will help you to protect your interests and decrease your likelihood of failing. You can start brainstorming for solutions in a group setting with your team members.

Such sessions provide each team member with a chance to express their thoughts on potential solutions or ideas. An organization has a diverse group of employees who have different skills in different areas. Thus it is essential to hear the perspectives of all parties involved before deciding on the potential interventions.

3. Evaluate solutions and make decisions

This step is possibly the most difficult aspect of the problem-solving process. This stage comprises conducting a detailed analysis of the many alternative options you brainstormed earlier. Then, you will decide on the most effective solution for execution.

Some alternatives may be difficult to implement because of issues such as time limits or money restrictions. It is critical to evaluate what may happen if nothing is done to remedy the situation.

Sometimes when you are trying to resolve a problem, it could potentially lead to a slew of other issues. Finally, decide on the best solution or approach to take to resolve the problem. When deciding, you must consider the potential expenses, hurdles, and necessary resources for effective solution implementation.

4. Implement a plan

This step involves embracing and executing the decision made in the previous stage. Implementation refers to putting the chosen solution into action. During this stage, more difficulties may arise, particularly if the initial problem identification or structure was not completed thoroughly.

Hence, the plan must be executed with benchmarks that can accurately inform you if it is working or not. Implementing a plan includes communicating to your employees about changes in standard operating procedures.

5. Assess the solution’s effectiveness

The last stage involves evaluating the results after implementing the solution. It includes soliciting feedback from related parties on the effectiveness of the solution in solving the problem.

Once a solution is put in place, you need to have procedures to determine if and how the solution is working. This way, you will know immediately if the problem has been fixed or whether an adjustment is needed.

You should record the feedback, results, and new challenges that you encountered through this entire problem-solving process. It is recommended that you make this step a habit of yours to improve your problem-solving skills.

Problem-Solving Skills for Students

Be curious and put on your investigative hat

Being curious and conducting an in-depth investigation will assist you in finding out the root cause of an issue. When the root cause of a problem is identified, it becomes much easier to address it.

Be open to feedback and suggestions from others

Seeking constructive feedback or suggestions from others is beneficial to the students in the long run. It saves students time, and they can avoid making the mistakes made by others. They will also be able to finetune their solutions to make them more effective. Being open to feedback is also an essential component of problem-solving skills.

Troubleshooting skills

Troubleshooting skills help students to address issues quickly and effectively without any delay. This skill helps students to analyze the problem, develop various solutions, evaluate and choose the best option, and implement the preferred solution.

Problem-Solving Skills for Kids

Growth mindset

Reflecting on the process of solving a problem helps children to build a growth mindset. We should instill a mindset to children that getting a “wrong” answer is not wrong.

It is through these mistakes that we can learn and improve ourselves. What matters most is to encourage children to reflect on the steps they took and how they might handle the problem differently next time.

Emotional intelligence

Children need to be taught that every emotion (positive and negative) that they are experiencing is acceptable. Having high emotional intelligence will help the kids to learn and think differently when faced with problems.

Grappling refers to whatever the kids will do when presented with a problem that lacks a clear answer. They will try to solve the problem first and not think about failing. Even if they fail, they will continue to persevere to find a solution to the problem.

They will think critically, ask questions, and form hypotheses to have a comprehensive understanding of the problem that they encounter. Then, they will use every information and resource that they acquired to find a solution for the problem.

How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills in the Workplace

There are various techniques you could consider to develop your problem-solving skills. Whether you are looking for work or already have one, strengthening your problem-solving skills and related competencies can help you stand out among the rest of the group. Here are a few methods you can consider to improve your problem-solving skills:

Strengthen your specialist knowledge in your industry.

Depending on your profession, having deep specialist knowledge may make it easier for you to address problems. Attending an external course, workshop, mentorship, or practicing your skills can help you gain deeper technical knowledge.

Constantly look for opportunities to solve problems.

You can increase your chances of bumping into new opportunities to solve problems by going out of your comfort zone. Start by seeking new opportunities around you. You can volunteer for a new project or task, be it in your existing team, on another team, or on an external group within your field.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Keeping practicing or performing role-playing will help to strengthen your problem-solving skills. You can search online or go to your local bookshop to look for practice books on problem-solving scenarios.

Through role-playing, you can experiment with different ways to tackle the challenges and see whether your solutions are practical. Practicing how you can solve the common problems prevalent in your field might help you find answers when such problems arise in your job.

How to Improve Your Problem-solving Skills in the Workplace

Watch and learn how others overcome problems.

There are people around you who are excellent problem solvers. These people could be your close friends or colleagues in the workplace. You may improve your problem-solving skills by observing how they develop effective solutions to problems.

You can ask a more experienced colleague and ask if you can shadow them when they are doing problem-solving. Be curious and ask questions that could be useful when you do problem-solving in the future.

How to Highlight Problem-Solving Skills in a Resume

As problem-solving skills are essential to many organizations, you can put this skill at the top of your resume. You can indicate this skill on your resume in various sections, such as “skills” and “achievements” sections.

You can also highlight it in your “experience” section, but remember to provide specific examples of problems you solved. Instead of writing down the word “problem-solving” in the “skills” section, you may want to mention specific skills you have.

It could be your job-specific technical skills or soft skills related to problem-solving, such as analytical skills, communication skills, etc. Storytelling is powerful. During interview questions, you can highlight specific examples of obstacles you faced and how you solved the problems.

The problems you solved may come from your prior roles—whether academic, work, or volunteer. Be prepared to discuss the issues you faced, the methods or skills you used to tackle the problems, and the results you achieved.

Frequently Asked Questions About Problem-Solving Skills

How do you describe problem-solving skills.

Problem-solving is a soft skill (a personal strength), not a hard skill learned from school or specialized training. Problem-solving skills assist you in resolving challenges swiftly and effectively. It gives you a keen eye to spot underlying problems and put a solution in place quickly.

What are the three key attributes of a good problem solver?

A good problem solver has strong analytical skills to understand problems quickly and discern between good and poor ideas. They also have strong communication skills to explain the issues and present solutions clearly to others. They also have high emotional intelligence.

What is problem-solving behavior?

Problem-solving behavior refers to a person’s ability to analyze and think critically to solve problems. They can decide which best course of action to take after conducting a thorough risk analysis of all the available solutions. They can implement solutions to resolve any challenges or difficulties they encounter in their life, work or relationship.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Related Posts

Why Is it Important To Recognize Marketing Skills & Their Benefits

10 Crucial Marketing Skills That Every Marketer Must Have

Conflict Management Skills in the Workplace – Importance & Benefits

Conflict Management Skills for Leaders & Managers: List & Examples

Why Is It Important To Recognize Diplomatic Skills & Their Benefits

10 Diplomatic Skills That Every Great Diplomat Must Have

Emotional Intelligence Skills Examples & How to Develop Them

Emotional Intelligence Skills: List, Examples & How to Develop Them

10 Essential Executive Functioning Skills That Are Must-Have

10 Essential & Effective Team Management Skills for Leaders High5

10 Essential Team Management Skills for Leaders & Managers

Free Strengths Test

Methodology

Affiliate Program

Feature Request

For individuals

For organizations

For coaches

For educators

Full Strengths Report

Strengths Planner

Strengths Discovery Guide

Strengths Reference Sheets

Strength Cards

Career Guides

Professional Skills

Job Interview Guides

Strengths in the Workplace

CliftonStrengths

VIA Character Strengths

Comparisons

Copyright @ 2024 HIGH5TEST. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Shipping Policy | Contact Info

problem solving skills test

THE BEST TEST PRACTICE

Learn how to pass any reasoning test with my tips, training and free practice tests..

home-page-twitter

Recommended by:

e

Free Practice Aptitude Tests

Take 16 free practice aptitude tests . Each test comes with answers and fully explained solutions to each question.

Numerical Test

What Is the Saville Wave Test?

The Saville Wave test is a personality questionnaire that comes in different versions to suit all sorts of job roles and levels of seniority.

Created by Saville Assessment, the Wave tests are designed to be the ‘best-in-class predictor of workplace performance and potential’.

They blend digital innovation and science to cover aspects of competency, potential, motivation, talent and preferred company culture in one short assessment.

The Wave tests are usually used in recruitment and selection, but they are also used for talent management and succession planning.

There are two main types of Wave tests used in recruitment:

  • The Wave Focus Styles
  • The Wave Professional Styles

A Guide to the Thomas International PPA (and Tips)

It is becoming increasingly common for employers to ask potential new employees to complete a variety of assessments as part of their recruitment processes.

One example of this is the Thomas International PPA assessment , which is a personality test commonly used by employers who are looking for individuals with specific personality types or strengths in defined areas.

In this article, you’ll learn what the Thomas International PPA Test is, what you can expect if you are asked to take the assessment and how your test will be scored.

We have also included plenty of helpful tips and free Thomas International PPA sample test questions to help you prepare ahead of taking the Thomas PPA assessment.

Best CV Writing Services in the UK in 2024

The current job market is an incredibly competitive place, with people doing their best to stand out to potential employers to successfully complete recruitment processes and secure their dream roles.

Having a well-written CV is one of the best ways to create a good first impression.

However, this can be a challenge for those who struggle to promote themselves or those who require a specialised CV for a specific or technical job role.

This is where a professional CV writing service can help.

The NWEA MAP Test – Practice Test Guide and Tips

The NWEA MAP Growth Test is used in thousands of schools across the US to assess children academically.

The test can be given three times in a school year and helps teachers to plan their lessons so that children can reach their potential and continue to grow throughout their time in education.

In this article, you will learn more about the different levels of the test and the way it is structured to suit different grades, what types of questions are on the tests and how best to prepare your child for success.

A Guide to the NNAT Test: Examples and Tips

If your child is under the age of 12 and aims to get into a gifted school program, they will most likely be required to take the NNAT test to assess their skills.

If you know that your child is expected to take the exam, you can help them prepare for it by letting them know what to expect.

This article contains the most relevant information concerning the NNAT test, including its purpose, scoring system and levels.

You will also receive plenty of helpful tips on how to help your child prepare for the exam by completing a Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test sample and working on their weaknesses in each question type.

A Full Guide to the Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory (HBRI) Test + Example Questions + Expert Tips

The Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory (HBRI) is a scientifically-based aptitude test.

It is designed to assess cognitive ability and a candidate’s preferences for using qualitative and quantitative reasoning skills.

The HBRI is a popular tool for pre-employment screening, particularly in the management, sales and marketing sectors.

If you have been asked to take the HBRI, your test results will offer prospective employers insight into your decision-making skills, problem-solving abilities, approach to processing information and ability to learn from past experiences.

In this article, you can learn what to expect when taking the Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory HBRI test, see examples of the type of Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory questions you might be faced with and guidance on how to prepare for the assessment.

A Guide to the MAP Kindergarten Test

The MAP Kindergarten Test is a computer-adaptive test that measures your child’s progress throughout their academic career.

The grades K through 2 tests assess mathematics and reading abilities.

The results from these tests allow teachers to identify the gaps in your child’s knowledge and to better understand their ability to learn and retain information.

The MAP test is administered three times in the academic year to ensure your child’s progress is properly recorded.

A Guide to the Ramsay Mechanical Aptitude Test: Examples & Tips

The Ramsay Mechanical Aptitude Test is used as part of the pre-employment screening process for a number of roles in different industries.

It is an excellent indicator of how well you can learn on the job, as well as your ability to use basic physics principles and mechanical knowledge to solve problems.

In this article, you will learn more about which job roles require completion of the Ramsay MAT as part of the application process, and what different types of tests are available.

The format of the assessment, as well as the number of questions and the time limit, will also be discussed. You’ll also learn how the Ramsay MAT is scored and what happens next.

There will be example questions that are similar to those you are likely to find on the assessment, as well as some top tips for success.

A Guide to the Saville Assessment (& Tips)

The Saville assessments are used worldwide by companies during the recruitment process to assess a candidate’s suitability for a given role.

This series of tests measures numerical, verbal, spatial and abstract reasoning . You may also be assigned a situational judgement test and a personality questionnaire. Some roles may even require a mechanical reasoning test .

A Guide to the SHL Personality Test with Tailored OPQ32 (& Tips)

The SHL OPQ32 test is the flagship personality test from SHL.

Used by major organizations all over the world, it is considered to be one of the best psychometric assessment tools currently available on the market.

It is a trait-based personality test that is designed to gauge a candidate’s personality attributes and behavioral preferences in the workplace.

A candidate’s test results are analyzed by recruiters, helping them to decide whether a candidate is a good match for the job role they have applied for.

PELLETB Test: Examples, Guide and Tips

One of the career paths in the public sector is that of a law enforcement officer, also known as a peace officer, in the United States of America.

As the name suggests, this role involves the enforcement of laws across the country. Peace officers can come in many forms, including police officers, customs officers, sheriffs, state troopers and probation officers.

In states such as California, aspiring peace officers must take a test called the PELLETB. This aptitude test measures writing and reading skills to determine if the candidate is ready to become a peace officer.

Standing for POST-Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery, the PELLETB assessment is considered one of the most difficult police entry exams in the US.

In this article, you will learn all you need to know to prepare and succeed, so you can take one step closer towards your dream career. To help with your preparation, we've also included PELLETB exam practice test questions and answers.

A Guide to the OLSAT Test: Examples & Tips

OLSAT stands for Otis-Lennon School Ability Test.

Children take the test to help schools decide admissions into their gifted-and-talented programs.

Preparing your children for taking the OLSAT is a good idea as it could determine their eligibility and acceptance to extra academic programs that are offered by their schools.

A Guide to the CritiCall 911 Dispatch Test: Examples & Tips

If you are looking for a career working with the emergency services, then becoming a 911 call handler and dispatcher might be just the role for you.

If you can handle working under pressure, helping the public and are able to deal with difficult and uncomfortable situations with a calm head, then you might have what it takes to be the first port of call in an emergency.

Becoming a 911 call handler and dispatcher means you will need to have some very specific skills and abilities, and as part of the recruitment process, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your suitability by taking the CritiCall 911 dispatch test .

Used throughout the US for recruiting people for 911 roles, the CritiCall test does not assess your previous experience or your knowledge of the role.

Instead, it is designed to assess candidates on the inherent aptitudes that are needed to be successful in the role.

This article will discuss what the CritiCall test is assessing, the types of questions that you are likely to face and what the recruiters will be looking for.

There will be some example questions, as well as details about what mark you will need to achieve to pass the test.

Finally, there are some CritiCall test prep tips to help you prepare for the assessment and what to think about on the day.

A Guide to the McQuaig Word Survey: Examples & Tips

The McQuaig Word Survey is a type of personality assessment.

Survey responses are used to measure a candidate’s key personality traits and compare these with how they are currently behaving in the workplace.

The results from the survey indicate whether a candidate is behaving naturally in their current role, or whether they are making changes to their behaviour.

This article will help you pass the McQuaig Word Survey assessment test by giving you all the tools and practice questions you will need.

Caliper Test and Assessment Tips

The Caliper test is an assessment used by employers to gain a better understanding of a candidate’s personality traits, cognitive abilities and motivations.

The Caliper test is used to help employers predict a candidate's suitability for a role.

In this article, we'll take a detailed look at what the Caliper test is and how it is scored.

We’ll also share some tips on how you can perform at your best when taking your Caliper assessment test.

A Guide to the Wonderlic Test: Examples & Tips

While no test is 100% accurate in assessing a candidate’s full capabilities, the Wonderlic test gives recruiters a good insight into a candidate’s ability to perform certain roles.

Since the Wonderlic test can be what stands between you and your dream job, you need to prepare to perform as best as you can.

This article will explain what the Wonderlic test is, what the format is, provide Wonderlic sample questions and present tips on how to prepare for your Wonderlic test .

Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) Assessment

The Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) is a personality test developed by Hogan Assessments, designed to explore human personality traits, behavioral preferences and characteristics.

This style of personality test is often encountered during the early stages of a company’s recruitment process to assess both alignments with workplace culture and values and give insight into the strengths and qualities of candidates.

Hogan produces well-respected, science-based assessments that many top employers and large organizations rely upon when hiring new staff.

The company serves over half of the Fortune 500 and administers its assessments across 56 countries and in 47 languages.

The Hogan Personality Inventory (as part of the Hogan Personality Assessment) is grounded in over 40 years of research and is trusted to provide a good prediction of future performance and leadership potential.

This article will introduce you to the HPI assessment and its purpose, along with what to expect from the test and how it is scored.

You'll also find free Hogan Personality Test example questions. We'll also cover how you can prepare for your upcoming HPI test to give you the best chance at success.

A Guide to the CogAT Test: Examples & Tips

The CogAT is a K–12 assessment comprised of three sections.

The questions are designed to measure a student’s reasoning abilities, and their scores are compared against other students of the same age and grade to identify those who are particularly academically adept.

Schools often choose the CogAT assessment as a way of identifying students who are suitable for gifted and talented programs.

A Guide to the Edison Electric Institute Tests (EEI): Examples & Tips

Many employers use psychometric assessments and aptitude tests as part of the employee hiring process.

Competition for job roles is fierce in every sector, so EEI tests are a useful tool for talent identification in the energy industry.

If you are applying for roles in the energy sector, you will likely be asked to sit one of the Edison Electric Institute Tests.

Sometimes referred to as EEI tests or the Edison test, these assessments are designed to measure your competency in skills and abilities required to work in a specific job role and in the energy industry as a whole.

If you are asked to take an EEI test, the recruiter will use your results to decide whether you have the appropriate skill mix to perform well in the job role that you have applied for.

In this article, you can find out what to expect when taking an EEI test, get free EEI practice test questions and the steps you can take to achieve the best possible score.

The School and College Ability Test (SCAT)

The School and College Ability Test (SCAT) is used by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

The results determine a student’s eligibility for gifted and talented programs .

This article focuses on what to expect in this challenging test. It includes SCAT test practice questions and tips on preparing your child for success.

A Guide to the CCAT Test: Examples & Tips

More and more employers are choosing to use psychometric testing as a part of their recruitment processes as it helps to highlight those candidates who are most likely to be suited to the roles they are looking to fill.

Employers will often use this form of testing when recruiting for mid-to-high level managerial roles or positions that require a specific set of skills.

Using the results of assessments, recruiters and employers are able to see the strengths and skills of individuals as well as being able to predict future performance.

One of the most popular options for psychometric testing is the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude test – more commonly known as the CCAT.

A Guide to the Elevator Industry Aptitude Test (EIAT): Examples & Tips

The elevator industry is one of the most financially rewarding trades, offering numerous career opportunities. If you want to build a career in this industry, the best way to start is by joining a recognized apprenticeship program.

Among these, the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) is probably the most prestigious apprenticeship scheme. To secure a place in this program, you must pass the Elevator Industry Aptitude Test (EIAT) , a subsequent interview and a tool assessment exam. I

This article will provide information about the EIAT assessment test, including its structure and what type of questions you may be required to answer. You will also be given several handy tips to help you prepare for the EIAT exam and perform well enough to secure an apprenticeship.

A Guide to the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test: Examples & Tips

The Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test (BMCT) , also referred to as the Bennett Mechanical Aptitude Test, is considered the most popular mechanical aptitude test.

However, it is also believed to be the hardest one to pass.

The BMCT requires you to have a knowledge and understanding of physical principles and answer 55 questions about the application of these concepts within 25 minutes.

You typically need to score in the top 20% of candidates to progress to the next stage of recruitment.

CAT4 认知能力测试

CAT4 认知能力测试 是一种旨在衡量学生学业进步的考试。

CAT4 测试评分完成后,家长和老师将收到一份有关学生学业潜力的总结。

任何参加测试的学生都需要回答一些将要衡量他们的逻辑推理能力、文字推理能力、数字推理能力和 空间意识 的问题。

在这篇文章中,您将了解更多关于在考察这些技能时需要回答的题目类型。

除此之外,这里还提供更多有关不同 CAT4 测试级别的信息。这将有助于您了解不同年龄段的 CAT4 测试评分机制。

在这些信息之后,会提供一些一般性建议和技巧以帮助孩子取得好的成绩。这里还给出了老师、家长和参加 CAT4 测试的学生经常问到的常见问题。

A Guide to the BKSB Assessment Test: Examples & Tips

If you have applied for a job, apprenticeship or college course in the UK or Australia, you may have been asked to complete a Basic and Key Skills Builder or BKSB assessment) .

The initial BKSB assessment determines suitable applicants for an apprenticeship or places a student in the correct class level on a college course. The assessment tests you on your maths and English skills to identify areas that need improvement.

This guide will explain the BKSB assessment in detail, provide example questions, and answer your queries about the test content and format.

How to Pass the Thomas GIA Test

There are a variety of tests and assessments that can be used by companies for candidates applying for jobs.

One of those is the Thomas GIA Test .

This article will define what the Thomas GIA Test is and who it is for, in addition to looking at what the test involves, how it is scored and tips for the next chance to pass the test.

You will also find Thomas GIA test examples and explanations for each answer.

A Guide to the ieGAT Test: Examples and Tips

The IE Global Admissions Test (ieGAT) is an entrance exam for the IE University (IEU) in Spain.

It covers numerical , logical and verbal reasoning .

Not every IE program requires an ieGAT score. However, as the programs that do are highly competitive, those who take the ieGAT Test must prepare themselves to achieve the best score possible.

This article will help you understand:

  • What the ieGAT is
  • The structure
  • ieGAT scoring
  • How to register for the ieGAT
  • The best ways to prepare

Sova Assessment Testing Guide: Logical Reasoning Answers

More and more companies are introducing psychometric testing as a part of their recruitment processes.

This means that, if you are considering changing careers or applying for a new role within your existing industry, you may need to take an assessment.

One of the most popular tests for corporate employers is the test by Sova Assessment .

Postal Exam 474: Questions, Answers & Expert Tips

The United States Postal Service (USPS) provides extensive career opportunities and seemingly endless possibilities for professional development.

However, anyone looking to work at the USPS must pass a Virtual Entry Assessment designed to find suitable applicants for the role they are trying to fill.

This article covers the Postal Exam 474 , including its main parts, how to pass it and how to prepare for the Virtual Entry Assessment.

Let's start by looking at what exactly the 474 Virtual Entry Assessment is.

A Guide to the Hogan Assessment: Examples & Tips

Developed by Drs Joyce and Robert Hogan in the 1980s, the Hogan assessment is a collection of tests designed to assess personality traits, leadership skills and cognitive abilities.

The Hogan assessment is generally used as a pre-employment test for management roles.

This article will guide you through the online Hogan tests , provide a range of sample questions, discuss how the Hogan Assessment results are calculated and recommend ways that you can prepare to take the Hogan assessment yourself.

The Swift (Saville) Analysis Aptitude Test

If you’ve recently applied for a managerial or executive role, you may have been asked to take a Saville Analysis Aptitude Test , also known as the Swift Aptitude test.

The Swift Analysis Aptitude Test was created by Saville Assessment, which is a huge name in the test publishing market.

The CAT4 Cognitive Ability Test

The CAT4 cognitive ability test is an examination designed to measure a student’s academic progress.

When the CAT4 test is scored, teachers and parents will be given a summary of the academic potential of the student.

Any student taking the test will be asked questions that will measure their non-verbal reasoning abilities, verbal reasoning skills, quantitative reasoning abilities and spatial awareness .

In this article, you’ll learn more about what types of questions are asked to examine these skills.

A Guide to the RAF Aptitude Test: Examples & Tips

The RAF aptitude test is designed to check your suitability for recruitment into the Royal Air Force.

The test contains different sections that check for your strengths and weaknesses. The results will indicate which roles you’re most likely to excel in.

The Royal Air Force ( RAF ) offers numerous career opportunities, including in areas you may not have considered, such as:

  • Airspace monitoring
  • Enforcing security protocols
  • Responding to potential threats

For any job with the RAF , you will have to take an aptitude test before joining. This test includes several sections that evaluate your memory, reasoning and comprehension skills.

This article takes you through examples for each section and a thorough explanation of how the RAF aptitude test is scored. You'll also get an insight into what it takes to prepare for the RAF officer aptitude test and helpful advice on how to get the highest score possible.

Let’s get started.

How to Pass the Korn Ferry Leadership Potential Assessment (KFALP) in 2024

The Korn Ferry Leadership Potential Assessment (KFALP) is used to test candidates to see if they have the potential to become leaders and managers.

It uses seven different categories, known as Seven Signposts, to assess potential leaders:

  • Learning Agility
  • Leadership Traits
  • Derailment Risks

This article will examine the theory behind the assessment, the different topics that are tested and how the assessment is scored.

There will also be example questions so that you know what to expect when you take the KFALP and some tips to help you score as highly as possible when you take the test.

What Is A Pymetrics Test? (2024 Guide)

Pymetrics tests identify specific behavioral characteristics and traits.

This article examines why pymetrics tests are used and what to expect in your assessment.

Tips are included to help you get the best results.

McQuaig Mental Agility Test (MMAT): Examples & Tips 2024

The McQuaig Mental Agility Test (MMAT) is a 15-minute timed test that is designed to assess your ability to think quickly.

In this short test, you will face questions that will allow you to demonstrate your speed of thought and general mental agility, which are useful aptitudes when it comes to many jobs in different industries.

In this article, find out more about the structure of the test, the different types of McQuaig Mental Agility test questions and what to expect on the day. You’ll also get some mental agility practice test questions and top tips to help you be successful in the MMAT.

USPS Postal Exam MH 475 Study Guide (Examples & Tips)

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the second biggest employer in the US and offers great job security, so many people consider a career there.

Depending on the job you are applying for, there are several different assessments, as USPS roles are sought after.

USPS introduced the 475 exam , also known as the USPS Virtual Assessment - MH (475) for Mail Handler positions in April of 2019 when it retired the previous USPS Postal exam 473.

Candidates also need to:

  • Be over 18 years old
  • Have a high school diploma
  • Pass criminal and medical tests

In October of 2021, it added two new sections, so when you are looking up information about the 475, make sure you are getting the latest details.

What Is the USPS Exam 475?

The USPS Postal Exam 475 is a virtual entry assessment specifically designed for people who are applying to be a Mail Handler, Mail Handler Assistant or Casual Mail Handler in the US Postal Service. As a part of the hiring process, Postal Exam 475 is designed to check your thought processes and cognitive abilities, rather than just intelligence.

This test is designed to check your thought processes and cognitive abilities, rather than just intelligence.

It wants to see if you suit the role of mail handler.

Once you begin your online application, you only have 72 hours (three days) to complete the 475 assessment.

The 475 postal exam is self-administered and non-proctored – which means there is no one watching or invigilating.

It’s taken through the USPS online portal and takes 45 minutes.

If it times out, you do not get a chance to resit for another year, so be sure that you have a proper internet connection.

The best way to take the USPS 475 assessment is on a tablet or computer, rather than on your phone.

4 Sections of the USPS 475 Postal Exam with Questions & Answers

It’s important to get familiar with the different sections of the assessment and the skills it is testing for. You cannot go back to edit your answers, so take the time to understand the questions and get as many correct answers as you can.

The USPS tests are designed to be unusual – so practicing and getting familiar will help your confidence.

There is no set time for each section, so when you are preparing, take note of which parts are harder for you and bear that in mind when dividing your attention on the actual test.

Section 1 of the US Postal Exam 475: Work Scenarios

The first section of the Assessment 475 is ‘Work Scenarios’ and contains nine questions.

It tests your knowledge of the United States Postal Service and your skill in knowing what both customers and the company is looking for, as well as your general common sense.

A Guide to the FBI Phase 1 Test (Examples & Tips)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is responsible for the enforcement of federal law and the protection of national security in the US.

Working for the FBI can be highly stressful. As a special agent for the FBI, the working week is likely to be 50 hours or more.

Special agents must be willing to be based anywhere in the world. They are expected to carry a firearm and work in potentially dangerous situations.

With this in mind, the FBI has a rigorous application and selection process for potential new recruits. It can take more than 20 months to complete the entire process and commence employment with the FBI.

A Guide to the USPS Postal Exam 955 – Examples & Tips

This guide to the USPS postal exam 955 will take you through the different sections of the test, including example questions, provide tips on how you can prepare for the exam and answer several frequently asked questions.

The USPS postal exam 955 is used to screen applicants for mechanic and technician positions , such as electronic technicians or motor vehicle mechanics. It also sometimes referred to as the postal maintenance 955 exam, USPS maintenance mechanic 955 test or the 955 maintenance exam.

It tests applicants’ suitability by assessing personal characteristics, work experience, and electronic and technical knowledge and skills.

The USPS postal exam 955 replaced the previous 931, 932 and 933 exams .

The USPS postal exam 955 is free of charge , but you will need access to the internet and an email address.

Amazon Technician Test in 2024

Most companies nowadays require candidates to undergo a series of recruitment stages when they apply for a role.

Each stage is designed to assess a different aspect of the candidates’ suitability for the role.

Amazon is no different from other companies in this respect. Potential employees will be expected to undertake a series of assessments and interviews before being offered a job.

One of the stages of the Amazon interview process is the Amazon technician test (also called the Amazon Ramsay Test).

The Amazon technician test involves several different sections including verbal, non-verbal and workplace simulation questions.

Recruiters will then use this information to decide who would be the best possible candidate for the available position.

It forms a common part of the recruitment process for roles as engineering technicians, specifically Maintenance Technician; or Reliability, Maintenance and Engineering Technician roles.

This article will look at what the Amazon maintenance technician assessment test is and what to expect before, during and after the assessment, plus how best to prepare for it.

Postal Exam: USPS Virtual Entry Assessment – MP 476

If you are looking to work in the United States Postal Service, you will need to pass the USPS Postal Exam 476.

The USPS Postal Exam 476 is an online test that screens for the best candidates. The exam is used to find suitable candidates for a range of positions, including mail processing clerk, data conversion operator and clerk-related positions.

This article will outline what the USPS Postal Exam 476 includes, with particular attention to the separate sections of the examination.

In addition to this, how the exam is scored and how you can best prepare for it will be covered. There will also be a list of frequently asked questions for you to refer to if you have any doubts.

How to Prepare for Amazon Assessment

A List of Amazon Assessment Tests Available for Practice in 2024

  • Amazon Work Simulation Assessment
  • Amazon Maintenance Technician Test
  • Amazon Coding Assessment
  • Amazon Workstyle Assessment
  • Amazon Area Manager Assessment
  • Amazon Operations Manager Assessment
  • Amazon Online MBA Assessment
  • Amazon RME Apprenticeship Skills Battery Test
  • Amazon Financial Analyst Assessment
  • Amazon ATA Technical Assessment
  • Amazon Control Systems Technician Test
  • Amazon Warehouse Assessment Test

The Amazon assessment test is an essential way for the corporation to find the best-suited employees.

It is a series of challenges used to evaluate all its candidates during the recruitment process.

Amazon online assessments typically include both numerical and verbal reasoning tests.

These types of tests examine a potential candidate’s logical skills.

Candidates will also have to sit work-style assessments that simulate the working environment at Amazon.

Other Amazon exams include:

  • The Amazon coding assessment (also known as the Amazon SDE online assessment)
  • The work sample simulation
  • An Amazon versant test

These last two, amongst others, will be discussed later in this article.

This Amazon reviewer job article will also discuss how to pass the Amazon assessment tests, some Amazon assessment answers you should know and what you need to do to best prepare yourself.

There is also a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions from those who are interested in taking these Amazon job tests to find employment with the company.

SHL Verbal Reasoning Tests: A Rough Guide

What Is the SHL Verbal Reasoning Test?

The SHL Verbal Reasoning Test is a graduate-level and above pre-employment aptitude test that is used in graduate and management recruitment for many roles across different industries.

The test is usually taken online, and it is designed to evaluate candidates on their ability to understand written information and make informed, reasoned and logical decisions based on that information.

SHL is a well-established test publisher, providing tests for more than 10,000 companies around the world. It offers a range of tests, including psychometric, behavioural and personality assessments that are based in occupational psychology and aptitude science. 

The tests have specific aims – and recruitment teams use SHL tests like the Verbal Reasoning Test to filter through similarly qualified candidates to find the applicants who have what it takes to be successful in a graduate or management level role.

When taking a verbal reasoing test, bear in mind that you might also be asked to take numerical reasoning tests, logical reasoning tests or personality tests along side.

What Is an IQ Test? (with Example Questions and Answers)

IQ stands for intelligence quotient and is usually thought to represent the reasoning skills of individuals.

The idea of intelligence relates to how quickly people can solve problems or puzzles, use logic to answer questions, or quickly recall information and facts they’ve heard.

The first type of IQ test was created by a French psychologist named Alfred Binet.

The assessment that he made is still used and is known as the Stanford-Binet intelligence test.

Best Mock Aptitude Tests and Online Psychometric Tests (Full List). Free & Paid Resources.

Are you looking for mock aptitude tests and aptitude test practice ?

This article provides a complete list of all types of online resources for mock aptitude tests and will help you improve your performance at taking these difficult tests.

You came to the right place.

Aptitude Tests (Short Intro)

Aptitude tests are most often used as an assessment tool, usually by an employer, as part of an interview process.

They can be difficult and are often timed.

Your score will be compared to the scores of other candidates, and usually only the top performing candidates will be invited to progress through an interview process.

This is why you must perform to the best of your ability when you take these tests.

Your score is very important.

Improving Your Performance At Aptitude Tests

There are many different types of aptitude test .

Some variations are:

  • Numerical reasoning tests
  • Verbal reasoning tests
  • Abstract reasoning tests

If you want to perform well in an aptitude test , you must find out exactly what type of aptitude test , or tests, you will be taking and prepare for these tests.

The best way to practice is to take mock aptitude tests .

Doing so will help you become familiar with these tests and the types of questions you will be asked and help you improve how you answer these questions.

Online Mock Aptitude Tests (Full List)

There is a wide selection of mock aptitude tests available online.

We have compiled an extensive list below of all the different types of online resource.

All of these resources offer free practice and mock aptitude tests .

Employers Websites: Mock Tests

Many employers offer example mock tests to candidates, so that candidates can get an idea of what to expect when they take a real test.

PwC : Practice psychometric test on PwC website. ( UPDATE January 2021: this test has been removed from the PwC website but you can still find PwC practice tests on JobTestPrep).

KPMG : Practice numerical and verbal test on KPMG website. ( UPDATE January 2021: this test has been removed from the KPMG website but you can still find KPMG practice tests on JobTestPrep).

If you will be taking an aptitude test for an employer and they offer a mock test to you, you must take it.

It will probably be very good preparation for your real test.

The good thing about mock tests on employers sites is that they are free to take.

The bad things about these tests, is that there are often only one or two mock tests to take, you might not always get answers, and the answers often do not have fully explained answers.

Getting full explanations to questions is an important part of your practice because they will help you learn how to improve your performance.

University Careers Services: Mock Tests

Almost all University Careers Service websites offer some form of mock aptitude test , but these are almost always only available to current students (student login required).

If you are a University student, contact your careers service to find out what options are available.

Here's an example of a locked page on a University careers service website.

UCL : This university careers service offers free access to two paid aptitude test sites, but only for current students at UCL.

How to Cheat on the GMAT and Why You Shouldn’t: GMAT Prep Guide

Considering cheating on your GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) Exam?

Want to know how to do it, if you should do it and what the consequences will be?

Well you came to the right place!

Read on to find out more about cheating on the GMAT exam, but be warned...

... it's certainly not something I advise!

3 Best Online Aptitude Test Preparation Websites (3 Free sites + 3 Paid sites)

Do you have an upcoming online aptitude test ? 

Are you looking for the best aptitude test prep material to give you the very best chance of getting the highest possible grade? 

If so, this article will help you. 

Aptitude tests are a crucial part of your job search, and you usually only have one chance to showcase your skills. 

Psychometric aptitude tests can measure many different aptitudes and skill sets, in many different formats:

  • Numerical reasoning
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Diagrammatic or inductive reasoning
  • Mechanical reasoning
  • Personality types
  • Situational judgement and work environment tests
  • Work style tests

Aptitude tests can be challenging and it is important to be fully prepared before you attend your job interview or assessment centre.

Several free and paid aptitude test preparation websites offer preparation packs to help you score the best you can.

The Ultimate Guide to the USPS (United States Postal Service) Exam (with 5 Practice Test Questions!)

Those hoping to secure a career with the USPS (United States Postal Service) will likely face a USPS Virtual Assessment Exam .

These exams include a series of questions designed to test your cognitive ability and personality traits . Many of the questions are situation based, giving the employers an excellent insight into whether you would be a great fit for the role.

What Are the USPS Exams?

As mentioned, the USPS test is a crucial element of the hiring process for many positions at the Post Office. Depending on the specific position you have applied for, you may face the 474 , 475 , 476 or 477 assessment.

The Ultimate Guide to the TSA-CBT Tests

Those dreaming of working for the TSA will most likely need to take a challenging exam called the TSA CBT Test during the hiring process. Here we’ll look at exactly what it involves and how you can make sure you pass it. Read on to find out more.

If you plan to work as an inspector, manager, marshal or security officer in any agency governed by the Transportation Security Administration, you must pass the TSA CBT test as part of your application process.

Read on to learn more about this assessment, including its purpose, what types of questions it has, how challenging it is and how to prepare for it.

You'll also be provided with a few example questions to help you get an idea of what this test looks like.

Aptitude Tests: 10 Sample Questions and Answers

Aptitude tests are administered to understand your inherent abilities to reason and respond to specific tasks.

They are widely used in various forms to screen candidates or evaluate existing employees for a future job role.

The most generic and widely used aptitude tests are curated to measure different facets of your abilities, mainly on the following areas:

  • Abstract Reasoning
  • Numerical Reasoning
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Attention to Detail

Apart from these base types, there are various other specialized aptitude tests which you may face in specific industries or based on your role in different career stages.

We have discussed each of the most common job related aptitude tests in detail.

Illustrative examples and helpful hints are provided throughout to aid your preparation.

Read on to find out more.

Cognify Tests: Game Based Assessments Explained

The Cognify test is a game-based cognitive assessment designed to measure an individual's cognitive aptitude to measure key job performance linked abilities and skills in a prospective candidate.

The Cognify test was once a product of Revelian, an Australian assessment company, but was later acquired by CriteriaCorp.

Moving away completely from the question-answer based template of traditional tests, Cognify uses an innovative approach where candidates don't face a series of questions on a screen.

Instead, the Cognify Assessment comprises 6-7 timed game-based mini-tests categorized into three cognitive abilities categories:

  • Problem-Solving
  • Verbal Knowledge

Well, before you start raising your eyebrows at the mention of ‘game-based’ and dismiss it as just another fad, pay attention!

Cognify assessment is credited as having brought a paradigm shift in the field of psychometric testing.

Many Tier-I graduate recruiters globally have started using this assessment in their candidate selection process.

Train Driver Tests Guide: with Example Questions + Answers

The train driver test is used to establish whether a candidate is suitable for work as a train driver. This unique suite of tests includes psychometric assessment tools such as:

  • The Group Bourdon Test (GBT)
  • Test of Everyday Attention (TEA-OCC)
  • Adaptive Tachistoscopic Traffic Perception Test (ATAVT)
  • Situational judgement tests
  • Vigilance tests
  • Written communication tests

What Is the Train Driver Test?

In most countries, you will need to sit the train driver online test if you want to work as a train driver. If you have been asked to sit the assessments, there is no train driver psychometric test cost associated with the train driver exam.

Working as a train driver is a challenging and demanding role. As a train driver, you must be able to ensure the safety of passengers at all times.

The UK’s train driving tests are some of the most challenging. As well as testing aptitude for the job role, they are used to assess whether candidates have the mental abilities to cope with the stress and demands of the job role.

The train driver test is used to establish whether a candidate is suitable for work as a train driver. The train driver test is a unique group of psychometric tests for train drivers designed to assess the psychomotor and cognitive skills needed to work safely as a train driver.

Predictive Index Tests Fully Explained [With Example Questions + Answers]

The Predictive Index (PI) test is a popular type of pre-employment testing used to accurately measure an individual’s cognitive ability and behavioral profile during the hiring process in a wide range of industries and organizations. They are most commonly used during the early stages of the recruitment process. 

The PI cognitive test assesses verbal, numerical and analytical reasoning ability. 

The PI behavioral test creates a behavioral persona that describes character traits and tendencies.

Kenexa Prove It Test: How to Prepare

The Kenexa Prove It Test is a popular skills assessment test that allows employers to get a hands-on sense of how well a candidate is familiar with Microsoft Office programs.

Most of the time, these tests assess your ability and familiarity with Microsoft’s two most popular programs – Word and Excel.

Kenexa is an IBM company that helps companies by providing them with solutions for talent management, retention and recruitment.

The company works with a variety of organizations and provides them with assessment tests that can be used as part of the hiring process.

Mechanical Aptitude Test: Preparation, Practice & Example Test Questions

A mechanical aptitude reasoning test is an important way to assess your knowledge on mechanical topics for potential roles in the army, emergency services and many other professions. Here, you will get all the information you need on what a mechanical comprehension test is and how to pass it.

Those applying for jobs related to the army, the emergency services engineering service, and similar occupations that require mechanical aptitude, are likely to be asked to take a mechanical reasoning test as part of the recruitment process.

Mechanical aptitude tests assess knowledge in electricity, optics, pressure and other fields of mechanics related to a specific industry.

From this article, you'll learn what mechanical reasoning tests look like, when to take them, what to expect from these assessment types, and how to practise and prepare for them.

Let’s get started!

Cognitive Ability Tests: Practice Test Questions, Answers & Explanations

If you would like to take a free practice Cognitive Ability Test before reading this article, click here .

If you would like to purchase an online Cognitive Ability Test prep pack, visit our partner website JobTestPrep .

The following tests are common cognitive ability tests:

  • Spatial Reasoning
  • Mechanical Reasoning
  • Logical Ability Tests
  • Space Visualization
  • Information Processing
  • Visual Pursuit
  • Manual Speed and Accuracy

Ace Your Deductive Reasoning Test with Example Questions

Have you been asked to take a Deductive Reasoning test as part of an upcoming interview process?

Continue reading to find out more about this type of test, including:

  • Why employers use Deductive Reasoning Tests.
  • How you can improve your performance at Deductive Tests.
  • What types of questions you will be asked during the Test.

What Is A Deductive Reasoning Test?

Logical thinking or deductive reasoning tests are used by employers to measure an applicant’s ability to make logical arguments and form sound conclusions.

During this type of test, you will be presented with a variety of scenarios, statements and arguments for which you will need to apply a given set of rules to determine the validity of the corresponding conclusion.

Spatial Awareness Tests: Example Questions & Answers (2024)

Spacial Reasoning Definition

A spatial awareness test is a type of assessment that tests your ability to think in three dimensions and use your imagination to see movement through space.

Someone with good spatial awareness will be able to see in their mind how different shapes interact and be able to manipulate them to make a reasoned and logical decision.

The test is based on pictures, diagrams and shapes. You will need to mentally manipulate the presented image by disassembling or reassembling, rotating, seeing it in a mirror image or from different angles, or otherwise visualizing it differently to find the right answer to the question from the multiple-choice options provided.

Spatial awareness is something that we use to a greater or lesser degree every day, from understanding our position relative to other things around us to imagining the route we will take to get from one place to another.

Spatial reasoning tests are distinct from other similar assessments such as diagrammatic reasoning tests and abstract reasoning tests. It is important to understand how they differ as they are often included in aptitude tests and cognitive assessments alongside spatial reasoning tests.

Error Checking Tests: What Are They?

Do you need to take an error-checking test as part of the hiring process?

Continue reading to find out more about these tests and how to prepare.

What Is an Error-Checking Test?

Error-checking tests are used to evaluate your ability to identify errors in sets of data or the correctness of information.

These tests are usually given under strict time constraints so, answering each question quickly and accurately is crucial to receiving a high score.

Saville and SHL are the two main providers of checking tests.

It is best to know which test provider will be administered during your assessment as each comes with its own unique format, level of difficulty and time constraints.

Checking tests are a popular prerequisite for many employment agencies and positions, such as:

  • EPSO (European Personnel Selection Office)
  • Administrative Roles (Public & Private Sector)
  • Commercial Sales
  • Business Development
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Call Centre Customer Support
  • Hospitality & Leisure
  • Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing & Transport (Operational)

Bonus: Get free unlimited access to test practice (for 30 minutes) on our partner website JobTestPrep – Click Here .

Error-Checking Sample Questions

Below you will find a few examples of questions you are likely to encounter during an error-checking or data-checking test.

These questions are stylised after the error-checking tests delivered by EPSO and Saville:

Sample Question 1 (EPSO)

15 Free Psychometric Test Questions and Answers

Psychometric tests are often used by organizations as part of the recruitment process. Different types of psychometric tests are designed to measure various aspects of cognitive ability, reasoning capabilities and personality traits. Potential employers use the results to assess a candidate’s suitability for a role. A psychometric test is generally administered online; this helps hiring managers filter applicants quickly and easily. 

Capp Assessment Tests: Numerical, Verbal + Critical Reasoning

As Capp Assessment Tests become more common perhaps you have encountered one for the first time.

This can be a bit daunting and, since they look and feel a bit different to more traditional psychometric reasoning tests, it isn’t necessarily obvious what you need to do to be successful…

Don’t worry.

With the insight and tips we share with you below, you’ll be smashing your tests in no time.

FREE BONUS: Get free unlimited access to Capp test practice (for 30 minutes) on our partner website JobTestPrep.

What are Capp Assessment Tests?

Capp are a consultancy and psychometric test publisher who specialise in Strengths Based Assessments.

They also offer a number of different psychometric tests that are widely used many major organisations including Google, Atkins, Amazon and RBS.

Their Assessment Tests include critical reasoning, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning .

Psychometric reasoning tests like these are very common.

This is because they are a cheap and efficient way for organisations to identify candidates who aren’t likely to be able to succeed in a particular job.

Because they are often used to filter candidates out of application processes, they are sometimes called screening tests or gateway tests.

Candidates like you have to achieve a particular level of performance in order to progress in the selection process.

With practice you can dramatically improve your performance. Practice is the best way to improve your test scores.

In the rest of this article we’ll show you how the tests work, suggest how you can prepare, and then direct you towards some practice tests so that when the big day comes you are ready.

Before you do anything else, take a look at the Capp website , where you can take free practice tests.

How do Psychometric Reasoning Tests Work?

In general, psychometric reasoning tests challenge users to answer a series of questions and compare their performance on a test with the average performance level of a reference or ‘norm’ group.

This is typically made up of individual with similar characteristics, such as education level, nationality or workplace seniority.

If you do better than most of the norm group you will receive a high score, whereas a low score suggests that your performance was weaker than most of the norm group.

Usually, a minimum standard of performance necessary for success in a role is identified at the start of an assessment process, and all candidates that don’t meet this level will be unable to progress through the process.

What makes Capp Assessment Tests Different?

Capp Assessments are ‘Next Generation’ psychometric aptitude tests ; this means they might look and feel a bit different to other psychometric tests you have completed in the past.

The main difference between the Capp tests and more traditional psychometric ability tests is that the Capp tests are responsive.

This means that the actual questions presented to a candidate will depend upon their performance on the previous questions.

Capp say that the responsiveness of their tests and the size of their question bank mean that the chances of two candidates taking exactly the same test is currently less than one in a billion .

In practice, this means that if you’ve been able to quickly and accurately solve the previous questions, you can expect to be presented with incrementally more challenging questions.

By contrast, if you have made a number of errors, the test will present questions at a lower level.

The aim of the tests is to work out what your maximum ability is. Or put another way, what the most challenging level you are capable of working at is.

Another thing that makes Capp Tests feel different is that they have no time limit (although the time you take to complete the test does effect the score so you still need to work as quickly as you can).

This takes a bit of the pressure off and can make taking these tests rather less stressful than others.

Finally, the variety of question types and the format of the questions in Capp Tests can be different to those used by more traditional test publishers.

Let’s take a closer look at this:

  • Numerical Reasoning Tests

Traditionally numerical reasoning tests require candidates to select the correct answer from a number of potential options.

The Capp numerical reasoning test still does this, but it also requires candidates to rank potential answers or to type their answer into a free-text box.

This makes it harder to guess the correct answers.

  • Verbal Reasoning Tests

Verbal reasoning tests typically give you a passage of text to read and then ask you whether a number of subsequent statements are true or false, based on the information contained in the passage.

This question type is included within the Capp Verbal Reasoning Test, but there are also a number of different question formats included.

This means that as well as testing verbal reasoning, the Capp test can also assess verbal dexterity, comprehension, interpretation, and adaptability.

As well as traditional multiple choice questions, the test also presents:

  • Free text editing : This type of question requires you to type your answers directly into the question. You might be asked to correct spellings or grammar, or edit a passage of text.
  • Bucket sort : You will be presented with two categories/styles of writing; your task is to place each item presented to the category/style of writing that it best fits.
  • Drag and Drop : This type of question requires you to drag statements or words to the place that they best fit.
  • Ranking : These questions can be quite subtle and require you to really understand the nuance of language and language use. You will be presented with a number of statements and asked to rank these based on some feature of the text, such as positivity.
  • Selecting the most appropriate word to fill in the sentence : You will be presented with a passage of text with a number of blanks in it, for each blank space you must select the most appropriate word to fill the space from a drop down menu.

Critical Reasoning Tests

The Capp Critical Reasoning test evaluates your ability to think critically in a number of ways.

In each instance, a passage of information is presented followed by a series of statements, your task is to select the appropriate response from the drop down menu.

Questions focus around five areas:

  • Inference: rating the probability of truth of inferences based on given information
  • Recognition of assumptions: identifying unstated assumptions underlying given statements
  • Deduction: determining whether conclusions follow logically from given information
  • Interpretation: weighing evidence and deciding if generalisations or conclusions based on data are warranted
  • Evaluation of arguments: evaluating the strength and relevance of arguments with respect to a particular question or issue.

How to Cheat on SHL CEB Reasoning Tests (and Why You Shouldn't!)

Are you considering cheating on your upcoming SHL tests ?

In this full disclosure article, I’ll tell you why people cheat on tests, how people cheat, and whether or not it’s worth doing..

Don't cheat!

Practice... it's the only legitimate way to improve your scores, you'll sleep better at night and probably get better results in your tests too.

Still want to read about how to cheat on a test?

The Expert Guide to Numerical Tests (+ Practice Tests + 5 Top Tips to Pass Every Time)

Numerical Reasoning Tests can be very tricky.

And when it comes to results, preparation and practice are key.

But that's easier said than done.

If you're researching this type of aptitude test for the first time or if you want to improve your numerical ability , perform better on tests and get more job offers this article will provide some practical strategies that you can use immediately .

For the best chance of success, read the article below slowly, work through the example questions , follow our tips and actionable advice and then start taking practice tests .

Ready to get started?

Let's go!...

Want to try a practice test before reading this article?

You can take our free numerical test right here:

Employment Personality Test: Types & Uses 2024

Personality tests are a common way for employers to get a better idea of your personality and your suitability for their role. With so many different types of tests out there, preparing for one can be difficult. However, we’ve gathered all the information you need to pass your test with flying colors. Read on to find out more!

If you're applying for a job, there is a good chance you'll be asked to take a personality test as part of the hiring process.

These assessments have become popular among employers who want to ensure they choose the most appropriate candidates for specific positions, especially if it's a high-demand role.

This article offers a detailed guide on personality tests for jobs, including how they're taken, examples and how to prepare for them, regardless of which type of test you're taking.

Let’s get started by looking at exactly what a personality test is.

What Is a Job Personality Test?

Employers utilize a job personality test during the recruitment process as a tool to look at the personality traits of candidates. The tests are devised to screen candidates to ensure that they have the ethical and psychological profile needed for the role to achieve effective job performance.

Understanding what a potential employer wants to accomplish with the psychometric personality test they use during their recruitment process is the key to performing well on the career personality test.

Personality tests measure the patterns of the characteristics showcased in diverse situations or conditions. Employers are looking for candidates exhibiting behavioral traits that align with their organization and current employees' culture. Those that match these traits have a higher chance of being more successful in landing the desired position.

The desired traits are determined based on the employers' requirements and the test developers' recommendations. The latter are developed using years of research and analysis of representative samples of candidates applying for specific positions. To ensure that each characteristic is measured accurately, there are typically several questions related to just one trait.

There are two types of personality tests:

  • Projective tests
  • Self-report inventories

Projective testing is a performance-based evaluation. It relies on defense mechanisms called projection to assess candidates' cognitive processes.

The tests involve showing a series of cards to the candidates, who are encouraged to project how they feel about the image displayed on the card.

They might be asked to complete a sentence, tell a story or interpret the image to reveal how the candidates process information.

The answers are compared to a specific scoring system used for each specific personality test.

Self-report inventories are objective tests for assessing candidates' personalities. They are a questionnaire with standardized questions, together with response categories candidates are required to complete independently.

The questions on the job personality test are either multiple-choice items or numbered scales (going from 1 to 5 or from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree'). Self-report inventories are the most popular among employers as they're easy to administer and cost-effective.

However, they come with the increased likelihood of candidates being tempted to answer intentionally or unintentionally in a way that makes them more socially desirable candidates.

They might provide exaggerated, misleading or biased answers.

The Best Logical Reasoning Practice Test Prep

Logical reasoning tests are a little different to your average psychometric test .

With this type of assessment, there are many different variations so it is sometimes difficult to determine which aspect of logical reasoning you will be assessed on.

With this guide, you’ll learn the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning tests , and some tips for maximising performance.

Designed to evaluate how you interpret patterns, shapes, numbers and other data to reach logical conclusions, the assessments are used across a number of different sectors at all levels of recruitment from entry right up to managerial positions.

Best Inductive Reasoning Test Prep: Improve Your Performance (+ Get Better Scores!)

Inductive reasoning is based around patterns and is another variation of the many psychometric tests used by employers as a way to determine the suitability of a candidate for their roles.

On a similar level to diagrammatic reasoning , inductive reasoning will assess your ability to apply logic and rationale to solve problems.

Diagrammatic Reasoning Test Guide (Explained by an Expert): 3 Example Questions, 5 Top Tips and 1 Practice Test

Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests are a type of psychometric test which assess your logical reasoning skills.

They are can also be known as abstract reasoning tests or inductive reasoning tests .

Diagrammatic Reasoning tests evaluate your ability to synthesise data and solve problems logically.

Questions often ask you to look at a sequence of shapes, patterns or numbers and assess if you can identify the rules that apply to the sequence.

In-Tray & E-Tray Exercises, Prep Guide 2024

The in tray exercise (also called an e-tray exercise ) is a popular assessment activity which employers use to evaluate the skills of applicants in a workplace situation.

If you have an In Tray exercise coming up as part of your interview process, this article will help you prepare.

Within these exercises, candidates will be presented with a given scenario, along with a set of tasks to complete which may include things like responding to email messages, reports or briefing documents.

Aptitude Tests: An Honest Introduction for Jobseekers

Aptitude tests are short tests employers use to assess whether a candidate has the level of competency necessary for success in the role.

The tests are used to see if a candidate has the skills necessary to do the job.

Aptitude tests are standardized, for the most part, and the results of all the candidates are compared to each other to see which candidate may be the best for the job.

Aptitude tests provide employers with a quick way to assess a candidate’s ability to perform in high-pressure situations and think in critical ways as they would if they were on the job.

Situational Judgement Tests: A Complete Guide (With Practice Questions)

What Is a Situational Judgment Test?

A situational judgement test (SJT) is a psychometric test that is often used as part of the recruitment process for graduate and managerial positions as well as roles that are customer-facing in a wide range of industries.

The SJT is designed to assess how a candidate deals with work-related problems and situations, focusing on essential aptitudes , competencies and soft skills that are not always easy to evaluate in other ways.

Although SJTs are usually bespoke to the company (or in some cases, the specific role), they tend to follow the same basic structure.

Each question is formed by presenting a fictional yet realistic work-based scenario. This might be text-based, it may include some illustrations or it could be animated or acted out in a video.

Following the scenario, there will be several options that you can choose from, each giving a possible course of action to follow to solve the issue that is presented in the situation given.

The answer that you choose will be compared to the benchmark answers that the recruitment team is using – these represent the core competencies for the role, as well as alignment with company values.

The Expert Guide to Verbal Reasoning Tests (with Example Test Questions + Top Tips to Pass Every Time!)

Verbal reasoning tests are an increasingly common way for companies to find the most suitable candidates for their roles. They can be challenging to pass but, thankfully, help is available. Here you’ll get all the information you need to pass your verbal reasoning test.

Verbal reasoning tests  have become a common practice in companies looking to hire highly skilled and qualified professionals or evaluate the existing workforce. 

They help simplify the recruitment and onboarding processes and allow candidates to find roles suited to their skills and needs.

This article brings you an overview of verbal reasoning tests, example questions with answers and explanations, and tricks to improve your performance and obtain high scores on the assessment.

Let’s take a look!

SHL Assessment Test: How to Get Top Scores on Any Test, Every Time

SHL assessment tests are important steps in many job interviews and career advancement opportunities. Therefore, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of how the different types of SHL tests work and how you can prepare for them in order to get top scores.

In this article, we will provide an overview of how SHL assessments work, sample SHL test questions, tips on improving your test performance, and strategies for prepping and succeeding with any SHL test.

What Is an SHL Assessment Test?

SHL is a global assessment company that is well known and recognised as a leader in pre-employment psychometric tests; the tests that SHL publishes are used by 75% of the FTSE 100 and they are available in more than 40 languages.

So if you are applying for a new role (especially for a graduate position), you are likely to come across them in the recruitment process.

In addition, the company offers consultancy and management services via its TalentCentral platform.

The SHL assessment are a series of tests that can be delivered individually or in a battery, and some of them are bespoke to the company that is using them, making them an excellent way for the recruitment team to ensure that the applicants for a role have the basic competencies, personality traits, work behaviours and cognitive abilities to be successful.

How to Pass KPMG Interviews, Assessments and Aptitude Tests

As one of the world’s largest and most reputable and successful professional services firms, getting through the KPMG application process as a graduate is an unsurprisingly scrupulous and demanding process.

That said, knowing what to expect and how to prepare for what’s ahead can make the process much less daunting, as well as significantly increasing your chances of success.

Read on, to find out more.

Stage One: Online Aptitude Tests

What’s involved:.

The first stage of the application process is conducted online with candidates required two separate assessments:

  • A numerical test
  • A verbal reasoning test

How to Complete KPMG’s Psychometric Tests

Even if your online test is only a few days away, these still leaves you with plenty of time to get to grips with the tests, plan your strategy and start practising.

To help you, here is a breakdown of each test, together with advice for how to approach them and to secure yourself the best possible outcome from the initial assessment stage.

The Purpose of KPMG’s Verbal Reasoning Test:

Cubik’s verbal reasoning for business test is by KPMG to test the ability of KPMG graduates to digest, analyse and interpret written information.

The test seeks to replicate the kind of tasks that might come your way during a typical workday in the form of emails, reports and other sources of information.

KPMG’s verbal reasoning test lasts 20 minutes and includes 44 different questions, which are based on a series of source texts. For each question, candidates must choose from the following options: ‘true’, ‘false’ or ‘cannot determine’.

Tips for KPMG Verbal Reasoning Test

Tip 1: practise the tests.

A few days to prepare still leaves you with plenty of time to get to grips with the format and to familiarise yourself with the style of testing.

The Cubiks website has a practice test for you to use free of charge to get you started, while links to full-length versions can be found on the WikiJob site.

Tip 2: Time Yourself

Perhaps the most important aspect of the test is being able to manage your time efficiently.

With so many questions to answer in a limited time you can’t normally be expected to finish them all, but the more you attempt, the greater your chances of passing are.

When practicing, be sure to time yourself. Set yourself a time limit for each set of questions and move on if you run out of time.

Tip 3: Read the Text Properly

Read the text properly: resist the temptation to save time by skim reading the information in the text and jumping straight to the question.

Familiarising yourself fully with the information presented before attempting the questions themselves will save you having to keep referring back to the text for each question.

This could save you valuable seconds or minutes in the long-run and help you pass.

Tip 4: Don’t Assume

Don’t go on assumptions: while a certain degree of common sense will be needed, be wary of basing your answers on anything other than the information provided by the test.

KPMG’s verbal reasoning tests are designed so as to require close reading of the text, with the ‘cannot determine’ option, thrown in to avoid educated guessing. There are no shortcuts!

The Format of KPMG’s Numerical Reasoning Tests

The KPMG numerical reasoning test, designed by Cubiks , for KPMG graduate applicants is similar in structure to the verbal reasoning exam. The main difference is that there are fewer questions (usually 24), for which you are given 20 minutes to answer.

Again, the questions will be based on source data, which is typically presented in the form of tables, graphs and statistical tables.

There are usually several questions pertaining to each set of data. For each question, you will be given a selection of possible answers to choose from.

The aim of the test is to assess candidates’ ability to digest and analyse numerical and statistical data and, in doing so, demonstrate skills that may be relevant to the workplace.

Kenexa Tests: What Are They?

Kenexa is an international business psychology consultancy.

Most businesses prefer the efficiency of conducting candidate testing online, with Kenexa’s advanced verbal reasoning test (VRT) and numerical reasoning test (NRT) prevalent options for filtering candidates before an interview.

Graduates are likely to encounter Kenexa’s tests at the sifting or screening stage of an assessment process.

If you’re wondering how hard Kenexa tests are, what they look like and how they unfold, this guide and the online Kenexa Sample Questions will help you get prepared.

CAT4 인지 능력 테스트

CAT4 인지능력 테스트 는 학생의 학업성취도를 측정하기 위해 고안된 테스트입니다.

CAT4 테스트 점수가 매겨지면, 교사와 부모님들은 그 학생의 학업 잠재력에 대한 요약을 받게 될 것입니다.

테스트를 보는 모든 학생들은 그들의 비언어적 추론 능력 , 언어적 추론 능력 , 양적 추론 능력 그리고 공간적 인식 을 측정할 질문들을 받을 것입니다.

이번에는 이러한 기술을 검토하기 위해서 어떤 유형의 질문을 받는지 자세히 알아보겠습니다.

또한 다양한 유형의 CAT4 테스트 레벨에 대한 자세한 내용도 다루고자 합니다. 이를 통해 다양한 연령대에서 어떻게 CAT4 테스트 점수가 매겨지는지 이해할 수 있습니다.

이 정보 이후에는 자녀가 잘 할 수 있도록 일반적인 조언과 팁이 제공됩니다. CAT4 테스트 를 보는 교사, 부모님, 학생들이 주로 하는 자주 묻는 질문도 이야기해보고자 합니다.

6 conseils pour les tests SHL: Comment obtenir les meilleurs résultats à tous les tests, sans exception.

Tests SHL. Si vous êtes en train de lire cet article, il y a de fortes chances que vous veniez d'apprendre que vous allez en passer une dans les jours à venir.

Si vous êtes ici et que vous vous sentez maintenant nerveux à l'idée de vous assoir pour l'examen complet, ne vous inquiétez pas...

Nous sommes là pour vous aider.

Cet article a été écrit spécifiquement pour vous aider à vous préparer aux Tests SHL .

Lisez la suite, suivez nos conseils et vous serez en mesure d'obtenir un résultat fantastique.

6 SHL-Test-Tipps: Wie Sie bei jedem Test Bestnoten erzielen, jedes Mal.

Um einen SHL-Übungstest zu absolvieren, bevor Sie diesen Artikel lesen, klicken Sie hier.

SHL-Tests. Wenn Sie diesen Artikel lesen, dann ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit groß, dass Sie gerade erfahren haben, dass in den nächsten Tagen einer davon auf Sie zukommen wird.

Wenn Sie jetzt hier sind und sich angespannt fühlen, weil Sie an einer Prüfung teilnehmen werden, machen Sie sich keine Sorgen…

Wir sind für Sie da.

Dieser Artikel wurde speziell geschrieben, um Sie bei der Vorbereitung auf SHL-Tests zu Unterstützen.

Lesen Sie weiter, befolgen Sie unsere Tipps und Sie sind bestens vorbereitet für ein fantastisches Ergebnis.

Pruebas SHL

Sind Sie auf der Suche nach kostenlosen psychometrischen Tests zur Übung?

Dann ist diese Seite genau das Richtige für Sie.

Was ist ein psychometrischer Test?

Psychometrische Tests (auch Eignungstests genannt) sind fester Bestandteil von Jobinterviews vieler Unternehmen auf der ganzen Welt.

Diese Tests bestehen normalerweise aus einer Reihe von zeitlich erfassten Fragen , die meist numerischen (mathematischen Fragen), verbalen (Fragen zum Leseverständnis) oder logischen (diagrammatischen Fragen) Ursprungs sind.

Testes Psicométricos: O Guia Completo + Testes Práticas

Testes psicométricos (também conhecidos como testes de aptidão) são uma parte comum do processo de entrevistas de emprego em muitas companhias no mundo todo.

Geralmente, esses testes consistem de uma série de questões com um certo tempo de resposta.

As questões costumam ser numéricas (questões matemáticas), verbais (compreensão textual) ou lógicas (questões de diagrama).

Dicas Para O Teste SHL (Atualização De 2024): Como Obter As Melhores Pontuações Em Todos Os Testes, Todas As Vezes.

Testes SHL . Se você está lendo isso, há uma boa chance de você ter acabado de descobrir que fará um desses testes difíceis como parte de um processo de recrutamento em andamento.

Se você chegou tão longe e agora está se sentindo tenso para se sentar na frente de um ‘abstract quiz’, não se preocupe...

Nós cuidaremos de você.

Mejorar en las pruebas de razonamiento inductivo

El Razonamiento Inductivo está basado en patrones y es otra variante de las muchas pruebas psicométricas utilizadas por los empleadores como una forma de determinar la idoneidad de un candidato para sus roles.

En un nivel similar al del razonamiento esquemático , el razonamiento inductivo probará tu habilidad para aplicar la lógica y la razón para la resolución de problemas.

Cómo funcionan las pruebas inductivas

Dentro de la prueba se te presentará una serie de diagramas los cuales se vincularán mediante una regla subyacente.

Esta regla afectará el diseño del diagrama y tu tarea será identificar el patrón.

Bonificación: puedes obtener acceso ilimitado y gratuito a la práctica de prueba (durante 30 minutos) en nuestro sitio web asociado JobTestPrep: Clic aquí .

Por lo general, se espera que los candidatos seleccionen entre 4 y 6 posibles respuestas completas bajo condiciones de tiempo.

Las pruebas de razonamiento inductivo a menudo complementan otras pruebas como las de razonamiento verbal o numérico.

A veces las empresas requieren que complete una prueba de juicio situacional o un cuestionario de personalidad junto con la evaluación de razonamiento inductivo.

Los resultados de cada prueba se revisarán individualmente y luego colectivamente para determinar si tú serías una buena opción para la empresa.

¿Por qué los empleadores utilizan estas pruebas?

Algunas veces se las denomina prueba de razonamiento abstracto, las evaluaciones de razonamiento inductivo están diseñadas para evaluar tus habilidades en la resolución de problemas y el razonamiento lógico.

Cuando completes la prueba, los reclutadores buscarán tu capacidad para trabajar de manera efectiva con información desconocida para alcanzar una solución viable.

Las pruebas se utilizan a menudo para evaluar tu capacidad de pensar creativamente, aplicar habilidades analíticas y diseñar soluciones innovadoras, mientras que a menudo son un indicador de tu nivel general de inteligencia.

Como tal, es esencial que realices el trabajo preparatorio necesario antes de la prueba real para asegurarte de poder completarla exitosamente y crear una buena impresión.

La prueba de razonamiento inductivo es frecuentemente usada por empleadores corporativos; es común esperar que se complete al menos una prueba psicométrica como parte del proceso de reclutamiento.

Los empleadores utilizarán estas pruebas para ver la eficacia con la que trabajas bajo presión y tu enfoque de la evaluación.

Las pruebas de razonamiento inductivo son usadas predominantemente en los roles técnicos o aquellos que requieren una resolución frecuente de problemas y los empleadores las utilizan para evaluar cómo identificas patrones, con qué eficacia puedes identificar reglas y consistencias de datos y si puedes predecir la secuencia de objetos a medida que evolucionan.

En términos de evaluación psicométrica, el razonamiento inductivo, el razonamiento abstracto y el razonamiento esquemático son tres pruebas que a menudo se superponen con la evaluación. Los proveedores utilizan nombres diferentes para cada uno, lo que hace que las cosas sean un poco más confusas.

Estas pruebas ciertamente varían entre los empleadores y la etapa en el proceso de reclutamiento también será diferente.

Algunas empresas los utilizan como un ejercicio de selección previa a la entrevista para limitar un conjunto de candidatos, mientras que otras organizaciones pueden usarlos hacia el final del proceso de reclutamiento o como parte de los días de evaluación.

Contenido de la prueba de Razonamiento Inductivo

La mayoría de las pruebas de razonamiento inductivo presentan una serie de secuencia de palabras, ilustraciones o formas y te piden que decidas cuál es la siguiente.

Esto requiere prestar atención a los detalles, a la resolución de problemas y perseverancia para alcanzar la respuesta requerida, todo lo cual se evalúa en condiciones de tiempo, lo que agrega aún más presión.

La prueba en sí misma requerirá que compares varios elementos incluyendo colores y formas, o que los clasifiques basándote en cantidad o tamaño.

Como un ejemplo, se te proporcionará un juego de seis cuadros conteniendo una cantidad de formas y luego se te pedirá que elabores una secuencia lógica para cada cuadro.

Para obtener la respuesta correcta, deberías identificar un patrón tal como similitudes, diferencias o una combinación de ambos.

Estas tareas pueden parecer extremadamente complejas, por ello es importante realizar tantas prácticas de pruebas similares como sea posible antes de la prueba real y también tanta práctica como puedas antes de la entrevista o del día de evaluación.

Asegúrate de llegar a tiempo y haber dormido bien la noche anterior, de lo contrario, es posible que te falte la concentración y que parezca que no entiendes lo que te piden que hagas.

Una aproximación a las Pruebas de Razonamiento Inductivo

Cuando comienzas la prueba, lee la pregunta detenidamente y trata de observar solamente a un elemento de la forma a la vez.

Es muy fácil sentirse abrumado por el contenido de una evaluación de razonamiento inductivo, por lo que la mejor manera de abordarla es intentar y decidir el patrón, considerando específicamente el tamaño, la orientación y la ubicación de la forma interior.

Los patrones están diseñados para ser complicados en tomarte el tiempo y utilizar tu lógica para resolver el problema.

Si estás teniendo una particular dificultad en identificar un patrón, trata de observarlo desde el final en lugar del principio.

Esto puede resaltar de manera efectiva algo que quizás hayas omitido usando el método tradicional de revisar las formas.

Toma conciencia de la hora pero no mires el reloj, y no te asustes en la medida de lo posible; esto sólo hará las cosas más difíciles.

Las pruebas de razonamiento inductivo son creadas para ser completadas bajo presión, por lo que la práctica de completar las pruebas en condiciones de tiempo puede ayudar de manera significativa.

Practicar es una de las mejores maneras de prepararte mentalmente para cualquier prueba psicométrica y el razonamiento inductivo no es diferente a ello.

Nada te preparará mejor para la evaluación que realizar una cantidad de exámenes de práctica, muchos de las cuales puedes encontrar en línea gratuitamente.

Cuando te familiarizas con el formato de la prueba y te acostumbras a responder preguntas rápidamente y trabajar bajo presión, es mucho más probable que tengas éxito que si no realizas ningún trabajo de preparación o práctica anteriormente.

La Guía Completa de Pruebas Psicométricas (Edición 2024)

¿Qué son las pruebas psicométricas?

Las pruebas psicométricas (también conocidas como Pruebas de Aptitud ) son ahora una parte común de los procesos de selección y evanotluación, por lo tanto un requisito necesario para solicitar trabajo.

Si tú aún no has completado una, es muy probable que lo necesites en algún momento en el futuro. Con esto en mente, hemos preparado para ti la Guía actual para las pruebas psicométricas para explicar qué son, cómo se utilizan y cómo completarlas con éxito.

Antes de comenzar con el artículo a continuación, ten en cuenta que tenemos tres pruebas psicométricas de práctica disponibles para que las pruebes.

Pruebas de razonamiento verbal: Guía experta 2024 (con ejemplos de preguntas y respuestas de las pruebas)

Las pruebas de razonamiento verbal están diseñadas para examinar tu nivel de comprensión del pasaje de un texto.

Estas pruebas son un ejemplo de una prueba de habilidad (a veces conocida como pruebas de aptitud) y son utilizadas por los empleadores en combinación con pruebas de razonamiento numérico y pruebas de razonamiento lógico .

Las pruebas de razonamiento verbal tienen como objetivo identificar tu capacidad máxima de comprensión, o en otras palabras, el párrafo de un texto más desafiante que tú podrás entender.

Pruebas numéricas: Puntaje en el percentil 99 (Actualización del artículo: 2024)

Las pruebas numéricas son tramposas. Y cuando se trata de obtener mejores resultados, la preparación y la práctica son la clave.

Pero eso es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo…

Si estás explorando este tipo de prueba de aptitud por primera vez, o si estás buscando formas de mejorar tu capacidad, desempeñarte mejor y obtener más entrevistas y ofertas de trabajo, este artículo te brindará algunas estrategias prácticas que podrás usarlas de inmediato.

Y si deseas probar un examen de práctica en cualquier momento, tú puedes realizar nuestro examen numérico gratuito aquí mismo . Esta prueba tiene diez preguntas (e incluye respuestas y explicaciones completas).

¿Cómo podrás aumentar tu puntaje de la manera más rápida y efectiva posible , incluso hasta el percentil 99 ?

Para obtener la mejor oportunidad de éxito, lee este artículo lentamente, sigue nuestros consejos prácticos y, cuando hayas terminado, practica con nuestras pruebas gratuitas.

Numerische Tests: Erreiche den 99%-Bereich (2024 Artikel-Update)

Numerische Tests können knifflig sein. Übung und die richtige Vorbereitung sind der Schlüssel zum Erfolg.

Aber das ist leichter gesagt als getan…

Wenn Du zum ersten Mal über diese Tests nachliest oder wenn Du nach Wegen suchst um deine Fähigkeiten zu verbessern, besser abzuschneiden und mehr Interviews und Jobangebote zu bekommen, ist dieser Artikel ideal für Dich.

Hier erfährst Du von Strategien die Du sofort praktisch einsetzen kannst.

Falls du einen Übungstest machen möchtest kannst du hier jederzeit einen der kostenlosen numerischen Tests ausprobieren. Dieser Test beinhaltet zehn Fragen (mit Antworten und ausführlichen Erklärungen).

Wie kann man sein Ergebnis so schnell und effektiv wie möglich verbessern , selbst bis in der 99% Bereich ?

Lies den Artikel am besten langsam durch, folge unseren Tipps und unseren Empfehlungen – so hast du die größten Erfolgschancen. Wenn du damit fertig bist kannst du einen unserer Übungstests kostenlos ausprobieren.

Bonus: Kostenloser uneingeschränkter Zugang zum Eignungs-Übungstest (für 30 Minuten) auf unserer Partner-Webseite JobTestPrep.

A Guide to the Watson Glaser Test: & Tips

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal , commonly referred to as the Watson Glaser test, is usually used as a pre-employment psychometric test largely used in the recruitment process for roles in the legal industry.

The Watson Glaser test consists of 40 questions separated into five sections, assessing the critical thinking skills of the candidate. The five sections are:

  • Recognition of assumptions
  • Interpretation
  • Evaluation of arguments

This article will discuss the Watson Glaser test’s format and content and how it’s applied.

It will also suggest different ways that you can prepare yourself for the test, gives some examples of the types of questions you might face and some tips that will help you achieve the test score you need to progress.

A Guide to the Microsoft Excel Test 2024: Preparation, Practice & Example Test Questions

Microsoft is one of the world's most commonly used computer software.

If you're working in an office, you are almost certain to use applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook or PowerPoint.

Therefore, it makes perfect sense that employers want to know that you are proficient in these applications as part of their hiring process.

If your job requires data analysis or compiling data streams, you will likely need to be adept at using Microsoft Excel.

In these circumstances, you may be asked to participate in an Excel assessment test so a hiring manager can confirm that you know how to make the most out of the program.

With this in mind, we will look at what you could expect from a Microsoft Excel test.

Then, we'll take you through a series of Microsoft Excel practice test questions, and we'll give you everything you need to know so you can prepare for the Excel assessment.

A Guide to the Cubiks Test: Tips & Example Questions

What Is a Cubiks Test?

The Cubiks tests were developed by the Cubiks assessment consultancy, which was founded in 2000.

In 2019, Cubiks was acquired by PSI Talent Management UK, an award-winning provider of psychometric assessments.

In 2022, PSI Services became Talogy.

Cubiks tests are available in more than 50 countries around the world. Many highly-regarded employers in the UK use Cubiks tests, including:

  • The UK Civil Service
  • National Audit Office
  • National Health Service

Cubiks tests are designed to help employers and organisations with recruitment, employee development and talent management. They are well known for their intuitive interface and easy-to-interpret structure.

When applying for job roles, you may be asked to complete one or more types of Cubiks test as part of the screening and selection process.

If you are already working, your employer might ask you to sit a Cubiks test assessment as part of the career development programme or talent management process.

This article offers an overview of what to expect from the Cubiks test. It also includes some Cubiks online test example questions and tips on how to succeed when taking the Cubiks test.

Korn Ferry Assessment: Guide & Tips

The Korn Ferry assessment is a tool used in the recruiting process for leadership positions.

The tests assess candidates across a range of skills, including:

  • Logic reasoning ability
  • Numerical reasoning ability
  • Verbal reasoning ability
  • Personality traits

As a result, the Korn Ferry assessment allows businesses to secure the best talent and identify individuals to be promoted to management positions.

The Korn Ferry assessment is an evaluation tool used by companies across the globe to ensure they employ the best talent.

The assessment comprises a series of smaller tests focusing on:

  • Reading comprehension
  • Personality
  • Leadership assessments

As well as a tool utilized during the interview process, the Korn Ferry assessments are often used when looking to promote team members into management positions.

This article will discuss the Korn Ferry assessment, explaining exactly what it involves and giving tips to enable the best chance of success.

Swift Executive Aptitude Test

If you are applying for an executive-level or management role, you might be expected to take an aptitude test as part of the recruitment process.

The Swift Executive Aptitude Test is a short assessment designed to measure specific aptitudes that are necessary for success in a leadership position.

In this article, you will discover more about the test, the structure of the assessment, and example questions.

You will also learn what you will need to bear in mind to be successful in the test, including tips about preparation and a breakdown of what to expect from the scoring.

Numerical Reasoning Practice Test

This numerical reasoning practice test has 10 questions.

The test has a mixture of numerical questions that vary in difficulty. 

Answers and full explanations are provided after you have completed a question.  You should aim to complete the test within 10 minutes.

Make sure you read and fully understand each question before answering. Work quickly, but don't rush. You cannot afford to make mistakes on a real test.

Verbal Reasoning Practice Test

What is a Verbal Reasoning Test?

A Verbal Reasoning Test is a type of cognitive assessment designed to evaluate an individual's ability to comprehend and analyze written information, make logical deductions and draw conclusions based on the presented text.

These tests are often used in various educational and employment settings to assess a person's verbal reasoning skills, which are essential for tasks that involve understanding and interpreting written or spoken language.

Inductive Reasoning Practice Test

This inductive reasoning practice test has nine questions (and includes answers and full explanations).

Abstract Reasoning Practice Test

This abstract reasoning practice test has 10 questions (and answers with full explanations).

For each question, choose which of the figures in the bottom line – A, B, C, D or E – completes the series in the top line.

The level of difficulty varies significantly, from easy to extremely hard. Items having the solution based on one rule are easy, while those with the solution based on four rules are extremely hard; the others are in between - medium and hard, respectively.

Your goal is to understand the logic of each question (the rules behind it). Do not despair if you can’t find the solution immediately, especially for the very hard questions!

Cognitive Ability  Test

What is a Cognitive Test?

A cognitive test is an assessment tool designed to measure an individual's cognitive abilities, which are the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing and using information.

Cognitive assessments are used to evaluate various aspects of cognitive functioning, including memory, attention, problem-solving, reasoning, language comprehension, and more.

Cognitive function tests are commonly employed in several contexts, including education, clinical psychology, neuropsychology and employment assessment.

This cognitive ability practice test has been designed to help you prepare for the real thing.  

Deductive Reasoning Practice: Test & Guide 2024

What is a Deductive Reasoning Test?

A deductive reasoning test is a type of cognitive assessment that measures a person's ability to draw logical conclusions based on given information or premises.

Deductive reasoning is a form of logical thinking that involves moving from general statements or principles to specific conclusions. In other words, it is the process of applying a general rule or premise to a specific situation to determine a particular outcome.

In a deductive reasoning test, you are typically presented with a set of premises or statements that establish certain conditions or facts. You are then asked to use these premises to determine a valid conclusion.

The conclusions you reach must follow logically from the given premises, and the test assesses your ability to make accurate deductions based on the provided information.

Deductive reasoning tests are often used in educational settings, as part of standardized testing, and in various employment assessments.

They are designed to evaluate an individual's problem-solving skills, critical thinking ability, and their capacity to analyze information and reach logical conclusions.

These tests can take various formats, including multiple-choice questions, true or false questions or scenario-based questions where you need to determine the correct outcome based on the information provided.

Success in deductive reasoning tests often requires a strong understanding of logical principles and the ability to apply them effectively to specific situations.

Logical Reasoning Practice Test

What is Logical Reasoning?

Logical reasoning, often referred to as logical thinking or critical thinking, is a cognitive process that involves the ability to analyze information, identify patterns, make sound judgments and draw valid conclusions.

It is a fundamental skill that plays a crucial role in problem-solving, decision-making and rational thinking.

Logical reasoning involves breaking down complex information or situations into smaller, more manageable parts. It requires examining details and understanding the relationships between various elements.

What are the Types of Logical Reasoning Tests?

Logical reasoning tests come in various forms and are used by employers, educational institutions, and standardized testing organizations to assess an individual's ability to think critically and solve problems.

Here are some common types of logical reasoning tests:

Reading Comprehension: These tests assess your ability to understand and analyze written information, make inferences, and draw conclusions from passages of text.

Critical Thinking Tests: These tests evaluate your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, and assess the validity of statements or claims.

Analogical Reasoning Tests: Analogical reasoning involves recognizing relationships between words or concepts and applying these relationships to solve problems. For example, you might be asked to complete an analogy like "A is to B as C is to what?"

Numerical Computation: These tests assess your basic arithmetic skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Numerical Sequences: These tests require you to identify patterns and relationships within number sequences and use them to predict the next number.

Data Interpretation: In these tests, you are presented with data in the form of tables, graphs, or charts, and you must interpret the information to answer questions.

  • Abstract Reasoning Tests

Non-Verbal Reasoning: Abstract reasoning tests evaluate your ability to recognize patterns, shapes, and relationships among visual elements. They often involve series of diagrams or figures, and you must identify the logical rules governing them.

Inductive Reasoning: Inductive reasoning tests present you with a series of visual or abstract patterns and require you to identify the underlying rules and predict the next pattern in the sequence.

  • Spatial Reasoning Tests

Spatial Awareness: These tests measure your ability to visualize and manipulate objects in three-dimensional space. You may be asked to complete puzzles, identify rotated or mirrored images, or solve spatial problems. Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests:

Diagram Interpretation: Diagrammatic reasoning tests use diagrams or symbols to present problems. You must analyze the diagrams to draw conclusions or identify patterns.

Syllogism and Logic Tests

Syllogisms: Syllogism tests present logical statements and ask you to determine whether a conclusion is valid based on the given premises.

Symbolic Logic: These tests involve working with formal logic symbols to evaluate logical arguments.

Inference and Deduction Tests

Inference Tests: Inference tests assess your ability to make logical deductions and draw conclusions based on a set of statements or information.

Deductive Reasoning: Deductive reasoning tests require you to apply deductive logic principles to solve problems and make decisions.

  • Mechanical Reasoning Tests

Mechanical Understanding: These tests evaluate your knowledge of mechanical and physical concepts, such as gears, pulleys, levers, and basic physics principles.

  • Cognitive Ability Tests

Cognitive Ability Tests: These assessments often include a combination of various reasoning types and are designed to measure overall cognitive abilities.

What are the Common Logic Tests Employers Use?

Employers often use a variety of logic tests to assess the cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills of job applicants. The specific logic tests used can vary depending on the nature of the job and the industry.

Here are some common logic tests that employers may use during the hiring process:

  • Logical Deduction and Syllogism Tests
  • Data Interpretation Tests
  • Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests

This is a 10 question practice logical reasoning test . 

After you have given an answer to a question, the correct answer (and a full explanation of that answer) will be given.

What are the Topics Covered by a Logical Reasoning Test?

Syllogism, statements and assumptions, logical deduction, cause and effect, statements and conclusions, logical problems.

Mechanical Reasoning Practice Test

Set of 10 questions, along with correct answers and explanations for each.

Topics Covered:

General concepts, levers, springs, pulleys, area and volume, gears, inclined plane, basic electrical circuitry.

Difficulty Level:

Take a free practice mechanical reasoning test.

Situational Judgement Practice Test

Situational awareness, evaluation of alternatives.

Take a Free Practice Situational Judgement Test

Spatial Reasoning Practice Test

Block counting, 3D rotation, 2D rotation, reflection, broken shapes, transforming 2D to 3D, isometric view, difference in 2D versus 3D viewing.

Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Practice Test 2024

What is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test?

The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Test, often referred to as the Watson-Glaser test, is a widely used assessment tool designed to evaluate an individual's critical thinking skills.

It is commonly administered as part of the hiring process for various professional and managerial positions, particularly in fields where critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are highly valued, such as law, finance and management.

Practice Diagrammatic Reasoning Test

This is a nine question diagrammatic reasoning practice test.

We recommend a time limit of nine minutes for this test. 

After you have given your answer to a question, you will be shown the correct answer and given a full explanation.

Practice Critical Thinking Test

What is the Critical Thinking Test?

The Critical Thinking Test is a comprehensive evaluation designed to assess individuals' cognitive capacities and analytical prowess.

This formal examination, often referred to as the critical thinking assessment, is a benchmark for those aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in discernment and problem-solving.

In addition, this evaluative tool meticulously gauges a range of skills, including logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize information.

This article will embark on an exploration of the Critical Thinking Test, elucidating its intricacies and elucidating its paramount importance. We will dissect the essential skills it measures and clarify its significance in gauging one's intellectual aptitude.

We will examine examples of critical thinking questions, illuminating the challenging scenarios that candidates encounter prompting them to navigate the complexities of thought with finesse.

Critical Thinking Practice Test

Before going ahead to take the critical thinking test, let's delve into the realm of preparation. This segment serves as a crucible for honing the skills assessed in the actual examination, offering candidates a chance to refine their analytical blades before facing the real challenge. Here are some skills that will help you with the critical thinking assessment: Logical Reasoning: The practice test meticulously evaluates your ability to deduce conclusions from given information, assess the validity of arguments, and recognize patterns in logic. Analytical Thinking: Prepare to dissect complex scenarios, identify key components, and synthesize information to draw insightful conclusions—a fundamental aspect of the critical thinking assessment. Problem-Solving Proficiency: Navigate through intricate problems that mirror real-world challenges, honing your capacity to approach issues systematically and derive effective solutions. What to Expect: The Critical Thinking Practice Test is crafted to mirror the format and complexity of the actual examination. Expect a series of scenarios, each accompanied by a set of questions that demand thoughtful analysis and logical deduction. These scenarios span diverse fields, from business and science to everyday scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your critical thinking skills. Examples of Critical Thinking Questions Scenario: In a business context, analyze the potential impacts of a proposed strategy on both short-term profitability and long-term sustainability. Question: What factors would you consider in determining the viability of the proposed strategy, and how might it affect the company's overall success? Scenario: Evaluate conflicting scientific studies on a pressing environmental issue.

Question: Identify the key methodologies and data points in each study. How would you reconcile the disparities to form an informed, unbiased conclusion?

Why Practice Matters

Engaging in the Critical Thinking Practice Test familiarizes you with the test format and cultivates a mindset geared towards agile and astute reasoning. This preparatory phase allows you to refine your cognitive toolkit, ensuring you approach the assessment with confidence and finesse.

We'll navigate through specific examples as we proceed, offering insights into effective strategies for tackling critical thinking questions. Prepare to embark on a journey of intellectual sharpening, where each practice question refines your analytical prowess for the challenges ahead.

Practice Error Checking Test

This is a practice error checking test .

The test consists of three questions, along with correct answers and full explanations.

If you get a question wrong, make sure you find out why and learn how to answer this type of question in the future. 

Take a Free Practice Error Checking Test

In-Tray Exercise

This is a three question practice in-tray exercise.

Take a Free Practice In-Tray Exercise

Talent Q Test: Ultimate Guide

Talent Q is a popular psychometric test provider used by employers worldwide to identify and develop top talent.

There are several test types published under the Talent Q name including numerical, verbal and logical reasoning, error checking, situational judgement tests and personality questionnaires.

Talent Q tests can be blended into custom assessments to suit a wide range of roles at varying levels of employment.

What Is the Talent Q Test?

The Talent Q test , or Talent Q assessment, is a term that refers to a collection of aptitude, performance and personality tests administered by the global consulting group, Korn Ferry.

Talent Q tests span five areas of assessment:

  • Cognitive ability
  • Competencies
  • Situational judgement
  • Motivations

They are commonly used to evaluate a candidate’s skills and job readiness in the early stages of recruitment.

Employers may also use a Talent Q psychometric test when looking to promote internally or to inform employee development.

Talent Q tests are increasingly popular with a range of employers because of the way they are designed, offering test flexibility and a reliable indicator of an applicant’s full potential.

Which Companies Use the Talent Q Test?

Talent Q tests are used by an increasing number of organizations due to their accuracy, versatility and reliability. Some of the major global employers known to make use of the Talent Q test library include:

  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Royal Mail Group
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • AstraZeneca

Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam Study Guide and Tips

This article will explain how the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam works and why it is the leading admissions test for higher education institutions across the country.

It will cover the various versions of the Wonderlic SLE test and their question formats, before offering options for Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam practice tests .

This is because, like with all psychometric tests, familiarity can help build confidence.

Extra tips for preparing, including helping with nerves, are also suggested; the Wonderlic SLE test can be a daunting one, so it’s a good idea to research and plan as much as possible.

A Guide to the Hogan Development Survey (HDS): with Tips & Examples

The Hogan Development Survey (HDS) is an assessment that is mainly used as part of the development and training process, often when employees are looking for promotions or moves into leadership positions.

As a personality assessment , the HDS looks at what is known as ‘dark side personality’ to evaluate the personality traits that could be derailment risks for future success.

In this article, you’ll get an in-depth look at the Hogan Development Survey and how it fits with the other types of assessment that Hogan produces.

You’ll find a detailed discussion of the specific traits that the Hogan Development Survey assesses and what this means in terms of work behaviours and why they are considered to be risks.

You’ll learn more about the structure and layout of the assessment and when you might need to take it, what the questions look like and how you need to answer them, the way the assessment is scored and some tips for success.

What Is the Hogan Development Survey?

Hogan is a well-known and respected publisher of assessments to be used both as part of the recruitment process and for employee development.

Established in 1987, Hogan focuses on occupational psychology and the science of personality, and its most used assessments are the ones that look at different facets of employee personality – the ‘bright side’, the ‘dark side’ and the ‘inside’.

A Full Guide to the PWC Assessment 2024

What Is the PwC Assessment Test?

When you apply for a coveted role at PwC, you will be asked to undertake a PwC assessment test as part of the recruitment process.

The PwC test are used to evaluate candidates on measurable skills, abilities, aptitudes and personality traits that are needed for success in the type (and level) of the role that you have applied for.

PwC is one of the Big Four accounting firms globally, and from their headquarters in London, England, they have offices in 157 countries, a presence in 742 locations, and they currently employ nearly 300,000 staff.

With roles available in various departments, from consulting to legal, operations to audit, and tax to technology, competition for advertised jobs is fierce, and the PwC assessments are recognised as being particularly challenging to help narrow down the candidate pool to those applicants who really have what it takes to be successful.

In fact, less than 50% of candidates will advance past the screening tests as the benchmark for a passing mark is very high.

A Guide to the AON Assessment Test: with Tips

'AON assessments' are the new name for the cut-e tests, and they are often used as pre-employment evaluations for different skills, aptitudes, competencies and personality traits for various roles across different industries.

The AON assessments are characterized by being very short online assessment tests, and in many cases, candidates will be required to take more than one as part of a recruitment process.

With so much content to cover in all the different types of tests, it can be difficult to know what to expect from the AON assessments, which is where this guide will help.

Below you will learn more about why AON assessments are used and which companies use them as part of their hiring process.

We will discuss some of the features that the assessments have in common, as well as the most popular tests that are used by recruiters.

There will be some example questions with answers to get you familiar with the type of content you will be facing in certain tests and some helpful information regarding the way the AON assessments are scored and how you can give yourself the best chance to demonstrate that you have what it takes to be successful.

What Is the AON Assessment Test?

AON is well-known as a global financial services firm, and they acquired the cut-e testing battery so that they can provide top-of-the-range candidate evaluation and personnel development tools based on a scientific framework and testing methodology.

Study Guide for the CogAT Grade 4 Test: with Practice Tips

The CogAT Grade 4 test is used to understand a student’s thinking and reasoning abilities. It is not a test of learned knowledge; rather, it is a diagnosis of how they learn.

The 4th Grade CogAT test measures reasoning ability in three key areas: verbal, non-verbal and quantitative.

The assessment is often used to identify students for gifted and talented education programs.

If your child has been selected to sit the CogAT test in 4th grade, it can be confusing to know what to do to help.

This article will help you to answer these questions:

  • What is the CogAT test ?
  • What skills is the test assessing?
  • What is the format of the test?
  • How can I help my child prepare?
  • What skills can we practice?
  • What is the scoring system?

A Guide to the IKM Assessment Test: Tips & Examples

When applying for a job application, you may find that, along with providing your CV and attending an interview, you will be required to complete an IKM assessment .

This assessment will serve as a supplement to your overall application. So, you must understand what it entails and how it contributes to your application.

This article will explain the specifics of the IKM assessment, why it is important and how you can prepare for it.

What Is IKM?

The International Knowledge Measurement Service (IKM) offers organizations various assessments for employees and candidates among various career disciplines.

Among other things, this assessment ensures that employees hold the necessary requirements to go through the organization’s recruitment process.

Employee candidates will take the IKM assessment online remotely (self-supervised) or with client-side supervision from the organization.

The IKM assessment uses adaptive testing, meaning the difficulty of questions is dynamically selected based on the employee candidate’s previous answers .

This ensures that the assessment questions are neither too difficult nor too easy, greatly reducing the testing time.

HESI A2 Math Test: A Full Study Guide & Tips

The HESI A2 test is a series of tests administered by Health Education Systems Incorporated to those wanting to enroll on nursing programs.

It covers eight topics, including math, biology and grammar.

As these tests determine whether you get accepted, you must prepare to achieve your best possible score.

To help with your preparation, this article focuses on the HESI math test and covers:

  • What is on the HESI A2 math test
  • Example questions
  • Tips for preparing for and taking the test

What Is the HESI A2 Test?

The HESI A2 test is a series of aptitude tests, known as subtests, designed by Elsevier to assess whether a candidate has the skills to achieve their NCLEX-RN (or similar) for nursing school.

The eight subtests the students are expected to complete are:

  • Anatomy and Physiology

Only some programs require all eight tests.

They are available online remotely, at a testing center, and at your school.

The math test has 55 questions, while the reading, grammar and vocabulary tests consist of 50. Biology, anatomy and physiology, and chemistry all have 30 questions, and physics has 25.

All the questions are multiple-choice, and the time limits vary from 25 to 50 minutes.

A Guide to the CAT4 Test Level D: Tips & Examples

The CAT4 Level D is a cognitive ability test used by a number of UK secondary schools. Typically taken by pupils in Year 7, the CAT4 Level D tests a child’s verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning skills to give an accurate picture of their learning potential.

A Guide to the Delta Assessment Test with Tips

The Delta Assessment Test is a group of online tests that forms part of the Delta Airlines hiring process.

If you are applying for job roles with Delta, you may be asked to complete one or more of the Delta Assessment Tests.

Your test results will help the hiring manager to decide whether you are suitable for the job role you have applied for.

The tests you are asked to take will vary according to the job role.

A Guide to the Deloitte Immersive Online Assessment: Examples & Tips

The Deloitte immersive online assessment is a psychometric aptitude-style test. It is used to identify a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.

Questions vary but are likely to include situational judgment style questions that link to the roles at Deloitte.

Candidates are also tested on their numerical reasoning and presented with personality questions.

A Guide to the Crossover Cognitive Aptitude Test: Tips & Examples

Competition is tough for jobs on the Crossover recruitment platform.

There are thousands of applicants for each role, and only the top 1% are offered a contract .

After a successful initial application, the first step is taking the Crossover Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT).

To help you prepare, this article covers the following:

  • How Crossover works
  • The recruitment process
  • What to expect in the CCAT
  • The scoring system
  • Tips to help you prepare

A Guide to the FBI Phase 1 Test: Examples & Tips

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the USA.

The agency investigates serious offenses such as terrorism, public corruption, cyber-attacks, and violent and organized crime.

The FBI's mission is to protect the American people and uphold the American Constitution.

The FBI has over 37,000 employees across hundreds of locations in the US.

To work for the FBI, you must fulfill specific criteria which include:

  • Be a US citizen
  • Be able to obtain an FBI Top Secret clearance
  • Pass the FBI polygraph examination
  • Pass the FBI Phase 1 test
  • Adhere to the FBI drug policy

Roles available at the FBI include computer scientists, nurses, engineers, technicians, contract specialists, and of course, police officers.

It is important to note that the recruitment process can take over one year, so you must be willing to wait several months for the chance of your dream role.

In this FBI Phase 1 test prep guide, we will delve into the role of FBI special agents – upholders of the law that seek out cybercrime and infiltrate organized attacks such as terrorism.

When applying to be a special agent, you are required to take the FBI Phase 1 test .

What Is the FBI Phase 1 Test?

The FBI Phase 1 test is an assessment that evaluates your personality and suitability for a role as a Special Agent at the FBI.

The test is conducted online and is split into five parts.

As the second stage of the process, the FBI Phase 1 test is done after the successful completion of a written application.

The test is designed to assess several skills and qualities that are required for a role as an FBI special agent.

These include critical thinking, logical reasoning and personality. The test will also assess your background experiences.

Your answers are then compared to the benchmark of what is suitable for an FBI agent.

The five sections of the FBI Phase 1 test are:

  • Logical reasoning
  • Figural reasoning
  • Personality Test
  • Preferences and interests
  • Situational responses

The assessment takes three hours to complete.

When applying for roles at the FBI, long waiting times are typical. The full special agent recruitment process can take over 20 months to complete.

If this is your dream job, it is certainly worth the wait as it is one of the most attractive career paths within any government agency.

To reflect this, the recruitment process is challenging and designed to reduce the number of candidates who could move on to the next stage.

This ensures that only the very best move through the application phases. In fact, only 30% of candidates can pass the FBI Phase 1 test.

You may have taken a personality test before, but the FBI Phase 1 test questions are framed and marked in a different way to other assessments.

Therefore, you should ensure you use FBI Phase 1 test practice questions and prepare in advance of the test.

It can be hard to plan for, but this is essential to get into the top 30% of successful candidates.

If you pass the FBI Phase 1 test, you will undergo background checks and receive an invitation to a regional meet-and-greet interview.

A Guide to the CogAT Test Grade 3: Examples & Tips

The main purpose of the CogAT Test grade 3 is to find out if a third grader is showing signs of being very smart.

Most of the questions on the test are about verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning. It's meant to show how a child might compare to other kids his or her own age. The CogAT grade 3 test can also be used to make individualized learning plans for kids.

The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is a standardized test used to measure children's cognitive abilities in the 3rd grade – age 9.

This test assesses a range of cognitive abilities, including verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning. The CogAT is often used to identify gifted children and help educators develop appropriate educational plans.

This article will give insights and tips into how your child could pass the CogAT Test for 3rd grade students.

A Full Guide to the 5th Grade Map Test

'MAP' is an acronym for Measures of Academic Progress . MAP tests are used to check the progress of a student’s achievement over the course of their academic journey.

Students in all school year groups (from kindergarten to 12th grade) are required to take a version of the test.

The MAP test is an adaptive assessment, which means the level of difficulty adapts according to the answers given.

A Study Guide for the 2nd Grade MAP Test: with Tips

The MAP Test 2nd grade is a computerized test taken by children in the 2nd grade. It is designed to evaluate what the children already know and what they are ready to learn.

The test includes three sections:

Schools may not administer all three sections and may instead focus on one or two sections to measure pupils’ progress in those subjects.

A Guide to the OAR Test: Examples & Tips

This article looks at the OAR Test , an aptitude test for those applying to be officers in the Navy, Marines or Coast Guard .

It will delve into what the test consists of, OAR practice tests, the format and the scoring system.

What Is the OAR Test?

OAR stands for Officer Aptitude Rating and the test is taken by those who want to become an officer in the US Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. It is part of the Aviation Selection Test Battery Exam.

Study Guide for the NEO Personality Inventory Test: with Tips

The NEO Personality Inventory is a psychometric tool used to evaluate personality traits.

It is acknowledged globally and is used by recruiters and employers before hiring and, more broadly, to evaluate career potential.

The NEO Personality Inventory test is heavily associated with the 'Five-Factor Model' (which you may also know as the 'Big Five Personality Test') to identify personality traits.

It is widely believed that each person's personality can be broken down into five main categories. The NEO PI personality test looks at each of these five categories separately to create an understanding of who you are.

In this article, we'll look at the NEO PI test, why employers use it, and what you could expect if invited to participate in a NEO Personality Inventory test.

A Guide to the Air Traffic Controller Test: Examples & Tips

The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Test, also known as the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) is an exam used as part of the air traffic controller hiring process. It is a challenging assessment consisting of seven subtests designed to evaluate an applicant's aptitude for the role.

Becoming an air traffic controller is a challenging and rewarding career that requires extensive training. The Air Traffic Controller Test (previously known as the Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT) exam) is an important part of the selection process. 

The Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) measures a candidate's ability to handle the demands of the job. 

In this article, you’ll find example questions, a guide and tips for preparing for the ATSA exam.

This article relates specifically to the ATC test used in the US. Candidates in other countries may be expected to take a different version of the test. 

A Guide to the Clifton Strengths Test: Examples & Tips

What is the CliftonStrengths test? This online assessment analyzes your personality and strengths for personal and professional development. You can purchase the basic test from Gallup for $19.99 and get a basic understanding of your top five personality themes. Or take the comprehensive version for $59.99 and receive a report that ranks all 34 themes and highlights your areas of excellence as well as your blind spots.

When applying for a job, you may find that the recruitment process consists of many different steps. There is the initial application form to start and usually an interview to finish. In the middle, there may be an assessment – an aptitude, intelligence or personality test.

The CliftonStrengths test is one assessment used by employers during the onboarding process. It was previously known as the CliftonStrengthsFinder.

In this guide, you will learn about the CliftonStrengths personality test and how it is used in recruitment.

A Guide to the Police Psychological Exam: Examples & Tips

The police psychological exam is a crucial part of the hiring process for law enforcement agencies. It is a personality test that confirms how suitable an applicant is for working in the police. The police psych test is used by most law enforcement agencies across the United States, although key details may differ from state to state.

What Is the Police Psychological Exam?

The police psychological exam is a series of tests and assessments administered to individuals who are seeking to become police officers.

The purpose of the exam is to evaluate a candidate's psychological fitness for the job and identify any potential psychological issues that may interfere with the candidate's ability to perform police work.

A Full Guide to the Predictive Index Test

The Predictive Index Test is a useful tool that is frequently used by employers around the world as part of their recruitment plans. Typically used in the early stages of the application process, the Predictive Index Assessment can identify an applicant’s cognitive capabilities as well as their behavioral traits. This helps them to quickly assess whether the applicant is right for the job.

The Predictive Index (PI) Test is a behavioral assessment tool often used by hiring managers (and HR managers) to measure an individual's personality and work-related behavioral traits.

Predictive Index tests are designed to predict how an individual may perform in a specific role or position based on their innate behavioral tendencies and personality traits.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn more about Predictive Index assessments. You will discover what to expect from a PI test and figure out how to fully prepare for the test day.

A Full Guide to the Capital One Assessments & Interview

In this comprehensive guide , you’ll discover everything you need to know about the Capital One assessment and interview process.

These are designed to help the company select the best candidates for its team. To increase your chance of getting hired, it's important to be prepared.

Find out what to expect, how to prepare and the skills and qualities Capital One hiring managers are looking for in a candidate.

What Is the Capital One Assessment Test?

Capital One is an established financial services company with a focus on technology and innovation.

To become an employee, or ‘associate’, at Capital One you'll need to pass a series of online assessments and interviews .

The Capital One hiring process is as follows:

A Full Guide to the CogAT Test 2nd Grade: Examples & Tips

CogAT stands for Cognitive Abilities Test. These tests are normally administered by a classroom teacher or instructor, although some schools employ a specialist or test proctor to administer the test.

Many parents are interested in learning more about helping their children to succeed academically.

Achieving a high CogAT score could mean your child is eligible to join gifted or talented programs designed to enhance their development and learning.

In other schools, it is used as a tool to identify a pupil’s individual strengths or predict their future academic performance.

The CogAT test for 2nd grade is a cognitive ability test aimed at children around the age of eight years old.

It is often used as a pre-admission exam by gifted and talented schools and programs. It is designed to evaluate pupils’ cognitive abilities, including basic linguistic and math skills.

The test is made up of three sections or batteries:

  • Non-verbal battery
  • Verbal battery
  • Quantitative battery

On the CogAT test 2nd grade, candidates are required to read the test questions instead of listening to the questions being read by the test proctor.

If you are looking for ideas on how to prepare your child for the CogAT test 2nd grade, read on to learn more.

What Is CogAT Test 2nd Grade?

The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) was developed by Riverside Publishing, which is part of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

It is designed to assess problem-solving and reasoning skills in the following areas:

  • Quantitative

Research has shown that high levels of ability in these three areas is linked to academic success.

If your child is considered potentially talented or gifted, they may be asked to sit a CogAT as part of the program entrance process.

Different CogAT tests are available for different age groups, from Kindergarten (K) up to grade 12.

In this article, you can find more information on the CogAT test 2nd grade. The CogAT test is used by schools across the US to help them identify exceptionally gifted pupils.

Each of the test levels corresponds to the age of the pupil sitting the test. For example, if your child is in grade 6 (aged 12), they will be sitting the Level 12 version of the test. Occasionally, schools may choose to administer a higher level CogAT to talented or gifted pupils; however, this is unusual.

Second grade pupils being considered for gifted programs will usually sit the CogAT Level 8 test. This test is made up of 154 questions and takes 122 minutes to complete.

A Study Guide for the IBEW Aptitude Test: with Tips

The IBEW aptitude test is a prerequisite for those wishing to complete an electrician apprenticeship. It’s a timed test that allows employers to identify if someone has the right skills for an apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is the official representative of more than 750,000 electricians across the US. To work as an apprentice, potential electricians must pass the electrician aptitude test, also known as the IBEW aptitude test.

Let's take a deep dive into this assessment to see what you should do to prepare for and pass the electrical apprentice aptitude test.

What Is the IBEW Aptitude Test?

The IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) aptitude test is a standardized test used to assess an individual's aptitude for electrical work.

The IBEW and its partner organizations use the test to select candidates for apprenticeships and other training programs.

A Guide to the CogAT Test 6th Grade: with Examples & Tips

Many schools use the CogAT Test 6th Grade to assess the non-verbal, verbal and quantitative abilities of sixth-grade students.

The Level 12 CogAT test is a useful tool for checking a student’s individual academic strengths and weaknesses. It can also be used as a screening assessment for entry into the gifted and talented program.

What Is the CogAT Test 6th Grade?

'CogAT' is an acronym for Cognitive Aptitude Test .

CogAT tests are usually administered at school by a teacher or instructor, although some schools employ test proctors and specialists to administer the tests.

This guide is designed to support you and your child through the CogAT Test 6th Grade. You can use it to find out what to expect from the test and tips on how to prepare for it.

We have also included information on the purpose of the test and how to interpret your child’s results.

A Study Guide for the Procter and Gamble Assessment Test: with Tips

The Procter and Gamble Assessment Test describes a series of pre-employment screening tests used by Procter and Gamble (P&G).

If you have applied for a job at P&G, you will be expected to sit these tests as part of the hiring process.

Each of the different tests is designed to assess a specific aptitude that is required for a job role at P&G.

In this article, you can learn more about the different tests used by Procter and Gamble. We have also provided tips on how to prepare for the assessments.

A Full Guide to the MAP Test Grade 4

The 4th grade MAP test is a computer-adaptive test taken three times a year to track your child’s academic development in grades 2 to 5.

It measures reading, language and mathematical abilities and is a useful tool for understanding your child’s current academic level, and identifying areas that need additional support and those students eligible for gifted and talented programs.

As tests can be a challenging experience for younger children, proper preparation is essential.

Throughout this article, you’ll find details about the test, example questions and the best ways to help your child prepare for the MAP test (grade 4).

A Full Guide to the Map Test Grade 3

The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test is a widely used tool that measures a student’s progress and growth based on the common core curriculum followed by most US schools.

This adaptive, computer-based test provides educators with valuable data to evaluate learning and tailor instruction to meet individual needs.

The 3rd grade MAP test is specifically designed to measure growth and achievement in reading skills, language usage and mathematics.

This guide is a comprehensive overview of the MAP test for third-graders, including what the test measures, how it works and tips for preparing your child for the test.

A Study Guide for the Renaissance Star Test: with Tips

This guide includes useful tips and Renaissance Star testing sample questions to help students prepare for the test and feel confident on test day.

You can find detailed information on interpreting and understanding your Renaissance Star Test scores in our dedicated article .

A Map Test Grade 6 Study Guide: with Tips

What Is the 6th Grade MAP Test?

The MAP Growth test system was created by educators from Oregon and Washington who established the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) back in 1973.

Their goal was to create an assessment that could accurately measure and track academic progress in children to ensure they graduated high school with all the essential skills and knowledge they required.

In 2000, the first MAP Growth Test was published.

The test is administered in all grades and is based on a set of learning principles known as the Common Core Principles .

Map Test Grade 7 Study Guide:  with Tips

The MAP test is a well-used assessment in the US school system, and the grade 7 test is used for children who are 12 to 13 years old.

In this article, we will discuss what the MAP assessment is in general, as well as the scoring system used for the test.

We will also describe the content of each section of the test so that you know what your child can expect during the assessment.

There are some example questions to show what grade 7 MAP test takers will face.

We will also give some tips on preparing for the assessment, and how to help your child perform well when they are taking the test at school.

CCAT Test Grade 3 Study Guide: with Tips

The CCAT test grade 3 is a standardized assessment administered to grade 3 students in Canada.

It measures verbal, quantitative and non-verbal reasoning skills and is used to identify a student's learning potential, typically for admission to gifted educational programs.

The CCAT test grade 3 is an assessment commonly used by schools in Canada.

If you’re the parent or guardian of a child preparing for the test, this CCAT grade 3 guide will tell you everything you need to know.

What Is the CCAT Test Grade 3?

The CCAT test (Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test) is a standardized assessment administered to students in grade levels K-12 in the Canadian educational system.

Rather than a measure of academic achievement, the test assesses a child's ability to learn, reason, and problem-solve.

A Guide to the Nelson Denny Reading Test: Examples & Tips

The Nelson Denny Reading Test is a standardized assessment designed to measure reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.

Widely used in academic and employment settings, it evaluates an individual's ability to understand written passages and answer questions based on the content.

The test consists of multiple-choice questions and assesses critical reading skills necessary for success in various fields, including education and professional development.

What Is The Nelson Denny Reading Test?

The Nelson-Denny Reading Test is a standardized test commonly used in educational settings, such as schools and colleges.

Developed in 1930 and named after the two professors who developed the test: Emerson Charles Denny and Martin J Nelson, it was designed to measure and assess an individual's reading comprehension and vocabulary skills .

The Nelson Denny test consists of two main sections: vocabulary and reading comprehension.

The Vocabulary section assesses the test taker's understanding of word meanings and ability to select synonyms and antonyms.

The Reading Comprehension section evaluates their ability to comprehend and interpret written passages by answering multiple-choice questions.

The score attained on the Nelson Denny Reading test indicates the test taker's reading grade level . This score is often used to determine an individual's reading proficiency and identify improvement areas.

It is important to note that the test does not assess reading speed or fluency but focuses on reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.

Overall, the Nelson Denny Test helps educators and employers gain insight into an individual's reading abilities, which can help ensure students are placed in the correct class according to their skill level.

While the Nelson Denny reading assessment cannot be used to diagnose specific disorders, it is known to help identify candidates who require additional reading instructions.

How to Pass the ISEE Test in 2024

The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) test is used by many independent and magnet schools in the US and overseas as an admission test for children across the entire school age range, but more commonly from year five upwards.

It assesses a child’s academic levels of reasoning across math and literacy in comparison to children of the same age, the norm for that school grade and other applicants to the school.

Created and administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), the ISEE test is available to be taken online or in a pen and paper format.

What Are the ISEE Levels?

There are four levels of the ISEE test.

  • ISEE primary for entry into years two to four
  • ISEE lower level for entry into years five to six
  • ISEE middle level for entry into years seven to eight
  • ISEE upper level for entry into years nine to 12

Each level of the ISEE test is created to be relevant to a specific school age group, increasing in complexity with each year and level.

A Study Guide to the WonScore Test 2024: with Practice Tips

The WonScore test is a popular assessment employers often use to select candidates with the best ability to solve time-sensitive and critical problems, and generally work under pressure.

This article provides a comprehensive guide on the Wonderlic WonScore test, helping you study and prepare for it.

Reading it, you'll also learn about the three main components of the assessment, how it is scored and what type of WonScore questions you can expect on the test.

What Is the WonScore Assessment?

The WonScore assessment was developed by Wonderlic, a leading company that provides solutions that facilitates the hiring process for top-tier businesses.

The purpose of this test is to assess the candidates' cognitive ability, motivational forces, and personality style.

If you want to impress a potential employer or hiring manager, the best way to do this is by acing the Wonderlic WonScore test.

Getting a good score on this assessment shows that you're a dedicated employee who has no trouble being productive even under highly stressful conditions.

Some of the companies known for using this test in the past or present are:

  • Canadian National Railway
  • David Weekly Homes
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Delta Air Lines
  • American Airlines
  • Consolidated Electrical Distributors
  • AlixPartners
  • Medline Industries
  • Epic System
  • IBM Assessment

A Study Guide for the CJBAT Test: with Tips

What Is the CJBAT Test?

The Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT) is a test that is used as part of the recruitment process in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE).

It is used for entry-level roles, either as a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) or Corrections Officer (CO).

The CJBAT is designed to measure the ‘minimum competencies’ of candidates who want to join the FLDE – the basic skills, knowledge, competencies and characteristics that are needed to be successful in law enforcement.

Almost every candidate for a law enforcement or corrections position at entry level will be required to take the CJBAT, unless they have been honorably discharged from the military or they hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Applicants who have already completed (and passed) the CJBAT will have their results on file for four years, which means that they do not need to retake it.

The CJBAT costs $39, and there are three sections in the test that are separately timed. There are 97 questions in the assessment in total, and you will have 90 minutes to complete it.

  • Section I – 47 questions to be answered in 20 minutes.
  • Section II – 10 images with a minute and a half to answer questions
  • Section III – 40 questions to be answered in an hour.

A Guide to the PI Cognitive Assessment: and Tips

An employer’s recruitment process can include a wide range of assessments and interviews for the candidate to take that indicate to the employer how an individual might fare in the job.

One common way to measure job performance though is by getting candidates to take the PI Cognitive Assessment, which measures mental ability and critical thinking skills.

This article will look in detail at the assessment, its format, who uses it, example questions and PI Cognitive Assessment tips on how to be successful when taking it.

A Study Guide for the NYC Sanitation Test: & Tips

In this article, you’ll find all the essential information on question types, sample exams and the important concepts to study, plus tips on how you can ace your test.

Get ready to excel in the NYC Sanitation Test with our expert guidance.

What Is the NYC Sanitation Test?

The NYC Sanitation Test is for anyone interested in working with the Department of Sanitation in New York City.

You'll need to pass the NYC Sanitation Worker Exam, a multiple-choice paper and pencil test.

This exam is a crucial step towards a rewarding career in the department.

A Guide to the BCG Pymetrics Test 2024 & Tips

What Is the BCG Pymetrics Test?

The BCG Pymetrics test is part of the recruitment process for many roles at Boston Consulting Group – candidates usually take this test after their initial application.

Pymetrics is a US-based start-up that was founded in 2013, and it created a game-based recruitment assessment that uses AI and algorithms to measure 91 social, cognitive and behavioral traits.

These measurements are used to create a profile based on objective behavioral data – and this is then compared to high performers already in the role.

This results-based assessment is used by BCG to recruit consultants, and the test it uses has been specifically designed by Pymetrics to meet the needs of BCG – focusing on soft skills that are not easily evaluated in other ways.

As one of the top three consulting firms in the world, hiring the best candidates for BCG needs several hiring stages; the Pymetrics test is just one of these.

Format of the BCG Pymetrics Test

When you have applied for a role at BCG, and your application matches the basic requirements in education and experience, you will be sent an invitation to complete the BCG Pymetrics test.

You can take the test on your laptop or PC, but many people find it easier to complete it on their smartphone.

The BCG Pymetrics test is a gamified assessment, which means instead of answering questions like you would on a verbal reasoning or situational judgment test, you will be playing some mini-games.

There are 12 games, each lasting one to three minutes – and there are 12 to complete, usually taking about 30 minutes in total.

Guide for the Home Depot Interview for 2024

Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in America, and the sixth largest US-based employer globally.

Founded in 1978, Home Depot has more than 2,200 stores across the US, Canada, and Mexico, employing more than 500,000 people in many different types of roles, from retail to logistics and corporate.

Roles at Home Depot include:

  • In-store Sales Associates
  • Customer Service
  • Merchandising
  • Store Leadership
  • Warehouse and Distribution
  • Contact Center
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Communication

A Guide to Raven's Progressive Matrices Test: Tips & Examples

The Raven’s Progressive Matrices is a test that is often used as part of the recruitment process for high-level management and analytical roles.

In this article, you will learn more about the test, its history and background, as well as the different types of tests that are available and what you can expect if you are going to be taking the test.

You will also find some example questions that you can expect to see in each type of test and get helpful pointers that you can use to prepare and do well in the assessment.

What Is the Kolbe Test & How to Pass It in 2024

The Kolbe personality test is a personality assessment that evaluates an individual's natural problem-solving instincts.

It measures four Action Modes:

  • Fact Finder
  • Follow Thru
  • Quick Start
  • Implementor

It provides insights into how individuals approach tasks and challenges. The results from the test help in an individual's personal and professional development.

How to Take the Indeed Skills Test in 2024

What Is the Indeed Skills Test?

Indeed started as a US-based employment website in 2004.

Originally designed to be like a job board, Indeed worked as an aggregate site, allowing job posters to advertise vacancies.

As the years progressed, Indeed grew, and now it is the number one job site in the world and the job site with the highest traffic in the US, with 300 million unique visitors every month.

As part of this growth, you can now visit Indeed to not only upload your resume and apply for jobs, but you can also investigate companies, see average salaries and even get guides on getting into your dream career.

Indeed now offers skills tests , which can help recruiters focus on candidates who can demonstrate certain hard and soft skills relating to the position that they are advertising for.

There are more than 150 skills tests to choose from.

Recruiters can choose to add a skills test requirement to their job posting based on essential qualifications and skills listed in the job description. This means that they will give preference to the candidates who can demonstrate a high level of proficiency in that area.

The tests include hard skills like typing, soft skills like communication an Indeed personality assessment and behavior tests, and they usually take less than 10 minutes to complete.

How to Pass the McKinsey Problem Solving Game in 2024

The McKinsey problem solving test is a challenging computer-based assessment used by McKinsey & Company as part of their recruitment process.

The games are designed to test whether candidates have the correct skills for a career in consulting, including excellent problem solving and decision-making skills and the ability to handle complex data.

If you're interested in consulting, you probably already know about the McKinsey Problem Solving Game.

The McKinsey Problem Solving Game , also known as McKinsey PSG or Solve , is a challenging computer-based test .

It is designed to evaluate a candidate's problem solving skills, and it's a crucial step in the McKinsey recruitment process.

The McKinsey PSG differs from many other aptitude tests with its unusual game design. However, this does not mean that it is any less demanding.

This post will cover everything you need to know to pass the McKinsey problem solving game in 2024.

A Guide to the Morgan Stanley Internship

Each year, financial services provider Morgan Stanley is flooded with applications to its renowned internship programs.

Regardless of your field of study, you can apply to a Morgan Stanley summer program or to one of the organization's off-cycle internships that are available throughout the year.

If you are a student or recent graduate and would like to know what steps you should take to apply for a Morgan Stanley internship or are curious to know more about the company, this helpful guide should have all of the information that you need.

A Study Guide for the Star Reading Test 3rd to 4th Grade: With Tips

The Star Reading tests are a series of assessments that are given to children between kindergarten and 12th grade. They are used to evaluate each child on their reading ability.

Part of a wider battery of assessments, the Star Reading tests are relatively short, with multiple-choice answers and adaptive difficulty – so each child gets the opportunity to demonstrate their reading ability.

In this article, you will learn more about the Star Reading test, particularly on the tests that are given at the 3rd and 4th grade level .

A Study Guide for the USPS 477 Exam: With Practice Tips

If you are applying for a role with the United States Postal Service (USPS) , you will usually be asked to complete at least one of four 477 Virtual Entry Assessments as part of the recruitment process.

These exams are used to evaluate various skills, aptitudes, personality traits and work preferences, which can show whether you have what it takes to be successful in the role in the future.

The USPS 477 Exam is sometimes referred to as the CS VEA, which relates to customer service.

How to Write a CV to Get Your Dream Job – 2024 Guide + Examples

Your CV is often the first impression you make on a potential employer, so it is important to make it count. A well-written CV can help you get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers, and increase your chances of getting an interview.

In this article, you will get tips on how to write a professional CV that will land you your dream job. You will learn everything from the basic sections to include to how to tailor it to specific job openings and common mistakes to avoid.

iReady Diagnostic Scores – 2024 Guide

An iReady level score of 3.00 or over means the student is working at or above the level required to meet the standard for their grade.

The level score is calculated in line with expectations when the test was administered, not in comparison to the expected score by the end of the school year.

What Are the iReady Diagnostic Scores?

The iReady diagnostic test is administered to US school children in grades K to eight.

The purpose of this school assessment test is to help parents and teachers check a student’s academic process at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.

It is a computer-adaptive test, which means the questions are adjusted to become more difficult if a series of correct answers is given.

As a result, the test is designed to challenge the skill level of the student sitting the test, as well as assess their strengths and opportunities for growth.

If a student answers a few questions in a row incorrectly, the questions that follow will be easier.

Many people find i-Ready Diagnostic scores difficult to interpret.

As a child progresses through each academic year and moves up the year groups, their expected score will change.

The average score increases year on year, too.

In this article, you can learn more about the different types of iReady diagnostic scores, how these scores are displayed, and how to interpret them to better understand a student’s iReady test performance.

HESI Exam Score Range and Passing Scores – Ultimate Guide For Nursing Students

There are two types of HESI Exam:

  • The Admissions (A2) test
  • The Exit exam

The minimum passing score for the Admissions test is usually between 75 and 80 for each section, although this varies between schools.

The composite score range for the Admissions (A2) test is 750 to 900, with 900 being the maximum possible score.

The HESI Exit Exam score ranges between 0 to 1,500. 850 is considered to be an acceptable score, although HESI recommends a minimum score of 900.

If you want to sit your NCLEX licensing exam, you will need to achieve a score of at least 850 on the HESI Exit Exam.

HESI is an acronym for Health Education Systems Incorporated .

As a company, HESI administers exams and provides study material to help prepare students for the NCLEX professional licensure exam.

If you want to work as a nurse in the US, many nursing and healthcare programs use HESI tests to screen prospective students and determine suitability and readiness for specific study routes.

In this article, you can learn more about the HESI score ranges and passing scores required for each of these tests and what impact your HESI results may have on acceptance into your preferred nursing program.

CBP Entrance Exam: Practice Tests & Guide

The Customs and Border Protection Entrance Exam is a standardized assessment used by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency as part of its recruitment process.

The exam is designed to evaluate the cognitive abilities, skills and knowledge of individuals applying for various positions within the CBP.

It is a highly competitive exam and candidates will need to prepare if they hope to pass.

This article will help you improve your chances of passing by sharing details about the exam and the best ways to prepare.

Practice Free CogAT Grade 5 Test Sample Questions

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) 5th Grade Level is a crucial assessment tool for students between 10 and 11 years old.

Designed to measure verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative abilities, this standardized test plays a pivotal role in identifying students for gifted programs.

In this article, you’ll learn what the CogAT 5th grade test is, which subjects are tested, along with example questions and how best to prepare.

Map Test Grade 7: Full Guide

The MAP Test Grade 7 tests students’ proficiency in mathematics, reading and language usage.

Developed by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), it measures individual growth over time, adapting question difficulty based on responses.

This online test lasts around two to three hours, and the results are used to inform teaching or gauge students' ability levels.

Scoring is based on the RIT (Rasch Unit) scale, indicating a student's instructional level and growth potential in each subject area.

MAP Grade 7 Sample Question

A Full Guide to the CogAT Test 5th Grade: Examples & Tips

What Is the CogAT 5 Grade Test?

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a widely used standardized test designed to assess your child’s cognitive abilities in various areas.

The CogAT 5th Grade Level is specifically tailored for students in the 5th grade and measures their abilities in three main cognitive areas:

  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

Practice a Free STAAR Test and Prepare for the Exam

The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test is a standardized assessment issued to public school students in Texas in grades 3 to 12.

Below you’ll find a range of STAAR test practice questions to help you prepare – whether you’re a parent coaching a child through their exam prep or a high school student revising for a test of your own.

For more info on the STAAR Test, read our dedicated article.

How to Prepare For the STAAR Test in 2024 – Ultimate Guide

The STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test is an important examination that measures students' knowledge and skills in various subjects. Whether you're a student, parent, or guardian, it's essential to be well-prepared for this test to ensure success.

In this ultimate guide, we will explore the different aspects of the STAAR test and provide valuable tips on how to prepare effectively.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 ATI TEAS Test

The ATI TEAS Test , also known as the Test of Essential Academic Skills, is an important exam for students looking to pursue a career in the healthcare field.

This comprehensive exam assesses a student's knowledge in various areas, including reading, math, science, and English language usage.

If you're planning to take the ATI TEAS Test in 2024, it's essential to understand what the exam entails and how to best prepare for it.

In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about the 2024 ATI TEAS Test.

Renaissance Star Early Literacy Test – Ultimate Study Guide For 2024

The STAR Early Literacy Test is an assessment tool used to measure children’s early literacy skills. It forms part of the wider Renaissance STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading) assessment system by Renaissance Learning.

The STAR Early Literacy Assessment is mostly used to test students from pre-kindergarten to grade 3.

The test is designed to assess the following areas of early literacy:

  • Phonemic awareness
  • General vocabulary
  • Comprehension
  • Reading ability
  • Early numeracy skills

STAR Early Literacy is a computer-adaptive test. This means that the difficulty of the questions adjusts according to a student’s responses.

The adaptive element of the test allows for more precise results and a better insight into a student’s overall literacy skills.

Word games are a great way to help your child prepare for the STAR Early Literacy Test.

You should also encourage your child to read daily.

You may wish to build this into their routine at certain times of the day. For example, reading before going to bed is often a good way to unwind.

If you are looking for other ways to help your child prepare, you can help them practice their time management skills, talk to them about maintaining a positive attitude towards the test and ensure they are getting sufficient rest.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) vs Resume – What’s The Difference?

Sometimes, when applying to a job, you might be wondering when to use a CV vs resume?

After all, what is the difference between a CV vs resume?

This article will explore what is a cv vs resume, and highlight the importance of CVs and resumes in job applications.

What Is a CV vs Resume?

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a resume are documents that are essential components of the job application process for several reasons:

Customization

CVs and resumes can be customized for specific job opportunities. You can tailor the content to match the job description, emphasizing the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position.

This customization increases your chances of being selected for an interview.

Evidence of Achievements

CVs and resumes provide tangible evidence of your accomplishments. They allow you to showcase your past successes, work history and educational achievements.

By presenting this evidence, you demonstrate your ability to contribute to the employer’s goals.

Professionalism

Well-structured and error-free CVs and resumes convey professionalism.

They show that you are serious about the job application and have taken the time to present your qualifications in a clear and organized manner.

Structured Communication

CVs and resumes follow a structured format, making it easy for employers to locate specific information such as your work history, education, and skills.

This structured communication helps employers make informed decisions efficiently.

Reference for Interviews

Once you are selected for an interview, your CV or resume often serves as a reference point for the conversation.

Interviewers may ask questions based on the information you provided in your document, so it’s essential that your document accurately reflects your qualifications

Legal and Ethical Requirement

In some cases, providing a CV or resume is a legal or ethical requirement, especially when applying for certain positions or government jobs. Failing to submit the required documentation can disqualify you from consideration.

Documentation for Career Progression

Over time, your CV or resume becomes a record of your career progression. It can be useful for tracking your achievements, planning your career path and applying for promotions or advanced positions within your organization

CVs and resumes are pivotal in the job application process. They serve as a marketing tool to promote your qualifications, a screening tool for employers, and a reference point for interview discussions.

Crafting a strong CV or resume is crucial for securing job interviews and advancing in your career.

Professional CV vs Resume Difference

  • CV – Typically longer, often extending to several pages, allowing for a comprehensive overview of your academic and professional history.
  • Resume – Shorter, typically limited to one or two pages, focusing on the most relevant and recent information related to the job you’re applying for.
  • CV – Provides an extensive academic and professional history, including details about research, publications, presentations, teaching experience and more. It is common in fields such as academia, research and certain international job markets.
  • Resume – Emphasizes key qualifications, skills, work experience, and accomplishments relevant to the specific job you’re applying for. It typically excludes detailed academic information unless it is directly related to the position.
  • CV – Used in academic and research settings, as well as in international contexts where a more comprehensive document is expected. It is also used when applying for grants, fellowships or certain government positions.
  • Resume – Standard for job applications in most industries and is tailored to each specific job or career field. It is used to demonstrate your qualifications for a particular role.

Personal Information

  • CV – May include personal details such as your full name, contact information, academic background, research interests and publications.
  • Resume – Typically includes your name, contact information, a summary or objective statement, work experience, skills and education. It provides basic personal information.

Flexibility

  • CV – More flexible in terms of format and content. It can include various sections based on the individual’s achievements and qualifications.
  • Resume – More standardized with a specific structure that is expected by most employers. Customization is primarily done by tailoring the content to the job.

These key differences highlight the distinct purposes, lengths, and content of CVs and resumes, making it important to choose the appropriate document based on the specific job application and industry requirements.

Definition and Purpose of a CV

A Curriculum Vitae, commonly referred to as a CV, is a comprehensive document that provides a detailed summary of an individual’s academic and professional background.

The purpose of a CV is to present a thorough and extensive account of an individual’s qualifications, achievements, work history, education, and other relevant information.

The primary purpose of a CV is as follows:

Academic and Research Settings – In academic and research environments, a CV is the standard document for job applications, academic positions, research opportunities, and grants. It allows individuals to showcase their educational achievements, research experience, publications, presentations and teaching experience.

Comprehensive Overview – A CV is designed to offer a comprehensive and in-depth view of the individual’s professional journey. It goes beyond just listing work experience and includes academic accomplishments, research contributions, awards and certifications.

Demonstration of Expertise – By providing an extensive record of academic and professional achievements, a CV allows individuals to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge, and suitability for roles that require a deep understanding of a specific field or discipline.

International and Government Positions – In certain international job markets and when applying for government positions, CVs are commonly used. These contexts often require detailed documentation of an individual’s qualifications and contributions.

Grant and Fellowship Applications – When applying for research grants, fellowships, or academic scholarships, a CV is often required to document the applicant’s qualifications and previous research or academic work.

Promotion and Advancement – Within an academic or research institution, a CV is used to track an individual’s career progression. It’s also crucial when seeking promotions and advanced positions within the organization.

Definition and Purpose of a Resume

A resume is a concise and tailored document that provides a summary of an individual’s qualifications, work experience, skills, and accomplishments.

The purpose of a resume is to present a focused and relevant snapshot of the individual’s professional background to a potential employer.

The primary purpose of a resume is as follows:

Job Applications – Resumes are the standard document used in job applications across most industries. Their primary purpose is to introduce the applicant to a potential employer and demonstrate their qualifications for a specific job or career field.

Concise Summary – A resume condenses an individual’s professional history into a brief and easily scannable format. It highlights the most relevant and recent information, allowing employers to quickly assess the candidate’s suitability for a particular position.

Customization – Resumes are highly customizable. Applicants can tailor the content to match the specific job description and requirements, emphasizing the skills, experiences and achievements that are most pertinent to the job they are applying for.

Quick Screening Tool – Resumes serve as a screening tool for employers who receive numerous applications. They help hiring managers and recruiters efficiently identify qualified candidates and determine who should be invited for interviews.

Interview Discussion Reference – Once selected for an interview, the resume often serves as a reference point for the conversation. Interviewers may ask questions based on the information provided in the resume, making it important for the document to accurately reflect the applicant’s qualifications.

Marketing Tool – A well-crafted resume is a marketing tool that allows applicants to present themselves in the best possible light. It showcases their relevant skills, achievements and experiences, making a compelling case for why they are the right fit for the job.

Professionalism – Resumes convey professionalism and a commitment to the job application process. A well-structured and error-free resume reflects positively on the applicant’s dedication to securing the job.

Standard Format – Resumes follow a standardized format, which makes it easy for employers to locate specific information, such as work history, education and skills. This structure streamlines the hiring process.

Career Progression – Over time, resumes serve as a record of an individual’s career progression. They document work history, promotions, accomplishments and the development of skills.

In summary, a resume is a focused, concise, and customizable document used in job applications to present the most relevant qualifications and achievements.

Its primary purpose is to help employers quickly assess the suitability of an applicant for a specific job and to secure interviews for further evaluation.

Length and Structure

Length and number of pages of a cv.

The length of a Curriculum Vitae (CV) can vary depending on the individual’s qualifications, experiences, and the norms of their specific industry or country.

However, there are some general guidelines to consider:

No Strict Page Limit – Unlike resumes, there is no strict page limit for a CV. CVs are typically longer documents and can span multiple pages, particularly for individuals with extensive academic and professional backgrounds.

Typical Length – In many cases, a CV may be between two and six pages. However, it can be longer for highly experienced professionals, senior academics, or individuals with numerous publications and research projects.

Content Dictates Length – The content of the CV should dictate its length. It should include all relevant academic achievements, research work, publications, presentations, teaching experience, professional history, awards, certifications and other qualifications.

Relevance Is Key – While a CV can be lengthy, it’s essential to include information that is directly relevant to the job or opportunity you’re applying for. Tailor the content to the specific position while still maintaining a comprehensive overview of your qualifications.

Clarity and Readability – Regardless of length, a CV should be well-organized, easy to read, and maintain the reader’s interest. Use clear headings, bullet points and concise language to ensure that the document is engaging and informative.

Consider Industry Standards – In some industries and countries, there may be specific expectations regarding CV length. It’s a good practice to research the norms and expectations for CVs in your field and region.

Ultimately, the key is to strike a balance between providing a comprehensive account of your qualifications and experiences while ensuring that the document remains focused and relevant to the specific job application.

It’s important to remember that the goal of a CV is to present a detailed overview of your academic and professional journey, making it longer and more comprehensive than a resume.

Sections Commonly Included in a CV

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) typically includes various sections that provide a comprehensive overview of an individual’s academic and professional history.

While the specific sections may vary depending on the individual’s qualifications and field of expertise, here are some common sections found in a CV:

  • Contact Information – This section includes your full name, phone number, email address, and sometimes your physical address.
  • Objective or Summary – A brief statement at the beginning of the CV that highlights your career goals, qualifications, and what you bring to the table.
  • Education – Details about your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree(s) earned, graduation dates and relevant coursework or thesis topics.
  • Research Experience – A section where you describe your research experience, including the projects you’ve worked on, your role and any significant achievements or findings.
  • Publications – A list of your published work, including journal articles, books, conference papers, and other academic publications. Include the full citation for each publication.
  • Presentations – Details about presentations you’ve given at conferences, seminars or workshops, including the title, date, location and any related information.
  • Teaching Experience – Information about your teaching roles, which may include courses taught, institutions, teaching methods and any awards or recognition.
  • Awards and Honors – A list of any academic or professional awards, scholarships, grants or honors you’ve received.
  • Professional Memberships – Membership in professional organizations or associations, including the name of the organization and your role (e.g., member, officer).
  • Skills – A section where you list your technical, research, or language skills relevant to your field.
  • Languages – If you’re proficient in multiple languages, you can specify your level of proficiency in each language.
  • Certifications and Training – Any relevant certifications, training programs or workshops you’ve completed.
  • Professional Experience – Details about your work history, including job titles, employers, dates of employment and a brief description of your roles and responsibilities.
  • Internships or Research Assistantships – Information about any internships or research assistant positions you’ve held, including the organization, dates and key responsibilities.
  • References – You may include a list of references or simply state that references are available upon request. Be sure to inform your references beforehand.
  • Research Interests – A section where you outline your research interests or areas of expertise.
  • Grants and Funding – Information about research grants, fellowships or funding you’ve received, including the source, purpose and amounts.
  • Professional Development – Any professional development activities, workshops or conferences you’ve attended.
  • Community Involvement – Details about your involvement in community service, volunteer work, or relevant extracurricular activities.

Remember that the specific sections you include in your CV may vary based on your academic and professional background and the requirements of the job or opportunity you’re applying for.

Tailor your CV to highlight the most relevant information for the specific application.

ATI TEAS 7 Math Test – Ultimate Guide Plus Practice Questions For 2024

The ATI TEAS 7 Math Test is a crucial component of the ATI TEAS exam, which is widely used by nursing and allied health schools to assess prospective students' academic readiness for their programs.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into various aspects of the TEAS Maths 7 Test, including what it entails, when it is taken, example questions to help you prepare, and tips for success.

So, let's dive right in!

10 Best Executive Resume Writing Services to Unlock Your Career Potential in 2024

When looking for the best executive resume writing service, consider the following features:

  • Experienced in writing resumes in your industry
  • Transparent pricing structures
  • A good amount of revisions
  • Solid customer reviews
  • Efficient turnaround times

As the professional landscape becomes more competitive, it’s recommended that executives seeking to elevate their careers make use of executive resume writing services.

Crafting a resume tailored to senior positions requires a specialized approach, and the expertise of top executive resume writers can make a significant difference.

This article will explore the top 10 executive resume writers in 2024, explaining why executives should consider them, what to look for, and address some common questions about these services.

The 10 Best Executive Resume Writing Services

Here are the top 10 executive resume writers:

  • My Perfect Resume
  • Topstack Resume
  • Briefcase Coach
  • CEO Resume Writer
  • Capstone Resume Services
  • Career Steering
  • The Writing Guru

7 Best Resume Writing Services: Professional & Convenient

The 7 best rated resume writing services:

  • TopResume – Best for personalized expertise
  • TopStack Resume – Best for navigating careers
  • ResumeCompanion – Best for affordable excellence
  • Resumeble – Best for ATS-optimized resumes
  • ResumeSpice – Best for executive service
  • Craft Resumes – Best for a quick turnaround
  • Resume.com – Best for those on a budget

ATI TEAS 7 Science Test – Ultimate Study Guide For 2024

The ATI TEAS 7 Science Test is an essential component of the TEAS exam, which is widely used by nursing schools to assess a student's knowledge and skills in the field of science.

In this comprehensive study guide, we will provide you with all the information you need to successfully prepare for and ace the ATI TEAS 7 Science Test.

How to Pass the WorkKeys Applied Math Test in 2024

Passing the WorkKeys Applied Math Test in 2024 can be essential for job seekers.

This test evaluates math skills, which are increasingly important to employers. The WorkKeys math test is a widely used tool and is used to assess math competencies and skills for various job positions.

Here you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to excel in this test.

Despite the belief that a person doesn't use over half of the math knowledge they acquired during their education, these skills are applied in many fields.

In fact, math is among the most assessed skills on job applications, and more and more employers use it in their requirements for hiring.

As part of the WorkKeys assessments test group, the WorkKeys Applied Math is a widely utilized test among both employers looking for swift applicant filtering and candidates wanting to showcase their abilities in a specific field.

In this article, you’ll learn how to pass this test in 2024.

How to Pass the WorkKeys Test in 2024

Many employers in the United States use the WorkKeys assessment to gauge whether a prospective candidate is suitable for recruitment or training opportunities.

The assessment is made up of eight aptitude tests, including Applied Mathematics, Graphic Literacy, Workplace Documents, Applied Technology and Business Writing.

To stand the best chance of passing the WorkKeys Test in 2024, you will need to study all parts of the test, work through practice papers and improve your time management.

What Is the Act WorkKeys Test?

The ACT WorkKeys test is a suite of assessments developed by the ACT (American College of Testing).

The WorkKeys tests are used to measure essential workplace skills that are required for various career paths and industries.

As a candidate, the WorkKeys assessment helps you to identify which skills you need to improve on for your desired job role.

Understanding the Accuplacer Test Score

Administered at college and university level, the Accuplacer test is used by some educational institutions to determine how prepared a student is for the next steps in their academic career.

This guide looks specifically at Accuplacer test scores – how they are awarded and what they mean – so you can better understand how your Accuplacer score might impact your learning experience.

Accuplacer test scores are a set of metrics that evaluate a student's knowledge and skills in specific subject areas including reading, writing and math.

How to Write a CV With No Work Experience – A Complete Guide

Creating a compelling CV can be a daunting task when you lack traditional work experience, especially if you're just starting your career journey.

But fear not, as this complete guide will lead you through the process of crafting an impressive CV that effectively communicates your skills, strengths, and potential.

Whether you're a recent graduate, switching careers, or entering the workforce for the first time, this article will provide you with invaluable insights on how to write a CV that catches the eye of potential employers and secures your place in the job market.

How to Write Professional Summary in CV Effectively: 2024 Guide & Examples

In the world of job hunting, your CV is your primary tool to make a lasting impression on potential employers.

A well-crafted CV can open doors to countless opportunities, but it starts with the first section – the professional summary.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, understanding the art of the professional summary and leveraging it to your advantage can be the key to securing your dream job.

In this comprehensive guide for 2024, we'll explore how to write a professional summary in your CV effectively, including handy tips such as how to highlight your top selling points in one to four sentences and with practical examples to ensure your professional summary stands out.

5 Best Skills to Add in a CV to Get Your Dream Job

In today's highly competitive job market, having a well-crafted and impressive CV is essential for landing your dream job.

While a strong educational background and relevant experience are crucial, it's the skills you bring to the table that can set you apart from the competition.

This article explores the top five skills you should consider adding to your CV to increase your chances of securing that coveted position.

Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, these skills can make a significant difference in your job search journey.

Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) – Dates, Locations & Practice Questions

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a critical milestone for students seeking entrance into prestigious secondary schools.

The exam is designed to evaluate a student's verbal, quantitative and reading skills.

Administered at various locations, the SSAT serves as a comprehensive measure of a student's readiness for the challenges of the next level of their education.

Find out the essential information about SSAT dates, locations and practice questions to help you and your child prepare.

What Is the SSAT Exam?

The acronym SSAT stands for Secondary School Admission Test.

The SSAT was first developed by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA).

This was formerly known as the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB).

The EMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing tools and services for admissions professionals and educators.

The primary purpose of the SSAT is to assess the academic abilities of students seeking admission to private elementary, middle and high schools.

It serves as a standardized measure, offering schools a common benchmark to evaluate the skills of prospective students.

The test covers areas such as math, verbal reasoning and reading comprehension.

This provides a comprehensive view of a student's abilities. It is used for students in grades three to 11.

The SSAT is used by many private schools as part of their admissions process.

By incorporating a standardized test, schools can objectively evaluate applicants from diverse educational backgrounds.

The test helps schools identify students who are likely to succeed in their academic programs. This ensures a fair and consistent evaluation process.

Additionally, the SSAT provides a means for students to showcase their academic strengths and potential.

This enhances the overall admissions decision-making process.

How to Prepare For Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT) in 2024? – A Complete Guide

The Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT) is an assessment designed to measure an individual's readiness for postsecondary education, apprenticeships, employment or promotion opportunities in Canada.

The CAAT plays a crucial role in evaluating the skills and knowledge of test-takers.

This comprehensive guide will provide insights into the CAAT, including its purpose, format, scoring and preparation strategies.

How to Pass the QTS Skills Test in 2024

What Is the QTS Skills Test?

The QTS Skills Test was developed by the Department for Education in 2008.

It is taken by those wanting to pursue a career in teaching. Passing the test enables candidates to obtain the Qualified Teacher Status.

Similar to the PGCE maths and English test, this test aims for potential teachers to demonstrate their ability to complete various teaching-related professional tasks.

Candidates take this test after obtaining an undergraduate degree and completing the teacher training program.

Since April 2020, the test is no longer mandatory, but many state-funded schools and other special schools still require prospective teachers to take the QTS Skills tests.

WISC-V (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) Test & 2024 Study Guide for Parents

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) is a commonly used assessment for judging a child's intelligence. More than that, it can help to understand their reasoning and thinking abilities to support their development.

Here’s everything you need to know about this test.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V) is an individually administered and extensive evaluation tool used to assess children's reasoning and general thinking abilities.

It's typically given to children between ages 6 and 16.

After completing a test, children are awarded a Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score, along with age-based scores and rankings in several cognitive function fields.

Here we’ll provide an all-around study guide for parents whose children are required or scheduled to take the WISC-V test.

We’ll also include a comprehensive explanation of how it is constructed, its key features, tips for preparing, and a few example questions.

Understanding Your Kid’s Renaissance Star Test Scores – A Complete Guide

The STAR assessments utilize a scoring system comprising scaled scores ranging from 0 to 1,400.

These scores reflect a student's proficiency level in subjects such as reading and math.

Benchmark categories provide descriptive labels for performance levels, while percentile rank compares a student's performance to a national reference group.

Additionally, grade equivalent scores and domain scores offer insights into grade-level equivalence and specific skill areas.

The STAR Assessment can play a crucial role in evaluating your child’s academic ability and guiding educational strategies.

Understanding its scoring system, test format and significance is important for parents and educators alike.

This article aims to provide comprehensive insights into the STAR Assessment, including its purpose, score interpretation and effective strategies to help children excel in these standardized tests.

CogAT Test Scores: Understanding Your CogAT Score

The CogAT raw score represents how many questions were answered correctly on the CogAT test. This information is used to create the Universal Scale Score (between 100 and 150), which you will see on your child’s CogAT score report.

Here is an image of a typical score report:

MAP Test Scores: Understand Your MAP Score

With the MAP Growth Test used in many schools across the United States, MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) scores are an important part of your child’s life.

The MAP testing scores chart a student’s academic growth in a way that highlights areas of excellence and improvement.

It is essential that you understand how NWEA MAP scores are calculated so you can best support your child throughout their learning journey.

This guide will explain how to find and improve your child’s NWEA Map Scores.

SSAT Score Chart – Range, Results, Chart, Percentiles & More

The main three sections for the Upper and Middle level tests have a maximum score of 800. They have a total scaled score that ranges between 1,500 to 2,400.

Navigating the SSAT involves understanding its scoring system.

In this guide, you can explore the SSAT Score Chart and understand score ranges and percentile ranking and how they matter in private school admissions.

It's a comprehensive resource for decoding SSAT scores and making informed decisions about your child’s education.

What Is the SSAT Test?

The SSAT stands for the Secondary School Admission Test. The SSAT was first administered in 1957.

It is a standardized test designed for students seeking admission to private middle and high schools.

The primary purpose of the SSAT is to assess the skills and knowledge of students applying to independent or private schools.

It aims to provide an accurate measure of a student's academic abilities and readiness for a challenging curriculum.

What Is a Good ASVAB Score?

As with other careers, joining the US military comes with its own set of recruitment processes, one of which is taking the ASVAB test .

If you’ve been looking to pursue a career in the US military, then it might be a test you’ve become familiar with or heard of before. It is an exam a recruiter will advise you to take prior to joining the armed forces.

The ASVAB , otherwise known as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery , is a test the armed services use to determine which part of the US military you will be most suited to join.

Within this article we will discuss what your ASVAB score means and what score counts as a good ASVAB score .

Good ASVAB Score Defined

Whether you’re looking to join the Coast Guard, Army, Marine Corps or another sector within the US military, each branch will require its candidates to score a minimum amount to qualify for that specific area.

It is important to note that there is no single ASVAB score , and you will normally receive a variety of different scores on your final report.

Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA)

The Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA test) plays a key role in assessing an individual's mechanical comprehension.

In addition, this is a critical skill set demanded by numerous professions including engineering, manufacturing and construction.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the WTMA covering its purpose and relevance in various industries.

You can explore the test format by reading sample questions and finding practical tips for effective preparation.

This will give you a solid foundation to navigate the Wiesen test confidently and make informed career or educational choices based on your mechanical aptitude.

How to Write the Best Personal Statement for a CV – 2024 Guide & Examples

At the heart of your CV is the personal statement, a segment that, while often underrated, plays a pivotal role in shaping your professional narrative and setting you apart from other candidates.

This article is tailored to guide you through the process of crafting an outstanding CV personal statement, whether you're an experienced professional seeking new opportunities or a recent graduate embarking on your career.

We delve into essential aspects of personal statement writing, covering:

  • Research and preparation
  • Effective structuring
  • Adopting the appropriate writing style and tone
  • Formatting your statement to maximize its impact

By exploring real-life examples and analyzing key components, this article equips you with the tools to tailor your personal statement to reflect your unique experiences and ambitions.

What Is a Personal Statement?

Your personal statement, often located at the top of your CV, is a concise yet powerful narrative that encapsulates your professional identity.

It serves as a brief introduction to who you are, your qualifications and what you bring to the table.

The primary purpose of a personal statement is to grab the reader's attention, making them eager to learn more about you and why you're the perfect fit for the job.

Consider the company's culture, values and the job's requirements when tailoring your personal statement to ensure that it not only captures your qualifications but also showcases your alignment with the organisation's goals and mission.

A Guide to the Google Apprenticeship Program & Tips 2024

This article explores apprenticeships at Google.

We look at what the apprenticeship program involves and the different business areas in which Google runs apprenticeship programs.

For those interested in applying, we delve deeper into the application process and provide some hints and tips on performing to the best of your ability throughout the process to give yourself the best opportunity to secure an apprenticeship in the business area of your choice.

What Is Google Apprenticeship?

Google is a multinational technology company that specializes in internet-related products and services.

Founded in September 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google is best known for its search engine, revolutionizing how people find information online.

The company's mission is to ‘organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful’.

Google's reach extends beyond its search engine, encompassing a wide range of products and services that impact various aspects of modern daily life.

Positions at Google are coveted, with the company offering opportunities at all different levels of experience.

This includes those looking for an apprenticeship program.

The Google Apprenticeship is a structured training program designed to provide individuals with hands-on experience and practical skills in various technology and business fields.

These programs aim to bridge the gap between formal education and real-world job requirements, allowing individuals to gain insights and knowledge on specific business areas while working on actual projects within Google or its partner organizations.

The primary purpose of Google Apprenticeships is to equip participants with the skills needed to succeed in the tech industry.

These programs offer a structured learning path that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction, enabling participants to develop a strong foundation in their chosen field.

Google Apprenticeships are available in select locations. The duration of the apprenticeship depends on the focus and complexity of the training in the business area.

Some programs last for a few months, while others, such as those in software engineering, could last up to 36 months.

Eligibility for Google Apprenticeships can vary based on the specific program and location.

These programs target individuals who do not have college degrees but are eager to learn and enter the technology workforce.

Applicants may need to meet specific prerequisites, including relevant skills, experience or educational background.

Unlike traditional internships, Google Apprenticeships are paid positions.

Participants receive a salary for their work during the program, making them an attractive option for individuals seeking practical experience while earning an income.

How to Crack the Microsoft Codility Test in 2024

The Microsoft Codility Test evaluates coding skills and algorithmic thinking.

Designed to streamline Microsoft’s recruitment process, the Microsoft Codility Test assesses candidates' ability to solve real-world problems efficiently. 

Candidates can prepare using coding practice platforms and mastering programming languages. It's an integral tool in selecting skilled software engineers for Microsoft's diverse roles.

8 Best Skills to Have on Your Resume

In the fast-paced landscape of 2024, the job market continues to evolve, demanding a new set of skills and competencies from professionals.

As candidates vie for coveted positions, the resume remains a critical tool in their arsenal.

A well-crafted resume not only serves as a snapshot of one's qualifications but also showcases the invaluable skills that set them apart from the competition.

In this dynamic environment, it's imperative to stay ahead of the curve by incorporating the most sought-after skills.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out on your career journey, knowing which skills to highlight can make all the difference in catching the eye of a recruiter.

In this article, you’ll learn more about the best skills to have on your resume and get examples of skills to put on a resume, equipping you with the knowledge and insights needed to leave a lasting impression on prospective employers.

From adaptability to data analysis, digital marketing to cybersecurity, you’ll explore the competencies that are reshaping industries and opening doors to exciting new opportunities.

So, let's embark on this journey of skill-building and position yourself as a standout candidate in a competitive job market.

Why It’s Important to Showcase the Right Skills on Your Resume

Showcasing the right skills on your resume is not just important, it is imperative for several key reasons:

Bridging the Employer's Needs with Your Capabilities

Employers are on the lookout for candidates who can hit the ground running. By listing the skills closely aligned with the job description, you are effectively bridging the gap between the employer's needs and your own capabilities.

This shows that you are not just qualified, but ready and able to tackle the specific challenges the position presents.

Passing the Automated Gatekeepers

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before they even reach human eyes.

These systems are programmed to pick up on keywords that are often skill-related.

Including the right skills ensures that your resume passes through these automated gatekeepers and reaches the hiring manager.

Demonstrating Relevance in a Changing Work Environment

The workplace is continually evolving, with new technologies and methodologies being introduced at a rapid pace.

Presenting the skills you have that are in demand demonstrates your relevance and awareness of industry trends. It shows that you are not only competent but also adaptable and forward-thinking.

Positioning Yourself as a Valuable Asset

The skills on your resume should reflect your ability to add value to a company from day one. When you highlight skills that are in demand, you position yourself as a valuable asset.

Employers are not just looking for workers; they're looking for contributors who will bring in new ideas and drive the company forward.

Differentiating Yourself from the Competition

A resume that clearly articulates specific, relevant skills helps you stand out in a crowded field of applicants.

Rather than being another face in the crowd, your resume tells the hiring manager that you possess a unique set of skills that sets you apart from other candidates.

Creating Opportunities for Growth and Advancement

By displaying skills that go beyond the basic requirements of the job, you signal your potential for growth. Employers are not just hiring for the present; they are also planning for the future.

A candidate with a robust skill set is seen as someone who can take on greater responsibilities and advance within the organization.

Examples of Skills to Put on a Resume

Below you’ll find some examples of good skills to put on a resume.

Of course, these will vary depending on your skill set and experience, but this list will give you an idea of what employers are looking for.

1. Adaptability and Resilience

The ability to adapt to new circumstances and bounce back from challenges is a skill that has risen to paramount importance.

Employers seek individuals who can navigate shifts in technology, industry trends and work methodologies with grace and composure.

Adapting to New Technologies and Methodologies

Staying abreast of emerging technologies and methodologies is no longer a choice, but a necessity.

The pace at which industries evolve demands professionals who can swiftly embrace and integrate new tools and techniques into their workflow.

Whether it's mastering the latest software or understanding innovative processes, showcasing adaptability in this realm can set you apart as a candidate who's ready to hit the ground running.

Navigating Change in the Workplace

Organizations are constantly in flux, responding to market demands, regulatory changes and internal shifts.

Those who can navigate and even thrive in this dynamic environment demonstrate invaluable resilience.

Being open to change, maintaining a positive attitude, and showing a willingness to learn are all hallmarks of adaptability in the workplace.

These are all great examples of professional skills.

Demonstrating Resilience in Challenging Situations

Resilience is the ability to persevere and maintain productivity in the face of adversity.

It's about turning setbacks into opportunities for growth. When discussing your experiences on your resume, highlight instances where you've faced challenges head-on, showcasing your ability to adapt, learn and ultimately triumph in the face of adversity.

Embracing adaptability and resilience not only positions you as a candidate who can weather any storm but also signals to employers that you're equipped to thrive in the current, ever-evolving professional landscape.

By demonstrating your capacity to adapt and rebound, you'll leave a lasting impression on recruiters seeking individuals who can rise to the occasion in a rapidly changing world.

2. Data Analysis and Interpretation

The ability to harness data for informed decision-making is a skill that holds unparalleled value.

Employers are seeking individuals who can not only collect and organize data but also draw meaningful insights to drive business strategies.

Importance of Data-Driven Decision-Making

In an era where data is generated at an unprecedented pace, businesses rely on actionable insights to gain a competitive edge.

Proficiency in data analysis allows you to transform raw information into strategic recommendations.

Highlighting your ability to make data-driven decisions on your resume underscores your potential to contribute meaningfully to the organization's objectives.

Proficiency in Data Analysis Tools and Software

When it comes to adding job skills to your resume, demonstrating expertise in data analysis tools and software is essential in showcasing your technical competence.

Whether it's proficiency in platforms like Excel, Tableau or more specialized tools, specifying your capabilities in this area provides concrete evidence of your ability to handle complex datasets.

Translating Data into Actionable Insights

Being able to not only analyze data but also extract actionable insights is a highly sought-after skill.

Employers are eager to find individuals who can discern patterns, identify trends, and make recommendations based on their findings.

When detailing your experiences, emphasize instances where your data analysis directly contributed to improved decision-making or operational efficiency.

In a data-driven world, the ability to navigate and make sense of complex datasets sets you apart as a candidate who can turn information into a powerful asset.

By showcasing your proficiency in data analysis and interpretation as job skills on your resume, you position yourself as a valuable resource in an environment that increasingly relies on informed, strategic choices.

3. Digital Marketing and Social Media Management

Businesses are more reliant than ever on effective online presence and marketing strategies.

Proficiency in digital marketing and social media management is a highly valued skill set, as it directly impacts a company's visibility and engagement with its target audience.

So these are good skills to add to your resume.

Leveraging Online Platforms for Business Growth

Understanding how to effectively utilize online platforms is crucial for driving business growth. This includes expertise in areas such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising (PPC), content marketing and email marketing.

Demonstrating your ability to create and execute successful digital marketing campaigns showcases your capacity to contribute to a company's revenue and brand visibility.

Understanding Algorithms and Analytics

In the dynamic world of digital marketing, staying updated on algorithms and analytics is paramount.

This involves a deep understanding of platforms like Google Analytics, social media insights and other tracking tools.

Highlighting your proficiency in interpreting data to refine marketing strategies is key to proving your effectiveness in this area.

Creating and Implementing Effective Digital Marketing Strategies

Crafting and executing digital marketing strategies requires a blend of creativity, analytical thinking, and market insight.

Detailing instances where you've successfully planned and executed campaigns, including metrics on engagement, conversion rates and ROI, provides tangible evidence of your expertise in this domain.

How to Prepare For The Smarter Balanced Test (SBAC) – A Detailed 2024 Study Guide with Practice Questions

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Test, known as the SBAC test, is a standardized assessment of English and math used by schools in participating states.

Administered to students in grades K to 12, it measures grade level proficiency and academic progress through computer-adaptive testing and performance tasks.

The Smarter Balanced Test is an educational tool developed and administered by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), hence the abbreviation SBAC test.

In this article we explore what the test involves, what the results mean and how to help a student prepare for their SBAC assessment.

What Is the SBAC Test?

The SBAC assessment is a set of standardized tests that evaluate how well students are performing in the subjects of English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics.

These assessments are taken by students ranging from elementary school to high school in multiple states across the US.

The tests are developed and managed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), a collaborative group of states working together.

How to Pass the FireTEAM Test in 2024

FireTEAM Test Prep: Top Tips:

  • Master time management
  • Brush up on basic concepts
  • Diversify your reading
  • Play observational and memory games
  • Assess your communication style
  • Prioritize rest and sleep

If you're considering a career in firefighting, taking the FireTEAM test is a pivotal step that can open doors to various fire departments across the US.

This article covers everything you need to know to put in a strong performance, including an overview of its format, practice questions and FireTEAM test tips to help you create an effective study plan.

What Is a Concentration Test and How to Pass It in 2024?

The act of focusing your attention, concentration is a process that we use every day.

Whether it is while watching a film, reading a book or just taking part in a conversation, you may be concentrating without even realising!

Concentration generally comes naturally to us.

While there may be times where we struggle to focus, we can more often than not direct our attention to the task at hand.

It is an important skill to maintain because it helps us study, improves our memory, enables faster comprehension and allows us to ignore irrelevant thoughts.

These qualities are especially valuable in the workplace.

To assess job candidates’ ability to concentrate, many organisations administer concentration tests during the application process.

Firefighter Exam 2024 – Guide and Tips

A career as a firefighter can be rewarding and challenging, in equal parts. If you are considering a career in your local fire department you should prepare for a lengthy and intense recruitment process.

As part of the recruitment process, in addition to a physical fitness test, you will be required to sit a written firefighter exam that covers various subjects.

The entry-level firefighter exam varies between departments and states but always covers the same key areas of competence, including math skills, reading comprehension and problem-solving.

You can practice for your firefighter test in advance to stand the best chance of passing and moving a step closer to getting hired by your local fire department.

How to Ace the Berke Assessment Test in 2024

When applying for a job, you are typically required to submit your resume and a cover letter outlining why you are the perfect fit for the role.

For some vacancies, you may also need to take an assessment that measures your personal qualities. One assessment that is used by companies including David Weekley Homes, ExpressCare, Polaris and AmeriLife is the Berke Assessment Test .

The Berke Assessment is a test administered by companies as part of their job application process.

The test includes questions on cognitive ability and personality traits. The best way to prepare for the test is by taking practice tests that include similar questions.

By asking candidates to take the test, recruiters can see who is predicted to be the best match to the role.

In this guide, we will explain all you need to know about the test and how to prepare for success.

How to Pass the FCTC Written Test in 2024

A career in the fire service is a challenging – but extremely rewarding – journey. Such an important, high-pressure job requires a high level of physical, mental and emotional skills.

As well as the necessary personality traits, you generally need a high school diploma or GED. If you have a college degree, you have a better chance of securing a role in the fire service.

You will also be required to take a series of assessments that evaluate your physical and mental strength. One of the assessments used by Californian fire departments is the FCTC Written Test. To become a firefighter in California, you must pass this entry-level test.

In this guide, we will explore what the FCTC Written Test includes and how you can prepare for success.

ATSA Test (Air Traffic Skills Assessment) – Guide 2024

For those applying for a job in air traffic control, they will have to take and pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, more commonly referred to as the ATSA exam.

It is vital to pass the exam to continue in the recruitment stage. It is also important to prepare and do your best, as the higher the score, the more likely it is that you will be offered a position.

This article will look at what is involved in the ATSA test, who is eligible to take it, ATSA test prep and how to access ATSA practice exams.

Marines ASVAB Test: Requirements and Positions

To successfully enlist in the US Marine Corps, certain standards must be met. Marines require both physical and mental strength as well as discipline, determination and the ability to overcome obstacles. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘Marine Mindset’.

One of the ways candidates who wish to enlist will be assessed is by taking a test known as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

A good score on the test suggests that a candidate possesses the mental skillset to be successful in the military.

Marines need to be able to make quick, accurate decisions and adapt to and overcome threats and obstacles on the battlefield.

How to Pass the MCOLES Test in 2024

The MCOLES test is a pre-employment test that all individuals applying for law enforcement roles within Michigan state need to complete.

The test evaluates an individual's basic reading and writing skills, skills essential in being able to communicate effectively and interpret law-related policies and procedures.

Through preparation is needed to attain a passing score of at least 70% on the test.

How to Pass the PiCAT Verification Test in 2024

The PiCAT test is a commonly used assessment tool for those applying to military positions, such as those in the US Navy or the US Army.

This article explores the PiCAT test in more detail. We look at the test format to familiarize individuals with what the Navy PiCAT and Army PiCAT test covers.

Preparation is vital to performing to the best of your ability in the PiCAT test.

The article includes PiCAT practice test questions, answers to help you prepare, and tips to give you the best opportunity to approach the test positively.

How to Pass the SHL Deductive Reasoning Test in 2024

The SHL Deductive Reasoning Test is an assessment employers use to evaluate candidates' logical thinking skills.

It presents logical arguments and requires candidates to determine if conclusions follow from given premises.

Candidates can prepare by practicing tests, honing logical reasoning skills, and familiarizing themselves with formal logic rules to excel in this assessment.

What Is the SHL Deductive Reasoning Test?

The SHL Deductive Reasoning Test is a cognitive assessment tool used in the recruitment and selection processes for many roles in several industries.

SHL (Saville and Holdsworth Ltd.) is a well-known company specializing in psychometric assessments and organizational talent measurement solutions.

SHL assessment tools are used in the early stages of the recruitment process, enabling recruiters to identify candidates with the specific aptitudes needed for success in a role in an organization.

What Is the Mettl Test & How to Pass It in 2024

The Mettl tests are developed by the world's largest assessment provider, Mercer Mettl.

The tests have been designed to analyze various competencies, including verbal, logical and numerical reasoning.

Alongside, the Mettl assessments evaluate candidates' personalities and working styles, establishing whether they are an accurate fit for the role and the broader company.

The Mettl tests are a comprehensive recruitment tool provided by Mercer Mettl – the world's largest assessment provider.

Moreover, the Mettl tests are designed to assess various skills, including numerical , verbal and abstract reasoning.

The assessments are also constructed to understand candidates' behaviors and personality types.

This guide explains everything you need to know about the Mettl test, including tips on how to pass the test in 2024.

What Is the Mettl Test?

As mentioned, the Mettl test is a comprehensive recruitment tool designed to test a range of skills.

It allows employers to ensure they recruit the most suitable candidates for the role.

Pipefitter Test: Guide & Tips 2024

Mastering the Pipefitter Test is crucial for those entering the field.

This guide provides valuable insights, a pipefitter sample test and strategies to conquer the examination.

Discover expert tips to excel in your pipefitting career by navigating the challenges of this important assessment.

What Is the Pipefitter Assessment Test?

The Pipefitter test is an important evaluation tool for individuals aspiring to secure roles as pipefitters in the construction and industrial sectors.

Qualifications and certifications necessary for such positions can vary by state. This makes the pipefitter assessment test a valuable method of demonstrating skills and knowledge.

The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) administers the most popular pipefitter assessment test, designed to assess the potential skills of candidates.

It covers the principles related to the installation and maintenance of both high and low-pressure pipe systems.

In addition, it focuses on how these are used across various sectors, including manufacturing, electricity generation and climate control systems in buildings.

i-Ready Diagnostic Test – Prep Guide for 2024

The i-Ready Diagnostic Test is an internet-based adaptive diagnostic test linked to the i-Ready educational learning program.

Students from kindergarten to grade 12 take the test three times each year. The test is divided into two subtests:

i-Ready test results are used to help teaching staff create a personalized learning plan according to a student’s strengths and weaknesses.

What Is the i-Ready Diagnostic Test?

The i-Ready Diagnostic Test is a computer-adaptive, untimed assessment for students between grades K and 12.

Administered by Curriculum Associates , teachers can use it to monitor a student’s ability and progress throughout the school year.

In most cases, the i-Ready Diagnostic Test is administered three times each year. It is split into two subtests: math and reading.

What Is the HSBC Online Immersive Assessment? 2024 Guide

The HSBC Online Immersive Assessment contains 38 questions over five subtests. The test includes a combination of behavioural questions and cognitive ability exercises.

It is an untimed assessment, but most candidates can answer all test questions within 50 minutes.

Some people find the test difficult, but adequate preparation will stand you in good stead to pass the assessment.

What Is the HSBC Hiring Process Like?

HSBC is a major global bank and financial institution. It offers services via three global businesses and serves millions of customers daily.

The hiring process at HSBC comprises four key stages:

  • Initial Screening and Application
  • HSBC Online Immersive Assessment
  • Online Job Simulation Assessment

How to Pass the NJATC Aptitude Test in 2024

If you're considering a career as an electrician in the US, the NJATC (National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) Aptitude Test is a significant step in the process.

This comprehensive NJATC aptitude test study guide will walk you through all the essential information you need to know about the NJATC Aptitude Test, including its format, preparation tips and practice tests, and address some frequently asked questions.

What Is the NJATC Aptitude Test?

NJATC stands for the 'National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee'.

This committee collaborates with two prominent organizations:

  • The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
  • The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)

Working in unison, IBEW and NECA strive to provide high-quality training and educational opportunities for individuals aspiring to become skilled electricians.

How to Pass the GEICO Assessment Test in 2024

If you're considering a career opportunity at GEICO, you're likely aware of the competitive nature of their recruitment process.

As the second-largest motor insurance company in the US, GEICO attracts many applicants for both customer-facing and non-customer-facing positions.

One critical step in this process is the GEICO assessment test .

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to effectively prepare for and pass the GEICO assessment test.

It will also provide sample questions and GEICO assessment test answers.

What Is the GEICO Assessment Test?

GEICO, short for the Government Employees Insurance Company, is the entity responsible for designing and implementing the assessment test .

Established in 1936, GEICO is renowned for its rigorous recruitment standards.

Nassau County Civil Service Exams & Jobs – 2024

The Nassau County Civil Service tests are an important part of the Nassau County recruitment process.

As applications are highly competitive, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the official announcements and notifications regarding upcoming exams and prepare effectively.

This article will help in your preparation by providing details of the test and the best ways to prepare.

What Are Nassau County Civil Service Exams?

Nassau County Civil Service Exams are standardized assessments conducted by the Nassau County Civil Service Commission.

They are designed to evaluate those applying for various civil service positions within Nassau County, New York.

As Nassau County is made up of a diverse array of municipalities, towns, and cities, Nassau County Civil Service jobs are distributed throughout these areas and cover:

Electronic Data Processing Test (EDPT): Study Guide & Practice Tips

What Is the Electronic Data Processing Test?

The Electronic Data Processing Test (EDPT) is a pre-employment test taken by military candidates who want to transfer to IT or computer programming roles within the Marine Corps or Air Force.

The EDPT test is one of the most challenging pre-employment tests currently on the market with a pass rate of around 10%.

It is 90 minutes long and has 120 multiple-choice questions. This means you have around 45 seconds to answer each question.

ASVAB Scoring: Detailed Guide

While the minimum ASVAB score varies between military branches, the minimum acceptable score is 31.

However, as the majority of candidates score between 30 and 70, you want to aim for a percentile rank of at least 60.

The ASVAB Test Score Report is a valuable document that provides detailed information about your aptitudes, skills, and qualifications for military service.

It includes Career Exploration Scores to guide career choices, individual scores on ASVAB subtests to assess specific abilities and the critical AFQT score that determines your eligibility for enlistment.

Understanding the information presented in this report is essential for making informed decisions about your military career options.

What Is in the ASVAB Test Score Report?

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Test Score Report provides a comprehensive overview of your performance on the ASVAB test, which is a critical step in the military enlistment process.

The report helps you and military recruiters assess your aptitudes, skills, and potential for various military occupations.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) – 2024 Guide

What Is the MMPI Assessment?

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is one of the most widely used assessment tools used to help clinically diagnose mental health disorders.

Originally developed in the late 1930s, it is used by mental health professionals, lawyers and even in some cases by employers when they are hiring for positions that are considered to be high-risk, such as working in the police, in nuclear power plants or in air traffic control.

The MMPI is a self-reporting tool that is administered by professionals, and during the assessment, you will be asked to answer hundreds of true/false questions, which help paint a picture of your mental health and your personality traits.

As a diagnosis tool, the MMPI is considered to be clinically accurate. It has been updated multiple times over the years to make it more relevant, especially in terms of cultural sensitivity.

The MMPI offers results that show on a scale what symptoms a person has, and what mental health problems that could be indicative of.

In addition, the MMPI is usually used in tandem with other diagnosis tools to provide a clear picture of a person's mental health.

How to Pass the ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension Test in 2024

What Is the ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension Test?

The Accuplacer Reading Comprehension test is part of a suite of assessments that are used to evaluate students prior to entry at college.

While the Accuplacer test battery is not used to determine whether a student will achieve a placement at college, the results are used to ensure that the student is studying at an appropriate level and is ready for education at this level.

Created by the College Board, which is a not-for-profit organization that is also responsible for creating assessments like the SATs, the Accuplacer tests are designed to offer better opportunities to students and make entry to top colleges accessible to all.

Accuplacer Math Placement Test – Guide & Tips 2024

What Is the Accuplacer Math Placement Test?

Accuplacer tests are a series of evaluation tools used by colleges to enhance student placement, ensuring that applicants are given the support they need to complete their chosen field of study.

The Accuplacer Math test is a group of three assessments, each used in different math placement testing scenarios. Each assessment consists of 20 multiple-choice questions and there is no time limit to complete the tests, but most people get through them in around two hours.

How to Pass the Accuplacer English Test in 2024

What Is the Accuplacer English Test?

The Accuplacer English test is an assessment of English language skills for students who are learning English as another language, and it is often used as part of the application process for entry to college.

The assessment is designed to evaluate students based on their English language ability, and it is a multiple-choice assessment with no time limit.

The test results are used to understand the current level of English proficiency of a student, which can then be used to ensure that they receive the right support when they enter the college system – it is not a ‘pass or fail’ test and the results will not prevent entry to college.

The Accuplacer English assessment is part of a suite of Accuplacer tests that have been created by the College Board, which is a not-for-profit organization that was founded back in 1900.

The College Board was created to expand access to higher education, helping students get access to college and university courses through testing that builds inclusivity, including the SATs – and now, seven million students per year make use of the resources and tests from the College Board to gain access to more than 6,000 of the top institutions in the world.

The Accuplacer English as a Second Language (ESL) Tests are designed to measure the skills of English learners because the other Accuplacer tests might not be adequate to evaluate people who are not native English speakers – and they may need additional support in learning English alongside their other college studies.

There are five Accuplacer ESL tests used to evaluate students applying to college:

  • ESL Reading Skills
  • ESL Sentence Meaning
  • ESL Language Use
  • ESL Listening
  • WritePlacer ESL

Each Accuplacer ESL test is marked from 20 to 120, and the scores are accompanied by a set of proficiency statements , which are descriptions of what the student will likely know and can do in terms of what is being evaluated in each test.

These statements are used by the college to ensure that the student is placed in the right classes with the right level of support to help them develop their language skills as needed.

Job Test Prep

Creative Problem-Solving Test

Do you typically approach a problem from many perspectives or opt for the same old solution that worked in the past? In his work on human motivation, Robert E. Franken states that in order to be creative, you need to be able to view things from different perspectives.

Creativity is linked to fundamental qualities of thinking, such as flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity. This Creative Problem-solving Test was developed to evaluate whether your attitude towards problem-solving and the manner in which you approach a problem are conducive to creative thinking.

This test is made up of two types of questions: scenarios and self-assessment. For each scenario, answer according to how you would most likely behave in a similar situation. For the self-assessment questions, indicate the degree to which the given statements apply to you. In order to receive the most accurate results, please answer each question as honestly as possible.

After finishing this test you will receive a FREE snapshot report with a summary evaluation and graph. You will then have the option to purchase the full results for $6.95

This test is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or for the treatment of any health condition. If you would like to seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional you can search Psychology Today's directory here .

  • Find a Therapist
  • Find a Treatment Center
  • Find a Psychiatrist
  • Find a Support Group
  • Find Teletherapy
  • United States
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • New York, NY
  • Portland, OR
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Washington, DC
  • Asperger's
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Chronic Pain
  • Eating Disorders
  • Passive Aggression
  • Personality
  • Goal Setting
  • Positive Psychology
  • Stopping Smoking
  • Low Sexual Desire
  • Relationships
  • Child Development
  • Therapy Center NEW
  • Diagnosis Dictionary
  • Types of Therapy

January 2024 magazine cover

Overcome burnout, your burdens, and that endless to-do list.

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019
  • Affective Forecasting
  • Neuroscience

IMAGES

  1. 6 Best Problem Solving Skills to Adopt!

    problem solving skills test

  2. Problem-Solving in Software Testing: A Conversation

    problem solving skills test

  3. 🎉 Testing problem solving skills. Test of Problem Solving 3 (TOPS. 2019-02-26

    problem solving skills test

  4. Test Your Problem Solving Skills

    problem solving skills test

  5. 😍 Analytical and problem solving skills test. 10 interview questions, online tests to help

    problem solving skills test

  6. 👍 Problem solving ability test. 10 Interview Questions to Determine Problem Solving Skills. 2019

    problem solving skills test

VIDEO

  1. Practical Problem Solving

  2. TEST YOUR SKILLS FIND THE ANSWER #shorts #mathtricks

  3. Reasoning Questions Solve fast

  4. Straws test her problem-solving skills! #shorts

  5. problem Solving Skills

  6. problem solving skills training

COMMENTS

  1. Problem Solving Skills Test

    Problem Solving Skills Test - from MindTools.com How Good Is Your Problem Solving? They're time-consuming. They muscle their way into already packed schedules. They force us to think about an uncertain future. And they never seem to go away! That's why, when faced with problems, most of us try to eliminate them as quickly as possible.

  2. Test Your Problem-Solving Skills

    Core Concepts Test Your Problem-Solving Skills Personalize Your Emails Personalize your monthly updates from BrainFacts.org by choosing the topics that you care about most! Sign Up Find a Neuroscientist Engage local scientists to educate your community about the brain. Search Image of the Week Check out the Image of the Week Archive. Explore

  3. How Good Is Your Problem Solving?

    This quiz helps you assess your current approach to problem solving. By improving this, you'll make better overall decisions. And as you increase your confidence with solving problems, you'll be less likely to rush to the first solution - which may not necessarily be the best one.

  4. Problem Solving Skills Test

    This Problem Solving test evaluates candidates' ability to define problems and analyze data and textual information to make correct decisions. This test helps you identify candidates who use analytical skills to evaluate and respond to complex situations. Covered skills Creating and adjusting schedules

  5. Choosing a problem-solving skills assessment: How and why?

    Here are some tips to smoothly integrate a problem-solving skills assessment into your hiring process. First, plan out how the assessment will fit into your existing hiring stages. It's like figuring out the right time to add a spice to a dish. Decide whether the assessment should come early to screen candidates or later as a deeper evaluation.

  6. Problem solving tests for adults: Recruitment

    Problem-solving tests for adults: Your top recruitment guide Problem-solving is fundamental for achieving targets in the workplace: Good problem solvers will work productively and efficiently. But how can you evaluate and recruit applicants with excellent problem-solving skills?

  7. Logical Reasoning Test: 100s Of Free Practice Questions (2024)

    Logical reasoning tests are a type of psychometric test used to measure your problem-solving skills. They come in various forms, but all have the underlying purpose of assessing your logical aptitude and your ability to draw conclusions from a given set of information. ... These tests tend to evaluate a range of skills. Argument analysis is ...

  8. 15 Common Problem-Solving Interview Questions

    Testing a candidate's problem-solving skills goes beyond the IDE. Problem-solving interview questions should test both technical skills and soft skills. STAR, SOAR and PREP are methods a candidate can use to answer some non-technical problem-solving interview questions. Generic problem-solving interview questions go a long way in gauging a ...

  9. What Are Problem-Solving Skills? Definition and Examples

    Problem-solving skills are the ability to identify problems, brainstorm and analyze answers, and implement the best solutions. ... >>MORE: Discover the right career for you based on your skills with a career aptitude test. Research. Research is the first step of problem-solving because it helps you understand the context of a problem ...

  10. Problem Solving Test For Job Applicants

    In Neuroworx's problem-solving skills test, candidates will need to answer a range of questions designed to indicate how well they can solve problems and work under pressure based on a final test score, which can then be compared to the scores of other applicants. The test presents different problems for the candidates to review before ...

  11. How to Develop Problem Solving Skills: 4 Tips

    1. Creativity: Effective problem solving requires the ability to brainstorm solutions and think outside the box to arrive at new approaches to longstanding problems. 2. Teamwork: Addressing a group problem or systemic social problem requires you to work collaboratively and supportively with other team members. 3.

  12. How to assess problem-solving skills

    Learn the key problem-solving skills that are essential in the workplace and how to assess them using pre-employment tests, such as personality, cognitive ability, and divergent and convergent thinking methods. Find out why problem-solving skills are important for leaders and how to improve them with examples.

  13. McKinsey Problem Solving Test Practice Test A

    This test assesses your ability to solve business problems using deductive, inductive, and quantitative reasoning. This practice test contains a total of 26 questions. The actual test contains 26 questions and you will be given 60 minutes to answer as many questions as possible.

  14. A Quick Puzzle to Test Your Problem Solving

    The answer was extremely basic. The rule was simply: Each number must be larger than the one before it. 5, 10, 20 satisfies the rule, as does 1, 2, 3 and -17, 14.6, 845. Children in kindergarten ...

  15. How to Ace a Problem Solving Skills Test: Tips and Strategies

    1 Know the types of tests Be the first to add your personal experience 2 Prepare and practice 3 Apply effective strategies 4 Here's what else to consider Problem solving skills are...

  16. Critical Thinking Assessment: 4 Ways to Test Applicants

    This Problem Solving skills assessment test will help you evaluate candidates' ability to think out of the box, solve problems creatively and employ logical reasoning. Examples of jobs that rely on critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is not rocket science, but it is an important skill when making decisions — especially when the ...

  17. Quiz: test your logical thinking skills

    Quiz: test your logical thinking skills | this. Do you consider yourself a logical thinker? Perhaps you're the type of person who thrives on quizzes and the opportunity to solve a tricky problem. Or you might find logical thinking a real struggle at times, and realise you need to give your skills a rev-up.

  18. 13 Problem-Solving Interview Questions to Assess a Candidate

    I also try to tackle the problems that I feel most confident in solving first.". Systematic. "I like to use a decision matrix to evaluate and prioritize multiple problems. I analyze each problem based on factors such as urgency, impact, and feasibility, and then choose the one that has the highest priority.". 11.

  19. How To Pass the Wonderlic Test (Definition, Steps and Tips)

    The Wonderlic test, short for the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test, is a standardized assessment that organizations can use to measure both the problem-solving skills and mental proficiency of prospective employees. It's used in a diverse range of occupations and tests areas like math, reasoning and vocabulary.

  20. Problem-Solving Skills: Examples, & How To Develop Them

    List of 10 Benefits that an excellent problem solver can contribute to their profession. Ability to manage their time effectively. Ability to prioritize, plan and carry out plans. Ability to think out of the box and identify opportunities in problems. Ability to work under pressure and deal with stress.

  21. Practice Reasoning Tests

    Take 16 free practice aptitude tests. Each test comes with answers and fully explained solutions to each question. Numerical Test Verbal Test Inductive Test Abstract Test Cognitive Test Deductive Test Logical Test Mechanical Test Situational Judgement Test Spatial Awareness Test SHL Test Watson Glaser Test Diagrammatic Reasoning Test

  22. Creative Problem-Solving Test

    This Creative Problem-solving Test was developed to evaluate whether your attitude towards problem-solving and the manner in which you approach a problem are conducive to creative thinking. This ...

  23. How to Measure Your Problem Solving Skills in Business ...

    2 Use feedback and reflection. Another way to measure your problem solving skills is to use feedback and reflection. You can ask for feedback from your clients, colleagues, mentors, or managers on ...

  24. 9 Tricky Puzzles to Test Your Problem Solving Skills

    1 , 2 Would you like to exercise your brain today? Then, here are 9 tricky puzzles to give your grey-matter a good workout. We have provided the solutions as links at the end of each puzzle below,...