How to pass an aptitude test

More and more employers, from graduate schemes to warehouse and call centre roles, ask candidates to sit an aptitude test as part of the process. If it has been a while since you did anything exam like, the prospect can be unnerving. The reassuring truth is that aptitude tests are highly learnable. With a little practice and the right approach, most people improve their scores significantly. Here is what to expect and how to prepare.

What aptitude tests are

An aptitude test is a timed assessment designed to measure specific skills or ways of thinking, rather than knowledge you have memorised. Employers use them to compare candidates fairly and to predict who will do well in the role. They are usually done online, often before or between interviews, and they are almost always against the clock, which is a big part of what makes them feel hard. They are used for all sorts of jobs now, not just office and graduate roles, so it is worth getting comfortable with them whatever field you are applying in.

The common types

• Numerical reasoning: working with numbers, percentages, ratios, graphs and tables. Common for roles involving data or money.
• Verbal reasoning: reading a passage and judging whether statements are true, false or cannot be said from the text.
• Logical or abstract reasoning: spotting patterns in shapes and sequences, testing problem solving without words or numbers.
• Situational judgement: choosing how you would respond to realistic workplace scenarios.
• Mechanical or spatial reasoning: for technical and practical roles, testing how things fit together and work.

How to prepare

Preparation is what separates a good score from a poor one, and it is straightforward:

• Find out which test you are sitting by asking the employer, so you practise the right thing.
• Do practice tests. Plenty are available free online, and doing several removes the fear of the unknown and teaches you the format.
• Brush up the basics, especially mental arithmetic, percentages and reading graphs for numerical tests.
• Practise under time pressure, since working quickly and accurately is a skill in itself that improves with repetition.

On the day

• Set yourself up properly. Choose a quiet room, a reliable internet connection and a calculator and paper if allowed.
• Read each question carefully but do not linger, as time is tight.
• Do not get stuck. If a question is taking too long, make your best choice and move on, because every question usually carries equal marks.
• Keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself so you reach the end.
• Answer honestly on situational judgement tests, as trying to game them often backfires.

Managing the nerves

Nerves are normal, but preparation is the best cure. Once you have done a handful of practice tests, the real thing feels familiar rather than frightening. Remember that these tests are just one part of the picture, and employers know that a single timed test does not capture everything about you. Do your practice, stay calm, and treat it as a puzzle to work through rather than a judgement on your worth.

The bottom line

Aptitude tests reward preparation more than raw talent. Find out which test you face, practise it several times under timed conditions, brush up your arithmetic and reading, and set yourself up well on the day. Do that, and a test that once looked like a barrier becomes just another stage you can pass with confidence.