August 15, 2017, by Carla

What You Need to Know About Game-Based Assessment

By Erica Sparkes, Employability Education Projects Officer

If you’re making graduate and placement applications to some of the larger organisations, you’ve probably brushed up on your application, interview and assessment centre technique. But did you know you may be invited to play a game or series of games as part of the application process? Whether you’re the kind of person who thinks “brilliant, sign me up” or if you’ve just let out a small despairing sigh, this is what you need to know. 

Game-based assessment has been developed as a more fun and accessible way for employers to assess your aptitude and personality traits. Essentially, it’s an alternative to traditional psychometric tests. They assess your general mental ability, such as reasoning, problem-solving, verbal, and numerical ability. They are also trying to work out if you have key personality traits essential to the role and/or organisation.

The rules of the game

The good news is that you don’t need any prior gaming experience to play a game-based assessment. You will be sent a link by an employer, which gives you access to the game on your mobile or desktop computer. Every game is slightly different, so then it’s just a case of following that particular game’s instructions.

My experience

I was sent a demo of a game from Arctic Shores so I could experience how it works. I was so eager to get a good score, I thought the game had started as soon as I’d entered my password. What I didn’t realise, was that there are step-by-step instructions for each level!

The first level required me to select the right number when highlighted. It took me a while to realise you didn’t have to get the right number on the first attempt; it was better to work out the pattern first before clicking. One wrong click meant you had to start the level again. As each level progresses, the game speeds up, making it gradually more intense.

Overall it is easy to use and quite fun to play. Being in an environment where you can relax and concentrate is very important. I feel I would have done much better if I were playing at home without time pressure or distraction.

Six game-based assessment tips:

• Read the instructions carefully
• If accessing the game via your mobile, remember to set your phone to ‘do not disturb’ to avoid getting a call at a crucial moment
• Ensure you are in a quiet place where you can focus on playing the game
• Make sure your device screen is not cracked
• If you have a disability, make the recruiter aware as this can be accommodated through the system
• Don’t try to second-guess what they are looking for; be yourself – it’s meant to be fun!

If you are currently applying for jobs and internships, we can help you through the recruitment process. There’s lots of advice on making applications on our website or you can book an appointment with one of our team here.

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