May 18, 2018, by Naomi Imms
Testing, Testing: How to Prepare for Psychometric Tests
What is a psychometric test? And why should you care?
If you’re applying for a job, or even an internship or placement, you may well be asked to complete a psychometric test – sometimes called an ‘online assessment’.
Psychometric tests are often used by employers to sift through candidates who’ve got past the application form stage, and narrow down who to invite to interview. They come in all shapes and sizes but are generally designed to do two things: measure your skills including verbal, numerical and situational reasoning, or find out more about your personality and motivations. They are also usually time-limited.
At first glance, psychometric tests may appear daunting but the good news is, just like with any test, you can practice and get better at them. Even better news: as a Nottingham student, you get free access to Graduates First; an online practice psychometric test space.
Why use Graduates First? Here are six reasons.
1. Practise 24 online tests which reflect the ‘real thing’.
Whatever kind of test you’re facing, Graduates First will have something to help you prepare. There are 24 tests covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, personality, and situational judgement.
What’s more, the tests have been designed by psychologists and psychometricians who have also developed tests for large employers, so there’s a strong chance these practice tests will bear a resemblance to the ‘real thing’.
If you have a disability such as dyslexia, the system will also make a realistic adjustment to your time allowance for completing the test, as an employer would.
2. Predict questions that will come up.
Graduates First offer a ‘Question Identifier Toolkit’, which asks you a number of questions about the job you’re applying for, before using this information to generate predictions about the type of question that is likely to come up.
This is also a great tool to help you analyse a job description, and spark thoughts about the type of skills you’d need to talk about at an interview.
3. Watch videos to help you learn.
Do you prefer to watch and listen, rather than read? Graduates First include short videos to help you navigate the process of preparing for a psychometric test. Topics range from advice on how to increase your test scores, to step-by-step guides on tackling various numerical challenges.
So, if you’ve forgotten your GCSE Maths knowledge about how to calculate simplified ratios, or work out a percentage increase, these could be your first port of call.
4. Get feedback to help you improve.
How can you improve if you don’t know where you’re going wrong? Once you’ve completed a test on Graduates First, you’ll get answers and feedback on solutions for any questions you got wrong.
You can then try a fresh example, with a better understanding of how to tackle it.
5. Bonus advice on the application process.
Graduates First doesn’t just help with psychometric tests, but also provides advice and tips to help you understand all aspects of a recruitment process – from assessment centres to interviews.
There’s also a glossary to help you make sense of any recruitment process jargon you might encounter.
6. It’s free to Nottingham students.
You’ll just need your University email to register; we pay for the service so you can use it free of charge. Even after you’ve graduated, you can still access it by emailing us.
Access Graduates First and get further advice on psychometric testing on our website. You can also read about Manuela’s experience with psychometric tests here.
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