Aptitude & Abilities Testing

Career aptitude tests can have many purposes. For job-seekers, it may serve as a guide for matching a person’s aptitude, abilities and interests to a job. For employers, aptitude tests help them find the right employee for the job. It not only saves them time and money, but can reveal valuable information about the test taker. There are career tests for intelligence, work simulation, specific skills, personality and honesty. Some companies will not hire employees without an aptitude test of some type.

According to the SAT CollegeBoard, “The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge.” It is often used to predict academic success in college. Admissions for college consider an applicant based on their school grades and the SAT.

The ACT is another widely accepted college entrance exam. It is a multiple choice test covering four subject areas: English, mathematics, science and reading. The scores for the ACT indicate your level of academic readiness.

Spatial tests measure cognitive ability. Spatial ability requires a person to be able to analyze and visualize patterns, symbols, signs and shapes. In addition, a person must be able to solve complex problems. Some jobs that require a high spatial ability aptitude are architecture, engineering, math, science and computer programming jobs.

Personality tests are often used to measure personality traits. It can indicate whether a person is introverted or extroverted. Tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator determine whether a person is introverted vs. extroverted, thinking vs. feeling, sensing vs. intuiting, and judging vs. perceiving.

According to Michigan Tech, “The Myers-Briggs can be a useful instrument in determining your mental and emotional preferences for handling common situations, for understanding the mental and emotional preferences of others, and for helping you determine the best ‘fit’ between you and various work situations or careers.”

The Physical Ability Test (PAT) often is used to determine a person’s physical strength, endurance and agility. PAT is used as a recruitment and selection tool for hiring police officers and firefighters. It measures the minimum physical ability required of a person to do a particular type of job.