Aptitude testing

Employers use a range of tests to measure your ability and personal style.

Ability tests

Ability tests attempt to establish an individual's aptitude in various areas. They are normally completed with paper and pencil but may be offered online. They are usually timed and may cover the following areas:

• Numerical reasoning: your ability to interpret data from statistical tables.
• Accuracy is essential. Revise basic arithmetic and practise calculations without a calculator.
• Verbal reasoning and comprehension: your ability to evaluate the logic of a given statement.
• Diagrammatic reasoning: your ability to recognise a logical sequence within a series of diagrams or symbols.

To practise these tests:

• Visit the SHL website.
• Contact the Careers Service. We offer our own practice tests which take about two hours and cover numerical, verbal and diagrammatic reasoning.

Personality questionnaires

Personality questionnaires are not usually timed. They offer a range of questions to assess your personality traits and your personal style e.g. are you persuasive, democratic, competitive?

There are no right answers so do not try to interpret the test. It is best to be honest and not dwell too much on each question.

To practice this type of test you can visit the SHL web site.