The Psychometric Evaluation and How to Prepare for One

Tests are widely employed to measure one’s knowledge of subjects like history, geography and algebra, but some forms of testing can reveal more than what one has learned. A psychometric evaluation is a form of testing that looks beyond learning to assess more abstract human qualities like reasoning ability, emotions, behavioural patterns, loyalty and team spirit.

There are no right or wrong answers when taking psychometric tests. Nevertheless, one can still succeed or fail to gain from them. Consequently, when faced with these tests, many people are overcome by nervousness and tension, potentially affecting their performance. Although you cannot revise what cannot be studied, there are ways to overcome that pre-exam anxiety and prepare yourself to tackle these tests more confidently.

The following sections detail tips and strategies to help you manage stress and optimise your performance on test day.

Getting Ready to Ace a Psychometric Evaluation

The modern science of psychometry derives from studies performed in the 19^th century by Sir Francis Galton, a relative of Charles Darwin. However, the first application of psychometric tests of practical value was the IQ (Intelligence Quotient) test developed jointly by French psychologist Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon, a French psychiatrist. Today, IQ tests are often used to screen pupils seeking entry to private schools and universities. However, the primary use of psychometry is to assess job seekers and develop employees’ career paths.

Whatever the purpose of your test, the following strategies will help you do your best:

• Learn its purpose: If you understand the purpose of a psychometric test, you will be less stressed and more focused during your preparation and when taking your test.

• Learn which tests you must take: Ask the relevant recruitment agency or HR manager which psychometric tests you will be given. These might be, for example, to assess personality, situational judgment, emotional intelligence or cognitive ability. This knowledge will make it easier to prepare.

• Get some practice: There are numerous online sites where you can practice different tests and obtain helpful feedback about your performance. These exercises will familiarise you with the types of questions you might face during a job interview or when being assessed for a promotion and how best to answer them.

A psychometric evaluation often includes questions designed to measure numeracy or verbal skills. To prepare for these, you should:

• Renew your maths knowledge: Making sure you understand decimals and fractions and knowing how to calculate percentages and ratios will save time and avoid panic on the big day.

• Read more extensively: Reading has been largely abandoned for TV with its predominance of local dialects and the emojis and lazy acronyms of social media engagement. However, reading more broadly will help you develop the vocabulary to ace verbal aptitude tests.

Three Golden Rules that Apply to Psychometric Evaluation

The first of these rules applies to any written exam, but the second is crucial to those taking psychometric tests:

1. Read the instructions carefully.

2. Answer honestly.

Thirdly, if your company has a vacancy or you run a recruiting agency, contact Orgro and arrange for one of our psychometric evaluation experts to conduct tests to enhance your interview process and guarantee you find the candidates who will best meet the job requirements.