Graduate Toolkit
Psychometric tests
Psychometric tests are a common stage of the recruitment process in the graduate labour market. Organisations often use them as an early screening tool as they are a relatively cost-effective way of quickly reducing the candidate pool for a given opportunity.
Psychometric tests typically include ability/aptitude tests such as verbal, numerical, and diagrammatic reasoning; as well as situational judgement tests. You may also be asked to complete different forms of personality tests.
Your objective when preparing for taking a test should be to improve both your accuracy and speed in order to achieve a small margin of improvement. A small improvement in your test performance can increase your chances significantly of getting through to the next stage of a graduate selection process.
How to prepare
Step 1: Research and revise
- Research which tests you are likely to be asked to do to give focus to your practice. Sometimes this is listed in the email sent by the employer.
- Then research what the test is likely to involve. An in-depth analysis of the , including numerical and verbal reasoning.
- Revise what you may be tested on. If you're likely to face numerical reasoning, practice doing arithmetic both with and without a calculator. Brush up on your numerical skills generally and revisit some of the maths you did for GCSE. Study data presented in tables, charts and graphs.
Step 2: Have a go
The best way to learn is to practice! So use our recommended free external resources:
- – Â鶹ÊÓƵ graduates have access to an array of practise tests, including verbal, numerical and logical tests, as well as a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), personality questionnaire and the Watson Glaser test. They have been developed by consultants who have worked for SHL, the major UK publisher of psychometric tests. To get your graduate access, and submit a quick query. We’ll take it from there and be in touch.
Step 3: Reflection and ask for help
- Using the feedback forms developed by the provider, identify the areas or issues that are causing you the most trouble and then identify how you can improve on these next time. If you can identify problem areas – try another test.
- If you are unsure as to how you can improve come along to an in person drop-in or book a one-to-one appointment for further guidance.
- Start the 3-step process again!
Further support and resources
The following websites have useful information and many have practice questions. Some of these are specific to certain sectors or occupations. Please note that some sites charge a fee.
- Legal sector: Watson Glaser is a critical thinking test particularly common with law firms and increasingly by other employers. You can practice these using . There are also sample tests available on
- Medical and dental schools: is used in the selection process by a number of UK university medical and dental schools
- Entry to graduate business and management programmes, such as an MBA: may be used for admission to graduate business and management programmes
- : Free employer reasoning tests to help improve performance and includes numerical tests, logical, inductive and diagrammatic reasoning tests ()
- provides another way to practice questions
- provides general information about psychometric assessments and links to various practice assessments
- : tips on how to tackle psychometric tests and opportunity to take practice tests
- : private educational organisation - includes practice questions relating to:
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- Praxis: Professional assessments for beginning teachers
- TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
- : free service which allows you to practice various aptitude tests.
The Â鶹ÊÓƵ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. References and links to sites should not be taken as an endorsement by the University of opinions expressed or services provided at those sites.