P E O P L E

I M P R O V E
Connector Ability

P E R F O R M A N C E
Preparation and Frequently Asked Questions

www.picompany.biz
Contents

Connector Ability ........................................................................................................................ 3

Taking the test ........................................................................................................................... 4
Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................................... 5
1. Preparation and practice test ............................................................................................. 5
1.1 Do I have to prepare (and practice)? ............................................................................ 5
1.2 How can I prepare myself for taking tests? Are there more tests available for practice?
............................................................................................................................................ 5
1.3 Can I get the answers on the questions of the practice test (together with an
explanation)? ...................................................................................................................... 5
1.4 In case you take the test at home: I want to take the test now. How do I get to the
test? .................................................................................................................................... 6
1.5 In case you take the test at home: When must I have taken the test? ......................... 6
1.6 In case you take the test at home: I can’t find a quiet moment to take the test. What
should I do now?................................................................................................................. 6
2. Taking the test .................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 What if I don’t know the answer? Is it better to have a guess or leave it blank? .......... 6
2.2 How long does the test take? ....................................................................................... 6
2.3 In case you take the test at home: The test has stopped working, I can’t get any
further. What should I do now? ........................................................................................... 7
2.4 In case you take the test at home: What’s to stop me asking someone to help me with
the test? No one would find out. ......................................................................................... 7
3. After the test ....................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 How will I know what the result/my score is for the real test? ....................................... 7
3.2 What do the outcomes in the practice test report mean? ............................................. 7
3.3 How is it possible that the results on the practice test differ: (a) from the results on the
Connector Ability test and/or (b)as I take the practice test more often? ............................. 8
3.4 In case you take the test at home: Can I take a possible subsequent test at home too?
............................................................................................................................................ 9
3.5 In case you take the test at home: How much time will a possible subsequent test
take? ................................................................................................................................... 9
4. Other questions .................................................................................................................. 9
4.1 I’ve already made this test for another organization. Do I have to take the test again?
Can I use the report of the test I made earlier? .................................................................. 9
4.2 I’m dyslectic (or I suffer from dyscalculia). What should I do? ...................................... 9
4.3 So what is my IQ-score? Why do I not receive an IQ-score? ....................................... 9
4.4 What is PI Company? ................................................................................................. 10
Contact..................................................................................................................................... 10

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

C onn ect or Ab ilit y
Connector Ability is an online intelligence test that measures the G-Factor; the “General”
intelligence Factor. Intelligence predicts the ease at which a person can solve new problems
and learn new information. It can therefore give a good idea of how a person will deal with
certain problems in a job. Connector Ability can be used for a preliminary selection of
candidates who meet the intellectual level required for the job or issue, and who will be invited
to take part in the subsequent selection procedure in the organization.

Connector Ability is a PI Company product in three parts:

 Series of Figures;
 Matrices;
 Series of Numbers.

You are given an explanation prior to each part and you answer sample questions to practice.
You can go through this explanation and these sample questions in your own time and at your
own pace, with no time pressure. Once you have completed the explanation and the sample
questions, you can start answering the real questions for that part. After that you will be given
the explanation and sample questions for the next part. And then you will answer the real
questions in that part. This continues until you have completed all three parts.

The organization that invited you to take this test will decide whether you can to take this test
at home or under supervision and what will be the follow-up steps to take on the basis of the
outcome of this test. When you take this test at home, the organization may decide to check
your result by asking you to take a subsequent test under supervision.

In case you can take the test at home, you will receive an email with the test’s name as
subject: “Connector Ability for (your name and the test’s reference number)”. This e-mail
contains the link to the test. Take the test within the time period required by the organization
that invited you for the test!

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

Ta k in g th e t est
So as to be able to take the test under optimal conditions, we advise you to keep to the
following points:
 Take the practice test and make sure you understand the explanation. If you want,
you can download the instruction and the sample questions from the Candidate
brochure (as pdf).
 Make sure that you are sufficiently fit and rested when you take the official test. If you
are ill, please contact the organization that invited you.
 Before starting with the official Connector Ability test, first go again through the
explanation and the sample questions. This explanation and the sample questions
are the same in both the practice test and the official test.
 Prior to taking the test, inform your contact person about anything that might be
relevant to know. In doubt, consult with your contact person before taking the test.

The following is specifically relevant when you take the test at home:
 Work alone. You are not allowed to receive help from other people. Also you are not
allowed to use any aids, except for pen and paper.
 Plan when to take the test. Choose a time when you can work undisturbed for
approximately one hour and a quarter.
 Make sure that you can not be disturbed while taking the test. Turn off the phone,
close the door, let other people know that you can not be disturbed.

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

F re qu ent l y As ked Que st io ns

1. Preparation and practice test

1. 1 D o I h a ve t o pr e p a r e (a nd pr a c ti c e )?
By preparing well you give yourself the chance of doing as well as you can in the test. It is
therefore in your own interest to make sufficient time to practice.

1. 2 H ow c a n I pr e pa r e m ys e l f f or ta k i n g te s t s ? Ar e t h e r e m or e t e s ts
a va i l a bl e for p r a c ti c e ?
In principle, taking the PI Company practice test already serves as a good preparation for
taking an ability test. Of course, extra practice by taking ability tests on the internet or by
making exercises in books available on the market for this purpose, never harms. It can make
you more familiar with the type of questions a test might present you. However, take into
account that ability tests can differ in what they measure, how they measure, and in quality.

Examples of websites for practicing various tests:

 Series of Figures: http://www.fibonicci.com/abstract-reasoning/test/
 Matrices: http://www.indiabix.com/non-verbal-reasoning/figure-matrix/
 Series of Numbers: http://www.fibonicci.com/math/number-sequences-test/

Example of literature on tests and assessments:

 H. Tolley & R. Wood (2012): “How to Succeed at an Assessment Centre: Essential
Preparation for Psychometric Tests, Group and Role-Play Exercises, Panel
Interviews and Presentations (Careers & Testing)”.
 P. Carter (2011): “IQ and Psychometric Test Workbook: Essential Preparation for
Verbal, Numerical and Spatial Aptitude Tests and Personality Tests (Testing Series)”.

Furthermore, nothing is more important than being relaxed and having had a good rest when
being tested. And during the day itself, make sure that you read the instruction carefully so
that you are sure you really understand the instruction before starting with the test.

1. 3 Ca n I ge t th e a n sw e r s o n th e qu e s ti o ns of t he pr a c ti c e t e s t
(t o ge t he r w i th a n e x p l a na ti o n )?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to report test questions and answers. Purpose of the practice
test and the report is to offer insight in how well your results are in comparison to a particular
norm group. For the sample questions that are included in the instruction of the actual test,
you can check your answers and you receive feedback. Based on this, you can estimate
whether you correctly understand the basic principle that the particular subtest is based on.

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

1. 4 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me : I w a nt t o t a k e t he t e s t n o w . How
do I ge t t o t he te s t ?
Make sure you have prepared properly before you take the test, for example by taking the
practice test first. That will give you the chance of doing as well as possible in the real test. If
you have not yet done any preparation, go to preparation first. If you’re ready to take the real
test now, open the e-mail you received with ‘Connector Ability for (your name and test’s
reference number)’ in the subject line. Click the link in this e-mail. The test will open
automatically.

1. 5 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me : W he n mu s t I h a ve t a k e n t h e
te s t ?
The date on which you must have taken the test is in the e-mail you received containing the
link to the test. The subject line of this e-mail is: ‘Connector Ability for (your name and the
test’s reference number)’. If there is no date mentioned in this e-mail, please contact the e-
mail address or telephone number mentioned in the same e-mail.

1. 6 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me : I c a n’ t fi nd a q ui e t m o me nt t o
ta k e t he te s t . W ha t s h ou l d I d o n ow ?
Make sure you make time to take the test before the given date. This is very important. If you
really can’t, please inform your contact as soon as possible (the person who sent you the
invitation to take the test). Remember that there is a certain timeframe within which the test
has to be taken, because there are follow-up stages in the procedure which require the test
result. It is in your own interest to do everything you can to make time for the test.

2. Taking the test

2. 1 W ha t i f I d o n’ t k n o w the a n s w e r ? I s i t b e tt e r t o ha v e a g u e s s o r
l e a v e i t b l a nk ?
If you really don’t know the answer, it’s a good idea to have a guess; it’s no use waiting until
the time for answering the question is up. If you don’t fill in anything, your answer is counted
as wrong. If you have a guess, your answer might be right. And you won’t be ‘punished’ for a
wrong answer.

2. 2 H ow l o ng d oe s th e te s t t a k e ?
Be prepared to spend a maximum of one hour taking the test (including the explanation and
the sample questions). You might finish more quickly, certainly if you’ve practiced extensively
beforehand.

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

2. 3 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me : T h e te s t h a s s t o pp e d w or k i n g, I
c a n ’ t g e t a n y f ur t he r . W ha t s h o ul d I d o n ow ?
Please do the following:
 Close the test (your browser).
 Check your internet connection.
 Restart the test. To do this, click the link again in the e-mail you received. The subject
line of this e-mail is: ‘Connector Ability for (your name and the test’s reference
number)’.

If you were working on the explanation or the sample questions when the test seized up, you
can start again from the beginning. If you had already started on the real questions, the
answers you had already given will have been saved. The test will automatically start where
you left off.

If this solution doesn’t work, contact the organization that invited you to take the test.

2. 4 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me : W ha t’ s t o s to p me a s k i ng
s o me o ne t o he l p me w i t h th e te s t ? N o on e w ou l d f i n d o u t.
In the job (the purpose) for which you are taking this test, you will have to show people what
you are capable of without any help. In any case, the organization that has invited you may
decide to ask you to take a subsequent test, which will be supervised. You won’t be able to
get any help from other people then: you will have to do it all yourself. It will be clear pretty
soon whether your score differs from the one in the first test. So it’s in your own interest to
take the test by yourself, without help.

3. After the test

3. 1 H ow w i l l I k now w ha t th e r e s ul t/ m y s c or e i s f or t he r e a l te s t ?
Your test results will be sent to the organization that invited you to take the test. If there has
been no appointment scheduled yet, your contact will get in touch with you to tell you the
outcome and what will happen next.

3. 2 W hat do t h e out c ome s in th e p r a cti c e tes t re po rt me an ?

In the report it says that your outcomes have been compared with the outcomes of other
persons that hold a certain educational level (chosen by you before you started the test). The
outcomes are divided into five categories. If your score is in the leftmost box, this means that it
takes you a lot more time and effort to solve the type of problems offered in the test than most
people with this particular level of education. As the box where your score falls is more to the

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

right, it will take you less time and effort than most people your compared with. Within these
five categories you can see where your score falls; it is not possible to conclude more than
what is already stated in these five category boxes. The practice test is not designed to be
able to make more detailed statements than what is already stated in the report.

3. 3 How i s it po ss ib l e t hat t h e r es ult s on the p ra cti c e t e st diff er : ( a)

fro m t h e r e sult s on t he Con ne cto r Ab il it y tes t and /o r ( b) a s I ta ke th e
pr act i ce t est m or e of t en ?

A difference in outcomes between several practice tests and/or practice test and Connector
Ability, can be related to one or more of the following aspects:
 Test characteristics:
o Sometimes it happens that a person’s score on the practice test strikingly
differs from the score on the Connector Ability test.
The Connector Ability test predicts someone’s general intelligence better
than the practice test. This test was developed specifically for selection and
meets the highest criteria on reliability and validity.
The purpose of the practice test is to prepare and to give only an indication of
someone’s level. Therefore, the score on the practice test is also much more
globally defined (5 categories) than the score on the Connector Ability test.
The organization will therefore rely on the results on the Connector Ability
test.
o Practice effect: anyone can take the practice test as often as he/she want.
Because the questions always remain the same, this means that by
practicing an ever higher score can be achieved.
 Individual factors:
o Performing under pressure: Some people perform less well when they feel
under pressure, when it comes to making the real test, whether or not at the
organization’s office. In that case, someone may score lower than his/her
actual intelligence level. Conversely, someone could also perform better
under pressure, when taking the official test.
o Illness and fatigue can cause someone’s achievements to be less than
optimal.
 Test conditions:
o When taking the test, someone’s performance can be influenced in a
negative way in case of any kind of disturbance (noise, computer failure,
telephone when taking the test at home etc.)
o When, while taking the test at home, someone makes use of aids that are not
allowed or the help of another person, this will also influence the test
outcome.

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

3. 4 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me : C a n I t a k e a p os s i bl e
s u bs e q ue n t te s t a t ho me t o o ?
No, should you have to take a subsequent test, this will always take place somewhere else. If
you are invited to take the subsequent test, you will take it in a place chosen by the
organization that invited you. And this test will always be supervised.

3. 5 In c a se you t a k e t he t e st at ho me: H ow m uc h ti me w i l l a p os s i b l e
s u bs e q ue n t te s t t a k e ?
The subsequent test contains fewer questions than the first test. Also, you will start on the real
questions straight away. You won’t first have to go through all the explanations and sample
questions. That means that the subsequent test will take about as long as the first test. If you
want, you can practice again beforehand. That’s up to you. Before the date of the test, come
back to this website again to practice.

4. Other questions

4. 1 I’v e al r ea d y m ad e t hi s t e st fo r anot he r org an iz at ion . Do I h a v e to

tak e t h e t e st ag ain ? Can I u s e th e r epo rt of th e t e st I ma de ea r li er ?
Please contact your contact person/organization that requested you to make the test. Should
there be no objection to use the test results obtained previously, you can use the previously
received test reports again. Whether this is possible may depend among others on the
previously selected norm group (whether it equals the educational reference group where the
organization want to compare your results with) but also for example whether the organization
itself wishes to monitor the administration of the test

4. 2 I’ m d ys l e ct i c ( o r I s u f f e r fr om d ys c al cu li a) . W h at sho uld I do ?
The extent to which dyslexia (or dyscalculia) can affect the test results is not very great. This
is because the test does not measure language or arithmetical skills, but general intelligence.
Nonetheless, it is important that you mention this in advance of the test. Tell your contact.

4. 3 S o w ha t i s m y I Q - s c o r e ? W h y d o I n o t r e c e i v e a n I Q -s c or e ?
An IQ-score is no more than a specific way of measuring intelligence. The total world
population serves as a reference group. When organizations make use of an intelligence test,
most of the time this will not be an IQ-test but a test measuring general intelligence (G-factor,
as is the case with this practice test) or a test that measures intelligence focused on more
specific abilities (for example, numerical or verbal reasoning). These tests never report in IQ-
scores, but in so-called normed scores: scores that refer to how someone scores in relation to
a norm group, a comparison group. This is often a group of people who share a certain

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability

educational level, so that based on the test, organizations can infer whether someone has a
below-mean/ mean/ above-mean score compared to people with a certain educational level,
for example, secondary vocational or Bachelors. So for this reason, the test report does not
show IQ-scores.
Globally speaking, an average score (i.e., your score is in the middle box) is related to the
following IQ-scores (per educational level): Pre-vocational education - average IQ-score=90;
Secondary vocational education, average IQ-score=100; Higher professional
education/Bachelors, average IQ-score=110; Pre-university education/Masters, average IQ-
score=115. For the total population, the average IQ-score =100 (so around the average IQ-
score for Secondary vocational education).

4. 4 W hat i s P I Co mp a n y?
PI Company is the organization that developed the Connector Ability test. You can find more
information about PI Company on the website www.picompany.biz.

C on tact
Do you still have questions or remarks regarding the Connector Ability and/or the practice
test? Please contact the organization that invited you to take this test. Should you be invited to
take the test at home, you will find the contact details in the e-mail you received with the link to
the test. The subject line of this e-mail is: ‘Connector Ability for (your name and the test’s
reference number)’.

© 2016 Preparation | Connector Ability