Preparing For Aptitude Tests: Career Skills

Preparing for Aptitude
Tests
Career Skills
Team FME
www.free-management-ebooks.com
ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1
Copyright Notice
© www.free-management-ebooks.com 2015. All Rights Reserved
ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1
The material contained within this electronic publication is protected under International
and Federal Copyright Laws and treaties, and as such any unauthorized reprint or use of
this material is strictly prohibited.
You may not copy, forward, or transfer this publication or any part of it, whether in
electronic or printed form, to another person, or entity.
Reproduction or translation of any part of this work without the permission of the
copyright holder is against the law.
Your downloading and use of this eBook requires, and is an indication of, your complete
acceptance of these ‘Terms of Use.’
You do not have any right to resell or give away part,

or the whole, of this eBook.
Preparing for Aptitude Tests
Table of Contents
Preface 2
Visit Our Website 3
Introduction 4
Verbal Ability and Reasoning Tests 10
Numerical Ability and Reasoning Tests 16
Abstract Reasoning Tests 22
Spatial Ability Tests 26
Summary 33
Other Free Resources 36
References 37
ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 1

Preface
This eBook describes management aptitude tests including: numerical, verbal, abstract,
and spatial reasoning tests. These tests often form part of the job selection process and
are designed to assess your ability to communicate and solve numerical and logical
problems.
You will learn:
●● How and why organizations incorporate aptitude tests into their management
selection processes.
●● Why even a small improvement in your score can result in you being perceived as
a much more capable candidate.
●● What types of questions you will be expected to answer in each test.
●● Where to find free practice questions that will allow you to get all the practice you
need to succeed at these types of test.

Visit Our Website

More free management eBooks (FME) along with a series of essential templates and
checklists for managers are all available to download free of charge to your computer,
iPad, or Amazon Kindle.
The FME online library offers you over 100 free resources for your own professional
development. Our eBooks, Checklists, and Templates are designed to help you with the
management issues you face every day.
We are adding new titles every month, so don’t forget to check our website regularly for
the latest releases.
Visit http://www.free-management-ebooks.com

Introduction
Organizations are putting more time and money into the recruitment process than
ever before. The personnel industry press quotes a typical cost of $10,000 to recruit a
management-level candidate. Some of this can be accounted for by the cost of advertising
the role, but the majority is made up of specifying the role and then selecting the best
possible candidate to fill it. From the perspective of an organization this has meant the
introduction of various tests and exercises to ensure that they learn as much about the
individual as possible to ensure the best fit with the role.
Recruitment
In-Tray Tests &
exercise Exercises
Role Play Aptitude

exercise tests
Competency Personality
frameworks tests
The chart above shows you some of the most popular tests and exercises used when
assessing potential management candidates. Traditional format interviews where you
talk about your competencies and achievements are increasingly complemented by
tests and interview exercises where you are required to show what you do rather than
just talk about it.
Some selection exercises like in-tray and role play are designed to mimic certain aspects
of the job you will be expected to do. Others, such as personality tests and aptitude
tests, seem rather more arbitrary. However, employers have good reasons to use both.
Personality tests are dealt with in detail in the ‘Preparing for Personality Tests’ eBook
available from the Career Skills area of our website.

This eBook is designed to help you prepare for aptitude tests, which are used to test
your logical reasoning and thinking abilities. These tests are made up of between 30–50
multiple-choice questions and are strictly timed. Whether taken online or in an office it
is vital that you give them 100% of your concentration.
Prepare for them as you would any exam and you will gain the high score you need to
stand out from the crowd. Practice and familiarity with the type of questions asked in
each kind of test is extremely important because it will save you wasting valuable time
working out what the question is asking rather than working out the answer.
Management Aptitude Tests
Verbal Reasoning & Ability
Numerical Reasoning & Ability
Abstract Reasoning
Spatial Reasoning
Mechanical Reasoning
The most commonly used aptitude tests are:
●● Verbal Reasoning and Ability—this test assesses your level of grammar and
spelling capability, as well as your ability to understand analogies and follow
detailed written instructions.
●● Numerical Reasoning and Ability—looks at how good your basic mathematical
skills are including number sequences. It also gauges your reasoning skills of
more complex numerical questions and how well you interpret quantitative
information.
●● Abstract Reasoning Tests—assess your ability to identify the logic of a pattern
to determine the next in the sequence or the missing item. These tests determine
your logical thinking skills.

●● Spatial Ability Tests—are designed to evaluate your ability to manipulate two-

dimensional shapes. They also assess your capacity to visualize two-dimensional
pictures as three-dimensional objects.
●● Mechanical Aptitude Tests—these tests are very specific to technical roles and
are not included in general management tests as they assess an individual’s
knowledge of physical and mechanical principles. (Further information on
mechanical tests.)
Maximum
Performance Speed Power
Tests
Aptitude tests frequently have more questions than most people can be easily answer
in the time allocated and the complexity of the questions may also increase as you work
through the test. They are designed to see what you can achieve when maximizing your
efforts and take two forms as shown in the diagram above.
●● Speed tests—focus on how many questions you can answer correctly in the time
allowed. For example:
Question: 139 + 235 =

A) 372 B) 374 C) 376 D) 437
●● Power tests—focus on your ability to identify the ‘best’ strategy for answering
the question and obtain the correct answer. For example, you will be presented
with a table of sales figures to use to answer the questions:
Server January February March

Units $ Units $ Units $
ZXC-43 32 480 40 600 48 720
ZXC-53 45 585 45 585 45 585
ZXC-63 12 240 14 280 18 340

Question: In which month was the sales value highest?

A) January B) February C) March
Question: What is the unit cost of server type ZXC-53?

A) 12 B) 13 C) 14
Practice tests will enable you to become familiar with these types of tests and attain the
best score possible.
Employers use your test scores to gauge how well your competencies and capabilities
match those required by the role. Knowing how these scores are interpreted helps you
appreciate how important improving your score is to be selected to continue in the
recruitment process.
Aptitude Test Scores
Statistically Not proven

Valid statistically
Criterion
Referenced Percentile
Interpretation Scores
Norm
Referenced
Interpretation
There are two statistically proven methods—criterion-referenced interpretation and norm-

referenced interpretation and a third method—percentile scores—that is not statistically
valid but used by organizations when proficiency standards and norms are not available.
●● Criterion-Referenced Interpretation—in tests using this method your score

reflects your level of knowledge or skill in the test area. It does not compare your
score to those attained by others.
The organization or test publishers set a score to reflect a minimum level of

competency required for a role that is then converted into proficiency standards.

●● Norm-Referenced Interpretation—this method compares an individual’s scores

with that of a norm reference group. This norm group is made up from a large
representative sample of people. It is their score average and distribution that
become the test norms.
ABC Aptitude Test Norm Groups

350
300
250
200
High
150 Low
Average
100
50
0
Citizens Clerical Graduates Managers
18-60yrs staff
The chart shows the wide variation between groups’ abilities and qualities,
whilst emphasizing the importance of the norm group you will be compared to.
A norm group will be selected that best matches the educational and cultural
backgrounds including other characteristics of the test group.
●● Percentile Scores—are not statistically valid as they simply compare your score
with that of the other candidates. This method is used when no appropriate
proficiency standards are available. As they are easy to understand this type of
score is commonly used when candidates are being compared to one another.
To calculate a percentile score an individual’s raw score is represented as a

percentage of the group who scored below them. For example, if your raw score
is higher than 60% of the group your score is in the 60th percentile.

1 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99
Percentile Scores
This method tends to exaggerate differences close to the mean and minimize
those at the extremities. What this means for someone taking tests scored in
this way is that each extra point you can add to your score will have a significant
impact on your percentile score.
For example, imagine that a group of graduates with similar backgrounds

score between 35 and 45 out of 50 questions, and the mean score is 40. In
this scenario a score of 40 is in the 50th percentile whereas a score of 45 is
in the 90th percentile. In other words, five extra marks would take you from
being ‘average’ to being ‘outstanding’.
This illustrates one of the problems of using percentile scores with such a small
and homogenous group, and an experienced statistician would realize that
ranking candidates in this group by percentile was inappropriate and misleading.
However, percentile scores are often used this way, which is why it is so important
to get every mark you can in these types of test.
Key Points
44 Organizations use various tests and exercises as part of the management
selection process.
44 Aptitude tests are used to test your logical reasoning and thinking abilities.
44 They usually contain between 30–50 multiple-choice questions and are
strictly timed.
44 Verbal ability tests are used to assess your grammar and spelling, as well as
your ability to understand analogies and follow detailed written instructions.

44 Numerical reasoning tests look at your mathematical skills and your ability to
interpret quantitative information.
44 Abstract reasoning tests assess your ability to identify the logic of a pattern
and determine the next in the sequence or the missing item.
44 Spatial ability tests are designed to evaluate your ability to manipulate two-
dimensional shapes and your capacity to visualize two-dimensional pictures
as three-dimensional objects.
44 Mechanical aptitude tests are very specific to technical roles and are not
included in general management tests.
44 Speed tests focus on how many questions you can answer correctly in the
time allowed, whereas power tests focus on your ability to identify the ‘best’
strategy for answering the question.
44 The common misuse of percentile scores mean that even a small improvement
in your actual score can make you look like a far more capable candidate.
Verbal Ability and Reasoning Tests

These tests are designed to assess your ability to understand and conduct written
communications. Verbal ability questions involve spelling, grammar, sentence completion,
analogies, and comprehension. When they are being used for management selection,
these tests usually focus on higher-level skills like critical reasoning and analogies.
Verbal Ability Verbal

Word Groups
& Reasoning Deductions
Spelling Analogies Instructions
Sentence Critical
Grammar
Completion Reasoning
However, unless you know in advance that this is the case, it is worth ensuring that your
re-familiarize yourself with the definitions and correct spellings of commonly misused
words because this is an essential part of effective communications.

Spelling Questions
Focus on the most commonly mis-spelt words, for example. The answer is shown in bold.
1. Which of the following words are incorrectly spelt?

A) separate B) ordnance C) obviously D) sucess E) none of these
2. Choose the pair of words that best completes the sentence

The -------- of the timetable caused some ----------
A) rivision B) revision C) revission D) revition
A) inconvenience B) inconvenince C) inconveneince D) inconveniance
3. Highlight the incorrectly spelt words from this list.

A) occurence K) acidently
B) dissipate L) liaison
C) weird M) memento
D) accommodate N) millenium
E) embarassment O) yield
F) ecstacy P) existance
G) repetition Q) independent
H) batallion R) insistant
I) dispair S) excede
J) irritable T) privilege
The use of computers and devices that automatically correct our spelling means that our
spelling skills have deteriorated, but practice tests will quickly restore this ability.

Missing Word Questions

These questions look at the level of understanding of the exact meaning of words used in
your vocabulary. These types of questions use a multiple-choice format for your answers
to aid test takers to complete the majority of the test. Some examples are shown below,
with the answer in bold.
4. Which of these words completes the sentence in the way that makes most sense?
A spirit-level should be used to ensure that the surface is -----------
A) straight B) flat C) horizontal D) parallel E) aligned
He avoided --------- because he was ----------- (answer C & B respectively)
A) redundency B) indispensable C) redundancy D) indispensible
The plan must be --------- to make the project ------------ (answer B & A
respectively)
A) feasible B) revised C) rivised D) feasable
It is important to take care when reading the sentences to ensure you select the most
appropriate word. This is because it can be testing either: your spelling skills, your
understanding of how best to use a specific word, or both.
Related Word Questions

These questions are designed to assess your reasoning skills as well as the extent of
your vocabulary. You need to be familiar with the exact meaning of words to ensure you
establish the correct relationship. By practicing this type of question you will be able
to more easily recognize the required relationships, as shown in the questions below
(answers are in bold).
7. Which of these is the missing word?

kick, -----------, walk
A) throw B) toes C) shin D) feet E) hand
(feet are used for both kicking and walking)


key, -----------, walk
A) lock B) stand C) board D) fob E) stone
(board forms the words ‘keyboard’ and ‘boardwalk’)

water, -----------, over
A) ice B) drive C) wet D) flow E) fall
(fall forms ‘waterfall’ and ‘fall over’)
These questions assess how carefully you read the words in front of you and discern the
correct meaning—an essential part of communication for managers.
Synonym and Antonym Questions

These questions use another way to assess your ability to discern the exact meaning of
words and the breadth of your vocabulary. The sample questions below ask you to select
the appropriate synonym (same meaning) or antonym (opposite meaning). The answers
are in bold.
10. Which two of these words are opposite in meaning?

A) lose B) winner C) victor D) loser E) vanquish
(exact opposites)
11. Which of these words is the odd one out?

A) swindle B) harass C) provoke D) annoy E) pester
(the others are synonyms)
12. Which of these words is the odd one out?

A) verify B) authenticate C) confirm D) ask E) substantiate
(the others are synonyms)

Word Pair Questions

This group of questions measures your ability to recognize a relationship between two
words. Mentally repeating the question to yourself is a useful technique enabling you to
recognize relationships more quickly. Practicing this will make a significant difference to
your speed and accuracy. The answers to the sample questions are shown in bold.
13. Dog is to canine as wolf is to ---------

A) vulpine B) ursine C) piscine D) bovine E) lupine
(lupine means ‘relating to the characteristics of wolves’)
14. Sadness is to happiness as defeat is to ---------

A) joy B) victory C) tears D) victor E) none of these
(the word pairs are opposites)
15. Paper is to timber as --------- is to hide

A) tree B) seek C) ox D) animal E) leather
(paper is made from timber, leather is made from hide)
Comprehension Questions
When tackling comprehension questions it is important to ONLY use the information
provided in the text. Do not be tempted to bring in your own personal knowledge.
Remember this type of question is evaluating your ability to extract the relevant facts.
The example below shows you the type of thing you can expect.
16. Read the following short passage and say whether or not the statements
are true.
There are seven species of deer living wild in Britain. The Red Deer and the
Roe Deer are native species. Fallow Deer were introduced by the Romans and,
since the seventeenth century, have been joined by three other nonnative
species: Sika, Muntjac, and Chinese Water Deer which have escaped from
parks. In addition, a herd of Reindeer was established in Scotland in 1952.
Most of the Red Deer in Britain are found in Scotland, but there are significant
wild populations in south-west and north-west England, East Anglia, and the
north Midlands. Red deer can interbreed with the introduced Japanese Sika
deer and in some areas, hybrids are common.

16a. All of the Red Deer in Britain are found in Scotland.

A) true B) false C) can’t say
16b. Red Deer can interbreed with Fallow Deer.

(You must select this answer because the passage does not tell you if this
is possible, even if you know it to be false.)
16c. The Fallow Deer is not native to Britain.

16d. There are no Reindeer in England.

Verbal Reasoning Questions

These questions are popular for management recruitment because they evaluate your
ability to discriminate a series of facts and then use them to resolve an issue. This is best
illustrated in an example (answers are in bold).
17. Working together, Tom, Dick, and Harry need 9 hours to paint a 400 meter
long fence. Working alone, Tom could complete the task in 18 hours. Dick can
not work as fast and needs 36 hours to paint the fence by himself. If Tom and
Dick take the day off, how long will it take Harry to paint the fence by himself?
A) 9 B) 12 C) 18 D) 36
(Explanation: You are told Dick works at half the speed of Tom—the whole
fence would take Tom 18 hours and Dick 36 hours. If the whole fence takes
them all 9 hours then this means Tom would have painted half of it and Dick
and Harry between them would have painted the other half. So the 400m
fence would take Harry 9 hours x 4 = 36 hours.)
In summary, verbal ability tests are speed tests where you need to answer 30–40
questions in 15–20 minutes. They are simply testing whether or not you know the answer.
Verbal reasoning tests assess your reasoning and problem-solving skills, asking between
10–15 questions with 20–30 minutes to complete them. They also gauge your ability
to recognize and comprehend verbally expressed ideas and concepts. Download free
verbal reasoning practice tests.

Key Points
44 Verbal ability questions involve spelling, grammar, sentence completion,
analogies, and comprehension.
44 Management-level tests tend to focus on higher-level skills like critical
reasoning and analogies.
44 If you are expecting a test of this type then it is a good idea to download some
free practice tests and work through them systematically.
Numerical Ability and Reasoning Tests

Numerical skills are a vital part of any manager’s role, so it is not surprising that numerical
ability and reasoning tests are an essential element of aptitude tests. Management-level
tests usually concentrate on higher-level skills like data interpretation but if you feel as
though your math is a bit rusty then it is worth spending some time working through
some basics to refresh your memory.
Numerical
Ability & Number Data
Reasoning Sequences Interpretation
Basic Arithmetic Alphabetic

Fractions
-,+,x,÷ Sequences
Missing
Percentages Powers
Numbers
These speed tests are designed to determine your skills at basic arithmetic and
mathematics including number sequences and data interpretation. You will not be able
to use a calculator so practice is essential to achieve the necessary speed and accuracy
to attain a high score when answering 25–35 questions in 20–30 minutes. Here are some
examples of arithmetic questions (answers are in bold):
1. 139 + 235 =
A) 372 B) 374 C) 376 D) 437

2. 139 - 235 =
A) -69 B) 96 C) 98 D) -96
3. 5 x 16 =
A) 80 B) 86 C) 88 D) 78
4. 45 / 9 =
A) 4.5 B) 4 C) 5 D) 6
5. 15% of 300 =
A) 20 B) 45 C) 40 D) 35
6. ½ + ¼ + ¾ =
A) 1 ¾ B) 1 ¼ C) 1 ½ D) ¾
Number Sequences
You will be presented with a sequence of numbers and have to identify the missing one
from the multiple choices. Here are some of the more simplistic examples (their answers
are shown in bold):
7. Find the next number in the series

4 8 16 32 --
A) 48 B) 64 C) 40 D) 46
(the numbers double each time)

4 8 12 20 --
A) 32 B) 34 C) 36 D) 38
(each number is the sum of the previous two numbers)
9. Find the missing number in the series

54 49 -- 39 34
A) 47 B) 44 C) 45 D) 46
(the numbers decrease by 5 each time)

10. Find the first number in the series

-- 19 23 29 31
A) 12 B) 15 C) 16 D) 17
(the numbers are primes—divisible only by 1 and themselves)
Other number sequences are more complex and you have to look at the interval between
the numbers to identify the sequence.

3 6 11 18 --
A) 30 B) 22 C) 27 D) 29
(the first interval is 3, and the interval increases by 2 each time)

48 46 42 36 --
A) 32 B) 28 C) 29 D) 30
(the first interval is 2 which is subtracted from the first number; each
further subtraction increases by 2 each time)
More complex number sequences will show over four numbers so that the more complicated
patterns can be figured out. See the examples below (answers shown in bold).
13. Find the missing number in the series

4 3 5 9 12 17 --
A) 32 B) 30 C) 24 D) 26
(this sequence starts with the fourth digit as the three previous digits are
used for its and subsequent numbers in the sequence—for example, 9 = 5
+ 4, 12 = 9 + 3, etc.)
14. Find the missing numbers in the series

5 6 7 8 10 11 14 -- --
A) 19 B) 17 C) 15 D) 16
(C is first answer, A is second answer. This sequence is two simple
interleaved sequences i.e. 5  7  10  14  19. Then 6  8  11  15—
the difference increases by 1 each time.)

15. Find the missing numbers in the series

1 -- 4 7 7 8 10 9 --
A) 6 B) 3 C) 11 D) 13
(A is first answer, D is 2nd answer. Once again they are interleaved
sequences i.e. 6  7  8  9—increases by 1 each time. Then 1  4  7
 10  13—increases by 3 each time.)
The most effective way to tackle these types of questions is to look for an arithmetic
relationship between the numbers first and the look at intervals for a relationship. It is
common when there are more than four numbers shown in a sequence that there will
be two interleaved sequences. Sometimes the relationship can be in multiples, powers,
divisions, or a mixture of two options.
Alphabet Sequence as Numbers

This type of sequence tests your ability to substitute a letter in the place of a number
and assess your capacity to work with the unexpected. If you see any of these sequences
make sure to write down the alphabet with the numbers below to help answer these
questions quickly and efficiently.
Alphabet Sequences
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
20
26
24
25
22
23
10
14
18
16
19
12
15
17
21
13
11
4
8
6
9
2
7
3
1
Remember that these sequences may interleave and that in all cases the alphabet will
loop back around in a continuous loop. This is illustrated by the examples below (answers
shown in bold).
16. Find the next letter in the series

B E H K --
i) L ii) M iii) N iv) O
(this sequence skips two letters each time B  E  H  K  N)


A Z B Y --
i) C ii) X iii) D iv) Y
(this is two interleaved sequences A  B  C and Z  Y)

T V X Z --
i) Y ii) B iii) A iv) W
(this looping back sequence skips a letter each time T  V  X  Z  B)
Familiarity with this sort of concept will be the key to your success; the more practice you
have of working in this way the higher your score will be.
Data Interpretation
You are not expected to have in-depth knowledge of the data presented; as with the
verbal comprehension questions all you need to do is use the information supplied and
interpret the data to answer each question. The questions are likely to have a managerial
context that would assist decision making.
In this sort of question you are often permitted to use a calculator, but make sure that
you mentally estimate the answer it gives you. Don’t lose marks through careless keying
or hitting ‘+’ instead of ‘-’. Some examples of data interpretations questions are shown
below (answers in bold).
Server January February March

Units $ Units $ Units $
ZXC-43 32 480 40 600 48 720
ZXC-53 45 585 45 585 45 585
ZXC-63 12 240 14 280 18 340
19a. State the month with the lowest sales value.

A) January B) February C) March

19b. What is the unit cost of server type ZXC-63?

A) 12 B) 13 C) 14
19c. How many ZXC43 units could be expected to sell in April?

A) 56 B) 58 C) 60
(there has been an increase of 8 units per month)
19d. Which server had its unit price changed in March?

A) ZXC43 B) ZXC53 C) ZXC63
20. The following chart shows agricultural imports for January to May. Answer
the following questions using the data provided. (You may use a calculator.)
Agricultural Imports Jan-May

45
40
40
37
36
35 34 34
33 33
31
30
34 29 30
27 27 27
26
25
25
20
15
10
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Potatoes (Av.$120/ton) Wheat (Av.$156/ton) Rice (Av.$75/ton)
20a. Which month showed the largest total decrease in imports over the
previous month?
A) March B) April C) May

20b. What percentage of rice was imported in April?

A) 17% B) 19% C) 21%
(30 tons out of a total of 141)
20c. What was the total cost of wheat imports in the five-month period?
A) $27,500 B) $25,000 C) $22,000
(176 tons at an average of $156/ton)
These numerical reasoning questions determine how logical and rational your approach
is to interpreting data. They are designed to assess your ability to understand series of
numbers, numerical transformations, relationships between numbers, and your ability to
perform numerical calculation. Download free numerical reasoning practice tests.
Key Points
44 Management-level numerical tests usually focus on higher-level skills like
data interpretation and mathematical relationships.
44 If you feel as though your basic math skills are rusty then spend some time
going over the basics of fractions, percentages, etc.
Abstract Reasoning Tests

Abstract reasoning tests use diagrams, symbols, or shapes to assess how well you can
establish logical relationships and can identify the underlying logic of a pattern so the
solution can be identified.
• Missing Symbols
• Next in Sequence
Abstract • Shape & Symbol
Rotation
Reasoning • Pattern Recognition
• Flow Chart
Comprehension

These tests are particularly suited to management selection because management roles
involve:
●● A high degree of problem solving

●● Dealing with complex data or concepts
●● Developing strategies or policies
●● Performing non-routine tasks where initiative is required
The inclusion of abstract reasoning tests in management selection is also popular

because it does not discriminate against candidates who do not have English as their
first language.
Missing Symbols and Next in Sequence

Instead of using letters or numbers in a sequence, abstract reasoning questions use
a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns. The following examples show you the
variety of questions you are likely to answer during this 30-minute test. Typically it will
consist of approximately 20 questions giving you just over a minute for each question.
1. Which symbol in the Answer Figure completes the sequence in the Problem
Figure?
Answer = C—The figure is rotated clockwise through 90 degrees each

time.

2. Which of the Answer Figures belongs in neither group?
Answer = D & E—Group 1 shapes are all straight lines, Group 2 shapes are
all curved.
3. Which of the Answer Figures belongs in neither group?
Answer = A, B & D—Same color shapes are diagonally opposite (Group1)

or above/below (Group 2).

4. Which of the Answer Figures fits the missing space in the Question Figure?
Answer = D—each row and column contains one line of each type.
Flowchart Comprehension and Diagrammatic Reasoning

The use of flowcharts is a standard management tool and an individual’s ability to understand
and infer rules from these charts is an essential skill. This is especially significant in
organizations that are project based and utilize matrix management within their operations.
This type of abstract reasoning question gauges your ability to deduce the rules linked to
a flowchart or diagram and then use them in a new situation.
For example:
The functions ‘M’ and ‘S’ transform the input shapes in a certain way. You
need to use the diagram to determine what effect each of these functions
has. Apply them to the input shape in the question to arrive at the correct
output.

Answer = B—from the diagram you can infer that the function ‘M’ inverts
color (black  white and white  black). Function ‘S’ rotates shapes
counterclockwise through 90 degrees.
It is essential to practice these types of questions because your score will reflect your
ability to handle abstract concepts and ideas. It also gives a potential employer a clear
indication of your general intellectual ability and indicates how well you assimilate
new information that is outside your previous experience. Download free abstract &
diagrammatic reasoning practice tests.
Key Points
44 Abstract reasoning tests assess how well you can establish logical relationships.
44 They do not discriminate against candidates who do not have English as their
first language.
44 They are well suited to management selection because management roles
often involve problem solving at a conceptual level.
Spatial Ability Tests

These questions evaluate how well you can visually manipulate and assemble two-
dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) shapes as described in the diagram below.
Spatial ability can be defined as:
‘The ability to interpret and make drawings, form mental images, and
visualize movement or change in those images.’
2D 2D & 3D
Spatial • Shape Matching 3D
Ability & • Cubes
• Visual Comparison • Cube
• Other
Reasoning • Group Rotation Views
Solids
• Combining Shapes

Spatial ability tests are a combination of speed and power tests, as the following
examples illustrate. These types of question are often used in scientific and engineering
management selection.
Shape Matching—2D shapes

These questions require an individual to manipulate of 2D objects then they are probably
fairly straightforward, but you will be challenged to answer them all in the time you are
given. It is important to read the question carefully so that you understand exactly what
you are being asked to identify:
●● One-to-one match of shapes.

●● Match shapes that have been repositioned and possibly rotated in some instances.
●● Identify missing or mirrored shapes.
1. Which shape in Group 2 corresponds to the shape in Group 1?
Answers
1. X 2. P 3. M 4. V 5. G
6. A 7. D 8. T 9. C 10. B
11. W 12. E 13. U 14. Y 15. F
16. S 17. H 18. K 19. J 20. L
21. O 22. N 23. Q 24. R 25. I

When presented with a large number of shapes as in this example many people find
it distracting and stressful to answer. This is where your practice of such questions is
vital to your success because it identifies your best strategy for answering it quickly and
accurately. For example, you can work sequentially through Group 1 or spot the matches
by visually comparing the two groups.
Visual Comparison of 2D Shapes

These questions require you to spot the only two identical objects in the selection. You
need to be able to work through this type of question quickly. Two useful strategies are:
●● Cover up the other questions so you are not distracted by them.

●● Try to match the far left shape first and move through the row systematically until
you find the pair of matching shapes.
26. Which two pictures are identical?
26—C & E.
Group Rotation of 2D objects

These are more complex than the previous group. The most effective strategy is to work
in terms of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations and to select one shape in the
group—often the most asymmetrical shape—and find its rotation options first, and then
work through the other shapes to find the answer.
27. Which of the Answer Figures is a rotation of the Question Figure?

27—C (Explanation—the white square is clockwise from the arrow. So A,

B, and D cannot be rotations of the Question Figure, leaving only C which
you’ll quickly check element by element to ensure you’re right.)
Combining 2D Shapes
You will be asked to put together the 2D cut pieces or components so that they make one
of the complete shapes shown. The best strategy for this style of question is to look for
any distinct feature that makes it impossible to construct the complete shape from the
given components.
28. Which of the Complete Shapes can be made from the Components shown?
28—B (Tip: in this example the complete shape has no sticking out parts,
which tells you that the components fit together so that sides of the same
length are together.)

3D Cube Views
You are usually shown three views of a cube in 3D. Each face will have a unique symbol
on it, or be blank. You will then be asked to identify the symbol opposite the stated one,
i.e. which one is on the opposite face. Only by practicing such questions will you find the
best strategy for you to quickly identify the answer.
29. Three views of the same cube are shown below. Which symbol is opposite
the X?
29—D (Tip: you can eliminate the symbols A, B, and C on the cubes
showing the ‘X’ because these cannot be opposite it. This leaves ‘D’ and
‘other.’ But as D has edges shared with A and B that are consistent with the
third cube it is the answer.)
Unless it is stated in the question it is implicit that each symbol is only used once. This means
that rotating a cube in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction will help find the answer.
Cubes in 2D and 3D
In these questions you will be asked to make a cube up from a 2D pattern or to identify
the 2D pattern that makes up the 3D cube shown. Each face will have a symbol or design
on that you will manipulate in your mind’s eye to create the pattern or cube that is the
answer, as shown in the examples below.
30. Which of the cubes shown could be made from the pattern?

30—A (Tip: each answer can only show three faces of the cube so look at
the relationship between these three elements and see if it is in the pattern.
Name one face the top and then name the others in relation to it as shown
below.)
31. Which of the patterns when folded will make the cube shown?
31—B (Use the same strategy as above: name the faces and look for
relationships between them.)

Other Solids in Two and Three Dimensions

In these questions you will be asked to perform the same task but using other shapes,
which can be irregular. Many individuals find these questions easier than the cube ones
because each face of the solid shape is different. This makes it easier to identify the
relationships between them, as shown in the example below.
32. Which of the solid shapes shown could be made from the pattern?
32—D (Explanation—A and C can be eliminated because they show an

unshaded face below a triangular face. B is eliminated because it has a
shaded roof above the shaded side. None of these appear on the pattern.)
Spatial tests rely on an individual’s ability to visualize in their mind’s eye how the 2D
or 3D shape alters and this is not an innate skill that comes easily to everyone. So it is
essential to practice these types of spatial ability questions because with only 20–40
minutes to answer between 20–30 questions every second counts if you want to achieve
a high score. Download free spatial ability practice tests.
Key Points
44 Spatial ability questions evaluate how well you can visually manipulate and
assemble two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes.
44 They are usually restricted to scientific or engineering management selection.

Summary
Aptitude and ability tests are designed to assess your verbal, numerical, and logical
reasoning performance. They consist of multiple-choice questions that are strictly timed
and administered under exam conditions. They tend to be fairly short and a typical test
might allow 30 minutes for 30 or so questions.
There are literally hundreds of proprietary aptitude and ability tests on the market, but
the most common ones can be classified as follows:
Verbal Ability Tests—Include spelling and grammar, and the ability to understand
analogies and follow detailed written instructions.
Numeric Ability Tests—Include basic arithmetic, number sequences, and simple

mathematics. In more complex numerical critical reasoning questions, blocks of
information are provided that require interpretation.
Abstract Reasoning Tests—Measure your ability to identify the underlying logic of a

pattern and then determine the solution. They are deliberately designed so that the
visual problem-solving strategy will work better than any other approach.
Spatial Ability Tests—Measure your ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to

visualize three-dimensional objects presented as two-dimensional pictures.
You may be asked to answer the questions either on paper or online. The advantage
of online testing is that once the test is completed, an analysis of the results can be
calculated straightaway. This means that the organization can continue with the selection
process with the results ‘in hand’ rather than keep you waiting or send you home and
call you back in at a later date. Another advantage is that you can take the test at a
recruitment agency or even in your own home. Online testing is particularly suitable for
initial screening as it is very cost-effective.
Whichever type of test you are given, the questions are almost always presented in
multiple-choice format and have definite correct and incorrect answers. As you proceed
through the test, the questions may become more difficult and you will usually find that
there are more questions than you can comfortably complete in the time allowed. Very
few people manage to finish these tests and the object is simply to give as many correct
answers as you can.

Use of Cut-off
Scores
Candidate Rank
Profiling Ordering
There are three approaches organizations can adopt when making recruitment and
employment decisions. They are:
●● Rank ordering of test results

●● Using cut-off scores
●● Candidate profiling
Rank Ordering of Test Results

By simply accepting the highest-ranking scores the organization could take on candidates
over-qualified for the position in times of high unemployment. Or in the opposite
environment take on someone who is poorly qualified for the role even thought they got
one of the highest scores of their group.
Results from this approach must not be used in isolation if the organization wants to
achieve a positive outcome.
Cut-off Scores
Organizations can go some way to protecting themselves by setting a minimum score for
a role. Candidates who score below this will be rejected and those that greatly exceed it
can be assessed to see if they are too high powered for the role.
Candidate Profiling
Using candidate profiling enables a profile of the ‘ideal’ person as well as a minimum test
score to be used together in selecting candidates. Job specifications are usually used to
produce the role profile map. Individuals’ competencies will need to meet or surpass this
profile to continue in the recruitment process.

Ideally, your score should then be compared with the results of a control group that has
taken the tests in the past. This control group could consist of other graduates, current
job-holders, or a sample of the population as a whole. Your reasoning skills can then be
assessed in relation to this control group and judgments made about your ability. This
does happen sometimes. Often however, your score is simply compared to the other
candidates. After all, the control group is not applying for the job.
The other eBooks available in this skill set from www.free-management-ebooks.com are:
●● Management Assessment
●● Interview Preparation
●● Answering Interview Questions
●● Interview Exercises
●● Preparing for Aptitude Tests
●● Preparing for Personality Tests

Other Free Resources

The Free Management eBooks website offers you over 100 free resources for your own
professional development. Our eBooks, Checklists, and Templates are designed to help
you with the management issues you face every day. They can be downloaded in PDF,
Kindle, ePub, or Doc formats for use on your iPhone, iPad, laptop, or desktop.
eBooks—Our free management eBooks cover everything from accounting principles to
business strategy. Each one has been written to provide you with the practical skills you
need to succeed as a management professional.
Templates—Most of the day-to-day management tasks you need to do have already

been done by others many times in the past. Our management templates will save you
from wasting your valuable time re-inventing the wheel.
Checklists—When you are working under pressure or doing a task for the first time, it is
easy to overlook something or forget to ask a key question. These management checklists
will help you to break down complex management tasks into small controllable steps.
FME Newsletter—Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter and stay up to date with the
latest professional development resources we add every month.
Social Media—Share our free management resources with your friends and colleagues
by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and RSS.
Visit www.free-management-ebooks.com

References
Goleman, D. (1996) Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ, Bloomsbury
Publishing.
Goleman, D. (2007) Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, Arrow.
Goleman, D. and Dalai Lama XIV (2004) Destructive Emotions and How We Can Overcome
Them, Bloomsbury Publishing.
Innes, J. (2012) The Interview Question & Answer Book: Your Definitive Guide to the Best
Answers to Even the Toughest Interview Questions, Pearson Business.
Innes, J. (2nd edn) (2012) The Interview Book: Your Definitive Guide to the Perfect Interview,
Pearson.
Lees, J. (2011) The Interview Expert: How to Get the Job You Want, Pearson Business.
Malthouse, R. and Roffey-Barentsen, J. (2012) Interview Exercises for the Police Recruit
Assessment Process (Practical Policing Skills Series), Learning Matters.
Malthouse, R., Roffey-Barentsen, J., and Kennard, P. (2009) Interactive Exercises for
the Police Recruit Assessment Process: Succeeding at Role Plays (Practical Policing Skills
Series), Learning Matters.
Meah, M. (2011) Competency Questions Made Easy, Sapere Media.
Povah, N. and Povah, L. (UK edn) (2009) Succeeding at Assessment Centres For Dummies,
John Wiley & Sons.
Taylor, D. (2010) Now You’ve Been Shortlisted: Your Step-by-step Guide to Being Successful
at Interviews and Assessment Centres, Harriman Business Essentials.
Tolley, H. and Wood, R. (3rd edn) (2011), How to Succeed at an Assessment Centre:
Essential Preparation for Psychometric Tests, Group and Role-play Exercises, Panel Interviews
and Presentations (Testing Series), Kogan Page.

Preparing For Aptitude Tests: Career Skills

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Preparing For Aptitude Tests: Career Skills

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Preparing For Aptitude Tests: Career Skills

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Preparing for Aptitude

You do not have any right to resell or give away part,

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 1

You will learn:

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 2

Visit Our Website

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 3

Role Play Aptitude

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 4

Management Aptitude Tests

Verbal Reasoning & Ability

Numerical Reasoning & Ability

The most commonly used aptitude tests are:

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 5

●● Spatial Ability Tests—are designed to evaluate your ability to manipulate two-

Question: 139 + 235 =

Server January February March

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 6

Question: In which month was the sales value highest?

Question: What is the unit cost of server type ZXC-53?

Aptitude Test Scores

Statistically Not proven

There are two statistically proven methods—criterion-referenced interpretation and norm-

●● Criterion-Referenced Interpretation—in tests using this method your score

The organization or test publishers set a score to reflect a minimum level of

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 7

●● Norm-Referenced Interpretation—this method compares an individual’s scores

ABC Aptitude Test Norm Groups

To calculate a percentile score an individual’s raw score is represented as a

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 8

For example, imagine that a group of graduates with similar backgrounds

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 9

Verbal Ability and Reasoning Tests

Verbal Ability Verbal

Spelling Analogies Instructions

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 10

1. Which of the following words are incorrectly spelt?

2. Choose the pair of words that best completes the sentence

3. Highlight the incorrectly spelt words from this list.

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 11

Missing Word Questions

Related Word Questions

7. Which of these is the missing word?

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 12

8. Which of these is the missing word?

9. Which of these is the missing word?

Synonym and Antonym Questions

10. Which two of these words are opposite in meaning?

11. Which of these words is the odd one out?

12. Which of these words is the odd one out?

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 13

Word Pair Questions

13. Dog is to canine as wolf is to ---------

14. Sadness is to happiness as defeat is to ---------

15. Paper is to timber as --------- is to hide

ISBN 978-1-62620-781-1 © www.free-management-ebooks.com 14

16a. All of the Red Deer in Britain are found in Scotland.

16b. Red Deer can interbreed with Fallow Deer.

16c. The Fallow Deer is not native to Britain.

Potatoes (Av.$120/ton) Wheat (Av.$156/ton) Rice (Av.$75/ton)