The Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

The Differential
Aptitude Test
(DAT),
DAT
 The Differential Aptitude Test (DAT), first published in
1947 by The Psychological Corporation, is a battery of
tests whose goal is to assess multiple separate aptitudes
of students and adults. The latest (fifth) version of the
DAT, published in 1990.
 GEORGE K. BENNET
 HAROLD G. SEASHORE
 ALEXANDER G. WESMAN
~ Differential Aptitude Tests ~
Designed to measure an individual's ability to learn or to

succeed in a number of different areas such as mechanical
reasoning, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and
space relations.
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Ability
Abstract Reasoning
Mechanical Reasoning
Language Usage
Why we do the DATs?
 Help students to choose educational and career options on the basis of
strengths and weaknesses.
 Help students to understand better why they do well/poorly in some
subjects.
 Broaden student’s horizons by suggesting new and expanded career options
consistent with tested abilities.
 Raise the level of occupational aspirations or change their direction.
 Motivate an underachiever by identifying strengths that were unrecognised
or underestimated.
 Supplementing existing achievement data to facilitate admission to
educational courses or apprenticeships.
 For the experience, some courses/careers have similar type tests.
Aptitude
 Tendency
 Natural Ability
 Readiness to Learn
 Personal Strengths/Weaknesses
What is Measured?
 Verbal Reasoning
 Numerical Reasoning
 Abstract Reasoning
 Perceptual Speed and Accuracy
 Mechanical Reasoning
 Space Relations
 Spelling
 Language Usage
 {Educational Aptitude}
Verbal Reasoning
 This test measures the ability to reason with words and

to think logically.
 Important for work involving communicating ideas or
understanding written material.
 Highly important in academic courses.
 Sample Careers/courses; Law, Journalism, Social Work,
Arts, European Studies, Media, P.R., Advertising,
Education….
 Sample subjects; English, History, Languages….
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)
Verbal Reasoning
..… is to water as eat is to ….. ..... is to night as breakfast is to …..

A. continue ----- drive A. supper ----- corner
B. foot ----- enemy B. gentle ----- morning
C. drink ----- food C. door ----- corner
D. girl ----- industry D. flow ----- enjoy
E. drink ----- enemy E. supper ----- morning
….. is to one as second is to …..
A. two ----- middle

B. first ----- fire
C. queen ----- hill
D. first ----- two
E. rain ----- fire
Numerical Reasoning
 Measures the ability to reason with numbers and to deal intelligently

with quantitative measures.
 In order to ensure that the reasoning rather than the computational

facility is stressed, the computational level of the problem is low.
 Sample careers/courses; Finance, Science, Accounting, Banking,

Architecture, Engineering….
 Sample subjects; Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Maths,

Accounting, Economics….
Numerical Ability
Add
A. 8
30 B. 15
20 C. 16
D. 26
N. none of these
Add
A. 14
13 B. 16
12 C. 25
D. 59
N. none of these
Abstract Reasoning
 Non-Verbal/Non-Numerical measure of reasoning power.
 It assesses how well one can reason with geometric

figures or designs.
 Sample careers/courses; Engineer, Doctor, Scientist,

Musician, Software Design, Teacher, Computer
Programmer, Mechanic, Management…
 Sample Subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music,

History, Art…
Abstract Reasoning
PROBLEM FIGURES
ANSWER FIGURES
A B C D E
Abstract Reasoning (cont.)
PROBLEM FIGURES
ANSWER FIGURES
A B C D E
Perceptual Speed & Accuracy
 Measures the ability to compare and mark written lists quickly and
accurately.
 Test items do not call for reasoning skills the emphasis is on speed.
 Important for scientific or technical work where precision is
necessary.
 Sample careers/courses; I.T. Lab. Technician, Office Administration,
Surgeon, Forensics…..
 Sample subjects; Important in all subjects but the main challenge
occurs at examinations.
Example: The following list is given to the
student. The list is then repeated on the
answer sheet. The student is instructed to mark
off the underlined
combination on a separate answer sheet.
A : AB AC AD Ae AF
B : aA aB Ba BA Bb
C : A7 7A B7 7B AB
 Measures the ability to understand basic mechanical

principles of machinery, tools and motion, and the laws
of everyday physics
 Sample careers/courses; Engineer, Mechanic, Electrician,

Technician, Science, Product Design…
 Sample subjects; Physics, Applied Maths…

A B
Which weighs more?

(If equal, mark C.)
Space Relations
 Measures the ability to visualise a three-dimensional

object from a two-dimensional pattern and to visualise
how this object would look if rotated in space.
 Sample careers/ courses; Art, Design, Architecture,

Engineering, Carpentry, Dentistry, Photography, Fashion
Design….
 Sample subjects; Art, Home Economics, Technical

Graphics…
Space Relations
A B C D
Spelling
 Measures ability to spell common English

words.
 This is a basic skill necessary in many

academic and vocational pursuits, especially
in courses requiring written reports.
Example: Which word is not
spelled correctly?
 A: cycle
 B :gurl
 C :arrow
 D :wrote
Language Usage
 Measures the ability to detect errors in grammar,
punctuation and capitalization.
 Sample careers/ courses; Writing, Teaching and almost all

University courses.
 Sample subjects; All subjects, all exams
 Language Usage and Spelling are included in the DAT

because the skills they measure are important in so many
areas of education and work.
Example
 Jason and Carl / will be mowing / the lawn / this Weekend

 A B C D
 E No error
Educational Aptitude
 Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning

combined.
 This score provides the best general measure

of educational aptitude or the ability to learn
from books and Teachers and to perform well
in academic subjects.
Subject Choice
Your choice of subjects should include

those subjects;
 Which are required/necessary to get into your

intended course(s) or career.
 Which you are interested in and prepared to work
at… a particular grade at a particular level may be
required.
 Which suit your particular strengths and talents.
 Which will help you to gain sufficient points to get
into your chosen course.
SCORING
 These two systems are referred to as,
 Percentiles
 Stanine
Percentile
 A percentile score indicates the

percentage of candidates who fall below a
particular raw score.
 A score, which falls at the 65th percentile,

means that an individual’s score is better
than 65% of the students
Stanine
 Stanine scores is a range expressed as a series
of single digits numbers between 1 and 9
 4 to 6 represents an average score.

Percentile scores can be used in
conjunction with stanine score as
outlines below.
Stanine Percentile
Very high 9 97 and above
Above averages 8 90-96
7 78-89
Average 6 59-77
5 42-58
4 23-40
Below average 3 12-22
2 5-11
Very low 1 4 and below
Avoid these ideas!
 None of my friends are doing that

subject; so I’m not doing it.
 Only boys do well in that.
 If I don’t do it for L.C. then I can’t do it
in college.
 Doing 8 subjects will give me a better
chance/more options.
 I’m already good at it so I will not need
to do much work.
Remember aptitude tests do not measure many
other qualities that are vital in successful careers
such as,
DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED
ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE
ENERGY TO WORK LONG HOURS TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES
DETERMINATION TO IDENTIFY AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, AND HONESTY
COMMERCIAL AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTINCT
INITIATIVE, CREATIVITY, AND INVENTIVENESS
ABILITY TO PERSUADE AND MOTIVATE OTHERS
TEAM SPIRIT
LEADERSHIP
ABILITY TO HELP OTHERS SUCCEED
EMPATHY
FORWARD PLANNING
REFUSAL TO ACCEPT DEFEAT
INTRAPERSONAL SKILLS
INTERPERSONAL SKILL
Success is not about
how smart you are,
but how are you
smart*!
 * and it is not usually measurable by a
test.
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The Differential

Designed to measure an individual's ability to learn or to

 This test measures the ability to reason with words and

..… is to water as eat is to ….. ..... is to night as breakfast is to …..

….. is to one as second is to …..

A. two ----- middle

 Measures the ability to reason with numbers and to deal intelligently

 In order to ensure that the reasoning rather than the computational

 Sample careers/courses; Finance, Science, Accounting, Banking,

 Sample subjects; Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Maths,

 It assesses how well one can reason with geometric

 Sample careers/courses; Engineer, Doctor, Scientist,

 Sample Subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music,

Abstract Reasoning (cont.)

 Measures the ability to understand basic mechanical

 Sample careers/courses; Engineer, Mechanic, Electrician,

 Sample subjects; Physics, Applied Maths…

Which weighs more?

 Measures the ability to visualise a three-dimensional

 Sample careers/ courses; Art, Design, Architecture,

 Sample subjects; Art, Home Economics, Technical

 Measures ability to spell common English

 This is a basic skill necessary in many

 Sample careers/ courses; Writing, Teaching and almost all

 Sample subjects; All subjects, all exams

 Language Usage and Spelling are included in the DAT

 Jason and Carl / will be mowing / the lawn / this Weekend

 Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning

 This score provides the best general measure

Your choice of subjects should include

 Which are required/necessary to get into your

 These two systems are referred to as,

 A percentile score indicates the

 A score, which falls at the 65th percentile,

 4 to 6 represents an average score.

 None of my friends are doing that

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