Psychometric examinations are commonly employed in business schools, engineering colleges, and some universities. In addition, they are widely used to select candidates for short-term technical diploma programmes. Because of the increased interest in such tools, their use will grow significantly in the next few years. In the United States, for example, not a single university does not utilize them.
The majority of French institutions utilize them for their admission exams, but schools are increasingly embracing them for curriculum assistance.
What does a psychometric test measure?
Psychometric tests can assess interests, personality, and aptitude. Interest tests assess how people differ in their motivation, values, and attitudes regarding their interests. Personality tests assess how people differ in their style or method of accomplishing things, as well as how they interact with their surroundings and others. Aptitude exams assess how individuals differ in their ability to accomplish or complete various activities. Psychometric exams are frequently utilized as part of the recruitment process. Employers utilize them to obtain insight into a candidate’s talents and personality, which can be more objective, dependable, and scientifically valid than a traditional interview.
Psychometric tests are becoming more common, especially in large firms where senior management may be separated from the recruitment process but still wants to guarantee certain criteria are reached when hiring new personnel. Psychometric exams are divided into two categories: personality and career tests, and aptitude and skills tests.
Personality and Career Tests
These will consider areas such as:
- Thinking, feeling, and acting styles in various situations; – Interpersonal, conflict, and leadership styles; – Stress management patterns.
- Interests – how much do you enjoy carrying out different types of activities at work?
- Motivation refers to the energy you bring to your work and the situations that influence it. Work values refer to the factors that make work meaningful to you.
Aptitude and Skills Tests:
These tests are intended to assess a candidate’s unique talents. They try to provide an employer with an objective assessment of a candidate’s talents in areas like:
- Verbal reasoning is the critical examination of written information and reading comprehension.
- Numerical reasoning refers to the logical interpretation of numerical and statistical information.
- Abstract, mechanical, or spatial reasoning refers to pattern recognition, logic, and how rapidly a candidate can acquire and master a new activity.
Advantages of Psychometric Testing:
Psychometric testing can help make personnel and career assessments more objective.
These exams also save a significant amount of time. They are usually simple to administer and can be distributed to a large group of people.
Psychometric tests are very simple to grade, resulting in quick and consistent findings.
Many of these tests are administered via software applications, and some can even be taken online. Again, this saves time and can considerably cut expenses when compared to alternative ways.
People can take the exams from anywhere, and the results are accurate every time.
Tools for Selection
Institutions generally employ psychometric tests to choose students. Test types vary, but the most popular are IQ tests, English language exams, and general knowledge assessments. However, some institutions also give personality assessments, emotional intelligence exams, career orientation tests, and even critical thinking examinations. Some schools also order tests on demand based on their area of expertise tattoophreaks
In terms of aptitude exams, each institution may have its own cut-off score below which no student may be allowed. Personality tests and orientation tests, on the other hand, are used to supplement the interview process. The results are then discussed with the candidate and eventually used to make the final decision.
Tools for Curriculum Support
Some schools give language tests, emotional intelligence assessments, and personality tests at various stages throughout the program. “This allows students and their professors to supervise the student’s progress and to better identify areas that need improvement” , Céline Jouffray, the lecturer, says.
Another excellent way for young people is to provide personality tests at the end of the program to prepare them for the workplace. Some major business schools, in fact, administer exams such as the Professional Profile-R to help their students determine their strengths and areas of interest. As a result, these young graduates gain a greater knowledge of their goals and their worth. As a result, they will appear structured and confident, and they will be better prepared.
Undermining EQ and critical thinking tests.
Schools that train future managers tend to place a greater emphasis on English language tests or IQ testing, particularly in engineering schools. However, critical thinking and emotional intelligence are increasingly just as crucial as IQ testing for these profiles.
Indeed, the critical thinking test assesses one’s ability to analyze and make decisions. The emotional intelligence exam assesses the ability to comprehend and control one’s own and others’ emotions. It is recommended that schools that train future executives do not overlook these two components since not only do companies value them during recruitment, but these are also abilities required to succeed in managing roles.
Evaluate the English language level.
In the corporate sector, proper English knowledge and communication skills are required. This is especially true today that the SMS generation’s written English is decreasing, with a greater emphasis placed on “SMS LINGO”. This test is recommended for institutions that have challenges with their students’ English proficiency, whether for selection or evaluation during a course.
Use a proctored setting in the event of a selection process.
The issue of cheating does not arise in the case of personality tests because there are no correct or incorrect answers, but this is not the case with IQ or general knowledge examinations. In fact, cheating is always possible if the student takes the test at home: all of our tests can be performed online, and automatic results are available immediately. However, for greater efficiency, we recommend that you observe your students during these tests, as when a student takes the test from home, they can readily seek advice from those nearby on how to complete these skill-based tests.
Online psychometric tests for students can reduce your workload and evaluate your students just as perfectly. Mercer | Mettl offers an online platform to assess the personality of the students and evaluates as per standards.
