Psychometrics

Assessment Test
Aptitude or Cognitive Test
SAIMA IFTIKHAR – 23704
SABA QAZI – 23708
 NUMERICAL REASONING TEST
Used to identify how you interpret data, often via a
combination of written and statistical information
presented in reports, graphs or charts. This can also
be used to assess basic number crunching abilities.

Answer: A
Complex
Example of
Numerical
Reasoning If Heathrow Airport pledged in January to reduce cancelled
flights by 80% by March, by how many cancelled flights have
they failed to reach this target?
•A) 4
•B) 0
•C) 14
•D) 18 Answer: 14
Verbal Reasoning Test

Verbal reasoning is understanding concepts

framed in words. Verbal reasoning is not about
fluency or vocabulary, but aims at evaluating
one's ability to think constructively. Verbal
reasoning tests provide a fair assessment of an
individual's ability to think, reason and solve
problems in different ways. For that reason,
verbal reasoning tests are often used in school
admission tests and recruitment settings.
Verbal Reasoning Question Types
 The Verbal Reasoning measure contains three
types of questions. Click on the links below to
get a closer look at each, including sample
questions with explanations.

 Reading Comprehension
 Text Completion
 Sentence Equivalence
VERBAL REASONING TEST

READING COMPREHENSION:

questions are designed to test a wide range of abilities that are

required in order to read and understand the kinds of prose commonly
encountered in graduate school. Those abilities include:
 understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences
 understanding the meaning of paragraphs and larger bodies of text
 distinguishing between minor and major points
 summarizing a passage
 drawing conclusions from the information provided
 reasoning from incomplete data to infer missing information
 understanding the structure of a text in terms of how the parts relate
to one another
 identifying the author's assumptions and perspective
 analyzing a text and reaching conclusions about it
 identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position
 developing and considering alternative explanations
READING COMPREHENSION:
 Each Reading Comprehension question is based on a
passage that may range in length from one paragraph
to several paragraphs. The test contains approximately
10 passages, the majority of which are one paragraph
in length and only one or two of which are several
paragraphs long. Passages are drawn from the physical
sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, business,
arts and humanities and everyday topics and are based
on material found in books and periodicals, both
academic and nonacademic.

 Typically, about half of the questions on the test will be

based on passages, and the number of questions based
on a given passage can range from one to six. 
 Example of Reading Comprehension
Green
 A green environment does not necessarily determine people's
sense of happiness: beautiful buildings, a canal through the city
or a harbor environment can generate just as much happiness.
Researchers from the University of Warwick compared 1.5
million ratings given by people to their environment with health
SIMPLE EXAMPLE figures from the United Kingdom. The parts of the country that
received high ratings for how beautiful or scenic they are were
generally not parks or forests. Cities, harbors and places of
architectural interest received higher ratings. Ratings for the
surrounding area were compared to health figures; the places
where people indicated they appreciated the city often scored
better on the health map than the places where people
indicated they appreciated the green environment. According to
the University of Warwick, further research is needed to
substantiate the findings, as they contradict previous research.
For example, Japanese scientists discovered that people who
live close to a park live longer and healthier lives.
READING COMPREHENSION:
Green:
 What is the best environment to live in in order to
be healthier?
 A) close to parks or forests
 B) close to port areas
 C) close to architectural sights
 D) further research is needed
2nd EXAMPLE OF READING COMPREHENSION:
 Lottery
Winning a million dollars in the lottery is a reason for one in five Americans to
stop working immediately. People who win such a prize often choose to pay off
debts and go on vacation. This is the conclusion reached by a bank following
research among more than a thousand Americans. More than half of those
surveyed plan to participate in the lottery this year. Few of them know how small
the chances are of winning the jackpot. Only 4 percent were able to correctly
estimate that the chance of winning the jackpot is between one in four and five
million. When it comes to winning the prize, not everyone would be equally eager
to share that information. Close relatives, such as parents and children, would
still get to hear about it in 90 percent of cases. Other family, friends and
colleagues would hear much less often that there is something to celebrate. This
is often due to the fear of intrusiveness, envy or high expectations. Almost half of
those questioned think that someone aged 45 would never have to work again if
a million dollars were credited to their bank account. The bank warns that those
who stop working have lots of free time, which in turn changes their spending
patterns. Also, a pension would no longer be accrued. More than three out of ten
would hire a financial advisor after winning a million dollars to be able to handle
their new assets smartly.
  What does the bank warn you about?
a) The small chance of winning the jackpot.
b) Intrusiveness or envy of friends and colleagues.
COMPLEX
c) Calling in financial advice.
EXAMPLE OF
d) Stopping work.
READING
COMPREHENSION  How many Americans in the research group were able to correctly
estimate the chances of winning the lottery?
a) about 4
b) about 40
c) about 250
d) about 400

 How many Americans plan to play the lottery this year?

a) one in five
b) three out of ten
c) more than half
d) unknown
 TEXT COMPLETION QUESTIONS
 Skilled readers do not simply absorb the information presented on the page;
instead, they maintain a constant attitude of interpretation and evaluation,
reasoning from what they have read so far to create a picture of the whole
READING and revising that picture as they go. Text Completion questions test this
COMPREHENSION ability by omitting crucial words from short passages and asking the test
taker to use the remaining information in the passage as a basis for selecting
words or short phrases to fill the blanks and create a coherent,
meaningful whole.
 Question Structure
 Passage composed of one to five sentences
 One to three blanks
 Three answer choices per blank (five answer choices in the case of a single
blank)
 The answer choices for different blanks function independently; i.e.,
selecting one answer choice for one blank does not affect what answer
choices you can select for another blank
 Single correct answer, consisting of one choice for each blank; no credit for
partially correct answers
 TEXT COMPLETION QUESTIONS
It is refreshing to read a book about our planet by an author who does not
allow facts to be (i)__________ by politics: well aware of the political
disputes about the effects of human activities on climate and biodiversity,
READING this author does not permit them to (ii)__________ his comprehensive
COMPREHENSION description of what we know about our biosphere. He emphasizes the
enormous gaps in our knowledge, the sparseness of our observations, and
TEXT COMPLETION the (iii)__________, calling attention to the many aspects of planetary
evolution that must be better understood before we can accurately
diagnose the condition of our planet.
Sample Question
Blank (i) Blank (ii) Blank (iii)
(A) overshadowed (D) enhance (G) plausibility of
our hypotheses
(B) invalidated (E) obscure (H) certainty of our
entitlement
(C) illuminated (F) underscore (I) superficiality of
our theories

Answer is Choice A (overshadowed), Choice E (obscure) and Choice I (superficiality

of our theories).
 Text Completion Sample Questions

READING Vain and prone to violence, Caravaggio could not handle

COMPREHENSION success: the more his (i)__________ as an artist increased, the
TEXT COMPLETION more (ii)__________ his life became.

Sample Question.
Blank (i) Blank (ii)
(A) temperance (D) tumultuous
(B) notoriety (E) providential
(C) eminence (F) dispassionate

Thus, the correct answer is Choice C (eminence) and Choice D

(tumultuous).
SENTENCE EQUIVALENCE QUESTIONS

 Like Text Completion questions, Sentence Equivalence

questions test the ability to reach a conclusion about how a
passage should be completed on the basis of partial
information, but to a greater extent they focus on the meaning
of the completed whole. Sentence Equivalence questions
consist of a single sentence with just one blank, and they ask
you to find two choices that lead to a complete, coherent
sentence while producing sentences that mean the same thing.

 Question Structure
 Consists of:
 a single sentence
 one blank
 six answer choices
 Requires you to select two of the answer choices; no credit for
partially correct answers.
 SENTENCE EQUIVALENCE SAMPLE QUESTIONS
 Although it does contain some pioneering ideas, one would hardly
characterize the work as __________.
SENTENCE a. Orthodox
b. Eccentric
EQUIVALENCE c. Original
d. Trifling
e. Conventional
f. innovative
Explanation
 The word "Although" is a crucial signpost here. The work contains
some pioneering ideas, but apparently it is not overall a pioneering
work. Thus the two words that could fill the blank appropriately are
"original" and "innovative." Note that "orthodox" and "conventional"
are two words that are very similar in meaning, but neither one
completes the sentence sensibly.
Thus, the correct answer is Choice C (original) and Choice F
(innovative).
DEDUCTIVE REASONING TESTS
• are used to test the logical problem solving
ability of each candidate.

• Deductive reasoning tests are used to test the

logical problem solving ability of each
candidate. They're a useful part of many job
application processes (often used in addition
to numerical and verbal reasoning tests), and
are particularly seen in jobs of a technical or
engineering nature.

• Accuracy and speed are incredibly important in

tests of deductive reasoning, and you'll be
scored accordingly.
THE MOST COMMON DEDUCTIVE REASONING TESTS USED BY EMPLOYERS
1. SHL VERIFY ABILITY TESTS
 SHL (part of CEB) are the largest test publisher in the UK.
 Their deductive reasoning tests vary slightly in length depending on level:
typically around 22-25 minutes.
 The format involve a variety of slightly different question styles. The first, will be
purely verbal. The premises are a sequence of given sentences.
 The second, will be image driven. The premises may be slightly more abstract or
numerical in nature.
 The third, is identifying the premieses from a block of text.
 SHL's Verify range of tests have the option of a follow-up test in which the
candidate is asked to re-take a shorter version of their first test. This can be used
by the assessor to assess consistency and response patterns, and help identify the
risk that the original test had not been completed by the candidate in question.

2. KENEXA ABILITY TESTS

 Kenexa are part of IBM and are also a large test publisher.
 Their deductive reasoning tests typically consist of 20 questions, where one must
follow the logic of statements in order to deduce the correct answer.
 They are very similar in style to SHL.
 A typical time limit is 20 minutes for 18 questions, but again, this can vary slightly
depending on level of the role.
Q: What is the difference between inductive and deductive
reasoning?
 Inductive logic is different from deductive logic. With deductive
reasoning, possible outcomes are explored and discounted in
order to arrive at the only possible outcome without
contradicting the given premises. Sudoku puzzles are a classic
test of deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is open and
explorative. It examines the applicant's ability to reach general
conclusions based on perceived patterns observed in specific
events. Real-life arguments are often inductive; which is why
employers want to know how good you are at inductive
reasoning.
Q: What will your deductive reasoning test measure?
 Deductive reasoning tests measure logic skills which are useful
for solving problems. They require you to think analytically and
to hold multiple, and perhaps contradictory, variables and in
your head at a given moment. The skills required to do well in an
deductive reasoning test are applicable to many jobs but
particularly applicable to engineering, science and IT.
 INDUCTIVE REASONING TEST
 These require you to identify trends or patterns, typically
using diagrammatic information. An inductive reasoning
test measures abilities that are important in solving
problems. They may also be referred to as abstract
reasoning tests or diagrammatic style tests. These tests
measure the ability to work flexibly with unfamiliar
information and find solutions. People who perform well on
these tests tend to have a greater capacity to think
conceptually as well as analytically.
 Simple Example:

Q2: D; Q3: D
Diagrammatic (Logical) Reasoning Test
These assess your capacity for logical
reasoning, using flowcharts and diagrams

Simple Example:

Answer: F
Diagrammatic (Logical) Reasoning Test
Complex Example:
Q1) Which is the next logical image in the sequence?
 A, B, C, D, E, F

Answer: E
 Problem solving from visual concepts and images.
Abstract reasoning measures your lateral thinking skills
or fluid intelligence, which are your ability to quickly
identify patterns, logical rules and trends in new data,
integrate this information, and apply it to solve
problems.

ABSTRACT Simple Example:

REASONING

Answer: 
  Complex Example of Abstract Reasoning:

ABSTRACT
REASONING

Answer: 
 EASY QUESTION
MECHANICAL
REASONING

Making sound
judgements
using basic
principles of
science and B. Counterclockwise
mechanics
 DIFFICULT QUESTION
MECHANICAL
REASONING

Making sound
judgements
using basic
principles of
science and
mechanics
Answer: B. 2 lb
 EASY QUESTION
SPATIAL ABILITY
Ability to manipulate
2D shapes and
visualize 3D
concepts. To assess
the capacity to think
about objects in three
dimensions and to
draw conclusions
about those objects
from limited
information.
CORRECT ANSWER IS D
 DIFFICULT QUESTION
SPATIAL ABILITY:
Ability to manipulate
2D shapes and
visualize 3D
concepts. To assess
the capacity to think
about objects in three
dimensions and to
draw conclusions
about those objects
from limited
information.
CORRECT ANSWER IS B
 EASY QUESTION
 Analogy Question:
VERBAL
ABILITY
Comfort and skill
with language
e.g. spelling,
grammar,
synonyms,
analogies, written
instructions.
ANSWER IS STATUE
 DIFFICULT QUESTION

VERBAL ABILITY

Comfort and skill

with language
e.g. spelling,
grammar,
synonyms,
analogies, written
instructions.
ANSWER IS ONLY 2
 EASY QUESTION
QUANTITATIVE
ABILITY Average Aptitude
Comfort and skill 1) What is the average of first five multiples of
with numbers e.g. 12?
decimals, A. 36
fractions, B. 38
percentages, C. 40
number D. 42
sequences, basic
arithmetic, charts  Correct Answer is A
and graphs.
 DIFFICULT QUESTION
QUANTITATIVE  Volume and Surface Area Aptitude
ABILITY 2) The surface area of a cube is 600 cm2. The length of its
diagonal is

Comfort and skill

with numbers e.g.
decimals, fractions,
percentages,
number sequences,
basic arithmetic,
Correct Answer is C
charts and graphs.
 STEP I: IDENTIFICATION OF JOB REQUIREMENT:
• Before applying any tool / test to gauge candidate’s mental capacity, we
must know the rational of using it. On the basis of following rational
Rationale for company will select any tools for hiring:

Using Cognitive  COMPETENCIES REQUIREMENT OF THE COMPANY

Ability Tests at Particularly talking about Searle Pharmaceutical; company required following
Searle competencies in employees or in candidates so they are more productive and
require less training:
Pharmaceuticals
• Knowledge: Company required Pharmacist, Chemist, Engineers, MBAs and
Technicians (who have expertise of handling and maintenance of machines).

• Skills: It is acquired learning to perform a job successfully.

General skills required in Searle Pharma are Communication Skill,
Interpersonal Skill, Thinking & Problem Solving Skill, Comprehending
concepts, Abstract thinking, Planning and Organization, Learning Quickly
from Experience, Adapting to Unknown situations, Applying New
Knowledge.
 STEP I: IDENTIFICATION OF JOB REQUIREMENT:
COMPETENCIES REQUIREMENT OF THE COMPANY
Rationale for • Skills:
Using Cognitive • Question arise here, why only these skills required by the company.
Answer is b/c we are Pharmaceutical company having highly competitive
Ability Tests at work environment, chasing out high targets, solving issued related to
Drugs manufacturing processes so employees who are directly involved
Searle in manufacturing process required ability to cope up daily challenges,
Pharmaceuticals should have ability to assess complex situation and take decision on the
basis of abstract information available.

• Abilities: are Observable behaviors needed and other mental

requirements for the job. Company focus on hiring those candidates who
have high level of Integrity, Partnership (Team Building Activities),
Passion, Excellence, Champion of Change, Leadership Skills.

• Other Characteristics: Any other job requirements such as Humility,

Positive Attitude & Reliability.
 STEP II: MAKING A COMPETENCY MODEL
• Competency is a group of skills to complete a job. It’s a
Rationale for guideline developed by recruiters that produce a list of
Using Cognitive requirements related to individual jobs. Specific skill
and behavioral requirements help the employees to
Ability Tests at perform the jobs in a better way. The competency
Searle model clearly defines the criteria for a good individual
performance.
Pharmaceuticals • Following steps to be consider when making
competency Model:
 Validity
 Adverse Impact
 Cost 
 Candidate Reaction
 STEP II: MAKING A COMPETENCY MODEL
Validity- It means the assessment is relevant to the job and can predict employees’
Rationale for performance. It should validate the relationship between the scores obtained in the
assessment and the important outcomes in the job. The test should provide reliable
Using Cognitive evidence that the assessment score is the direct measure of work behavior. 

Ability Tests at Adverse Impact- Adverse impact is another criterion that recruiters should consider
while deciding on the test. Adverse impact is a result of poor hiring practices, and it
Searle signifies an unfair and biased process. The test should not give any disproportionate
Pharmaceuticals results, and it should follow the mandatory standards. For example, if an organization
has a criterion of employing a 40% female workforce, the test should abide by that.

Cost-  Some organizations buy assessment tests, and some build their own. The cost
behind the test varies for both the methods. Buying a test is easy to implement, and it’s
the vendor’s responsibility to host, maintain, and update the tests. Building a test can be
fully customized, but it can be time consuming and expensive.

Candidate Reaction- The design and questions of the tests should allow the candidates
to demonstrate their capabilities relevant to the job. Assessment procedures should be
fair and consistent.
Assessment MethodCandidates’ satisfaction level is another important factor to validate
the tests. Test
Cognitive Validity Adverse Impact Cost Candidate Reaction
Cognitive aptitude assessment fulfills all the criteria to make a valid choice for the
Cognitive Ability Test
recruiters. Favorable
 STEP II: MAKING A COMPETENCY MODEL
SEARLE PHARMA COMPETENCY FRAME WORK

Rationale for Knowledge Skills Abilities

Other
Characteristics
Using Cognitive  Pharm-D  Communication Skill  Integrity  Humility
Ability Tests at  [Link]. (Chemist),  Interpersonal Skill  Partnership  Positive

Searle  [Link]. (Industrial

Chemistry)
 Thinking & Problem Solving
Skill
 Passion
 Excellence
Attitude
 Reliability
Pharmaceuticals  [Link]. (Biotechnology)  Comprehending Concepts  Champion of
 B.E (Electrical /  Abstract Thinking Change
Mechanical / Industrial  Planning and Organization  Leadership
Manufacturing)  Learning Quickly Skills.
 MBA (Management /  Adapting to Unknown
Marketing) and Situations
 DAE / [Link].  Applying New Knowledge
 STEP III: Administering the Cognitive
Rationale for
Ability Tests
Using Cognitive
Ability Tests at
Searle
Numerical Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Deductive Reasoning
Pharmaceuticals

Inductive Reasoning Logical Reasoning