What is an Aptitude Test?: Components, Examples, & Tips

An essential part of the interview process is an aptitude test. When you apply for a job, the test allows the employer to determine if you are the right fit. But what is an aptitude test? This blog will discuss the aptitude test meaning, its components, examples, and tips to ace the test comfortably.

Aptitude Test Definition

Aptitude is the innate ability of a person to excel in a specific task or activity. But what is an aptitude test? An aptitude test is an examination to analyze an individual’s ability or potential to succeed in a given activity. The objective of the test is to predict if an individual can perform a task or learn something if provided with proper instruction and education.

You will find aptitude tests useful when you want to know your academic potential and what career will suit you. Some organizations use aptitude tests to understand the strengths and weaknesses of potential hires during the hiring process. So, if you have applied for jobs in Pune or any other city or are going to apply for one, you can expect an aptitude test. If you wish to improve your interview skills, you can refer to an online interview preparation course.

Components of General Aptitude Test

The composition of this test changes according to the purpose, but a general aptitude test usually consists of the following components or sections:

• Logical Reasoning: The section tests your ability to make logical connections and understand the sequence between given patterns, diagrams, or figures.
• Numerical Skills: The section tests your ability to perform basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication) and mathematical operations (percentage and ratio). 
• Verbal Ability: The section tests your comprehension and language skills, including grammar and vocabulary.

Intelligence Test vs Aptitude Test

Sometimes, you cannot help but wonder if an aptitude test is an intelligence test. The answer is no. Aptitude tests are different from intelligence tests. Here are some differences between the two:

• Aptitude tests analyze the ability of an individual for a specific domain rather than a wider one, like the intelligence test. 
• Age is also not a factor considered while designing aptitude tests as it is testing ability and not intelligence. But age is an essential factor kept in mind while designing intelligence tests.
• A major difference between the two tests is that while intelligence tests measure the innate cognitive ability an individual has at present, the aptitude test aims to assess the potential application of your skills in the future.

Common Aptitude Tests

Here are some examples of national and international common aptitude tests:

• Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT) is a test taken by the candidates applying for the flying branch of the Indian Air Force, Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. It assesses the ability of a candidate to train as a pilot.
• Bank Teller Aptitude Test is an aptitude test for job in the banking sector that analyzes the candidate’s ability to handle financial transactions and customer service.
• The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is an aptitude test for students to analyze whether they can attend college or university. It is used to make admissions decisions.
• Design Aptitude Test (DAT) analyzes a student’s ability to take a design course in various fields such as fashion design, graphic design, interior design, communication design, etc.
• Teacher Aptitude Test (TAT) analyzes the ability of a candidate to fulfill the responsibilities of a teacher.

Aptitude Test Example Questions

Here are some example questions you find in an aptitude test. 

1. Verbal Reasoning: If we consider the first two statements as true. Is the third statement correct? 
   • Fantasy Farm’s cows are white.
   • All white animals are kind.
   • Fantasy Farm’s cows are unkind.
2. Critical Thinking: Everyone suffering from the chemical disaster has led to physical and neurological diseases in victims. Mr. A developed a deformed knee and Miss B suffered from severe migraine.
   Proposed assumption: Mr. A and Miss B encountered health issues because they could not come to terms with the disaster. 
   • Conclusion follows
   • Conclusion does not follows
3. Numerical Ability: A person is running at the speed of 60km/hr. How much time will it take for him to cross 400 meters of a track?
   • 104 sec
   • 96 sec
   • 110 sec
   • 100 sec
4. Logical Reasoning: Complete the series. FAG, GAF, HAI, IAH, ?
   • HAK
   • JAK
   • JAI
   • HAL
5. Grammar Test: Today I ______ to the market because I wanted to buy some oranges.
   • Will go
   • Went
   • Was going
   • Have gone
6. Design Aptitude Test: The Lamborghini logo represents which zodiac sign?
   • Libra
   • Leo
   • Aries
   • Taurus
7. Teaching Aptitude: Which educational theory emphasizes the importance of scaffolding?
   • Social Learning Theory
   • Zone of Proximal Development
   • Self-determination Theory
   • Classical Conditioning
8. Non-Verbal Reasoning: Find the odd one out of the following images.
9. Situational Test: At the sales meeting you find yourself in the midst of a conflict between the manager and your team leader. They are arguing about their respective strategies to be implemented and asking everyone to pick sides. What will you do?
   • You choose your team leader.
   • You choose the manager.
   • You do not wish to be in a difficult situation so you refuse to pick sides.
   • You analyze the disadvantages and advantages of their strategies and select accordingly.
10. Spatial Reasoning: Which 3D shape can be made from the 2D diagram given here. (There will be a 2D diagram and four options of possible 3D shapes.)

Also Read: Aptitude Questions with Answers.

Tips to Ace Aptitude Test

An aptitude test is usually a strictly timed, multiple choice question (MCQ) based test conducted in exam-like conditions, either offline or online. Here are some practical tips you can use to ace an aptitude test in an interview.

• Research About the Test: Remember that not all aptitude tests are the same and may vary depending upon the domain. Therefore, research the format and questions according to the job you are applying for. Understanding the format helps you identify the areas you need to work on. 
• Practice Daily: Practice is a must in any test, therefore prepare through mock interviews. The more you practice, the more comfortable you are with the format, questions, and the time taken to complete the test. Besides, practice tests let you understand your strong and weak areas and work towards improving your performance in that. You can take a practice test online to analyze your performance.
• Time-Management: Tests like these require good time management skills. Therefore, plan your strategy ahead of the exam and stick to it while answering the questions. You can answer the easy questions first to save time and then move to the difficult ones.
• Read The Instructions Carefully: A common mistake several candidates make is not reading the instructions before the test. It can lead to you missing out on details or answering questions incorrectly. Therefore, before you begin your test, ensure you read all the instructions carefully to answer the test questions accordingly. 
• Be Confident: Whenever you answer a question, be confident because the more unsure you become of an answer, the more likely you are to get anxious in the next questions. So think carefully and attempt questions with confidence.
• Be Wary of the Tricky Questions: The test may contain questions reformulated as different questions. It is so to analyze whether you are taking the test seriously. Read the questions carefully, and if there are ones with the same intent, provide similar answers to maintain consistency.

These were some tips for the aptitude test. If you want quick tips to ace an interview, you can refer to this interview cheat sheet.

Conclusion

Now, you know what is aptitude test. It provides a perspective on your ability and its compatibility with the job you have applied for. It is different from an intelligence test. Rather than solving questions, it analyzes them to provide an answer. The tips given above will help you excel in your aptitude test and showcase your potential to the recruiter.

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