Tips for doing well Psychometric and aptitude tests

Psychometric testing has been used by employers for many years. These tests assess your abilities in a number of ways, from practical skills and competencies such as verbal and numerical reasoning, to technical tests, as well as assessments that reveal the characteristics of your personality, your emotional intelligence, strengths, weaknesses and working style.

If you have been invited to an assessment centre or to take an online test, these tips will help you prepare.

• Practise aptitude tests beforehand if you're not used to taking these tests. Many are timed, which can add to the stress.
• It’s not possible to practice for a personality test, but answer the questions truthfully and don’t 'second-guess' what the test is looking for.
• Try not to let nerves prevent you from listening carefully to any verbal instructions.
• Ask any questions you have before the test starts.
• Leave more difficult questions until last.
• Work quickly while maintaining accuracy.
• Remember it's the number of questions you get right that counts. There's no point in finishing but getting all the answers wrong.