Hello everyone,
I have a psychometric test for a job I applied for & I'm needing some advice.
The thing I'm worried about the most is the numeracy , I'm ok at maths - not A level - just ok. I did some test papers that came through on the confirmation email & I found it very hard. It's not for a supervisor/management role, it's a good job, but nothing that needs a degree in quantum physics or mathematics!!!!
I'm just asking for some advice since I've never had to do one.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Are you talking about a psychometric test or an aptitude test. I don't think that there would be maths questions in a psychometric test.

If it is an aptitude test then the questions should be a range from easy to difficult. If they were all easy then you wouldn't be able to distinguish between people since most of them would get close to 100%.

A really good test would enable an employer to identify applicants who are under skilled as well as those who are over skilled. If you had a physics degree then you might not be the right person for this job.

I was under the impression that a psychometric test includes numeracy aswell as mechanical reasoning , literature etc...
It's 3 hours long!! I hope it goes well.

Some do and some don't - they come in a wide variety of flavours.


That's simply absurd ...... unless you are applying for a job in air traffic control which requires intense concentration for extended periods.

There is often 3 types of tests

Psychometric - just finds out what personality type you are - easy to do just don't over think plus there will be "opposite" questions to double up the answers.
"Which are you most like" then "Which are you least like" with the same choices but gramatically opposite so "open minded" in the first list would be "closed minded" in the second list

Reasoning - is just tests that make sure you understand tasks

Maths is generally more questions than you have time for.

Just go at your own pace, some people rush and charge through it - so cannot be taking the time to get the right answers.

The tests I have done were designed so you could not possibly finish them in the time allowed - so the rule is don't panic.

Not sure how these are scored but they may take marks off for wrong answers so rushing and putting anything down would actually lower your score maybe.

It's probably best to avoid working for employers who believe in selecting people by what is only one step removed from selection by horoscope. It usually means they have a nervous recent graduate in HR who is bull$hitting equally clueless senior management into accepting that it's the new-fangled, modern thing to do.

The test is today, I'm going straight from work so I'll be in my work gear, hope that doesn't go against me!
It's not the be all and end all as I'm currently employed , it's the thought of being in an exam environment that's making me a bit nervous - with questions that I may struggle with.

Good luck - but please try not to worry about it

I think these tests are basically to see if your face fits the organisation, regardless of ability,

They tell you there are "no right and wrong answers" but that's all hooey, if you're a corporate yes sir no sir sort of person then hooray for you but any scrap of individuality and you'll get the "sorry, on this occasion..." letter

Be yourself. Answer truthfully, not what you think they are looking for. If you get it, well done but if not, good for you for not letting yourself be pigeon holed or labelled

Interviews are just as much for you to interview them too - you're going to spend a lot of time at work so it's got to suit you as much as you suit them.

I took one once but it was just for a laugh. I think I turned out to be a tree.