Psychometric Tests: What to Expect on the Day

Some recruiters will invite you to attend a training or recruitment centre to take a psychometric test. Psychometric test expert Mike Bryon has some advice on how to ensure it all goes smoothly.

Don’t be late! And dress smartly

You are likely to be one of many candidates attending that day. If you are to undertake a physical test as well as written papers, then you may need to bring along sports clothes and shoes; you may be expected to attend for most of the day.

Turn up prepared to work very hard indeed

Doing well in any test is not simply a matter of intelligence or ability. Hard work and determination play a big part too. If at the end of the day you do not feel completely exhausted, then you may not have done yourself justice. So go for it.

Expect to attend on the day able to adopt the right mental approach

The candidates that do best are not usually the ones who are fearful or who feel resentment about having to take a test. The winning approach is one in which you attend looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity it represents. You are there to demonstrate your abilities and prove to the organization that you are a suitable candidate.

Turn up fully prepared

Having spent many hours practising for the test, ready to take full advantage of your strengths and having addressed any areas of weakness.

Listen carefully to the instructions provided

Especially before a test begins. You may well be feeling nervous and this may affect your concentration, so make yourself focus on what is being said. Much of the information will be a repeat of the test description sent to you with the letter inviting you to the test, so read and reread this document before the day of the test.

Keep track of the time during the test

And manage how long you spend on any one question. You must keep going right up to the end. Aim to get the balance right between speed and accuracy. It is better that you risk getting some questions wrong but attempt every question rather than double-check each answer and be told to stop because you have run out of time. Practice can really help develop this skill.

If you hit a difficult set of questions don’t lose heart

Keep going- everyone gets some questions wrong. You may find that you come next to a set of questions in which you can excel.

Educated guessing is well worth a try

If you are unsure of an answer to a multiple-choice question, then look at the suggested answers and try ruling some out as wrong. This way you can reduce the number of suggested answers from which to guess and hopefully increase your chances of guessing correctly.