Survival Guide: Taking Psychometric Tests

Here are a few tips for when you're sitting in an exam hall, about to take a psychometric test:

Listen carefully

When you are taking psychometric tests, or any sort of test for that matter, you must listen very carefully to the test administrator's instructions. Pay particular attention to what they say about the end of the test. Unlike academic exams, the administrator may not be allowed to warn candidates that time's nearly up.

Ask questions first

If there is anything about the test instructions you do not understand, or you have any other problem at all, then the time to ask is before it starts. Once the clock is ticking no interruptions will be allowed.

Check out the paper

Instead of plunging straight into the test, have a quick look though the paper so you can see what you're up against. Is there a separate answer sheet? How many questions are there? How many different sections? Plenty of people have sat smugly in an exam room congratulating themselves on their speed only to discover, right at the last minute, that they've missed the last page.

Pace yourself

Pacing yourself is all about working through the paper at the right speed. Too fast and your accuracy will suffer. Too slow and you'll run out of time.

Once you've looked at the test paper, try to estimate how much time you have to answer each question, for example 50 questions in 25 minutes equals 30 seconds each. Once you've done this you'll know that after 10 minutes you should have tackled around 20 questions, and after 20 minutes you should have tackled around 40 questions and so on. As you work through the paper, check your progress from time to time. This should ensure you never get too far behind, and also reassure you that you're doing OK.

Some people even advise scribbling the desired 'finish time' for each section right there on the test paper to remind you to check the clock as you work through the test. Note: Sometimes the ability-type tests get harder as you go along, so consider leaving more time for the later questions.

One tricky situation that can occur is when you come up against a question that you simply cannot answer. If you only have around 30 seconds per question, you can see that spending 10 minutes on one of them is a bad idea. So if you get stuck, don't give yourself a hard time, simply give it up and move on. If you make a tiny mark next to the unanswered question (or ring the question number) you'll be able to see at a glance which questions still need tackling. If you have any time at the end, you can go back and try again.

Read the questions

Read each question carefully so you know exactly what information you are being asked for. This might sound totally obvious, but when you're under stress it's very tempting to rush and not bother to check what you're being asked to do. Many people are so used to scanning through chunks of text at high speed, they find reading every single word with concentration incredibly difficult. So slow down and concentrate.

Work through the questions in order

Some people skip through test papers looking for questions they know they'll be able to answer easily. The trouble with this is that it wastes time, it's better to work through the paper in order.

Record your answers as instructed

Psychometric tests usually come in a multiple-choice format. This means you will be given four or five possible answer choices for each question. Once you have decided which is the correct one, mark the corresponding box or circle on the answer sheet accordingly. An example of how to do this will usually given at the beginning of the paper.

It is vitally important that you follow these directions precisely. If you are asked to fill in the box or circle, fill it in completely. Don't just make a little squiggle inside it, or tick it or put a cross through it.

Most psychometric tests are marked either by computers using a technique called optical marking, or the test administrators using an 'answer grid' which they lay over the answer sheet.

Either way, if you record your answers in the correct way, the computer (or test administrator) will be able to 'read' them. If you don't, you'll lose points - even if your answers are correct.

Concentrate

Many people find it difficult to concentrate intensely for long periods of time. It isn't easy to block out everything around you and work non-stop for up to an hour without a break.

Even if you are working in a quiet room without disturbance, your mind can start to play tricks on you. I find that I begin well but after a few minutes my mind starts to wander.

The best way to combat this is to take a very short break. Sit up straight, shut your eyes and take two or three long slow breaths.

Use tried and tested exam techniques

Try to work out the correct answer before looking at any of the answer choices. That way, even if you can't come up with a definite answer, you'll be able to make an educated guess.
Narrow your choices by immediately eliminating answers you can see are incorrect.
If you think a question could be a 'trick' question, think again. Psychometric tests are always straightforward, there are never questions intended to deceive. It could be that you're reading too much into the question; instead try to take it at face value.
Only change your answer if you are absolutely sure you have answered incorrectly.
First answers are usually the correct ones.
Keep working through the paper at a steady pace, keeping an eye on the clock.

Don't panic

You're almost out of time and you've got that horrible sinking feeling that says, 'Help! I'm not going to finish!' - don't panic. Instead, reassure yourself with these facts:

You don't have to score 100% to pass. In fact, many organisations set the 'pass' level of their psychometric tests as low as 50%. The whole point of the test is to eliminate candidates who are totally hopeless, so they can concentrate on the rest of you.
Many ability-type tests are not designed to be finished in the time set. Giving you more questions than you can reasonably cope with in the allotted time is a deliberate ploy. Taking a psychometric test is meant to be stressful! Afterwards, if any of the other candidates boast about finishing 15 minutes ahead of the rest of the room - they're probably lying.
Finally, remember that if you are taking a personality test - there are no wrong answers. With a maths test there is definitely a right and a wrong answer, but with a personality test there isn't any such thing.