If there’s one thing the human brain is good at is identifying patterns… I mean, the human brain can do more than identify a face on the cheesy surface of the moon but you get my point. Pattern recognition is the basis of abstract reasoning tests and so recent graduates are well on their way to doing well.
If that isn’t reassuring enough in this article we'll discuss what a psychometric test even is, what you can expect from an abstract reasoning test, and five simple steps to prepare yourself for your upcoming test.
What is a psychometric test?
Psychometric tests are designed to use a scientifically reasoned method to test candidates on cognitive ability, problem solving, personality traits, and general knowledge at an early stage of the hiring process.
By using these tests to see if candidates are a good fit for the available position and company they help the hiring manager narrow down applicants.
Psychometric tests may not be something a recent graduate has had to do before, you may even have misconceptions about what they’ll be like, but there are five easy steps you can do to prepare for your abstract reasoning test.
Step 1: Become familiar with what to expect
Abstract reasoning tests assess your ability to identify patterns, logical rules, and trends in data independent of your prior knowledge. Through these tests employers get a better understanding of your ability to be analytical and problem solve. But what do these tests look like?
You can expect to see a series of patterns where you need to choose from a multiple choice. The question might be what completes the sequence or which pattern is the odd one out.
Unlike other types of psychometric tests, abstract reasoning tests are often timed to assess your speed and accuracy. While this might seem intimidating, bringing to mind timed maths questions in primary school, with practice it doesn’t have to be.
Step 2: Practice is key for abstract reasoning tests
More so than many other psychometric tests, practice is key to excel at abstract reasoning. This is because the principles behind these tests don’t change year to year. According to the Institute of Psychometric Coaching most of these tests exist for 10 to 20 years allowing for quality practice tests to be developed.
Practice will also make you familiar with the types of questions you might see and what they’re asking for. You’ll also become more confident in recognising common patterns or trends across questions the more you practice.
Step 3: Learn how to read the questions
When looking at an abstract reasoning test question it’s all too easy to start guessing what the answer is but there is a better way. Resist the urge to start guessing it’s the repetition in the shapes, or the number or sides, or the colour? Instead be systematic about it.
EU Training recommends a three step process that demonstrates the systematic way of thinking that is excellent for this style of test.
Inventory: Look at what the question is made of, the different building blocks of it (shape, colour, number of sides, etc.) and take mental note before you start trying to work out the solution.
Rules: Now that you understand the building blocks of the question you’re able to start deducing the rules. Look at how the different thing you identified relate to one another and change over the set.
Elimination: Now you can use your rule to remove answers that couldn’t be right from the multiple choice until you find the correct one. Or, if all else fails, you should be in a good position to make an educated guess!
Step 4: Look out for red herrings
Abstract reasoning test questions are made up of many elements but not all of them will be relevant, some of them are just there for the challenge. Distractors can slow down your problem solving but are best overcome with more practice. Noticing things like when colour is being used as a red herring or is important comes with time and… yes more practice! But it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Step 5: Stay calm, be rested, and don’t worry
While each day coming up to your abstract reasoning test practice is important that changes the night before. While it might be tempting to stay up late continuing to practice patterns again and again it will stop being effective. Instead of staying up, get some sleep. Being well rested, calm, and confident that your practice will pay off may give you a leg up over other recent graduates going for the same position.