WHY I CHOOSE GRADUATE MONKEY FOR APTITUDE TEST PREPARATION?

Aptitude tests are increasingly preferred worldwide for short-listing candidates for consideration of interviews. These examinations are commonly used by employers and academic institutions for consideration of select jobs or courses, respectively. A key advantage of using these tests owes to the fact that they eliminate candidates who may not meet aptitude or ability requirements of the job and thus saves organisations invaluable time that would otherwise have been spent interviewing a larger number of candidates. Suppose 1000 candidates applied for a job posting, what is the appropriate way of cutting down this number to a manageable size? Short listing involves a trade off. Sometimes in eliminating some applicants, it is possible that the most qualified ones get knocked off and those who do not fit the required profile do make it to the interview.

Aptitude tests serve a dual function: downsizing the number of applicants while enhancing chances of short-listing those who closely fit the requirements of the job. It also provides a transparent way of the selection process, since labour laws worldwide prescribe punitive measures against any forms of discrimination. Job interviews do cost a lot of money to organizations, depending on specific arrangements that organisations have put. For example, some organisations do compensate interviewees for travel, hotel costs and meals. It is highly desirable that the people who make it to the interview are good value for money.

Understandably, this exam is the game changer for the vast majority of applicants. It is referred to using such analogies as the guillotine, the hangman, the sieve, hurdle and chopping board. It is important that applicants for jobs prepare sufficiently for aptitude tests. Luckily, innovative tools are available to support candidates, and these can easily be accessed on the internet. One such tool is the Graduate Monkey, hosted on thewww.graduatemonkey.com website.  This interactive site offers several aptitude tests preparation packages at only a fraction of an average graduate salary for a 4 month period. I highlight some of the practice tests offered here and thereafter, reasons why I would choose it for my preparation.

Some of the tests include:

1. SHL numerical reasoning: this test enhances one’s chance of passing mathematical tests. It consists of a set of 18 questions, to be done within 25 minutes. It exposes users to diverse data contexts thereby readying them for any questions that could prove tough in the real test.

Abstract (Logical) Reasoning (SHL and Kenexa style): Also called Logical reasoning tests, these are part of non-verbal tests because they rely on “visual presentations of problems and their solutions”. Candidates study a series of patterns, identify the change of these patterns, and consequently predict the next pattern in the sequence.  These tests are also called diagrammatic tests and their main aim is to assess a candidate’s ability of diagrammatic reasoning. Test content could also be in the form of signs or symbols, called operators. These operators dictate how the next sequence ought to change. A key advantage of these tests is that they do not require any prior knowledge or language skills.

These tests can be purchased as single packages or under one consolidated pack. The consolidated pack comes at only £59 and it offers a significant saving to graduates. These arrangements therefore offer candidates flexibility in payment and materials access.

Various aptitude test preparation packages are used in preparing candidates. These include an aptitude test guide, aptitude test tutorials,consisting of aptitude test tutorial videos. They help candidates consolidate knowledge, improve speed and build up their confidence confidence. The films feature animations to provide visual insights on how some things work.  In addition to these are aptitude test e-books.  These contain explicit notes on how to solve various problems, and key shortcuts that would help save time.  Furthermore, practice aptitude tests and practice reasoning tests are offered to enhance exposure, help candidates in self-timing and boosting confidence that is requisite in scoring high on the real test.

Past users of these tests strongly recommend this site, with over 2,000 likes on the Facebook page alone and nearly 100,000 views on a recently launched YouTube channel. These platforms would enhance the site’s visibility to other potential users and hopefully add the numbers of users. A key advantage of this site is that the tests can be done anywhere, any time and the subscription rates are very affordable. Unlike other aptitude tests that offer only one aspect of tests for example numerical only, this site does offer an all round exposure and therefore one needs not go from site to site trying to gain various exposures.

Jobs are really hard to come by. The available ones are very competitive and therefore there is a need to prepare sufficiently for the “guillotine”. The technological advancements and rising costs of doing business favour efficient, accountable recruitment processes. Failing to plan is planning to fail, so the mantra goes.