How to Pass Graduate Recruitment Tests?

So you’re fresh out of school and applying for the job you’ve spent the last few years studying and preparing for. You’ve got the lambskin diploma to back you up. But you’re not out of the woods yet.

Because as it turns out, as you start applying to a graduate job, many of your employers are going to require something from you as a graduate recruit – a graduate recruitment test or, a company aptitude test.

Typically, aptitude tests are meant to test you on a variety of topics that your employer feels you’ll need when you take on the job you’re applying for. One of the most common types of tests you’ll be taking- the SHL reasoning test– comes with a variety of sections, including ones that covernumerical reasoning, logical reasoning, abstract reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning. You might also be expected to complete the Saville reasoning test – which covers a wide variety of logical reasoning questions.

In short, your employer wants to make sure that you’ve got a basic handle on all the skills and smarts that the job requires. And for many employers, aptitude tests are almost like you’re being slotted on the first day of the job – all without clocking you in. It’s an easy way to know for sure if you’re the right person for the position.

With how important recruitment aptitude tests can be, it’s imperative to make sure that you’ve got a good handle on the material involved. And if you remember anything from your days back in university, you understand the importance of studying and preparing yourself for all kinds of exams. Aptitude test preparation is of utmost importance.

The number of questions varies from test to test. For example, the typical SHL numerical reasoning exam might have anywhere from 18 questions while an inductive reasoning exam might have about 24 questions. Chances are, you’ll have anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to complete each exam and answer test questions, depending on how many questions it has and the subject matter.

Before you take your exam, it helps to have a good night’s sleep and a well-rounded breakfast. These aptitude tests may be shorter than your midterms and final exams back at university were, but they’re no less important. After all, how well you do on an aptitude test might affect whether or not a prospective employer will want to hire you.

There’s a ton of resources out there designed to help you feel better prepared for taking recruitment aptitude tests. For one, there are recruitmentGraduate Monkey test tutorials that will help guide you step by step through various aptitude tests. Websites like aptutorial,Graduatemonkey.com and jobtestprep.co.uk have video tutorials designed to give you a good idea of what to expect when you take the exam.

There are also numerous websites out there that offer aptitude test preparation material, workbooks, and even practice tests to help you hone your skills.

Graduate Monkey, for instance, offers aptitude test preparation guides on a 4-month subscription basis. They also offer free recruitment test tutorials and videos designed to give you a good idea of what to expect and help you optimize your chances of finding your ideal career.

Well, you’ve got the resources. So what do you do?

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your test. Cramming for your aptitude test in only one night before you take it won’t do you any favors.

Give yourself ample study time.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to take lots of notes and highlights passages- pick yourself up an aptitude test preparation work book. Then you can mark all the passages you need to and highlight any terms that you need to focus on.

Taking a practice test, whether that’s online or in a workbook, will do wonders for helping you prepare for the kinds of questions that will be asked on the aptitude test. Pay attention to any kinds of questions you had trouble with or got wrong- you’ll want to make sure you have a better understanding of these kinds of questions when you go to take your aptitude test.

When you’re testing for the aptitude exam, there are a few things to keep in mind.

For one, don’t leave questions unanswered. Most aptitude exams are multiple choice. If you’re confused about a question and you’re not sure what the answer is, sometimes it’s okay to guess the answer on the test, unless you’re told otherwise.

And when your aptitude test is scored, what tends to happen is, employers won’t take into account your complete score but instead how well you measure up to other applicants and people with similar backgrounds to you.

So when you take an aptitude test, it is key that you prepare yourself so you’re better able to ace the exam. After all, the best employee is a well prepared one, whether that’s on the job or while you’re testing.