Preparation

Recruitment tests are often used by employers as part of the selection process. They can also help you identify your strengths and abilities, and assess your suitability for particular careers or occupations.

These are sometimes known as psychometric, aptitude, cognitive, ability or intelligence tests. The most common tests assess your abilities in the areas of verbal and numerical reasoning.

Abstract or diagrammatic reasoning tests may also be used to assess your logic and visual thinking skills.

Watch the Careers Service's online masterclass presentation on recruitment tests.  To view the presentation with subtitles, click the CC button in the player below. You can also view a full screen version. 

Tips for success when taking recruitment tests

• Try out the type of aptitude tests used by many employers - see practice tests to have a go
• Reach the test location in good time, well-rested and in a positive frame of mind
• Take the time to work through any practice questions, before the test itself begins
• Try to be aware of the time as you work through the questions – work out before the test starts roughly how much time you have for each question and try to work quickly and accurately
• Don't spend too long on a question that you are struggling with, but don't abandon a question prematurely if you are close to solving it
• Avoid wild guessing, in some tests marks are taken off for incorrect answers

Help with numeracy skills

For help with numeracy skills, Maths-Aid at the University have practice tests and resources to help you refresh your maths skills. You can also get free one-to-one help from tutors in the Maths-Aid drop-in centre in the Marjorie Robinson Library. You can find more details including opening hours on the Maths-Aid website.

Additional support can also be found on the Library's Academic Skills Kit (ASK) website, with help and advice on maths, numeracy and statistics.  See also mathcentre, for a range of self-study resources including video tutorials, workbooks and online practice exercises.

BBC Bitesize includes tests and revision material for GCSE level maths, or for tips on taking a numerical reasoning test, visit the Assessment Day website.

Further information

The following websites provide further information about recruitment assessments and how to prepare for them:

• TARGETjobs
• Assessment Day – includes tips and advice and free practice tests
• Prospects tests and exercises: psychometric tests
• Realise Potential: FAQs – information and advice on taking tests

Accessibility

The time allowed in these assessments can be limited. Students with some disabilities might find this particularly challenging.

You may want to share with a potential employer that you have a disability if you think a recruitment test is going to disadvantage you. Companies should be able to make alternative reasonable adjustments if given enough notice.

You can discuss in confidence whether you should share information about a disability with one of our careers consultants. Free advice is also available from EmployAbility.

Practice Tests

Here you can find links to online practice tests and a list of reference books available within the Careers Service.

Graduates First online practice tests

Graduates First offer a range of recruitment tests and advice on preparing for job assessments, including step-by-step guides to over 100 graduate employer's recruitment stages and hints on how to pass their assessment process.

Visit the Newcastle University portal on Graduates First to access the following free online practice tests and video interviews. Click on the links below to find out more about the different tests and how to prepare - see 'To register' below to access the free practice tests. 

• 10 verbal reasoning tests
• 15 numerical reasoning tests
• 15 logical reasoning tests
• 2 situational judgement tests (SJT)
• 3 game-based assessments
• 12 video interviews, including a competency-based, a strength-based and 10 industry-specific interviews
• Watson-Glaser critical thinking test
• work style personality questionnaire
• interview question Identifier tool

You can also find information and examples of assessment centre activities, including case study and in-tray exercises. 

To register:

• go to the Newcastle University Graduates First portal
• register using your Newcastle email address (@ncl.ac.uk) and complete the registration form in full
• if you have a disability that could affect your performance on the tests (eg dyslexia), you can request additional time (25%) when registering

You should receive an email providing you with a link to confirm your email address, and then you’re ready to start your practice tests. If you don't receive an email after registering, please check in the Clutter folder of your Newcastle email account.

If you're a Newcastle graduate of the last 3 years, please contact us on MyCareer by clicking on the Resources tab to submit your query. Please include with your full name, email address and degree title and we'll create an account for you. Please also let us know if you require additional time for the tests. We aim to register you within 3 working days of receiving your email.

To use the tests:

Login to the Newcastle University Graduates First portal with the username and password you created.

You'll receive a detailed report immediately after you have completed each test, which will include advice on your strengths, areas for development and how to improve your performance.

If you have any technical problems with the tests, please contact Graduates First at enquiry@graduatesfirst.com. The Careers Service will not be able to help with any technical issues. 

Additional example tests and advice

• SHL – widely used by UK graduate employers, provides assessment advice and practice tests including verbal and numerical reasoning, personality questionnaires and situational judgement tests
• Assessment Day – includes verbal, numerical, inductive, diagrammatic and situational judgement tests
• Practice Aptitude Tests – practice verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning tests, plus video tutorials to help refresh maths skills
• WikiJob – has advice on different test types and providers, plus free practice tests
• Saville Consulting - practice tests include verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning
• Psychometric-success.com
• Cubiks online assessments – example verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning tests
• Test Partnership - select 'candidate preparation' to access free practice numerical, verbal, inductive, critical thinking and personality tests 
• Mark Parkinson: Practice psychometric tests – comprehensive list of tests, including situational judgement tests
• EU Careers: sample tests – recruitment service for jobs in European institutions, includes an example situational judgement test
• Kogan Page: How to master psychometric tests
• The Lawyer Portal: Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test - this test is often used by law firms to find out how well people can reason analytically and logically. For example questions, see Pearson Vue.
• Unlocked Graduates - includes examples of their situational judgement test questions
• NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP): Situational Judgement Test – sample questions with additional advice from Pearson Vue

For examples of case study tests, see our information on Assessment centres.

Reference books

You can find a range of practice tests books in the Philip Robinson Library, including:

• How to pass graduate psychometric tests, Mike Bryon
• How to pass advanced numeracy tests, Mike Bryon
• How to pass numerical reasoning tests, Heidi Smith
• How to pass advanced verbal reasoning tests, Mike Bryon
• Ultimate psychometric tests : over 1000 practical questions for verbal, numerical, diagrammatic and personality tests, Mike Bryon
• How to pass diagrammatic reasoning tests essential practice for abstract, input type and spatial reasoning tests, Mike Bryon

Personality Tests

Personality questionnaires are used to see how you react to different situations.

There are no right or wrong answers. The questionnaires generate a profile of you, highlighting your personal qualities and characteristics. They are usually untimed, but you will be encouraged to complete them relatively quickly.

Tips for completing personality questionnaires

You should be honest with your answers. Go with your first thought and 'be yourself'.

There is little point in trying to identify or second guess the qualities selectors are looking for. There is unlikely to be one exact 'profile' to fill. Tests are usually designed to identify when someone is giving a false picture of themselves.

Example personality tests

The following websites provide examples of personality tests and questionnaires.

• Team Technology: Free Personality Test
• 16 Personalities 
• Human Metrics: Jung Typology Test
• Typology Central: Jung Personality Test

Specialist Tests

Some sectors, such as medicine, business and law, have specialist tests.

Medicine and dentistry 

Most medical schools and some dental schools use the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for entry to their courses. You can try out a practice test on the UCAT website.

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is used by some medical schools, especially for the 4 year graduate entry course. Visit the UCAS website for more details. Practice GAMSAT questions are available to buy on the GAMSAT website, together with tips and advice.

BMAT is the admissions test for medicine and veterinary medicine used for some courses at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Leeds, Lancaster, UCL and the Royal Veterinary College. The BMAT website includes example questions.

More information is available about applying to medical school. 

Business 

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is used as an entry requirement by most major US business schools and is used worldwide.

GoGrad.org: GMAT Guide is a US-based site that provides advice and tips to help prospective graduate business students plan and prepare for the GMAT.  

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the US. Includes sample tests and details of test centres.

The TopMBA website includes links to the five top free GMAT preparation resources online.

Law

The LNAT National Admissions Test for Law is used for admissions to law undergraduate courses at several UK universities including Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, King's College London, Nottingham, Oxford, SOAS and University College London.

For more information about applying for jobs in law, see Explore Occupations.

Game-based Assessments

Game-based assessment is becoming more popular in graduate recruitment.

Several large graduate recruiters, such as Unilever, KPMG and Deloitte use game-based assessments.

It is typically used at an early stage of the recruitment process. Although game-based activities can be more fun for the candidate, they are often used alongside traditional recruitment tests and assess similar qualities. They’re used by employers to evaluate a candidate's natural ability and assess their response to a test they’ve been unable to prepare for in advance. 

As you complete the games you will be assessed against competencies and characteristics chosen by the employer, for example your cognitive ability, attitude to risk, decision-making and interaction style. Most of the games are simple so you don’t have to be an expert gamer to complete the assessment.

The type of games used and the time it takes to complete them can vary. You may be asked to complete several short games to test different competencies and characteristics, or a longer job simulation involving personality, situational judgement, psychometric and e-tray assessments. Employers may also use these tests to see if you would be a 'good fit' and compatible with their company and its culture. 

Tips for taking game-based assessments: 

• Try out practice tests to get an idea of how you’ll be assessed
• Research the company and read the job description to understand which qualities, values and competencies they consider important - it’s likely this is what you’ll be assessed against. However don’t try and second guess your answers. Be yourself when completing personality tests - these tests are usually designed to identify when someone is giving a false picture of themselves
• Find a quiet space and set aside plenty of time. If you’re using your phone to complete the test set it to ‘do not disturb’ so you don’t get interrupted
• Take time to read through the instructions carefully - it's unlikely you'll be able to retake a test once you've started it. Some employers have been known to tweak the instructions of a game as it progresses, so ensure you monitor any changing information as you advance