#aptitude tests

[help-im-a-medstudent]

Hi I just got 3040 (760 average) in my UKCAT and I was wondering if you had any recommendations for where to apply with my score. Thanks

Hi there! 

First of all, congratulations, that is a brilliant score and you should be super proud! Overall, my advice would be, with a score like that, you can apply anywhere that looks at UKCAT scores, but I will go into a bit more detail for you. This is quite general advice because i don’t know what every university is looking for, especially as it’s 4 years since i applied.

My first thing would be to say don’t apply to somewhere just because you are ‘guaranteed an interview’ with a certain score or certain grades. The most important thing is that you will enjoy the course and like the uni/city that you are going to be living in for 5 years.

One way unis look at the UKCAT is they have a cut off total score. Some universities will have the same score each year (for example Sheffield requires 2460) and others will use the results that year to decide on the minimum requirement (Newcastle, Plymouth, Keele to name a few). 

Most universities state that they use the UKCAT as part of the selection process for interview, alongside academic achievement and the personal statement. Most seem to have some sort of ‘scoring system’, which they use to decide who to interview. Most seem to use the overall score rather than the average.

You’ve not mentioned your SJT score, but I’ll put in a little about it anyway, when I applied it was still experimental and universities did not look at it, however now a few universities specifically state that they will not consider applicants with band 4 (Keele, Leicester, Nottingham). Some also may use the SJT as part of their own scoring system, however you would have to check. 

Basically, you are likely with that score to be in the top 10% of students so you will score well and meet the requirements of most universities i would reckon. This is based on the UKCAT results of previous years. It’s important to remember that the test is only a part of your application and whether you get an interview or not will not hang solely on your score for most courses. There is a document which collates all of the universities and how they use the UKCAT for each of their courses (including dentistry) here which is useful to look at.

I know i haven’t specifically recommended universities for you to apply to, partly because it’s a personal choice and also because of the reasons i mentioned above.

Good luck with your applications and if you have any more questions or if anything isn’t clear in this answer, then feel free to message me! 

[charliewantstostudy]

Hey guys So I am applying for the NHS scientist training programme this year The deadline is Wednesday 15th Feb - so in like 5 days omg I'm currently practicing the aptitude tests and they are IMPOSSIBLE They are straight forward questions which I can work out in about 10-15 minutes But In the practice/real tests you are literally given 90 seconds If any of you happen to also be applying to the same programme or similar programme with aptitude tests Please give me your insight on how you're coping Because I am not

[onemoreattempt]

They should have adults in their ideal professions take aptitude tests and see what they get.

[chrissytinat]

Career Aptitude Tests

Don't know why I was just thinking about them, but I remember taking them every now and then back in school and I never understood why we had to take them. They never told us why. Never gave a reason for them. I guess it would be to see what you could pursue, but it was still very vague.

I just remember that every year my results would pretty much be the same. It'd be teacher and either just creative fields or it'd be a bit more specific and say artist or writer alongside teacher. And then it would alway say trucker as the other result.

Trucker.

I never quite understood why it gave me that every time. The teacher thing, I get. Same with creative fields, artist, and writer. But trucker? Was it because I answered some of the questions about spending time alone with strongly agree? What made me qualify for trucker every single time as one of my results? I mean, at least my results were consistent to give a good baseline for potential ideas, but still.

I guess at least I can say I'm following the creative fields result.

[crack-academy]

Aptitude tests have become a pivotal component of the placement process for many companies, serving as a yardstick to measure candidates’…

Aptitude tests have become a pivotal component of the placement process for many companies, serving as a yardstick to measure candidates’ cognitive abilities, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving prowess. Aspiring professionals often find themselves facing these assessments with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, recognizing their significance in securing coveted job opportunities.

[tyskerrie]

Aptitude tests are bullshit and here's why:

For context I used to be good in math, normally one of the best grades in my class.

Cut to when I was around 15 and we did an aptitude test, it looked at things like language, logic, math, etc.

A few days after we took the test I was called to retake the math part of the test and I had no idea why.

Well when I got the results they said I was bad at math and I would probably struggle and would need reinforcing classes, so the reason they made me retake the test was because it was one of the lowest scores of the class, but they knew I was good at math so it made no sense!

Except the test was all about quick mental calculations, and I always struggled with that, so it actually made perfect sense I had such a low score.

But the thing is, math is not about rapid mental calculations, so that test was not actually measuring math ability at all

[jcmarchi]

Role Of Aptitude Tests in The Recruitment Process - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/role-of-aptitude-tests-in-the-recruitment-process-technology-org/

Role Of Aptitude Tests in The Recruitment Process - Technology Org

By using a good Aptitude Test, candidates can be well-known before they are called for a one-on-one interview. A person’s various skills, cognitive responses, and capabilities can be well evaluated at an initial stage. To choose the best kind of aptitude test, choosing a reliable platform to generate the test is very crucial. Let us read and know more about the role of aptitude tests in the recruitment process.

What Exactly are Aptitude Tests, and what Role do They Play

It is a computer-designed mechanism or tool that calculates the capabilities and weaknesses of a candidate in relation to the job role they are applying for. These tests are already widely used in the education sector to determine a student’s most rewarding career. Now, these tests have also stepped into working for recruitment managers, easing their jobs by a ton. Thus, these tests play a crucial role at the initial stages of hiring, as these can confirm or deny how a potential employee claims they can perform on the job. Read ahead to know some of the many benefits of aptitude tests in the hiring process.

Advantages of Administering Aptitude Tests in the Hiring Process

Detailed Examination of Candidates

An aptitude test can give insights into those parts of a candidate’s future performance and behavior that they might not be able to inform about if directly called for an interview. Only the outer looks and marks in academics are never enough to judge whether a candidate is a good fit for the role or not.

Works Two Way

An aptitude test not only helps the hiring managers but also the candidates applying for the role. These candidates could be fresh graduates or students who are not yet clear on what field they wish to choose in their career. These tests can act as an eye opener to them as well in helping them choose the best path.

Time-Saving at its Best

One of the major advantages is that an aptitude test helps filter out people who may not even be close to what a company needs. Hiring teams can save a lot of time by only interviewing the candidates who are close to suitable for the role offered. It makes hiring a speedy process, and the position is not left vacant for a long time.

FAQ: How Should Candidates Be Familiarised and Put at Ease with the Tests?

The best way to do that is to have open communication about the same with the candidates and also inform them how the test is going to help them find their inner strengths. A guide or instructions on the same can be provided beforehand so that candidates do not get nervous during the test and know how to take it.

Someone from the team can be in constant touch with the candidates so that they can ask questions whenever they feel stuck on the procedural part. This makes people at ease, and they answer everything honestly.

In Conclusion

Aptitude tests, therefore, play a very important part in the recruitment process. One must take care that the tests are formulated well according to each role so that the results are accurate. The main goal of a test is to ease the entire hiring process and find the best-fit candidate for the position, and that must be kept in time at all times.