Aptitude Test Statistics - 2020/2021 Psychometric Tests 'Real World' Survey

Numerical reasoning statistics

SHL is the most common test publisher of numerical reasoning tests. From over 1000 numerical tests reviewed, SHL were the publisher for 32% of them.

Our data show that, from the 1462 respondents, numerical reasoning tests usually occur before any interviews - most commonly during your online application.

Verbal reasoning statistics

Verbal reasoning is one of the most common aptitude tests to take - however, we wanted to know how common is a verbal test for each job sector?

There is a 90% chance of facing a verbal reasoning test when applying to law and teaching roles, with engineering favouring mechanical skills over verbal.

Over 70% of candidates said they would rather face a verbal reasoning test than a numerical reasoning test [Sample size = 721]

Logical reasoning statistics

SHL tops the list as the most used test publisher for logical reasoning tests, with TalentQ a close second.

Logical reasoning is just one of many names for logic-based tests. From our sample, the most common title was ‘inductive reasoning’.

Inductive reasoning statistics

We asked inductive test takers what they felt was the most difficult part of the test...

30% of candidates felt that timekeeping was the hardest part - with inductive tests notoriously a fast-paced test.

Inductive reasoning tests are more likely to be used in engineering, science and IT roles.

Diagrammatic reasoning statistics

Diagrammatic tests consist of many types of tasks that it hard to know what is likely to come up in the test.

From our sample, 75% of candidates faced ‘rotation’ questions as part of their test with calculation and substitution questions occurring the least.

Diagrammatic tests favour those with analytical minds, with problem solving being a key skill for success.

Critical thinking statistics

Watson Glaser are synonymous with critical thinking tests and their market share confirms that.

77% of critical thinking tests, from our sample of over 800 test takers, were published by Watson Glaser.

Critical thinking tests consist of five different parts: assumptions, deduction, interpreting information, inferences, and analysing information.

When asked what was the most difficult part of their critical reasoning test, 35% of candidates found ‘assumptions’ to be the hardest.

Situational Judgement Statistics

Situational judgement tests (sjt) come in many forms and are often unique to the role/hiring company.

77% of critical thinking tests, from our sample of over 800 test takers, were published by Watson Glaser.

80% of situational judgement tests that candidates had taken were text-only.

Over 70% of candidates prefer an sjt that is representative of the role and working environment they are applying to. [Sample size = 1445]

Spatial Reasoning Statistics

Situational judgement tests (sjt) come in many forms and are often unique to the role/hiring company.

Spatial reasoning tests incorporate various different tasks - 85% of candidates faced ‘2D to 3D’ questions as part of their spatial reasoning tests.

Most of the common tasks occur at high percentages, so are likely to be in each test, other than ‘formation’ which has a low occurrence from our data.

Spatial reasoning tests are not commonly used in most sectors, but are viewed as some of the most enjoyable and mentally challenging tests available.

Personality Test Statistics

Personality tests are one of the most common aptitude tests and they take many different forms.

From our sample, over 50% used some form of ‘likert scale’ as the format of their questions.

Over 65% of our respondents revealed that they manipulated their answers to appear more favourably to the employer. [Survey sample = 824]

Assessment Centre Statistics

Assessment centres (ACs) are unique to hiring companies and usually the final step of an application process.

You can usually find online what the hiring company’s assessment centre will consist of. From our survey, 92% of respondents faced a ‘group exercise’ as part of their assessment centre.

Assessment centres can seem scary, it’s the final step to securing the job. 37% of people felt that ‘interviews’ were the hardest part of their assessment centre.

‘Presentation exercise’ scored 20% of the vote, which deserves a mention as only 52% of the respondents actually encountered one as part of their assessment centre.