Psychotechnical tests: what are they used for?

Although psychotechnical tests are common in any selection process, it is always appropriate to train in these types of exercises to improve our cognitive abilities.

Psychotechnical tests are used – among other contexts and purposes – in company selection processes, as well as in selective tests. There are those who fear them and there are those who love solving those logical or spatial reasoning problems. Be that as it may, its function always has the same objective: to detect the person’s aptitudes, as well as their competencies and psychological profile.

This type of highly structured test is not lacking in criticism. We are all clear that when measuring any type of psychological dimension or characteristic, it is always appropriate to use several techniques and various resources to obtain a broader range of information.

These tests They offer nothing more than a score and a first approach to see whether or not the skills shown by that person adapt to the basic needs of a position. However, later these data will be compared with more scales and criteria to be able to carry out a broader and more accurate assessment.

Thus, selective tests such as the Raven matrices, verbal or mechanical aptitude tests, stand as quick filters that any human resources department uses for that first phase when recruiting the most suitable candidates. This is usually followed by a personal interview.

Likewise, if there is something that a large number of candidates are undoubtedly doing at this very moment, it is training in this type of psychotechnical tests in order to obtain a high score in those early stages of the selection processes. They are, so to speak, that previous challenge that must be overcome in order to move on to the next selective test.

Psychotechnical tests: purpose and fields of application

Psychotechnical tests consist of multiple choice questionnaires. The purpose is to choose an option among several possible answers quickly and correctly. With these tests, companies or any social organization can obtain information about personality as well as any cognitive area they wish to measure: attention, memory, problem solving, verbal or spatial abilities…

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Likewise, it is important to consider three aspects when evaluating psychotechnical tests: speed, correctness and number of errors. On the other hand, studies such as the one carried out at the University of Toulouse affect an important fact that we cannot ignore. This type of tests must be evaluated by specialized personnel.

Let’s see below in which areas they are usually used on a daily basis.

Psychotechnical tests are a part of the psychological evaluation and therefore must be applied and evaluated by psychologists specialized in this area.

Areas of application

Selective processes in the workplace. Educational field: in order to assess the intellectual abilities of the students, their evolution as well as their vocational preferences.Clinical setting. Psychotechnical tests are part of the usual work of the clinical psychologist, where they do not only assess personality styles or aptitudes. These resources are also necessary to carry out diagnoses, assess the presence or absence of psychological disorders, dementia, etc. Driving licenses and weapons licenses. In these areas, psychotechnical tests are essential. With them We value attention skills, reaction capacity or visuospatial aptitude in drivers or whether the person who aspires to own a weapon is fit or not to use them.

Types of psychotechnical tests

We have all gone through a selection process at some point where those psychotechnical tests made us experience a moment of tension or challenge. It should be said, however, that There are many people who train daily in these types of exercises that are as healthy as they are recommended for mere pleasure.

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It is a way to keep our cognitive processes up to date, to exercise attention, memory, spatial flexibility, verbal skills, etc. At our disposal we have, for example, suitable games in any app of our mobile phones and even free access tests on the Internet.

Let’s now see what types of psychotechnical tests are the most frequently used:

Verbal aptitude test

They measure the ability to understand and express concepts through wordsThere are spelling exercises, synonyms and antonyms, verbal comprehension, incomplete sentences, spelling rules…

Numerical aptitude test

These types of psychotechnical tests measure the ability to understand and work with numerical operations.We can find classic problems, as well as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions,
powers, roots, percentages, equations…

Spatial aptitude test

The special aptitude tests are undoubtedly among the most interesting. They invite us to differentiate shapes, volumes, distances, positions in space…Incomplete figures, puzzles, figures that we must mentally rotate to understand their situation, etc. usually appear.

Abstract reasoning test

In this type of tests The person’s ability to observe and organize information logically is analyzed.We must therefore allow our deductive skills to emerge by observing series of letters, figures, cards or coins to give correct answers.

Attention and retention test

This type of test is very common in selective processes for jobs in which attention is very important. They can be factories or any type of industry where it is necessary for operators to be attentive in their task. These tests therefore measure the ability to be attentive while performing a repetitive and monotonous task. For this purpose, visual memory exercises, reading memory, reading numbers or words and then reproducing them usually appear…

How can I successfully pass a psychotechnical test?

As we have previously pointed out, there are many people who usually train in this type of competition, either out of personal interest or because they have a selection process ahead of them. The ideal therefore is to get a large battery of tests and carry them out at home, learning from mistakes and, in turn, performing them in the shortest time possible.

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Likewise, it never hurts to follow these simple tips.

Just as we train ourselves to effectively perform these types of tests, We must learn to control and manage our anxiety in the selective test. We will read the instructions calmly, follow the examiner’s rules and make sure not to skip any exercise sheets. Analyze the examples offered in each exercise. Don’t get ahead of yourself assuming you already know how to do it..Time is important. So, if we get stuck on a question, we will move on to the next, leaving the most complex ones for last. Once the test is finished, review it. Remember that this type of psychotechnical tests are guided by logic. Use common sense.

To conclude, given that these types of tests are becoming more and more common, it never hurts to familiarize ourselves with them. Whether we have a selective process ahead of us or not, it is always healthy and beneficial to train this type of competition.