1. Psychometric Training–Helping our students into Employment
AGCAS East Midlands Regional Training Event
AGCAS Psychometric Task Group
   
Programme 
9.30     Sign-in and Refreshments 
10.00   Welcome and the Loughborough Approach – Helen Smith / Michele Zala (U005)
10.15   Current Trends in Psychometric Assessment – Angus McDonald (U005)
11.15   Mid-morning Refreshments
11.45   Team Focus Psychometric Tools - Demo and Lab session - Roy Childs (U007)
12.45   Lunch

2. Psychometric Training–Helping our students into Employment
AGCAS East Midlands Regional Training Event
AGCAS Psychometric Task Group
   
Programme 
12.45   Lunch 
1.30    Graduates First Psychometric Tools - Demo and Lab session - Saqib Saddiq (U007) 
2.30    Cascaid Adult Directions Demo – Susie Fairley (U005) 
3.00     Afternoon Refreshments 
3.15     Maths Support – Numeracy Skills MOOC / Sigma – Michele Zala, Laura Hooke (U005) 
3.45     Future Trends – Angus McDonald (U005)
4.15     Panel Q&A with all Speakers (U005)
4.45     End of Event

3. AGCAS Psychometric Task Group
We are looking for new members
   
Michele Zala (Chair) – Loughborough University
Laura Hooke – Loughborough University London
Gill Barber – University of Leeds
Peter Sewell – Lancaster University
Elaine Denniss – UCL
The Psychometric Assessment Task Group was created to help AGCAS members in evaluating and using psychometric tests in guidance work and to keep a watching brief on developments in employers’ selection methods. 
The group informs the wider AGCAS community through communications on the AGCAS website and articles in Phoenix all designed to inform best practice, including comparison of existing tests and information on new developments in the use of psychometric tool in selection processes.
To deliver its programme the Task Group meets twice a year with more regular online and phone contact.  Vacancies on the group are advertised nationally and are open to all AGCAS members.

4. Online Aptitude Tests
Presented by Michele Zala Careers Consultant School of Business and Economics and International Students

5. Course Aim and Learning Outcomes
The aims of this module are to ensure students understand the range of psychometric tests used by employers and have the resources and advice available to deliver their best performance.  
Learning Outcomes
Understand what psychometric tests are
Know where to go to practise psychometric tests
Practise verbal, numerical, logical reasoning and situational judgement tests
Feel more confident about what to expect at interviews and assessment centres

7. What are Psychometrics?
BPS (British Psychological Society) definition
“ a psychological test is an instrument designed to produce a quantitative assessment of some psychological attribute or attributes”

8. How are Psychometric Tests constructed?
Objectivity – key to all psychometric procedures
Standardized test materials, administration and scoring procedures
Reliability
Are all parts of the test measuring the same thing?
Will people score the same if retested?
Validity
Does the test measure what it claims to measure?
Is the test being used appropriately?

9. Common Types of Psychometric Tests
Numerical or Quantitative Reasoning
Critical Thinking
Verbal Reasoning
Situational Judgement
Inductive, diagrammatic or logical reasoning
Personality / Strengths
Data handling / IT Aptitude
Mechanical aptitude

11. Psychometric Tests on Careers Network website http://www. lboro. ac
Profiling for Success
Graduates First

12. Preparing for psychometric tests
Brush up on your maths skills and numerical short cuts e.g. percentage increases, ratios, analysing charts and graphs Maths Refresher Mooc/LEARN
Read broadsheet articles to help reading comprehension
Practice the tests online on our website
Repetition will increase speed and accuracy
Special Conditions - speak to the employer - arrange adjustments
Read the instructions carefully
Check the time - a good balance between speed and accuracy
Take a calculator with you; most maths tests now allow a calculator.
Check out negative marking policy (ask Graduate Recruitment)
No cheating – will be retested !
More on our website…

13. Numeracy Skills MOOC on Loughborough LEARN
Also on Learn
Numeracy Skills MOOC on Loughborough LEARN

14. Numerical Reasoning
How many owner-occupiers lived in semi-detached properties? (to nearest 1,000)
a) b) c) d) e) 47000
How many owner-occupiers lived in flats and terraced properties? (to nearest 1,000)
a) b) c) d) e) 46000

15. Verbal Reasoning
Many organisations find it beneficial to employ students over the summer. Permanent staff often wish to take their own holidays over this period. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for companies to experience peak workloads in the summer and so require extra staff. Summer employment also attracts students who may return as well qualified recruits to an organisation when they have completed their education. Ensuring that the students learn as much as possible about the organisation encourages interest in working on a permanent basis. Organisations pay students on a fixed rate without the usual entitlement to paid holidays or sick leave
Statement 1: It is possible that permanent staff who are on holiday can have their work carried out by students.              
Statement 2: Students in summer employment are given the same paid holiday benefit as permanent staff.                      
Statement 3: Students are subject to the organisation’s standard disciplinary and grievance procedures.                      
Statement 4: Some companies have more work to do in the summer when students are available for vacation work.

16. Inductive/Logical Reasoning

17. Situational Judgement
Use common sense
Difficult to prepare for
Understanding the company culture can help – Company Mindset
Research their values, their operations etc
Understanding competencies for a role may help further

18. Personality Questionnaires
Not a ‘test’
No right or wrong answers – just be true to yourself
Certain characteristics may have been earmarked as required for a specific position, but trying to guess what answer to give seldom works
Gives areas to probe further during interview
Try Profiling for Success or Graduates First Personality Tests

19. Psychometric Tests – Profiling for Success http://www. lboro. ac
Try 10 questions from the
Verbal Reasoning Test
Profiling for Success

20. Psychometric Tests - Graduates First http://www. lboro. ac
Try 10 questions from the
Numerical Reasoning Test
Try 10 questions from the
Situational Judgement Test
Try 10 questions from the
Logical Reasoning Test
Graduates First

21. Other Tests - Bloomberg BAT Test for City Careers