Employers choose to use psychometric testing during their recruitment process to help give a better overall evaluation of candidate’s and their suitability for the job that they’re applying for. Psychometric testing could help to gauge the future performance of candidate's and also improve employee retention by making successful hiring decisions.
The most common way for employers to use aptitude tests such as verbal analogies, is online. Traditionally, aptitude tests have taken the form of pen and paper but due to benefits such as saving valuable time and money, online testing is used more and more frequently. Undertaking aptitude tests is usually the follow-up action after an employer has accepted your CV or initial job application form.
If you pass the online test in some cases you are invited to an assessment centre, which is usually done by larger employers. The term assessment centre is used due to the fact that employers conduct these extended assessment in a single centre, either an office of the employers themselves or at a third party venue. The assessment centre is often (but not always) a day that constitutes the final stage of the application process. At the assessment centre they will ask you to sit a repeat test at the assessment centre to verify your earlier test scores, therefore don’t get your friends or family to help you out during the online test!
Preparing for an assessment centre or online aptitude test can be stressful due to the fact that you don’t know what to expect. The best way to familiarize yourself is with practice aptitude tests that mimic the tests used by employers and recruiters. Assessment-Training.com has prepared thousands of candidates for their assessments and aptitude tests by offering realistic test simulations with fully worked solutions.
By practicing verbal analogies tests you can improve your performance during the real test by familiarizing yourself with the format and time-pressure.
A verbal analogy is a word problem comprised of two different pairs of words. There are different types of verbal analogies that we will discuss in further detail. The first one is the ‘single verbal analogy’. In this version of the verbal analogy test, the word problem is set up to reveal one set of words first. This pair of words is related to each other in some way. Then the problem gives you the first word of the second pair and it is up to you to complete the second pair by choosing the second word out of the answer options. However, this second word must be related to the first word in the second pair in the same manner that the first pair of words is related to each other. In order to solve a verbal analogy, you need to find that relationship.
Several relationships between pairs of words are possible. For instance, expect relations such as:
Antonyms: words that have opposite meanings.
Synonyms: words that have similar meanings, such as Buy – Purchase.
Descriptive: in which one word describes the other word, such as Blue – Ocean.
Part to Whole: in which one word is a part or piece of the other, such as Head – Body.
Steps in a Process: such as Cooking – Serving.
Cause and Effect: such as Fire – Scorch and Blizzard – Freeze
Things and Their Functions: such as Scissors – Cut.
Item to Category: in which one word names something that falls into the group named by the other, such as Lemonade – Beverage.
Implied Relationships: such as Clouds – Sun.
Symbol and What it Represents: such as Heart – Love.