Aptitude test

Aptitude Tests

This page is the beginning of a multi-purpose project:

Provide anonymous aptitude tests for those interested in taking them.
Explore the mechanisms and cultural bias inherent in aptitude testing.
Investigate the use and abuse of aptitude testing.

Folklore

Aptitude testing is nothing new, as this folktale shows:

A king was traveling around his kingdom in disguise when he found a boulder in the middle of the road. He was thinking what to do about it when a prosperous merchant came towards him, glared at the boulder and then moved around it, all the while complaining about poor roads and what was the point of paying taxes if the king couldn't keep the roads in good repair???

This gave the king an idea. He lifted the stone and put a purse of gold coins under it, then hid nearby and waited. Throughout the day people passed by, commons and nobles, merchants and scholars, but though they all complained loudly about the stone, no one tried to move it.

Finally in the evening, when the king had given up hope, a farmer came by carrying a sack of grain. The farmer paused, then put the sack down and tried to push the boulder, but it was too heavy. So he got sticks from a nearby wood and levered the boulder bit by bit off the road. When he bent down to pick up his sack he discovered the purse full of gold.

The king came out of hiding and told the farmer the purse was the king's reward for good citizenship; he ordered the farmer to present himself at court the next day. In the morning the king made the farmer Superintendent of Public Works: alone of all the people who had passed by, he had done something about the boulder instead of talking about it!

What you should know before you do these tests

This is just the begining of the project Aptitude Test: data collection about the experiences of participants is still in progress. If you want to share views/results, please add below. With your feedback the project can evolve more. Help us helping you.

e.g. were the results reliable ?

In my case, they were. Shir-El too 22:50, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

more info to be added here

Two Examples

Test no. 1: personalities

This test was received by e-mail. It is presented intact. Source/author unknown.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get a better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees. It's only 10 simple questions, so... Grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers. Make sure to change the subject of the e-mail to read YOUR total. When you are finished, forward this to everyone you know, and also send it to the person who sent this to you.

Make sure to put YOUR score in the subject box. Ready?? Begin...

1. When do you feel your best?

    (a)  in the morning
    (b)  during the afternoon & early evening
    (c)  late at night

2. You usually walk

    (a)  fairly fast, with long steps
    (b)  fairly fast, with short, quick steps
    (c)  less fast head up, looking the world in the face
    (d)  less fast, head down
    (e)  very slowly

3. When talking to people you

    (a)  stand with your arms folded
    (b)  have your hands clasped
    (c)  have one or both your hands on your hips
    (d)  touch or push the person to whom you are talking
    (e)  play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with

    (a)  your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
    (b)  your legs crossed
    (c)  your legs stretched out or straight
    (d)  one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with

    (a)  a big, appreciative laugh
    (b)  a laugh, but not a loud one
    (c)  a quiet chuckle
    (d)  a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...

    (a)  make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
    (b)  make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
    (c)  make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted. Do you...

    (a)  welcome the break
    (b)  feel extremely irritated
    (c)  vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?

    (a)  red or orange
    (b)  black
    (c)  yellow or light blue
    (d)  green
    (e)  dark blue or purple
    (f)  white
    (g)  brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep, you lie

    (a)  stretched out on your back
    (b)  stretched out face down on your stomach
    (c)  on your side, slightly curled
    (d)  with your head on one arm
    (e)  with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are

    (a)  falling
    (b)  fighting or struggling
    (c)  searching for something or somebody
    (d)  flying or floating
    (e)  you usually have dreamless sleep
    (f)  your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:

1.   (a) = 2  (b) = 4  (c) =  6.
2.   (a) = 6  (b) = 4  (c) =  7  (d) =  2  (e) =  1.
3.   (a) = 4  (b) = 2  (c) =  5  (d) =  7  (e) =  6.
4.   (a) = 4  (b) = 6  (c) =  2  (d) =  1.
5.   (a) = 6  (b) = 4  (c) =  3  (d) =  5  (e) =  2.
6.   (a) = 6  (b) = 4  (c) =  2.
7.   (a) = 6  (b) = 2	(c) =  4.
8.   (a) = 6  (b) = 7  (c) =  5  (d) =  4  (e) = 3  (f) = 2  (g) = 1.
9.   (a) = 7  (b) = 6  (c) =  4  (d) =  2  (e) = 1.
10.  (a) = 4  (b) = 2  (c) =  3  (d) =  5  (e) = 6  (f) = 1.

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care". You're seen as vain, self-centered. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as a highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest... Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything. They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

Test no. 2: 'Tibetan' personality test - also has a 'Tantric' rendition.

Test received by e-mail, original source/author unknown.

The usual very wordy preface (“no scrolling down ahead of time,” etc.) and conclusion (“You must send this on to at least 5 of your friends for your wish to come true,” etc., etc.) have been edited and deleted.

This is fun to do, but you have to follow the instructions very closely. Do not cheat. Answer the questions as you go along. There are only 3 questions. Go down slowly, and complete each exercise as you scroll down. Get pencil and paper to write out answers as you go along. You will need it at the end. The first thing that comes to mind is usually your best answer. Remember - no one sees this but you.

(1) Put the following 5 animals in the order of your preference:

   Cow, Tiger, Sheep, Horse, Pig.

(2) Write one word that describes each one of the following:

   Dog, Cat, Rat, Coffee, Sea.

(3) Think of someone, who also knows you and is important to you, which you can relate them to the following colors. Do not repeat your answer twice. Name just one person for each color.

   Yellow, Orange, Red, White, Green.

FINISHED?

Look at the interpretations below:

(1) This will define your priorities in your life:

  Cow Signifies CAREER
  Tiger Signifies PRIDE
  Sheep Signifies LOVE
  Horse Signifies FAMILY
  Pig Signifies MONEY

(2) Your description of

  Dog implies your own personality.
  Cat implies the personality of your partner.
  Rat implies the personality of your enemies.
  Coffee is how you interpret sex.
  the Sea implies your own life.

(3)
Yellow: Someone you will never forget
Orange: Someone you consider your true friend
Red: Someone that you really love
White: Your twin soul
Green: Someone that you will remember for the rest of your life.