Chapter 18: Psychometric tests
A wide range of psychometric tests are outlined in The Graduate Career Guidebook including those related to verbal reasoning; numeric reasoning… and personality profiles. Here we have some extra verbal and numeric tests and information about the tests commonly used by employers.
Extra verbal reasoning questions
Two extra passages of text are shown below, each one accompanied by four related statements. Read the information provided and record whether the passage confirms they are true, they are false or it is inconclusive either way. Give yourself a strict two minutes for each section, and review your answers before moving on as this will hopefully improve your performance. Answers and short explanations are provided at the end of each section.
Two extra passages of text are shown below, each one accompanied by four related statements. Read the information provided and record whether the passage confirms they are true, they are false or it is inconclusive either way. Give yourself a strict two minutes for each section, and review your answers before moving on as this will hopefully improve your performance. Answers and short explanations are provided at the end of each section.
Section 1
Judaism is the religion, philosophy, and way of life of the Jewish people. It is a monotheistic religion originating in the Tanakh and explored in later texts such as the Talmud. Rabbinic Judaism holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah.
Jews are an ethno-religious group and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism.
Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning more than 3,000 years. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions and the oldest to survive into the present day. Judaism's texts, traditions and values strongly influenced later Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith. Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or indirectly influenced secular Western ethics and civil law.
1. Judaism is a monotheistic religion because it is such an old religion.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms this statement is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
2. There has never been an older monotheistic religion than Judaism.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
3. Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith are strongly influenced by Judaism's texts, traditions and values.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
4. Rabbinic Judaism holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form the Written Torah.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
Section 1: Answers
| Statement | Answer | Explanation |
| 1 | c | The text does not go into why Judaism is monotheistic. |
| 2 | c | Even though Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion that exists today, older monotheistic religions may have existed in the past. |
| 3 | a | This is clearly stated in the text. |
| 4 | a | Stated clearly in the text. You may have been put off by the fact that the text also states that God revealed his laws in Oral Torah, but this has no impact on the answer. |
Section 2
In 2007, net immigration to the UK was 237,000, a rise of 46,000 on 2006. In 2004 the number of people who became British citizens rose to a record 140,795 - a rise of 12% on the previous year. This number had risen dramatically since 2000. In the 2001 Census, citizens from the Republic of Ireland were the largest foreign-born group and have been for the last 200 years. This figure does not include those from Northern Ireland since it is part of the United Kingdom. Those of Irish ancestry number roughly 6 million from first, second and third generations.
The pattern of immigration into the UK is mirrored in mainland Europe.
The overwhelming majority of new citizens come from Asia (40%) and Africa (32%). In 2011, an estimated 589,000 migrants arrived to live in the UK for at least a year, most of the migrants were people from Asia (particularly the Indian subcontinent) and Africa while 338,000 people emigrated from the UK for a year or more.
1. Net immigration to the UK in 2006 was greater than in 2007.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
2. Most new foreign-born citizens in the UK come from The Republic of Ireland.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
3. In 2011 more people migrated to the UK to live for at least a year than emigrated from the UK to other countries.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
4. Even though there are six million UK citizens with an Irish heritage, most of them must be second or third generation.
a) The passage confirms this statement is true.
b) The passage confirms it is false.
c) The passage is inconclusive.
Section 2: Answers
| Statement | Answer | Explanation |
| 1 | b | The opposite is true – 46,000 fewer people came to the UK in 2006 than in 2007. |
| 2 | b | The text states that most new citizens come from Asia and Africa. |
| 3 | a | True - 590,000 immigrants compared to 338,000 emigrants. |
| 4 | c | This may or may not be true but it is certainly not stated in the text. |
Extra numeric reasoning questions
Take thirteen minutes to answer the questions provided below. Answers and explanations are provided underneath.
1. In the pie chart above what percentage of sales occur in the 1st quarter?
a. £150% b. 50% c. 1200% d. 25% e. 55%
2. If the same percentage of dietary supplements is sold each quarter in Germany and the total number sold in 2011 was 3,600,000 how many more units were sold in Germany in quarter 2 than the UK?
a. 600 b. 300,000 c. 300 d. 900,000 e. 1,500,000
3. If the sales of dietary supplements in quarter 3 was 100% higher, what would be difference between the total numbers sold in quarters 2 and 3 to quarter 1?
a. 200 b. 39,400,000 c. 800 d. 200,000 e. 1,100,000
4. What is Y if 116 - 23 = 56 Y
a. 83 b. 97 c. 37 d. 41 e. 28
5. What is Y if 54/6 = Y – 8
a. 1 b. 48 c. 9 d. 8 e. 17
6. A man leaves home and travels at a constant 60 mph in one direction for three and a half hours and then doubles back along the same route at exactly 45 mph for two hours. How many miles away from home does he end up?
a. 210 b. 90 c. 300 d. 225 e. 120
Answers
See how many you got right.
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
| 1 | b | Sales in quarter 1 are 1,200,000.
Total sales are 1,200,000 + 600,000 + 400,000 + 200,000 = 2,400,000.
1,200,000 is 50% of 2,400,000 (this should be common sense). |
| 2 | b | Total sales are 2,400,000, Therefore, the percentage sales of dietary supplements sold in quarter 2 = (600,000/2,400,000) x 100 = 25%.
The total sales in in Germany are 3,600,000.
Therefore, the total sales of dietary supplements sold in quarter 2 in Germany = 25% of 3,600,000 = (25/100) x 3,600,000 = 900,000.
Therefore, the difference = 900,000 – 600,000 = 300,000. |
| 3 | d | Sales in quarter 3 are 400,000, a 100% increase makes 800,000
Therefore, qtrs. 2 and 3 would be 600,000 + 800,000 = 1,400,000
Total sales in quarter 1 = 1,200,000
Therefore, the adjusted difference in sales would be 1,400,000 – 1,200,000 = 200,000. |
| 4 | c | 116 - 23 = 56 + Y, so Y = 116 – 23 – 56 = 37. |
| 5 | e | 54/6 = Y – 8, so Y = 54/6 + 8 = 17 |
| 6 | e | The man travels the following distance away from home: 60 x 3.5 = 210 miles, he returns: 45 x 2 = 90 miles, so the final distance = 210 – 90 = 120 miles |
Further resources
- Kent University Careers and Employability Service: www.kent.ac.uk/careers - Online tests and comprehensive advice from this excellent website.
