What Is an Aptitude Test?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does an Aptitude Test Do?ExamplesWhen You Might Take an Aptitude TestTypesIntelligence Tests vs. Aptitude Tests

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Table of Contents

What Does an Aptitude Test Do?

Examples

When You Might Take an Aptitude Test

Types

Intelligence Tests vs. Aptitude Tests

An aptitude test is designed to assess what a person is capable of doing or to predict what a person is able to learn or do given the right education and instruction. The goal of an aptitude test is to predict the ability to learn new skills. It represents a person’s level of competency to perform a certain type of task.

At a GlanceAn aptitude test can help determine your individual ability in a certain area to help predict whether you are likely to succeed. Such tools can help assess student strengths or evaluate a potential job candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.Such tests aren’t designed to see how intelligent you are; instead, they assess specific skills or inclinations. Keep reading to learn more about how aptitude tests work, the types of tests you might encounter, and how they differ from intelligence tests.

At a Glance

An aptitude test can help determine your individual ability in a certain area to help predict whether you are likely to succeed. Such tools can help assess student strengths or evaluate a potential job candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.Such tests aren’t designed to see how intelligent you are; instead, they assess specific skills or inclinations. Keep reading to learn more about how aptitude tests work, the types of tests you might encounter, and how they differ from intelligence tests.

Such tests aren’t designed to see how intelligent you are; instead, they assess specific skills or inclinations. Keep reading to learn more about how aptitude tests work, the types of tests you might encounter, and how they differ from intelligence tests.

Aptitude tests are often used to assess academic potential or career suitability and may be used to assess mental or physical talent in a variety of domains. They are based on the idea that people have innate abilities and inclinations that predispose them to succeeding (or struggling) in specific areas.

So, is an intelligence test an example of an aptitude test? Not exactly. The two tests are similar but distinct in what they measure. An intelligence test measures your currentcognitive skills; on the other hand, an aptitude test measures whether you have the potential to develop skills in specific areas in the future.

Recap

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Aptitude Test Examples

People encounter a variety of aptitude tests throughout their personal and professional lives, often starting while they are children going to school.

Here are a few examples of common aptitude tests:

Some situations where you might encounter aptitude tests include those given in school or work settings. Some examples of how these might be used include:

Aptitude Tests in School

Students encounter a variety of aptitude tests throughout school as they think about what they might like to study in college or do as a career.

For example, a student might take an aptitude test suggesting they are good with numbers and data. Such results might imply that a career as an accountant, banker, or stockbroker would be a good choice for that student.

Another student might find that they have stronglanguage and verbal skills, suggesting that a career as an English teacher, writer, or journalist might be a good choice.

Researchers suggest that standardized academic aptitude tests predict a variety of important life outcomes.

Special Aptitude Tests

Special aptitude tests are designed to look at an individual’s capacity in a particular area.For example, a business that is looking to hire a computer programmer will consider a candidate’s work history and interview performance, but they might also want to administer an aptitude test to determine if a person possesses the necessary skill to perform the job.

In this case, the special aptitude test is designed to look at a very narrow range of ability: how skilled and knowledgeable the candidate is at computer programming.

Multiple Aptitude Tests

Multiple aptitude tests are designed to measure two or more different abilities.In some cases, such tests may even resemble intelligence tests in terms of their focus and scope. The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) that high school students take during their senior year is a good example of a multiple aptitude test.

The Graduate Requisite Exam (GRE), as well as the specialized tests required in order to get into medical (MCAT), law (LSAT), and business graduate programs, are also examples of multiple aptitude tests.

Types of Aptitude Tests

Aptitude tests fall into different categories or types. Different types are given in settings such as schools or workplaces.

Some of the common types of aptitude tests include those focused on specific skills, such as:

So what exactly makes an aptitude test different from an intelligence test? Below, we compare the differences.

Measuregeneral intelligence(the capacity to perform in all areas)

Take the ages of test-takers into consideration

Measure a narrower range of abilities than intelligence tests do

Don’t take the ages of test-takers into consideration

Intelligence encompasses many different abilities includingproblem-solving, reasoning, memory, knowledge, and the ability to adapt to a changing environment.

Aptitude tests, on the other hand, are designed to measure a much narrower range of abilities than intelligence orIQ testsdo.However, some aptitude tests might have a very narrow focus that limits what they are able to predict. Other tests that look at multiple domains are much more similar to intelligence tests.

Similar to intelligence and aptitude tests areachievement tests, which measure a person’s knowledge and skill level in a particular area. Achievement tests tend to focus on what a person has learned as a result of formal learning or training.

So, what are the differences among intelligence, achievement, and aptitude tests? Viewing the three types of tests in terms of a timeline may help you differentiate them:

How to Be Successful in Reaching Your Goals

Takeaways

Aptitude tests can help you get an idea of what you are good at or what you might be good at given the right training. However, these tests cannot tell you everything. Consider your results carefully and evaluate other factors, such as your interests and experiences. Then, use this information to explore career options.

A poor score on an aptitude test doesn’t mean that you don’t have the potential to eventually succeed or even excel in that area, just as a high score on an aptitude test isn’t a guarantee of success. Instead, think of this information as a guide for where you might need extra work. With the right support, training, and effort, you can play to your strengths and overcome potential weaknesses.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have? Take the Quiz

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Aptitude test.Breuer S, Scherndl T, Ortner TM.Effects of response format on achievement and aptitude assessment results: multi-level random effects meta-analyses.R Soc Open Sci. 2023;10(5):220456. doi:10.1098/rsos.220456Hadar B, Katzir M, Pumpian S, Karelitz T, Liberman N.Psychological proximity improves reasoning in academic aptitude tests.NPJ Sci Learn. 2023;8(1):10. doi:10.1038/s41539-023-00158-xAmerican Psychological Association.Specific ability.American Psychological Association.Multiple aptitude test.Vera M, Cortés JA.Emotional and cognitive aptitudes and successful academic performance: Using the ECCT.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(24):13184. doi:10.3390/ijerph182413184Flensborg-Madsen T, Falgreen Eriksen HL, Mortensen EL.Early life predictors of intelligence in young adulthood and middle age.PLoS ONE.2020;15(1):e0228144. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228144American Psychological Association.Achievement test.

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Aptitude test.Breuer S, Scherndl T, Ortner TM.Effects of response format on achievement and aptitude assessment results: multi-level random effects meta-analyses.R Soc Open Sci. 2023;10(5):220456. doi:10.1098/rsos.220456Hadar B, Katzir M, Pumpian S, Karelitz T, Liberman N.Psychological proximity improves reasoning in academic aptitude tests.NPJ Sci Learn. 2023;8(1):10. doi:10.1038/s41539-023-00158-xAmerican Psychological Association.Specific ability.American Psychological Association.Multiple aptitude test.Vera M, Cortés JA.Emotional and cognitive aptitudes and successful academic performance: Using the ECCT.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(24):13184. doi:10.3390/ijerph182413184Flensborg-Madsen T, Falgreen Eriksen HL, Mortensen EL.Early life predictors of intelligence in young adulthood and middle age.PLoS ONE.2020;15(1):e0228144. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228144American Psychological Association.Achievement test.

American Psychological Association.Aptitude test.Breuer S, Scherndl T, Ortner TM.Effects of response format on achievement and aptitude assessment results: multi-level random effects meta-analyses.R Soc Open Sci. 2023;10(5):220456. doi:10.1098/rsos.220456Hadar B, Katzir M, Pumpian S, Karelitz T, Liberman N.Psychological proximity improves reasoning in academic aptitude tests.NPJ Sci Learn. 2023;8(1):10. doi:10.1038/s41539-023-00158-xAmerican Psychological Association.Specific ability.American Psychological Association.Multiple aptitude test.Vera M, Cortés JA.Emotional and cognitive aptitudes and successful academic performance: Using the ECCT.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(24):13184. doi:10.3390/ijerph182413184Flensborg-Madsen T, Falgreen Eriksen HL, Mortensen EL.Early life predictors of intelligence in young adulthood and middle age.PLoS ONE.2020;15(1):e0228144. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228144American Psychological Association.Achievement test.

American Psychological Association.Aptitude test.

Breuer S, Scherndl T, Ortner TM.Effects of response format on achievement and aptitude assessment results: multi-level random effects meta-analyses.R Soc Open Sci. 2023;10(5):220456. doi:10.1098/rsos.220456

Hadar B, Katzir M, Pumpian S, Karelitz T, Liberman N.Psychological proximity improves reasoning in academic aptitude tests.NPJ Sci Learn. 2023;8(1):10. doi:10.1038/s41539-023-00158-x

American Psychological Association.Specific ability.

American Psychological Association.Multiple aptitude test.

Vera M, Cortés JA.Emotional and cognitive aptitudes and successful academic performance: Using the ECCT.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(24):13184. doi:10.3390/ijerph182413184

Flensborg-Madsen T, Falgreen Eriksen HL, Mortensen EL.Early life predictors of intelligence in young adulthood and middle age.PLoS ONE.2020;15(1):e0228144. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228144

American Psychological Association.Achievement test.

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At a Glance#

Recap#

Aptitude Test Examples#

Aptitude Tests in School#

Special Aptitude Tests#

Multiple Aptitude Tests#

Types of Aptitude Tests#

Takeaways#