Ability Tests
It’s a proven fact that interviews and reference checks simply don’t cut it when it comes to determining whether a candidate possesses necessary core skills and abilities.
Aptitude tests fill that gap by being among the strongest predictors of success in any job.
Why Use Ability Tests?
Sample Ability Tests & Reports
Abstract Reasoning Tests
When assessing for potential as well as past experience, Abstract Reasoning Tests quickly give employers insight into whether a candidate is likely to grasp new concepts in induction and ongoing training, enabling our clients to identify candidates worth investing in for training and development, especially in changing environments where the content of a job is likely to continuously move.
Abstract reasoning test scores also provide guidance on how to tailor training and development to the individual, with low scorers likely to respond well to highly structured step-by-step instructions and high scorers readily grasping new concepts outside of their previous experience and more suited to self-directed learning.
Click here for a sample report, then give us a call.
General Cognitive Ability Test (GCAT)
Designed in New Zealand as an online test, the GCAT is aimed at a broad range of roles and is suitable for any candidate who has completed secondary education.
Tests include Numerical, Verbal and Abstract reasoning in one combined test. We have 2 versions of this assessment, one is untimed which enables candidates to demonstrate their abilities in a more life-like setting where they haven't got a stopwatch counting down and the other has a 30 minute time limit, which is useful if you're interested in ascertaining a candidate's capabilities while under pressure.
Click here for a sample report and give us a call with any queries on replacing your current general reasoning tests with a home-grown online combined test.
Technical Test Battery – TTB2
The Technical Test Battery (TTB2) is designed to assess the core skills associated with success in Engineering Apprenticeships and Technical Training.
The TTB2 is comprised of three tests that comprehensively assess whether a candidate can take technical concepts and apply them to practical use in:
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- Mechanical Reasoning – the ability to understand mechanical concepts and physical principles in operation
- Spatial Reasoning – Measures spatial ability through questions that assess the ability to visualise patterns in three dimensions
- Visual Acuity – Measures the ability to work with highly detailed technical material such as wiring or circuit diagrams
Click here for a sample report, then give us a call.
Health & Safety Indicator (HSI)
With the introduction of New Zealand's Health & Safety at Work Act (2016) aimed at managing risks and minimising harm in the workplace, an ever growing number of organisations are aiming to reduce the incidence of health and safety incidents and workplace accidents.
Available as an online assessment, The Health & Safety Indicator (H&SI) assesses a range of ability and personality characteristics that represent an individual’s tendency towards safe behaviour in the workplace environment.
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The H&SI is a combination of targeted personality and ability measures in one assessment which allows for the identification of health and safety risk factors. It includes an overall score as well as specific ability and personality scores. The ability components are timed whereas the personality components are not. Specific measures include:
Ability to Operate Safely
- Understanding instructions
- Checking and attention to detail
- Understanding the safety environment
Safety Focused Personality
- Safety motivation
- Safety diligence
- Adherence to rules
- Openness to guidance
- Safety confidence
- Safety composure
Click here for a sample report, then give us a call to build this money and people saving assessment into your recruitment and development toolkit.
Acumen - Critical Reasoning Test
Acumen is a critical reasoning test designed to measure a person's ability to conceptualise, analyse, question and evaluate ideas.
Critical Reasoning is an important component of decision making as in influences how well somebody can understand and make use of complex information. The Critical Reasoning Test assesses aptitude in the following areas:
Recognising assumptions, evaluating arguments, drawing conclusions, identifying trends, making effective decisions.
Aimed at Graduate to Director Level, the Acumen Assessment consists of Numerical and Verbal Critical Reasoning Tests, which can be run individually or together.
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Clients find the Acumen series questions, which focus on business scenarios, relevant and valuable in identifying candidates who can tease out strong from weak arguments, true from false information, spot anomalies and trends in data and turn blocks of raw data into relevant management information.
Click here for a sample report and give us a call with any queries on using the Acumen assessment.
Clerical Ability Assessment
Aimed at people who have completed secondary school education, the GCAT+ Checking tests consist of:
- Verbal Reasoning to test capability to effectively use everyday business English
- Numerical Abilities in making sense of everyday office basic arithmetic and numbers
- Abstract Reasoning to test how quickly they can learn
- Clerical Checking Test to test attention to detail and accuracy in administrative tasks
Click here for a sample report, then give us a call.
Industrial Proficiency Test – IPT
Designed and developed in New Zealand, The Industrial Proficiency Test (IPT) is a robust measure of cognitive ability specifically designed for industrial, trades and process orientated jobs.
The test has strong face validity, which is to say candidates and clients see rational reasons for the questions in relevant work settings, enabling clients to use the IPT when:
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- Recruiting new staff
- Spotting potential & development needs in existing staff
This assessment is ideally suited to individuals with a basic level of formal education and includes measures of Numerical and Symbolic Reasoning, Following Written Instructions and Checking.
The Symbolic Reasoning Test also identifies the potential to learn among people who may not have performed well in formal education.
Click here for a sample report, then give us a call.
Numerical & Verbal Critical Reasoning Tests (CRTBi)
Critical Reasoning Tests are essential for roles that require clearly defined abilities to make logical decisions from complex text and raw data by quickly and accurately turning it into meaningful management information.
Aimed at Graduate to Director Level, the CRTBi series consist of Numerical and Verbal Critical Reasoning Tests, which can be run individually or together.
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Clients find the CRTBi series questions, which focus on business scenarios, relevant and valuable in identifying candidates who can tease out strong from weak arguments, true from false information, spot anomalies and trends in data and turn blocks of raw data into relevant management information.
Click here for a sample report, then contact us.
Contact us today to see how ability tests can help you choose the right candidate for the job and make the most of your existing workforce.
Steve assisted us with team development and personality testing for our Head of Departments. The feedback from the staff was that they all felt really comfortable with Steve and found his hands on approach going through their personality profiles a very informative, positive and helpful one. It was a great exercise as it helped our team all recognise each other’s different strengths and approaches and in turn work better together. Steve was always very prompt with replying to correspondence and more than happy to help with any questions during the process. Overall a really good experience and we would look to use Steve again in the near future for other areas of our organisation.
People Central have always being able to locate valid and reliable Testing & Assessment products suitable for our varied professional and technical roles. Any organisation looking to step up their staff selection and development processes should give them a call.
I have found People Central really helpful in providing testing services for critical positions in my faculty. They have a good range of tests to choose from and the service is quick and friendly. The follow up is marvellous. They provide a great additional input into the staff selection process.
Firstlight Foods utilises the assistance of People Central during our recruiting process. One of the services provided by People Central is the opportunity to objectively test the competencies of an applicant and this is an important part of the decision making process when selecting new team members for our business. Their advice is both timely and professional.
Great service – really sharpened our process and our evaluation of candidates, uncovering some surprising information on the way. Support from People Central was comprehensive and insightful. We would definitely use them again.
What would a salesperson operating at 120% of their target be bringing into your business? What would a poor selection decision of someone delivering only 50% of their target be doing to your bottom line? If selecting the sales staff most likely to succeed in your business is important to you, then talk to People Central.
Tribe engages the services of People Central to assist in our recruitment selection process. Getting the right people on board is absolutely critical to our on-going success, and the team at People Central have an impressive arsenal of testing and profiling tools available to assist in this. In addition to the “soft” skills profiling, they have a wide range of technical/IT based tests that help us determine technical capability before someone joins the organisation. This enables us to bring people on with no surprises, and also to plan their development and training needs before they even step through the door! A big thanks to the team at People Central for the on-going prompt and informed support.
NZCU Baywide has found great benefit in People Central’s services, particularly in relation to psychometric testing. This process really validates the assumptions we have made during our selection process. We’ve found it gives us a great understanding of what will motivate an individual in a work situation, we can also measure their working style and discover their strengths and weaknesses. It also provides us with information as to that candidate’s future performance. These are key factors in matching an applicant to a position as it’s essential to get the right person at the outset. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend People Central to other would-be employers: We really value Steve’s expert knowledge in this area.
People Central has delivered psychometric testing and assessment services for me for twelve years in two very different organisations. Their degree of expertise and range of tests is excellent, as is their partnership approach in supporting us to use assessments most appropriate to the role and business. Add to this their responsiveness in delivering on time when assessing candidates anywhere in New Zealand and the lengths they go to in ensuring hiring managers receive feedback to support them in making selection decisions, I would recommend any business talk to People Central whether they are existing users of psychometric products, or looking to introduce testing and assessment into their HR processes.
Industrial Proficiency Testing provided by People Central has allowed Napier Port to understand individuals’ ability across a range of functions, including numeracy skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow instructions. The testing process has improved our recruitment standards and helped us to better understand our learner base, contributing to more efficient and streamlined training programmes
Ready To Up Your Hiring Game?
The average cost of bad recruitment is 140% of the salary for the role*. That’s a $70,000 mistake on a $50,000 a year job.
Save time, money, stress and your reputation with our online ability and aptitude tests.