Aptitude

Test

Melody L. Mejia

Aptitude Assessment
Meaning:
The tests assume that people differ in their
special abilities and that these differences
can be useful in predicting future
achievements.
Purpose:
It attempts to determine or measure an
examinees capacity to learn/acquire,
through future training, some skills and to
predict whether he or she would likely
benefit from an educational or training
program.

Applications:
1.Academic & Career
Counseling.
2.Selection & Placement
Decisions.

Consisting

Questions

History & Origin

Developed during World War
Carl Brigham a psychologist developed this test
First used in the recruitment of Army called Army
Alpha
Use as a college admissions test in 1926.
In 1933 James Bryant Conant decided to start a new
scholarship program
In 1938 all the member schools of the College Board
started using the SAT as a uniform exam, but only
for scholarship applicants.
In 1942, because of the war, all the pre-existing
College Board admissions tests were abolished, so
the SAT became the test for all applicants.

 In 1944, under contract to the

Army and the Navy,
administered the SAT to more
than 300,000 people all over
the country on a single day.
In 1948 the Educational Testing
Service was chartered and the
SAT was on its way to becoming
the basic college admissions
device for millions

Difference between Aptitude

Test & Intelligence Test
Intelligence Test

Aptitude Test

IQ denotes intelligence as a single,

measurable trait

Aptitude breaks that intelligence

down into several different
characteristics

It refers more to a broad range of

mental abilities

Aptitude score reflects abilities

It is not a precise tool for career

guidance
A high IQ score, by itself, would not
indicate whether a person is strong
or weak

that may be innate or

acquired in the distant
past.
Aptitude tests is a precise tool for
career guidance
Provide strengths and weakness of
person

Difference between Aptitude

Test & Achievement Test
Achievement Test

Aptitude Test

Purpose: assess
current performance
Content Validity.
Evaluate more specific
competencies that
have been recently
learned.

Purpose: predict
future performance.
Predictive Validity.
Evaluate more
general competencies
that may be innate or
acquired in the distant
past.

General Aptitude Tests

Purpose:
(1) identify an examinees specific
strengths & weaknesses and
(2) match an examinee to specific
jobs or training programs.

Examinees are assessed on

several specific abilities, like
mechanical reasoning, rather
than a global attribute

Scholastic Aptitude Tests

SAT I: Reasoning Test, which

includes
Verbal & Mathematical
Sections.

SAT II: Subject Tests (e.g.,

History), which are used for both
admission decisions &
determining course placement.

Types of Aptitude Test

 WHAT IS THE VALUE OF APTITUDE TESTING?

They are excellent predictors of future

scholastic achievement.
They provide ways of comparing a child's
performance with that of other children in
the same situation.
They provide a profile of strengths and
weaknesses.
They assess differences among individuals .

Contd..
They have uncovered hidden talents
in some children, thus improving
their educational opportunities.
They are valuable tools for working
with handicapped children.
Group aptitude tests---quick and
inexpensive
Aptitude tests are valuable in making
program and curricula decisions.

Usage in
Personnel Selection
Instructional
Guidance
Occupational Purpose

Future Scope

Employers

can

assess

the

cognitive

capabilities of potential employees.

Students can understand themselves and their
own cognitive abilities.
Changing as per the situation