Psychological Testing

How Can I Prepare for Psychological Tests?

Remember that psychological tests are not generally like examinations. There are no right or wrong answers to many “tests” (e.g. personality scales), although speed of completion is a factor in most ability tests so work as fast and as accurately as you can.

Tips:

Get a good night’s sleep before the day of testing.
Practise doing crosswords or mathematical problems.
Read a paper to practice taking in written information.
If you are likely to be asked to analyse numerical data, review how to do basic calculations such as percentages and ratios.
Remain calm; make sure all practical arrangements are clear so that you do not arrive feeling flustered or unprepared.
If you feel nervous, try breathing deeply to help calm yourself down.
Make sure you bring with you anything you might need during the day, such as reading glasses or an inhaler. You may want to bring a watch in order to keep track of time during any timed exercises.
If there are any circumstances that may affect your performance on the tests, tell the administrator beforehand.
If you have any special requirements, contact the administrator in advance to discuss the best ways to meet your needs.