What is an aptitude test? Check the benefits and examples.
Aptitude tests, which have been incorporated into the recruitment screening process at many companies, are used as a means to efficiently assess a candidate’s personality and suitability for the job—aspects that cannot be fully evaluated through resumes or interviews alone. However, there are likely many people who are considering implementing these tests but feel unsure about how to use them effectively due to the wide variety available. In this article, we’ll provide a detailed explanation of the types of aptitude tests, the benefits of implementing them, and sample questions. We’ll also introduce aptitude tests used by many companies, so please use this as a reference when comparing and evaluating your options for implementation. What Is an Aptitude Test? An aptitude test is a test designed to evaluate candidates fairly. They are used to assess an applicant’s abilities and personality—aspects that are often difficult to gauge through interviews or resumes alone. While they are frequently used as a criterion for hiring candidates who possess the skills sought by the company and align with its corporate philosophy and culture, a poor test result does not necessarily mean the candidate is unsuitable. It’s important to view these tests as a tool for understanding one facet of an individual’s profile. Recently, an increasing number of companies have also begun using them to evaluate current employees, assess stress tolerance, and conduct mental health screenings. Back to Table of Contents Benefits of Conducting Aptitude Tests Aptitude tests, which are incorporated into recruitment processes by many companies, offer the benefit of allowing for an efficient and fair assessment of a candidate’s character and abilities. What other benefits are there to administering aptitude tests? Here, we’ll outline three key benefits of conducting aptitude tests. Objective Evaluation of Applicants Aptitude tests allow you to objectively assess an applicant’s aptitudes, personality, and suitability for your company—aspects that are often difficult to gauge from resumes or interviews alone. Recruitment processes require objective judgments that are not influenced by educational background or appearance. However, since many mid-career candidates are accustomed to interviews, it is often difficult to determine whether they are a good fit for your company. Using aptitude tests eliminates variations in evaluation among recruiters, enabling more accurate candidate selection. Useful for Reviewing the Hiring Process The results of aptitude tests aren’t just useful for the hiring process itself—they can also be effectively utilized throughout your entire recruitment efforts. For example, by analyzing the results, you can identify trends regarding the types of candidates who are most likely to apply to your company. If you’re not attracting the talent you need, you can take steps such as adjusting your recruitment messaging. Furthermore, by selecting an aptitude test that provides results useful for post-hire evaluations, staffing decisions, and training, you can continue to leverage that data even after hiring. Increasing Opportunities to Engage with Applicants: By using aptitude tests that include a service for providing feedback on results to test-takers, you can also use them to attract applicants. Many students participating in internships or job hunting tend to want to know what kind of work or company they are suited for. Therefore, aim to attract attention and draw in candidates by promoting “results feedback” during internship periods or the new graduate hiring season. From the test-taker’s perspective, this also provides an opportunity to objectively assess their own abilities, so if you can meet their needs—such as “being able to assess my abilities for free” or “finding out how well I match with a company”—you can increase your opportunities for engagement. In such cases, be sure to verify that the feedback sheet is easy to understand and clear. Return to Table of Contents Methods of Administering Aptitude Tests Aptitude tests can be broadly categorized into two methods: online testing and paper-based testing. Even within these categories, the testing methods vary depending on the testing location and the administering company. Below, we’ll explain the administration methods for aptitude tests in detail. Since each has its own advantages and disadvantages, compare them to choose the method best suited for your company. Mark-Sheet Method The mark-sheet method involves answering questions by shading in the appropriate section of a designated paper sheet with a pencil. It is common for the aptitude test provider to handle everything from preparing the questions and test forms to grading the tests; however, some companies handle the grading in-house. When using the mark-sheet method, answers are almost always provided using numbers or symbols, so care must be taken in how the questions are formulated. Also, keep in mind that if your company handles the scoring in-house, it will take time and effort to produce the analysis results. In-House Method The in-house method involves your company providing the testing venue and computers to administer the test. Test takers take the aptitude test on computers provided at the venue. Although the company must provide the testing site and computers, the main advantage is that results are available immediately after the test, allowing them to be used in the selection process right away—thereby reducing the time and effort required to obtain results. Test Center Method The test center method involves the aptitude test provider setting up testing sites nationwide, where test-takers take the test. Test-takers enter their answers using computers provided at the testing site. The advantages include the elimination of the risk of cheating under the supervision of an exam proctor and the ability to outsource test administration, which reduces the workload. However, a drawback is that while it saves time and effort, the cost of outsourcing is relatively high. Web-Based Method The web-based method allows test takers to take the aptitude test from home or another location, and the company can specify the testing period. One of the main attractions is that test-takers can take the test at their own convenience, which lowers the barrier to participation. Companies also benefit because they do not need to provide venues, computers, or staff, which can reduce both effort and costs. While analyzing and compiling test results is straightforward, caution is required due to the potential for fraud, such as someone else taking the test on the candidate’s behalf. Back to Table of Contents: Assessment Categories and Sample Questions in Aptitude Tests. Assessment categories are broadly divided into two types: “Aptitude Tests” and “Personality Tests.” Aptitude tests measure basic academic skills, such as language and math abilities, as well as general knowledge and foundational skills required for the job. Although the questions are presented in a format similar to an academic achievement test, the difficulty level itself is not high, and they are typically divided into verbal and nonverbal sections. Personality tests, as the name suggests, assess an individual’s character, values, and thought processes. They are used to determine whether a candidate will be able to communicate smoothly after joining the company and whether they possess a desire to improve, with the aim of preventing a mismatch with the company. Aptitude Test (Verbal Section) The verbal section includes questions that test your Japanese language proficiency. Relationship Between Two Words: These questions require you to interpret the relationship between a pair of words. You must select the option that reflects the same relationship as the words presented in the question. Meaning of Words: These questions require you to select the word from the choices that conveys the same meaning as the one in the question. Since frequently tested words tend to follow certain patterns, it is essential to understand their precise meanings. Usage of Words: These questions require you to select the option from the choices that demonstrates the same usage as the word shown in the question. For example, questions may ask you to identify homophones, figurative language, or grammatically identical usages. Sentence Rearrangement: These questions require you to rearrange a jumbled passage into the correct order. You must infer the overall flow of the passage from the options provided. Fill-in-the-Blank: This question requires you to fill in the blanks in the passage with the appropriate words or phrases. You must infer the correct answer from the context before and after the blank to ensure the sentence makes sense. Aptitude Test (Nonverbal Section): The nonverbal section assesses computational skills and primarily consists of math problems. Crane-Turtle Problems: These problems assume that a crane has two legs and a turtle has four legs. Examples include questions such as, “If there are a total of X cranes and turtles, and a total of X legs, how many cranes and how many turtles are there?” These are well-known as common types of word problems in elementary school math. Payment Calculations: These problems deal with settling bills, discounts, installment payments, and splitting the bill. They often involve calculating the average payment amount or determining percentages. Sets: These problems require you to identify the number of people or quantities within a group that meet the conditions specified in the question. Drawing a Venn diagram to visualize the information can make it easier to arrive at the answer. Probability: These problems involve calculating the probability that a certain event will occur. For example, you might be asked, “If you flip a two-sided coin twice, find the probability that it will land on heads exactly once.” Interpreting Tables and Data: These problems require you to extract necessary information from the data presented—such as tables, graphs, or passages—select the relevant details, and perform calculations. Combinatorics: These problems involve calculating the total number of possible outcomes for various scenarios, such as the possible combinations of outcomes when rolling a die multiple times. Inference: Inference involves interpreting the information provided in the problem statement and selecting the statement that can be deduced as “definitely correct.” Inference is considered a particularly important area within the “logic problems” section of the non-verbal aptitude test. Speed Problems: These are problems that use formulas to calculate “speed, time, and distance.” “Traveler problems” are sometimes included as an application of speed calculations. Profit and Loss Problems: These are problems that require you to calculate the list price, profit, or selling price of a product. It is important to have a solid understanding of the relationship between cost, list price, and selling price. Personality Tests: While there are answers considered desirable in personality tests, a key characteristic is that there are no “correct” answers. Frequently asked questions tend to fall into three categories. Personality Traits: The internal atmosphere varies widely from company to company. Questions are designed to assess whether a candidate’s personality aligns with the company’s culture. Adaptability to the Organization: Regardless of industry or job type, work styles and corporate cultures differ from company to company. Another characteristic is that approaches to performance evaluations also tend to differ from company to company. Within this context, the test assesses adaptability to the organization to determine whether a candidate’s personality and mindset align with the company’s culture. Adaptability to Job Roles There are various job roles within a company, such as sales and technical positions. The test is used to determine which type of role a candidate is best suited for. Return to Table of Contents Main Types of Aptitude Tests It is important to clearly define the purpose of the aptitude test before deciding which one to adopt. While there is a wide variety of aptitude tests, here we introduce the main types used by many companies. Compare the characteristics of each and select the one that best suits your company. SPI3 [Reference: https://www.spi.recruit.co.jp/] SPI is a mainstream aptitude test reportedly adopted by more than 10,000 companies in Japan. It measures “personality aptitude” and “cognitive ability” to determine what kind of work suits an applicant and what type of organization they are likely to fit into. The cost is charged per person taking the test: 4,400 yen for the online test format and 6,050 yen for the test center format. Since you can choose between online and paper-based testing, you can select the method that best suits your company’s needs. Tamatebako [Reference: http://www.shl.co.jp/] The Tamatebako aptitude test is the second most widely used by companies, following SPI. It is marketed as an aptitude test for businesses by the HR consulting firm Nippon S.H.L. Co., Ltd. “Tamatebako I Ver. 2” not only assesses basic abilities and personality but also evaluates stress tolerance and work motivation—key factors for smoothly performing job duties. It generates predicted scores for these abilities as well as checkpoints that can be utilized during interviews. The test is administered online and takes only 11 minutes to complete, making it easy for candidates to take without feeling burdened. The implementation cost is 1.32 million yen, and there is no limit on the number of test-takers. CUBIC [Reference: https://www.e-jinjibu.jp/] CUBIC is an aptitude test sold by e-Jinji Co., Ltd. Its motto is “affordable pricing, fast results, and friendly, attentive service.” After the test, simply fax or email the answer sheet, and the results will be delivered to your registered email address in as little as 30 minutes. Another appealing feature is its ease of use—you can start using the service on the very same day you complete the registration process. Another key feature is the short testing time: the recruitment aptitude test takes 20 minutes, and the ability test takes 5 minutes. The recruitment aptitude test costs 1,870 yen per person, and the ability test costs 550 yen per subject, making it relatively more affordable than aptitude tests offered by other companies. There are also pay-as-you-go and flat-rate plans available, with the per-person cost decreasing as the number of users increases. GAB [Reference: http://www.shl.co.jp/] GAB is an assessment developed by SHL Japan Co., Ltd. specifically for the recruitment of new graduates. By assessing verbal and numerical intelligence as well as personality traits, the test predicts nine characteristics—such as “vitality” and “teamwork”—that employers want to evaluate before hiring, as well as the management and operational skills expected after employment and the job roles for which the test-taker is best suited. The test takes 80 minutes to complete online and 90 minutes using a multiple-choice answer sheet. The cost consists of 660 yen for the test booklet and 3,850 yen for scoring and processing. Uchida-Kraepelin Test [Reference: https://www.nsgk.co.jp/uk] Compared to tests where respondents choose between “yes” and “no” options, this test is considered to have high validity and reliability because it is difficult for test-takers to intentionally provide answers deemed desirable. The test takes 50 minutes to complete, and the cost for an individual diagnostic assessment is 2,420 yen per person; however, prices vary depending on the assessment format. learningBOX [Reference: https://learningbox.online/] learningBOX features a diagnostic test creation function that allows you to assess a test-taker’s characteristics and knowledge level. This feature allows administrators to present a variety of questions prepared in advance, and test-takers’ responses generate corresponding results. For aptitude tests used in the recruitment process, administrators can prepare questions that measure the skills and abilities required for the specific job role. Based on the analyzed results, organizations can take appropriate actions tailored to each test-taker’s aptitude and abilities. Another key feature is that it not only allows you to create diagnostic tests but also enables you to manage the test administration status and results. Since you can flexibly edit the content of the questions, we recommend using learningBOX’s diagnostic test creation feature when conducting aptitude tests. Back to Table of Contents: We Recommend Managing Aptitude Tests with “learningBOX” Aptitude tests allow you to objectively assess aspects of a candidate—such as their abilities and personality—that are difficult to gauge through interviews alone. They are useful not only for hiring exams but also for department assignments and training after an employee joins the company. While there are various types of aptitude tests, when considering implementation, be sure to compare their respective features and evaluate whether they are suitable for your company. With our “learningBOX,” you can create aptitude test content using the diagnostic test creation feature to administer web-based tests. We also offer a full suite of features necessary for aptitude testing, ranging from score management to test-taker management. You can use it for free with no time limit for up to 10 accounts, so feel free to start with a free trial. ▼We also recommend this! Related Articles Return to Table of Contents