Most people get worried when they hear the word ‘test’. The negative feelings associated with the word may be going back to our school and college days when we had to prepare, take the test and then wait anxiously for results. Thus, not surprisingly, many of my clients coming for career counseling either do not want to take tests that they think may reveal their shortcomings or get nervous about taking it.
Mala is one such 21-year-old who wanted to choose a good career after graduation in Arts.
She had three major questions for me:
- I am very bad at numerical ability. Will I have to prepare for the aptitude tests?
- Will the results really show me the correct career path?
- What if I have some other aptitude not measured by this test battery?
Before we take Mala’s questions, let us try to understand aptitude tests.
What is aptitude?
An aptitude is an inborn/innate potential to learn in an area. You may have realized by now that you learn certain subjects like mechanics and mechanical concepts or numbers and numerical concepts faster than other subject areas. If you reflect on it, you may realize that you ‘take to’ certain subject areas more easily than other subject areas. In fact, if you get the right training and practice, people say that you have a talent for it. In other words, you have an aptitude for it. Aptitude tests were historically developed keeping jobs in mind, i.e. realizing that certain jobs need specific aptitudes. Some vocations may require a complex combination of aptitudes to succeed in them. Thus, a surgeon requires good visuospatial aptitude and hand dexterity among other things to succeed.
Most aptitude tests measure one aptitude at a time like numerical ability, verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning, and so on. Another feature is that they are timed tests, i.e., you will need to complete them within a specific period.
Now let’s take up Mala’s three questions one by one:
Do I have to prepare for aptitude tests?
In a career guidance session, you and your aptitude are the focus. Sure, your aptitude is measured relative to others’ aptitude in the same age group, but the purpose of the session/guidance will be lost if you were to prepare for it. This test is not meant to get you into any program. The results will stay only with you and your counselor and your parents if they/you wish. It is meant to indicate where you are the best fit. So, preparation is not required.
Do aptitudes show the best career path?
Aptitude tests are indicators of your talents. They are not sufficient to decide on career paths. You will need a combination of interests and aptitude along with several other factors to make a career decision. To simplify this, let us take the example of Bijal, a Class 12 student, who has an aptitude for mechanics, but hardly any interest in pursuing a career further in mechanics-based occupations. It would then be ill-advised for her to take up mechanical engineering or such a type of vocation. She must then look at some other aptitudes that she may have that match her interest areas. In her case, it happens to be numerical ability and therefore she can take up any occupation that involves good numerical ability like accountancy, financial planning, and so on.
What if there are other aptitudes than those measured by these tests?
Yes, there are several aptitudes that are not measured by typical aptitude tests- e.g. musical, sports-related-physical, or dance and art-related aptitudes that require other measures. The best way is to discuss your past experiences in these areas with your career counselor and work out a path related to that. Also, it is important that you understand which types of aptitudes will be measured by the test batteries that you will be taking and how a combination of these may be related to the career path you wish to take.
In short, while taking an aptitude test:
- Find out more about the kinds of aptitudes being measured
- Do not ‘study’ for them but be prepared in other ways- by taking them when you are not stressed but alert, taking them in a quiet environment, and so on.
- If you do have an interest in and experience of other talents not being measured by aptitude tests given to you, be sure to discuss them with your counselor!
Aptitude Assessments through testing and discussion with your counselor are important parts of decision-making about careers. A career counselor can guide you to make informed choices based on your aptitudes, attitudes, and interests.
For more information, connect with us
psychservices@swastivishwa.com , Contact No Psychservices – 9529181790