aptitude test

aptitude test
any of various tests given to measure abilities, as manual dexterity, visual acuity, reasoning, or verbal comprehension, and used to assist in the selection of a career.
[1920-25]

* * *

      examination that attempts to determine and measure a person's ability to acquire, through future training, some specific set of skills (intellectual, motor, and so on). The tests assume that people differ in their special abilities and that these differences can be useful in predicting future achievements.

      General, or multiple, aptitude tests are similar to intelligence (intelligence, human) tests in that they measure a broad spectrum of abilities (e.g., verbal comprehension, general reasoning, numerical operations, perceptual speed, or mechanical knowledge). The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the American College Testing Exam (ACT) are examples of group tests commonly used in the United States to gauge general academic ability; in France the International Baccalaureate exam (le bac) is taken by secondary-school students. Such tests yield a profile of scores rather than a single IQ and are widely used in educational and vocational counseling (guidance counseling). Aptitude tests also have been developed to measure professional potential (e.g., legal or medical) and special abilities (e.g., clerical or mechanical). The Differential Aptitude Test (DAT) measures specific abilities such as clerical speed and mechanical reasoning as well as general academic ability.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • aptitude test — ➔ test1 * * * aptitude test UK US noun [C] HR ► a test to find out whether someone has a natural ability for a particular type of work: »Some companies conduct aptitude tests to detect the best job candidates …   Financial and business terms

  • aptitude test — aptitude tests N COUNT An aptitude test is a test that is specially designed to find out how easily and how well you can do something …   English dictionary

  • aptitude test — n a standardized test designed to predict an individual s ability to learn certain skills compare INTELLIGENCE TEST …   Medical dictionary

  • aptitude test — ☆ aptitude test n. a test for determining the probability of a person s success in some activity in which he is not yet trained …   English World dictionary

  • Aptitude Test — An exam used to determine an individual s propensity to succeed in a given activity. Aptitude tests assume that individuals have inherent strengths and weaknesses, and are naturally inclined toward success or failure in certain areas based on… …   Investment dictionary

  • aptitude test — profesinio tinkamumo testas statusas Aprobuotas sritis žmogiškųjų išteklių plėtra apibrėžtis Lietuvos Respublikos kompetentingų institucijų atliekamas asmens profesinių žinių patikrinimas, siekiant įvertinti jo gebėjimą dirbti pagal… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • aptitude test — A type of selection test intended to assess a candidate s promise, trainability, and potential rather than testing previously acquired competence. An intelligence test is often used as a measure of aptitude …   Big dictionary of business and management

  • aptitude test — Synonyms and related words: Bernreuter personality inventory, Binet Simon test, Brown personality inventory, Goldstein Sheerer test, IQ, IQ test, Kent mental test, Minnesota preschool scale, Oseretsky test, Rorschach test, Stanford revision,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • aptitude test — /ˈæptətʃud tɛst/ (say aptuhchoohd test) noun a test for special fitness; a test given to find out what sort of work a person has the ability to learn, such as clerical work, mechanical work, etc …  

  • aptitude test — ap′titude test n. edu a test designed to measure skills and used to assist in the selection of a career • Etymology: 1920–25 …   From formal English to slang

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”