Before the Assessment Session

What information should I be provided with before I take the questionnaire or test ?

You should be informed in advance if you will be sitting a test or questionnaire as part of a process and be given details of the nature of the assessment, why it is being used, the conditions under which it will take place (i.e. invigilated or at your leisure), the materials that you might need (for example, calculators, rough paper and pencil etc), the nature of any feedback that you will receive, what / how your data will be used and who will have access to that data. You may also at this stage receive practice leaflets, or information on where you may find practice questions on the internet.

Should I be told the name of the psychometric instrument that I am being asked to complete?

Organisations should tell you the type of instrument that you will be asked to complete (e.g. ability test, personality questionnaire, etc), but few organisations will tell you the exact name. In job selection situations this is to discourage candidates from gaining unfair advantage.

What if the instrument doesn’t look relevant to the position I am applying for?

Appearance isn't a necessarily a guide to relevance. However, if you have serious concerns you should talk to a representative from the organisation to which you are applying. If they do not answer satisfactorily and you are still concerned, you may wish to contact the British Psychological Society, contact details for whom can be found at the end of this document.

During the Session

Should I still take the test / questionnaire if I have a disability that might affect my ability to answer ?

If you have such a disability, you should contact the organisation asking you to be assessed and tell them. They should be able to take this into account and administer the assessment process in a form that you find acceptable.

Can I use paper and pencil to work out the answers or write down questions ?

These questions come up if you are completing a test on software. You should be told if you are allowed to use pencil and paper to work out the answers – however, usually, only the answers that you input into the software will count.

Most online ability tests are strictly timed, and consequently, it is not advisable to write down the questions, as this will slow you down, and may affect your mark. You may be able, if you wish, to write the questions down if the instrument is untimed, for example a personality questionnaire. You should contact the organisation asking you to take the test to obtain more detail on the specific test that you are taking.

Can I print out a computerised assessment and take it in paper and pencil format?

Most online ability tests are strictly timed, and so you will not be able to print the questions and perform well. However, it may be technically possible in some cases where you are filling in a personality questionnaire or interest inventory. You need to be aware of copyright issues, as the instrument will be owned by the publisher or the organisation administering it. Contact the organisation asking you to take the test for more details.

What if I don’t complete the instrument in the given time ?

As previously mentioned, ability tests are tests of maximum performance: they aim to measure the best that you can do within a set time limit. Not finishing the test does not necessarily mean that you have done badly – your score will be compared to a relevant representative set of scores (for example, the score of a graduate applying for a position in the financial industry may be compared to the scores of 500 other graduates who have applied to the financial industry). Many such tests are designed in such a way that most people cannot finish all the questions in the time given.

In the case of typical performance questionnaires, you will either have no time limit, or your time limit will be more flexible. You will probably be required to finish all the questions

After the Administration Session

What happens to my data when I have completed the psychometric instrument?

This is dependent on the organisation involved, but you should be informed by them of what will happen to your data before you complete it. Most countries (including the United Kingdom) have data-protection legislation that requires organisations to state prior to a session how your data will be processed and to ask for your consent to this.

Are my results confidential?

Your results should only be used for the reasons originally stated by the organisation asking you to undergo the assessment, and should only be shared with relevant people.

What information will I get once I have taken the test?

Many organisations will provide you with feedback on your performance, but in some cases this may not be possible, for example, due to a large number of people going through the process at the same time. Generally, employers are more likely to give feedback in the later stages of a selection procedure.

If you would like feedback about your results you should contact the organisation for whom you took the questionnaire or test to arrange a mutually convenient time to discuss it with you. Best practice would suggest that an organisation should provide you with some feedback, although the level of detail may vary from organisation to organisation.

Can I give feedback on how I felt it went?

Some organisations will provide space within the assessment process for you to feedback on how you thought you felt the process went.