Macquarie Professional Assessments

Practice Leaflet
Verbal, Numerical, Abstract Reasoning, Personality.
 Why Psychometric Assessments Are Used
Employers are increasingly incorporating psycho-
metric assessments into selection procedures –
both for selection of personnel and for development
purposes. There is good evidence that assess-
ments and questionnaires that are professionally
used and evaluated can provide objective, reliable
and relevant information concerning the likelihood
of job success and satisfaction.
You may be asked to complete several ability
assessments and/or a personality questionnaire in
the context of an extended selection or development
procedure. The information may be combined with
that obtained from other sources, such as attainment
results, background screening, interviews and
simulation exercises to build up a comprehensive
picture of the individual being assessed.
Whatever the context in which you are being asked
to complete these assessments, you may find
this information helpful. It has been designed to
introduce you to three types of ability assessments
and a personality questionnaire commonly used
in professional and managerial selection and
development.
Assessments can help you to
• be fairly and objectively assessed in a competitive
situation
• find out more about your own strengths and
weaknesses
• select a career path for which you are suited
• be comprehensively assessed for selection or
development purposes
• gain a better understanding of your work style
preferences and main sources of motivation
Assessments enable the employer to
• assess in a fair and objective way
• select people best suited to the demands of the job
• identify areas of weakness for staff development
• counsel staff appropriately
• place personnel appropriately within an orga-
nization
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What sort of assessment will you have to do?
The assessment session will consist of a com-
bination of ability components and a personality
questionnaire.
Ability Assessment
The assessments you are asked to complete
will measure skills relevant to the job, position or
responsibilities for which you are being considered.
While different jobs make different demands on
individuals, extensive analysis of many managerial
and professional roles have shown that competence
in verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning is a
common requirement.
This practice leaflet covers assessments that require
you to:
• evaluate the logic of different statements
• interpret data from statistical tables
• recognize the logical rules governing sequences
of information
In order to familiarize yourself with the type of
questions that may be asked, read the instructions
in each instance and work through the questions
as quickly and accurately as you can, bearing in
mind that the assessments themselves have time
constraints.
Practice questions relevant to the assessments you
will be completing are provided on pages 3 through
6, with answers available on page 8. Suggestions
for preparing for your assessment session are also
provided.
Personality Questionnaires
Personality questionnaires (or inventories) are
concerned with people’s typical or preferred way of
behaving in a work environment, such as the way
they relate to others or the way they approach and
solve problems. The benefit of a questionnaire is that
the same carefully designed and fully researched
questions are asked of all people, allowing their
answers to be interpreted in a consistent and
objective way.
Sample personality questionnaire items, along with
supporting information, are provided on page 7.
 Verbal Assessment

Instructions
The verbal and numerical questions that follow
are in a multiple choice format. For each question,
you are given several possible answers. When you
have selected your answer, you should fill in the
appropriate circle on the answer sheet provided.
In this set of practice questions, you are given two
passages, each of which is followed by several
statements. Your task is to evaluate the statements
in light of the information or opinions contained in the
passage and to select your answer according to the
rules given below.
The big economic difference between nuclear
and fossil-fuelled power plants is that nuclear
reactors are more expensive to build and
decommission, but cheaper to run. So disputes
over the relative efficiency of the two systems
revolve not just around the prices of coal and
uranium today and tomorrow, but also around
the way in which future income should be
compared with current income.
1. The main difference between nuclear and fossil-
fuelled power plants is an economic one.

Mark circle A if the statement is patently true or 2. The price of coal is not relevant to discussions
follows logically, given the information or opinions about the relative efficiency of nuclear reactors.
contained in the passage. 3. If nuclear reactors were cheaper to build and de-
Mark circle B if the statement is patently false commission than fossil-fuelled power plants, they
or the opposite meaning follows logically, given would definitely have the economic advantage.
the information or opinions contained in the
At any given moment, we are being bombarded
passage.
by physical and psychological stimuli competing
Mark circle C if you cannot say whether the for our attention. Although our eyes are capable
statement is true or untrue or follows logically of handling more than 5 million bits of data per
without further information. second, our brains are capable of interpreting
only about 500 bits per second. With similar
disparities between each of the other senses
Answer Sheet
and the brain, it is easy to see that we must
A B C
select the visual, auditory, or tactile stimuli that
1 A B C we wish to compute at any specific time.
2 A B C
3 A B C 4. Physical stimuli usually win in the competition for
4 A B C our attention.
5 A B C 5. The capacity of the human brain is sufficient to
6 A B C interpret nearly all the stimuli the senses can
register under optimum conditions.
6. Eyes are able to cope with a greater input of
information than ears.

Macquarie Professional Assessment 3

 Numerical Assessment

In this set of practice questions, you have to use facts
and figures presented in statistical tables and graphs
to answer the questions below. In each question, you
are given five options from which to choose. One, and
only one, of the options is correct in each case.
For numerical assessments of this nature, you will be
provided with a calculator. You may try the following
questions with or without the use of a calculator -
as you wish. In addition, you will be provided with
scratch paper to work out the answers.

Statistical Table and Graph

Population Structure 1985

Population Live births Deaths per Percentage of population at
at start of per 1000 1000 start of year aged
year population population
(millions) (Jan-Dec) (Jan-Dec) under 15 60 or over

UK 56.6 13.3 11.8 19 21

France 55.2 13.9 10.0 21 19
Italy 57.1 10.1 9.5 19 19
Germany 61.0 9.6 11.5 15 20
Spain 38.6 12.1 7.7 23 17

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 Numerical Assessment Questions

1. Which country had the highest number of people aged 60 or over at the start of 1985?
A B C D E
UK France Italy Germany Spain

2. What percentage of the total 15mm button production was classed as sub-standard in September?
A B C D E
23.5% 25% 27.5% 15% 17.5%

3. How many live births occurred in 1985 in Spain and Italy together (to the nearest 1000)?
A B C D E
104,000 840,000 1,044,000 8,400,000 10,440,000

4. What was the net effect on the UK population of the live birth and death rates in 1985?
A B C D E
Decrease of Increase of Increase of Increase of Cannot
66,700 84,900 85,270 752,780 say

5. By how much did the total sales value of November’s button production vary from October’s?
A B C D E
$28.50 $142.50 $285.00 $427.50 No
(Decrease) (Decrease) (Increase) (Decrease) change

6. What was the loss in potential sales revenue attributable to the production of sub-standard
(as opposed to standard) buttons over the 6-month period?
A B C D E
$213.75 $427.50 $2,137.50 $2,280.00 $4,275.00

Answer Sheet
A B C D E A B C D E

1 A B C D E 4 A B C D E

2 A B C D E 5 A B C D E

3 A B C D E 6 A B C D E

Macquarie Professional Assessment 5

 Abstract Reasoning Assessment

Each problem in this as-

sessment consists of
a series of diagrams on
the left that follows a logi-
cal sequence. You are to
choose the next diagram
in the series from the five
options on the right and
indicate your answer by
filling in completely the
appropriate circle on the
accompanying answer
box below.
Time guideline
See how many you can
answer in 5 minutes,
remembering that you
should work quickly as
well as accurately.

Answer Sheet

A B C D E

1 A B C D E

2 A B C D E

3 A B C D E

4 A B C D E

5 A B C D E

6 A B C D E

7 A B C D E

8 A B C D E

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 Personality Questionnaire

You are given a block of four statements - A, B, C Finer points about personality questionnaires:
and D. Your task is to choose the statement that you
• The questions are concerned with how you typi-
think is most true or typical of your everyday work
cally behave at work. Thinking about a typical
behavior before choosing the one that is least true
work situation may help you select an answer. If
or typical of you. Indicate your choices by filling in
you have no formal work experience, think about
the appropriate circle in the column marked Most
how you might behave in similar situations, such
(typical) and the column marked Least (typical).
as voluntary work or college.
The first block has been completed for you. The
• Although there is no time limit, you should work
person has chosen ‘Enjoys organizing people’ as
quickly rather than pondering at length over any
most true or typical and ‘Seeks variety’ as the least
one question. This helps you give your most
true or typical of him/herself. Now try questions 2, 3
natural answer; the one that best reflects how
and 4 yourself.
you are.
I am the sort of person who …
• People who try to guess desirable responses are
Least Most often incorrect and may give an impression
A. Has a wide circle of friends of themselves that does not fit in with other
B. Enjoys organizing people information. Many questionnaires contain questions
C. Relaxes easily which help check whether someone is describing
D. Seeks variety him or herself honestly and consistently, so try to
be as accurate as possible when answering the
questions.
Least Most • We may want to discuss your results with you. If
A. Helps people with their problems you are offered this opportunity, use it to find out
B. Develops new approaches as much about yourself as you can. This may be
C. Has lots of energy helpful in understanding yourself and your work-
D. Enjoys social activities related strengths and limitations better.
• The questionnaire is about your personality style.
In other words, information about the way that you
Least Most
go about your work. It is NOT about ability and
A. Has lots of new ideas
there are no right or wrong answers. Just answer
B. Feels calm
honestly as you are.
C. Likes to understand things
• Don’t worry if some questions do not seem
D. Is easy to get on with
relevant. We will be focusing on those areas most
relevant to your application.

Least Most
A. Enjoys organizing events
B. Sometimes get angry
C. Is talkative
D. Resolves conflicts at work

Macquarie Professional Assessment 7

 Assessment Answers And Session Preparation

You will find the correct answers to the three Finally, be prepared for the assessment session
assessments below. Don’t be discouraged if you
• Get a good night’s sleep before the assessment.
found the questions difficult: there are several things
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the assess-
you can do to improve your performance.
ment session.
Verbal Assessments: • If you wear glasses or a hearing aid, be sure to
take them with you.
Read newspapers, reports, business journals. Do
verbal problem solving exercises, e.g. crosswords. At the session
Numerical Assessments: • Listen carefully to the instructions.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Read financial reports in newspapers. Study tables
• Read each question carefully before answering.
of data or practice your mental arithmetic.
• Work quickly and accurately - most assessments
Abstract Reasoning: have time limits.
Solve puzzles in newspapers and magazines involv- Remember – the outcome of most assessments is
ing diagrams, or play games involving sequences or based on the combination of data from different
strategies, e.g. chess, checkers. sources. Even if you don’t feel confident about your
Delivery Method performance in the assessments, you may have
other strengths that will be taken into account.
Typically you will be completing the assessments
using a computer, however you will not need to know
how to operate a computer. Everything that you have
to do will be explained to you at the beginning of the
session. You will be given the chance to practice using
the computer and ask questions before you start.

Assessment Answers
Verbal Numerical Abstract Reasoning
A B C A B C D E A B C D E
1 A B C 1 A B C D E 1 A B C D E
2 A B C D E
2 A B C 2 A B C D E
3 A B C D E
3 A B C 3 A B C D E
4 A B C D E
4 A B C 4 A B C D E
5 A B C D E
5 A B C 5 A B C D E 6 A B C D E
6 A B C 6 A B C D E 7 A B C D E
8 A B C D E

© SHL Group plc, 2006

The reproduction of these guidelines by duplicating machine, photocopying process or any other
method including computer installations, is breaking copyright law.

8 Macquarie Professional Assessment