Clearing the technical is a tough one, here are some tips for the same

1. How to crack EmployersHow to crack Employers
Aptitude Tests andAptitude Tests and
Technical TestsTechnical Tests
By Swati S Jaiswal

2. Why are aptitude tests
conducted by employers?
• Tests are simply one way of testing the
competencies of candidates relevant to a
specific job.
• From an employer's point of view, tests
are also a reasonably cost-efficient way of
assessing a large number of applicants.

3. How are aptitude tests
used?
• Employers use tests at different stages during
the recruitment process.
• Some use tests to decide whom they should
invite to interview.
• Others use them at a later stage as part of a
series of selection exercises.

4. What are Aptitude tests?
• Aptitude tests are designed to measure your intellectual
capabilities for thinking and reasoning, particuarly your
logical and analytical reasoning abilities.
• They aim to assess your abilities to use specific job-
related skills and to predict subsequent job performance.
• Aptitude tests measure the ability to acquire the
knowledge or skills, which the employer feels are necessary
to do the job well.
• These skills are identified as part of the job analysis
process before the vacancy is advertised.
• The tests are not to measure what you already know and
are especially designed so that questions do not rely on
specific prior knowledge.

5. How are Aptitude Tests
delivered?
• These tests can be either a
– Paper pencil test or a
– Computer based test
• They commonly take the form of multiple
choice with right and wrong answers.
• These tests generally have to be
completed within a specified time frame.

6. Different types of aptitude
tests
• Verbal - verbal critical reasoning
• Numerical - numerical critical reasoning tests
where inferences need to be drawn from business
data
• Diagrammatic - tests of logical reasoning ability
presented in the form of shapes and diagrams
• Mechanical - a series of mechanical problems,
usually in pictorial form
Contd…

7. Different types of aptitude
test
• Spatial - assesses the ability to imagine the
rotation of shapes in space
• Clerical - measuring speed and accuracy in
checking errors in lists, computer printouts etc.
• Dexterity - measures hand speed and fine
precision skills or co-ordination
• Sensory - measures near or far visual acuity,
sound or colour discrimination.

8. BASIC STRATEGIESBASIC STRATEGIES
Before the Test

9. Before the Test
• Practice makes perfect
– practice of similar tests will help you to improve your
performance on actual tests.
– Visit the following links to take a few practice questions
• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/mathstest.htm
• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/verbaltest.htm
• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/spatialtest.htm
• Pace yourself
– If you choose to prepare for your test, review the material
(books, practice problems, or study guide) in several relatively
short periods rather than a few long periods.
– Studying in several 30-60 minute sessions allows you to absorb
the material more easily than if you were to cram large quantities
of information at once.

10. BASIC STRATEGIESBASIC STRATEGIES
When You Begin The TestWhen You Begin The Test

11. When You Begin
• Be positive!
• Read the directions and listen
carefully to all test instructions!
• Relax

12. BASIC STRATEGIESBASIC STRATEGIES
During the TestDuring the Test

13. BASIC STRATEGY # 1
• KNOW THE ENEMY
– Make sure you know the format of the test.
– This always stays the same - it is only the questions that
change.
– Know directions before you start, this saves a lot of
time during the test.

14. BASIC STRATEGY # 2
• USE ORDER OF DIFFICULTY TO YOUR
ADVANTAGE
– In some tests especially if it is computer based
the questions get more difficult as you
proceed.
– Have more confidence in the early questions on
your first impulse, but become more suspicious
later in the set of questions, as the answer
that looks right may be a trap.

15. BASIC STRATEGY # 3
• DON’T GET STUCK… MOVE ON
– Remember that may not be allowed to jump from section
to another but you can move around with in a section.
– Don’t dwell on one question until you have tried all
questions at least once.
– You don’t get more points for answering hard questions.
– Also sometimes a second look at a question makes it
seem easier.

16. BASIC STRATEGY # 4
• KNOW WHEN TO GUESS
– There is no penalty for guessing, only of course if you
guess a wrong answer.
– If you can get you answer to two options then it might
be worth your while to guess.
– Wrong answers you lose ¼ of a point, you would have to
guess wrong 4 times to offset one correct guess.
– Grid in questions have no penalty for wrong answers so
make sure you fill in an answer.

17. BASIC STRATEGY # 5
• RESPECT YOUR ANSWER SHEET
– Don’t make mistakes filling out your answer sheet. It is
easy to get confused when you are going between the
answer sheet and the test book, pay attention.
– Most common mistake is filling in the right answers in
the wrong spot.
– Circle the questions you skip and circle the answers you
choose. You can transfer answers from the book to the
sheet every five questions.

18. BASIC STRATEGY # 6
• THINK ABOUT THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU
TICK THE OPTIONS
– Distracters are common among the options.
– Think about the answer first before you look at the
choices and you lower the risk of falling into a trap.

19. BASIC STRATEGY # 7
• USE SHORTCUTS IF YOU HAVE TO
– You are judged on the right answe, not how you got it.
– The answer is there in front of you, sometimes it helps
to work backwards.

20. BASIC STRATEGY # 8
• PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU ARE IN
THE QUESTION SET
– If an easy question seems hard, reread the question.
– If a hard question seems too easy, reread the question.
– Don’t get too upset if you have to skip a couple of the
hard questions.
– Keep an eye on the time.

21. BASIC STRATEGY # 9
• LOOK FOR QUICK POINTS WHEN YOU ARE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME
– When you know you are running out of time look for
questions that you can answer quickly.
– Remember you are trying to score as many points as you
can.

22. Strategies for Various
Question Types

23. True – False
• If any part of the statement is false,
the entire statement is false.
• Words such as “always,” “never,” “all,”
and “none” are often, but not always,
signals that a statement is false.

24. Multiple Choice
• Read the entire question and try to answer
it before looking at your options.
• Even if you think you know the answer be
sure to read through all of your options.
• If you are uncertain, begin by eliminating
answers that are wrong, increasing your
chances of being right.

25. Technical tests of Employers

26. What are technical tests?
• Techncial tests are tests administered by
Employers to test the technical skill/proficiency
of a candidate on the specified topic.
• They are also administered to test the
Programming Logic of candidates.
• Technical tests can be either a paper & pencil
test or a computer based test.
• Technical tests can be objective tests which have
some modules of a program which either needs to
be completed or debugged.

27. Sample questions from technical tests of employers……..
http://www.freshersworld.com/placementweek/papers.asp
Visit the following link for sample technical tests of all leading
IT companies in India

28. Thank You!