First things first

Are you apprehensive about sitting for a situational judgement test for your new job? Then it would delight you to note that we present before you a holistic guide to aid you in passing the test with flying colours.

This guide explores the nuances of a situational judgement test in simple, yet not simplistic language. Thus you can be sure that this is the perfect tool, to aid you in passing the test with a great score. Passing this test takes you one step closer to bagging that dream job.

Guide

Skilled professionals who are well versed on the subject have put their heads together to prepare this in-depth guide. They make it ever so simple to understand every aspect of situational judgement tests, which otherwise are so challenging to grasp. This guide includes useful tips to pass the test, abilities which are required as well as other points which ought to be kept in mind.

What is a Situational Judgement test?

Simply put a situational judgement test is a kind of psychological inventory which puts forth before the examinee, various hypothetical scenarios and asks them to narrow down on the response, which they think would be ideal, given the situation. Additionally, they could even be told to rank the responses in the order which they feel would be most suitable. The test measures an individual’s behavioural tendencies, his/her manner of dealing with diverse situations, brings to the forefront leadership skills, if any and also to some extent points to a person’s level of maturity.

Such tests can be presented to the test taker in a number of ways, for example through a booklet, movies or even any audio recordings.

Which industries use Situaional Judgement tests for evaluation?

Situational judgement tests are being extensively used by employers in order to find the perfect employees for their firm. Here are 5 industries which make use of situational reasoning tests for their evaluation procedure.

Law
Education
Sales
Consulting
Hospitality

Top companies like Eon as well as KPMG make use of the Situational Judgement Tests to sift out the best employees to bring on board.

What kind of jobs are using situational judgement tests for evaluation?

Situational judgement tests have certainly carved a considerable niche for themselves in the recruitment process. Owing to its high validity and success rate, more and more industries as well as organisations are adopting this inventory.  These psychological tests are rather accurate and that is one of the chief reasons why they are being used for recruiting candidates for an array of different job roles. These includes the role of – a teacher, fire fighter, nurses, doctors, police officers, administrators etc.

What is a Situational Judgement test score?

The Situational Judgement test is interpreted in the same way as any psychometric test. This implies that even if a given score might seem or sound good it may not be so. This is owing to the fact that all the scores are compared with other people who play the same role in the work place. So, if a test taker happens to score 25/30 in a given situation judgement test the mark might appear good. Though, in actual fact it might end up being rather low owing to the fact that other people performing the same role, have an average score of 28. Therefore rather than making it above the ‘passed score’, it is essential to get a higher score than others of the same level.

How difficult is the Situational Judgement test?

Most often than not the difficulty of the test varies on the basis of difficulty level which is selected. The test levels vary from being at the support staff level, graduate level or even manager level. Based on the job being applied for, companies can issue the test accordingly. The test might seem very challenging indeed, if a candidate is not prepared in a proper manner. Situational judgement test preparation may not be easy, but it is necessary.

How important is the Situational Judgement test score for my evaluation?

The Situational Judgement Test is indeed very important for evaluative purposes. This is owing to the fact that employers can gauge multiple things pertaining to a person’s ability from it. Especially a person’s problem solving skills and leadership ability as well. Testing this becomes imperative for certain jobs which involve administrative roles, in the medicine field as well as jobs like fire fighting. In such fields, having people with in-depth knowledge is not merely enough, they must know how to apply that knowledge in the right way, in order to get out of a sticky situation in a satisfactory manner.

When do I take the Situational Judgement test?

Most often than not, this test is administered to candidates as a sort of pre interview screening. This is owing to the fact that having this ability to gauge a situation in a proper manner and handle it effectively as well, is something which is imperative for certain jobs. Candidates, which are completely lacking in this front, are immediately eliminated from the race, despite what else they may be bringing to the table.

What kind of abilites or knowledge do I need to have in order to pass the test?

In this kind of a test there is no distinct study material which can be learnt up. On the contrary, the only thing one really needs to do to pass the test is really read the questions well and think over what is being asked or the situation being presented. Therefore, the two best things that can aid you in succeeding the test are –  clarity of thought and comprehension skill. These as well as concentration will assist you in the time of the test.

Situational Judgement practice tips

  • Allocate your time wisely
  • Don’t over think things
  • Do as many tests as you can get your hands on
  • Read all the instructions
  • Stay calm

Believe it or not, solving situational judgement practice tests is truly one of the most effective ways of getting an understanding about what the tests are really about.

Types of aptitude tests

Aptitude tests are primarily designed to gauge whether an individual has the skills required to do a job in a satisfactory manner or not. Aptitude tests are of 10 basic kinds-

  • Numerical reasoning tests
  • Verbal reasoning tests
  • In-tray exercises
  • Diagrammatic tests
  • Situational judgment tests
  • Inductive reasoning tests
  • Cognitive ability tests
  • Mechanical reasoning tests
  • Error Checking tests
  • Abstract reasoning tests

To sum things up

This guide is truly indispensable for all those beginners who wish to ace the situational judgement test. It answers all the pressing questions in a to the point and practical manner. Once these doubts have been cleared, candidates can immediately start preparing for the test in a clear minded way.

Why is preparing for the Situational Judgement test so important?

Many assume that they can walk in and sit for the test without preparation, but this is certainly not so. This is because prior to sitting for the actual test it is essential to have a tertiary understanding of the general flow of the test. Keep in mind that sometimes, the questions are deliberately presented in a confusing manner, just to throw off the applicants.

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