Natural ability tests measure what you do well without a lot of effort or practice. Aptitude tests relate abilities to work by combining them and connecting them to real life applications in different work roles, environments, and tasks. Also known as talent tests, they help you confirm or discover which work settings and functions will be the best fit for you.

Aptitude tests are different than personality, interest, or values assessments. In those assessments, you are answering questions and you can often have a sense of what it’s trying to figure out. With aptitude or ability testing, you are looking at numbers and letters, listening to tones, looking at diagrams, deciphering other items, and responding to prompts. Often while taking the aptitude assessment, you’re not sure what it’s measuring or how it applies to how you solve problems, plan, or reason.

You can see a customized sample report for adults here and one for students here.

Many people get nervous about taking tests or assessments. The point of taking the ability test is to better understand specifically which roles, tasks, and environments will be a good fit for you. Keep this in mind when taking the test, even if you find some work samples difficult, it will be helpful to discover or confirm the best fits for you, and our in-depth results debrief will help provide clarity which is what you are looking for. We advise clients not to stress about it but rather try to enjoy the process of deepening the self-knowledge.

Your score is a good score. Wherever you fall on the different scales comes with strengths and challenges. Low scores have pros and high scores also have cons. There’s no right or wrong way to be, it’s understanding where your strengths lie and how to identify and apply that knowledge that gives you the advantage. By embracing what is a good fit and energizes you, will find direction, satisfaction, flow, and career transformation.