Our Next Generation Psychometric Designs


Welcome to our Bespoke Psychometric Designs.

Rob Williams

Psychometric test design question?

Ask ROB (expert test developer) your questions by emailing rrussellwilliams@hotmail.co.uk

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests. He is also the author of five psychometric books and has worked for the leading global psychometric test publishers including SHL, Kenexa IBM, MBTI, CAPP and SOVA Assessment.

Our psychometric test design specialities

Assessment specialists

We are assessment specialists in both work and education settings. For more insights into meaningful assessments contact Rob Williams Assessment for a comprehensive appraisal.

Psychometric test design specialists

We are bespoke psychometric test specialists in both work and education settings. For more insights into meaningful assessments contact Rob Williams Assessment for a comprehensive appraisal.


Rob Williams Assessment Ltd developed customized psychometric test designs for these SMEs and scale-ups:

Our skills assessment designs 

IMocha aptitide test design

Harappa Education’s skills assessments

– Empowering adult and teenage learners with must-have Thrive Skills Assessment design (for navigating crucial career milestones).

Magnetic Rock incubator – cyber security personality test design

– Their mission is to upskill humanity. 

HireVue Game-based assessment designs

  • Designing several best-selling cognitive and personality trait game-based assessments
  • Design of algorithm for individual scoring and for team fit
  • Designing, analyzing and adjusting difficulty levels
  • Incorporating psychometrically valid game features into initial designs
  • Writing reported output for users.

 

AI startup – Psychometric consultancy project

  • Big Five assessment links to facial recognition
  • Developing my own model for modelling the above to personality output.
  • AI-based reporting output of personality profile.

 

Saberr values and personality assessment consultancy 

  • Advising on Saberr’s personality and values assessment tools.
  • Developing competency-based expert system reports.
  • B2C users and B2B managers/leaders (including their team members’ perspectives).
  • Also, creating suitable psychological snippets for each target audience.

Arctic Shores GBA – two aptitude test designs

Reviewing the psychometric questions undermining Arctic Shores’ verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and abstract reasoning tests

  • Creating new rule bases for new numerical and abstract reasoning tests.

 

SAMA coaching app tips and engagement research report

  • Coaching tips system created.
  • Short daily tips written for emailing to managers, teams, individuals etc
  • Working with Sama (coaching app)’s researcher investigating coaching app engagement, target audiences, session availability and booking systems.
  • Designing assessment to take pre- and post- coaching programme (forleadership development and executive coaching).
  • Engagement assessment design and psychometric / coaching research.

E-learning situational judgement test designs

  • Gen Z-focused educational assessments of work and life skills.
  • School version of each competency created too.

 

IBM Watson Psychometric consultancy 

  • Army officer personality questionnaire design

 

  • Bespoke verbal reasoning test design for mainstream Army Officer recruitment.
  • Numerical reasoning aptitude test design for mainstream Army Officer assessment.
  • Input to the online Army careers tool.
  • Situational judgement test design for different Army Officer recruitment strands.
  • Realistic job preview design for different Army Officer recruitment strands.
  • Soldier literacy aptitude test design and numeracy aptitude test design.

WE ARE AMBERJACK HiPO digital skills assessment 

  • Gen Z-focused educational assessments of work and life skills.
  • HiPo and HiPo-I virtual assessments of graduate and digital potential.

 

Penna aptitude test design

  • Scottish trainee police aptitude test assessments

LOQBOX scale up – Financial styles assessment design

  • Educational tool profiling user personalities.
  • Gen Z-focused narrative report writing on different user styes of managing their savings (for house deposit, buying first car etc.).

 

BLOOM coaching app 

  • Gen Z-focused assessment report including coaching personality development tips for high scores, neutral scores and low scores.

 

CAPPFINITY‘s BESPOKE ABILITY ASSESSMENTS

  • Bespoke numerical reasoning aptitude test designs and critical reasoning verbal reasoning test design questions.
  • For Enterprise clients including Barclays, Aviva and Glaxo Smithkline (for CAPP Finity).
  • Admin level aptitude test design and verbal reasoning test design (SOVA Assessments).

Our other Psychometric test design specialists

Many of the UK’s and US’s leading test publishers have used Rob Williams Assessment’s to calculate and prove their reliability.

In addition to situational judgement test design, we also specialise in Assessment design.

Personality Test Design

Psychological and personality tests analyze your personal qualities, strengths and weaknesses. The answers you provide to these types of questions can help you assess your ideal working style.

Based on your personality, preferences and patterns, you’ll discover the types of professions you’re best suited for. You will find plenty of aptitude test practice and aptitude test tips on this website.

Aptitude Test Design

Aptitude tests give one a sense of how good of a fit you are to perform certain tasks – or how likely you are to learn a skill. You will find plenty of aptitude test practice and aptitude test tips on this website.

Aptitude test practice

To help you improve their cognitive abilities and prepare for aptitude tests in a variety of settings. Whether you are a student preparing for college entrance exams or a job seeker looking to improve your chances of success in a competitive job market. How to interpret test results and how to use them to improve performance in future assessments.

Our Bespoke Psychometric Design Principles

For training consultancies, Rob Williams Assessment Ltd has built coaching and employability profiling tools.

With recruitment agencies we’ve designed culture and role fit personality-based assessments to improve the efficiency of matching clients to the best-fitting jobs.

Our psychometric test design solutions

  • Our consultancy work focuses on aptitude test practice and bespoke psychometric test design.
  • We believe in the benefits of practice and ensuring fairness in testing. We, therefore, offer some practice aptitude tests and some practice psychometric tests. The intention is to promote as ‘level a playing-field’ as possible.

Psychometric Test Design. Man at desk working at laptop, picture taken from the top

Our SJT designs

As psychometric tests have become more commonplace, the bigger users have commissioned their own bespoke situational judgement tests.

Rob Williams Assessment has worked on several such projects for High Street banks and for the European Union. Another recent innovation of test developers has been online adaptive tests. With these tests, if you are doing well, you will find that the questions get progressively harder.

The innovative design of shorter and more efficient tests was driven by an increasingly aware of the immediacy of the Internet and our increasing use of emails and social media, in short, sharp bursts.

This discourages test takers from spending 30-40 minutes online doing the same questionnaire. It’s better for everyone to keep test takers engaged when being tested – not bored!

Knowledge-based situational judgement test design

Some or all of the scenarios presented in an SJT can test specific job knowledge. For example, a retail marketing SJT may ask questions about the 3Ps (price, position, promotion) of product marketing. Alternatively, both an SJT measuring generic decision-making skills may be used alongside a knowledge-based test.

Our video-based situational judgment test designs

Simulated situational judgement tests are increasingly common as recruitment sifts. Adding 2D or 3D workplace scenario graphics brings the situational judgment test scenarios to life. This can only promote the company brand and make employers using simulated situational judgment tests more desirable employers.

psychometric test design

UK and US psychometric test publishers have produced both video-based and animated SJT scenarios. Animated SJTs are easier – and therefore cheaper – for global companies to develop.

psychometric test designers meeting

Our consultancy work focuses on aptitude test practice and bespoke psychometric test design. We believe in the benefits of practice and ensuring fairness in testing. We, therefore, offer some practice aptitude tests and some practice psychometric tests. The intention is to promote as ‘level a playing-field’ as possible.

Values based recruitment

Example values-based recruitment Question – Describe an example of when you have made a decision which had a positive effect on a customer?
Probes: What actions did you take? Who was involved? What was the outcome of your actions?

Positive behavioural indicators

  • Uses their initiative.
  • Takes personal responsibility.
  • Describes the example’s context, their actions and the outcome(s).

Negative behavioural indicators

  • Applies limited effort.
  • Only describes own actions.
  • Omits  the outcome.
  • Doesn’t describe their individual contribution.

We always follow BPS Standards in Psychometric Test Design

To be psychometrically sound a test must be:

  • Objective – the results obtained are not influenced by the administrator’s personal characteristics or irrelevant factors such as the colour of a test taker’s socks.
  • Standardised – the test is administered and scored according to standard procedures and people’s scores are compared to known standards.
  • Reliable – the test measures in a consistent way. The potential error is small and is quantifiable.
  • Valid. Our psychometric test design measures the characteristic(s) that it set(s) out to measure. So, if we design a sift psychometric test to select a job applicant should predict job performance. Whereas, if we design a psychometric test of verbal ability then it will predict verbal reasoning abilities.
  • Discriminating. Any of our bespoke psychometric tests designs should show clear differences between individuals on the behaviour being tested. But should not be discriminatory. In other words our psychometric test design does not unfairly discriminate against a minority group.

Our bespoke psychometric test designs

Example Psychometric Test Projects 

Rob Williams has over twenty years of experience of bespoke psychometric test design. Plus ten years prior to this spent working for several of the UK’s leading test publishers. These include IBM, OPP, SHL and HireVue.

British Airways blended assessment project:

  • Firstly our BA Situational judgment test design;
  • Secondly,  our Numerical reasoning test design;
  • Thirdly our Verbal reasoning test design
  • Finally our Personality questionnaire design.

BUPA SJT Design

  • Best practice was followed throughout the design process in SJT design.
  • An SJT was produced which successfully incorporated a range of care home-specific scenarios.
  • The most suitable set of scenarios could be hand-picked at the SME panel meeting, as well as gaining buy-in and discussing implementation.
  • Providing some scenarios for telephone interview sifts.
  • Setting a suitable cut-off and validating the tool.

EPSO Test Design

  • Development of project management test.
  • Design of IT skills-based aptitude tests.

Psychometric test design

Our Work Styles assessment designs

We will work with you to design the most suitable work styles tool to suit your needs. Our Bespoke Personality Questionnaire design process aims to:

  • Firstly, include key role dimensions.
  • Secondly, reflect the personality, attitudinal and motivational aspects of the role-specific dimensions.
  • Thirdly, have face valid questions.
  • Also, to be capable of completion in 20 minutes approx.
  • And to adopt a single-stimulus question format (Likert scale)
  • Plus, adopting a normative format of scoring utilising a sten look-up table (for each personality scale)
  • And finally, using a Social Desirability scale to deal with the issue of faking or extreme scoring patterns

Psychometric test design

feedback discussion of psychometric test results

Test Quality Standards

In all cases ensure that:

Never just reuse tests or exercises without reviewing their effectiveness in the past.

  • Firstly, the choice and construction of each assessment method flows from the requirements of the job;
  • Secondly, the Job description and Person Specification have been reviewed and are up-to-date
  • Thirdly, tasks in assessment exercises compare with tasks found in the job;
  • Fourthly, tests and exercises assess requirements for the job, at the right level to do the job
  • When using a newly devised test or exercise, wherever possible pilot it with a group of existing employees in the area of work.
  • Always offer feedback on test and exercise results.
  • Never just reuse tests or exercises without reviewing their effectiveness in the past.

Recent situational judgement test trends

Situational judgement tests (SJTs) have also become prevalent in graduate recruitment. These tests present scenarios to applicants and ask them to select the best and the worst thing to do next. SJT’s are very popular in the United States due to their excellent record of fairness across different ethnic groups.

Recent personality test trends

Candidates may also have to take a personality test as part of the recruitment process. There is a vast array of personality tests, which pose questions about a candidate’s behaviour and personal preferences. A typical question may ask whether you prefer attending parties or staying home with a good book. These personality tests help employers to determine whether a candidate has the right profile for the role.

How companies use aptitude tests

Aptitude tests are used by many companies as a standard part of the recruitment process. If you’re currently aplying for jobs, you’re likely to face one or more psychometric tests, measuring everything from verbal reasoning and numeracy to emotional intelligence. I would say that 90 per cent of big companies use skills and/or aptitude tests, though the kind used will depends on the role and industry you’re aplying for,’ says Rob Williams.

How you perform matters. ‘Even if you wow a potential employer with a great first or second interview, the results can make or break your chances of getting hired,’ says Rob. Research backs up the claim. Nearly 90 percent of companies said they would reject candidates if the test showed them to be deficient in basic skills, according to a survey by the American Management Association.

What are the most commonly used aptitude tests? The most commonly used aptitude tests measure numerical, verbal and logical reasoning,

Our assessment designs – graduate psychometric test design example

Graduate recruiters who want to minimise recruitment costs see online ability tests as an efficient and effective means of sifting the initial applicant pool.

A bespoke verbal reasoning test design and numerical reasoning test design offer a reliable and standardised solution. This should ensure that an optimal number of good candidates are seen by the business at the much more expensive ‘face-to-face’ stage.

Using standardised tests to improve your diversity of hires

Using standardised tests in the recruitment process helps to ensure that applicants from different countries and from different ethnic groups are treated fairly.

Aptitude test design – Employability example

All of our psychometric test practice resources are free. So, we hope you enjoy using them!   In our opinion, there is plenty of the right type of aptitude test practice, aptitude test tips and test-taking strategies.

We certainly hope you get maximum value from our free psychometric test practice resources!  Psychometric test practise works best when it’s specific to the test type and the level of difficulty of the psychometric test you will be taking.

Best practice in assessment design

  • Our first point is that a well-designed selection procedure focuses on predicting a graduate’s competence within a particular work context.
  • Secondly, that psychometric assessments only form one part of the selection procedure.
  • Our third point is that personality assessments can give an indication of how well an individual applicant will fit into the existing workplace or team.
  • Finally, psychometric assessments can assess which applicants are most suited to the demands of the vacant job in terms of both ability and personality factors.

Best practice uses of aptitude test data

  • Firstly, it’s fundamental to the use of any psychometric test is that users are aware of a test’s effectiveness and its known limitations.  This information is calculable through knowledge of a measure’s reliability and validity.
  • Secondly, importance is attached to test results and decisions are made using test data.
  • Thirdly, you must be sure that the tests you are using have sound credentials and have been properly developed.
  •  

Bespoke psychometric test design 

 

Psychometric test design pillars

An IQ test compares each respondent’s IQ score with a group of previous test-takers. There needs to be a standardization phase when developing any aptitude test.

This standardization sample provides the norm group against which the individual scores of all later psychometric test respondents are compared. Otherwise, an ‘IQ score’ would be meaningless!

The second psychometric test property is…

Reliability

There are two key types of psychometric reliability. In each case, ‘psychometric test reliability’ means that if I take the same test next week, my results will be similar.

Internal Reliability, or Internal Consistency

This is the first type of psychometric test design reliability.

Whether all the test items measure the same concept. It can be assessed in two ways. The first method is known as the split-half reliabilitywhich require correlating the score based on half of the test items with the score based on the other half (e.g., scores on odd and even items).

An alternative method is item-total reliabilitywhich requires correlating each item score with the total score of the rest of the items.

Cronbach alpha then summarises all the psychometric test reliability correlations into one figure. A test should have an alpha of at least a = .80.

Our Bespoke psychometric test designs

Secondly, Test-retest Reliability relates to psychometric score consistency over time. In other words, how reliably a psychometric test measures. A time gap of at least two weeks between the two measurements is key. Since some psychological characteristics change considerably over time.

Then, the test re-test reliability is assessed by correlating the tests scores measured first time with the test scores measured the second time. Ability tests are expected to have a reliability of at least r = .75, yet personality tests might have somewhat lower reliability.

Validity

Psychometric test design validity means the test measures what it says it measures. MindX knows which personality traits are measured because we have compared our results to well-established personality tests. HireVue validates its video assessments using high performer data and job analysis results.

Aptitude Test Design Reliability – is it a reliable measure?

  • Most commonly the internal consistency index coefficient alpha or its dichotomous formulation, KR-20.
  • Under most conditions, these range from 0.0 to 1.0.
  • 1.0 is a perfectly reliable measurement.
  • Although, a reliable test may still not be a valid

Aptitude Test Design Validity – Secondly, is the test valid?

A measure of what it ‘says on the tin’? In our opinion, both the initial content validation and later criterion validation analysis are vital for any bespoke psychometric test.

Final Validity Recommendations

We recommend collecting additional recruitment data over time so that additional validation studies can be conducted. Such as assessment centre data.

There are many other types of psychometric test validation evidence, and one-off studies investigating a psychometric test’s criterion validity are common.

But what does my psychometric score mean ?

If used as a sift at an early stage of the recruitment process then there will be a specific mark that you have to pass in order to proceed further with your application.

When used as part of an assessment centre, a psychometric test is unlikely to be used a sift that excludes a % of applicants. In other words, your test score will be used to provide additional information but would not be the only reason why you succeed or fail at this particular stage.

Top 70 psychometric consultancies

–  – in alphabetical order  – –

  • ACER
  • Alva
  • AON
  • Assess First
  • Assessio
  • Assessments 24×7
  • Berke
  • Biddle
  • Biodata Online
  • Birkman
  • Caliper (PSI)
  • CCI
  • CCM
  • Central Test
  • Criteria Corp
  • Cubics
  • Cut-e HR Assessments
  • DeGarmo
  • Easi-Consult
  • e-Skill
  • Fifth Theory
  • FPSI
  • Genos
  • Get Feedback
  • GL Assessment
  • gNeil
  • Harver
  • HFI
  • Hogan
  • Hogrefe
  • Holst
  • HR Avatar
  • Hudson
  • IntegriView
  • IO solutions
  • IPAT
  • Isograd
  • Kattis
  • Kingwood
  • Knight chapman
  • Korn Ferry/TalentQ
  • Master Intl
  • McQuaig
  • MEttl
  • Mindmill
  • ModernHire
  • My Future Choice
  • My Skills Profile
  • OnPoint
  • OPP/Myers Briggs
  • Outmatch
  • Pan
  • Pearson
  • PELLETB
  • Pfaff
  • Predictive Index
  • PROPHET
  • PSI
  • PsyCorp
  • Psycruit
  • Psymetrics
  • Pymetrics
  • Quest
  • Ramsay
  • ReviewNet
  • Revellian
  • Saville Assessment
  • Select
  • SHL
  • SOVA

Can you cheat or fake your psychometric test?

Our expert answer is not very easily.

  • We say this mainly because modern psychometric personality tests are difficult for a candidate to cheat on as there are no right or wrong answers in these tests.
  • Similarly, aptitude tests are time- limited, meaning you can objectively measure aspects of a candidate’s mental ability within the set time limit.