PFS Verbal, Numerical and Abstract Reasoning

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Description

The Profiling for Success (PFS) Reasoning Tests offer an advanced approach to the assessment of reasoning abilities for selection and development purposes. The tests cover three areas of reasoning ability.

• Verbal

  The ability to understand written information and determine what follows logically from the information.

• Numerical

  The ability to use numerical information to solve problems.

• Abstract

  The ability to identify patterns in abstract shapes and generate and test hypotheses.

The Profiling for Success Reasoning Tests offer a new level of sophistication in the assessment of Verbal, Num eric al and Abstract Reasoning, together with all the advantages of computer-based delivery, scoring and reporting. Using a common item format, four levels of each test are available, providing assessments suitable for a wide range of abilities; from those at secondary school level through to postgraduates and experienced professionals.

The Assessments

Verbal Reasoning

This assessment consists of passages of information, with each passage being followed by a number of statements. Candidates have to judge whether each of the statements is true or false in the basis of the information in the passage, or whether there is insufficient information in the passage to determine whether the statement is true or false.

Numerical Reasoning

This assessment presents candidates with numerical information and asks them to solve problems using that information. Some of the harder questions introduce additional information which also has to be used to solve the problem. Numerical items require only basic mathematical knowledge to solve them.

Abstract Reasoning

This assessment is based around a categorisation task. Candidates are shown to sets of shapes, labelled ‘Set A’ and ‘Set B’. All the shapes in Set A share a common feature or features, as do the shapes in Set B. Candidates have to identify the theme linking the shapes in each set and then decide whether further shapes belong to Set A or Set B or neither set.

Difficulty Levels Available

Key Benefits

• Flexible Delivery Options

  Paper and computer based tests allow for traditional group administration, while internet delivery allows remote testing and the possibility of including tests as part of initial screening programmes.

• Wide Ability Range

  Ability levels ranges from general to management levels.

• Common Test Formats

  Verbal, Numerical and Abstract Reasoning tests span a wide range of ability levels all using common test formats. Therefore, users do not have to familiarize themselves with difference test formats for different ability levels.

• Details reports and analysis

  Reporting features and sophisticated analysis support you in the decision-making process, providing analysis of response style, interview prompts and development suggestions tailored to each test taker.

Administration

Online delivery and scoring and paper-and-pencil options are available. Computer-generated reports are also available with the paper-based tests. Total administration time varies between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on test level.

Sample Questions

Verbal Reasoning

In this test, you will see passages of text. For each passage, there will be four statements relating to the text. Your task is to read each passage of text carefully and then decide whether each statement follows logically from the information in the passage.

Example question:

Before the development of modern technology, people relied on their own observations and experience to predict the weather. It was known that certain atmospheric conditions were likely to lead to different types of weather. This knowledge was often put into rhymes or proverbs to help people remember them, A well-known example of this is ‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight, red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning’. In other words, if the sky is red in the evening, expect good weather, but if it is red in the morning, expect bad weather. Although a ‘red sky’ is quite an accurate predictor of the weather, many proverbs are no better than chance as predictors.

For each statement there are three answer options you can choose from: True, False or Can’t tell.

- Modern methods of predicting the weather are not always accurate.

- Atmospheric conditions can indicate what the weather is likely to be.

- All proverbs are poor predictors of the weather.

- If there is a ‘red sky’ in the morning, there is a good chance that the weather will be fine.

Numerical Reasoning

Work out the correct answer to each question using the numerical information provided, then select this from the five options.

Example question:

The graph shows the average change in house prices in rural and urban areas over 5 years.

- In which year did rural houses show their greatest change in value?
a. Year 1      b. Year 2      c. Year 3      d. Year 4      e. Year 5

- A house in an urban area was worth $110,000 at the beginning of Year 1. What was it likely to be worth at the end of Year 2?
a. $106,700      b. $106,722      c. $107,822      d. $108,900      e. $113,278.