Aptitude Test as a Selective Aid for Technical Training Centers − Instructions for Use Table of Contents Aptitude Test as a Selective Aid for Technical Training Centers − Instructions for Use...........................1 Foreword.................................................................................................................................................1 General Instruction.................................................................................................................................1 Time Schedule for the Aptitude Test to be Used as a Selective Aid......................................................2 Arithmetic................................................................................................................................................3 Solutions..........................................................................................................................................3 Instruction.........................................................................................................................................6 Vocabulary Exercises.............................................................................................................................7 Instruction.......................................................................................................................................10 Solutions........................................................................................................................................11 Form Perception Test...........................................................................................................................14 Instruction.......................................................................................................................................14 Solutions........................................................................................................................................17 Figure Copying Test.............................................................................................................................18 Instruction.......................................................................................................................................18 Additional Instruction......................................................................................................................19 Solutions........................................................................................................................................22 Computation Test.................................................................................................................................24 Instruction.......................................................................................................................................24 Solutions........................................................................................................................................29 Mechanical Ability.................................................................................................................................32 Instruction.......................................................................................................................................32 Solutions........................................................................................................................................32 How to Evaluate the Scores and to Establish Norms and Ratings.......................................................40 A. Mean Score...............................................................................................................................40 B. Scatter.......................................................................................................................................41 C. Establishment of Norms............................................................................................................42 Content of the test procedures.............................................................................................................45 Annex 1: Table of Norms (tentative).....................................................................................................45 Annex 2: Aptitude Test as Selective Aid...............................................................................................47 Annex 3: Aptitude Test as Selective Aid Rating...................................................................................48 i ii Aptitude Test as a Selective Aid for Technical Training Centers − Instructions for Use Technical Aid of the German Federal Government for Vocational Training in Trade and Industry Foreword The present aptitude test is intended to serve as an objective aid in the selection of applicants at technical training centers in developing countries receiving aid under the Technical Aid Program of the German Federal Republic. In drawing up the individual test procedures, the authors resorted to the experience gained by project managers and instructors working in technical training centers abroad and to scientific criteria relating to the construction of such tests. Some of the tests in this series examine abilities relating to the aptitude of applicants for the engineering trades; the others are mainly intended to arrive at a comparable and just judgement of the educational level achieved by the applicant at school. It is this dual objective, namely, to examine vocational aptitudes and the skills acquired at school, that makes this aptitude test particularly suitable as a selective aid designed, to meet the requirements encountered in the developing countries. It was with this aim in mind that the series of tests was prepared for use by instructors trained in the conduct of aptitude tests as a selective aid. The series constitutes no psychological test procedure, however, and its use will not enable any characteriological analysis to be made. The authors are hopeful that the issue of this aptitude test will lead to a lively exchange of experience that will help to improve and widen the content of the test procedure. On the basis of the results which users of the tests will be required to communicate, it will furthermore be possible to keep the aptitude test up to date in respect of standardization and the establishment of norms. The Authors Hans−Georg Greve, Dipl.−Psych. Uwe Kober, Dipl.−Psych. General Instruction Test purpose You have cone here to undergo an aptitude test. Using a number of exercises, most of which are fairly simple, this test is to determine your aptitude for technical vocational training and to find out in what area you have special abilities. No examination This test differs greatly from conventional examinations. You will be informed of the result. Even if you should not be accepted, this does not mean that you failed to pass and are unsuitable; it merely means that the number of vacancies in the crafts and trades for which you have an inherent aptitude is limited. Time limit The complete test incorporates six groups of exercises intended to cover different abilities. The total tine limit including a break is about 3 hours. While you will find some exercises easier to solve than others, you may not be able to solve all the problems of one group within the time limit alloted to that group. Don’t let this worry you. Proceed as fast and as good as you can. Marking the solution None of the exercises requires any particular knowledge; all of them can be solved with a bit of thinking and close observation. Identify the correct solution by a cross−mark. Should you find that you accidentally marked the wrong solution, draw a horizontal line through it and then mark the correct solution. 1 Explanatory examples Each group of exercises is discussed in detail and explanatory examples are presented. Ask any questions you like. Only after you have correctly understood the explanatory exercises will we begin together to solve the problems proper. While you are working on them, do not ask any questions or interrupt otherwise. Do not turn over You will now be given a block of sheets containing the exercises. Do not turn over the sheets but wait until you are instructed to do so. When a group of exercises contains more than one sheet of exercises, you will be duly informed. Personal particulars On the cover page you will find space for entering your personal particulars. Before we start, enter your personal particulars. Entering name on the sheets Now tear off the cover page. On the bottom of the first sheet, you will find a line above which you are requested to enter your surname, first name and number. All of you will now be given a number which you are requested to enter immediately in the space provided for the purpose. Leave the outlined rectangular space blank. On all the following sheets, you will find space at the bottom for entering your surname, first name and number. It is important that whenever you begin to work on a new sheet, you first enter your particulars. You will be reminded to do this each time you start on a new group of exercises. No aids Rulers and erasers must not be used. Time Schedule for the Aptitude Test to be Used as a Selective Aid Ser. No. Test Procedure Time in Minutes Instruction Completion 1 Vocabulary exercises 25 10 2 Arithmetic 5 8 3 Form perception 10 6 − BREAK − 20 4 Form−copying 10 20 5 Computation 5 15 6 Mechanical ability 5 20 60 99 Total duration of the aptitude test including introduction, break and collecting the test sheets approximately 3 hours. Technical Aid of the German Federal Government for vocational training in trade and industry APTITUDE TEST as a Selective Aid for Technical Training Centers Surname: _____________________________ 2 First name: _____________________________ Age: _____________________________ Name of father: _____________________________ Country: _____________________________ Project: _____________________________ Education: _____________________________ Desired trade: ______________________________ Arithmetic Solutions Examples 3 4 5 Instruction The arithmetic exercises are concerned with addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. On the first sheet you will find eight examples. Enter your name and number on this sheet and on the two following sheets containing the problems to be solved by you. Then turn back to the sheet containing the eight examples. In the first example, the word “Subtract” tells you what to do. The “−“ minus sign is given as a further aid. The numbers above the dash constitute the problem proper. In this case the 3 is to be subtracted from the 8. The result is 5. This is why a cross−mark is made in box “b” in which a 5 is entered. On the right−hand side of the sheet, you will find five possible answers. The first four are numbers; a cross−mark should be made in the fifth box “e” if none of the four numbers represents the correct solution. In the second example, the 5 is to be added to the 2. The result is 7. This is why a cross−mark has been made in box “a” that contains a 7. Now try to solve the next six problems yourselves, but do not yet turn to the next page. (Following the solution of the problems given as examples:) I shall now tell you the solutions to the examples. They are: C a, D e, E d, F c, G d, H a. Are there any questions? Now turn to the next page and solve the problems on the next two sheets. If you want to, you may make notes on the back of the sheet that contains the examples. Time limit: 8 minutes (For the random check only: After six minutes have elapsed, give a sign and have each examinee identify the problem he is working on by a checkmark.) Examples 6