Hey students! Are you wondering how to get a leg up in the world of academics and future careers? Well, one way to do that is by taking a psychometric test.Â
Psychometric tests are like treasure chests of knowledge about yourself, and they can bring a ton of benefits to your student life.Â
If you’re busy scratching your head, don’t worry! We’ve written a complete guide to what psychometric tests are and what they entail to keep you informed.
In this article, we’re going to unpack the top five fantastic benefits of taking a psychometric test, but first, let’s get to know what these tests are all about.
Table of Contents
What is a Psychometric Test?
A psychometric test is a standardised assessment that’s used to measure your personality, mental capabilities and behaviour. These tests are designed to assess various psychological traits, such as intelligence, aptitude, personality and skills. Psychometric tests are often used in educational, employment and clinical settings and can be used to gather objective data about your abilities, preferences and characteristics.
There are generally three main types of psychometric tests. They are:
- Personality tests: These tests assess your personality traits, preferences and tendencies. They aim to provide insights into how you might typically think, feel, and behave.
- Aptitude tests: Aptitude tests evaluate your potential to develop certain skills or perform specific tasks. They are commonly used in employment settings to assess a candidate’s suitability for a particular job.
- IQ tests: These tests measure your intellectual capabilities, including verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning.
Now that you know what psychometric tests are, it’s time to take a look at the benefits!
5 Benefits of Taking a Psychometric Test for Students
From self-discovery to academic success, there are quite a few advantages to taking a psychometric test as a student. Ready to find out what they are? Here’s a look at 5 benefits of taking a psychometric test for students.
1. Psychometric Tests Make You Self-Aware
Picture this: you take a psychometric test and suddenly have a lightbulb moment about who you really are and what your personality is. It’s like a self-discovery adventure.Â
Now, you might be thinking: What does my personality have to do with my subject choices or career? Well, the truth is, it actually has a lot to do with it.Â
Your personality dictates what type of worker you will be, what your skills and interests are as well as which career is best suited for you. Choosing a career that matches your personality is important as this will increase your motivation at work and help you stay positive about your job as you’ll be doing something you enjoy. How do you find a job you enjoy?
Enter psychometric tests. These assessments serve as a valuable tool in unravelling your true self, fostering self-awareness, and facilitating personal growth. They provide a roadmap to careers that harmonise with your unique personality type.
Consider this scenario: if you are an extroverted individual with a passion for assisting others and a knack for working with children, a career in teaching may be your ideal fit. Conversely, if you lean towards introversion and find prolonged social interactions draining, taking a psychometric test can unveil alternative career options better suited to your preferences.”
2. Psychometric Tests Provide You With Career Path Clarity
Beyond your personality, a psychometric test can also give you clarity in terms of your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to your skill set. This will provide you with clarity in terms of which career path to take, especially if you’re feeling a bit confused or are at a crossroads.
For example, if you’re mathematically inclined and would like to go into either IT or engineering, a psychometric test can assist you in making the right decision. It does this by determining what your strongest and weakest skills are as well as what you are truly interested in.
The psychometric assessments are incredibly comprehensive, and determine various attributes such as your worker personality, your skills, your interests, your IQ level and your decision-making. It might, for instance, ask you questions like:
- Do you like helping others?
- Would you remodel your house?
- Do you enjoy working with tools?
- Are you skilled with computers?
- Do you like to draw/paint?
These types of questions are designed to help identify which career is an ideal match, which will provide you with more clarity as to the career path that you need to take.
3. A Psychometric Test Can Help You Achieve Academic Success
By taking a psychometric test, you’ll know what career you want to pursue, which will help you choose the correct subjects at school and at a tertiary level. This will help fuel your motivation in your studies as you will be taking subjects that you are interested in and skilled at, allowing you to achieve academic success.Â
For example, if you take a psychometric test, and you realise that you are suited for careers that do not require core maths, you can then take mathematical literacy instead. This will prevent the pain of struggling with maths throughout your high school career and allow you to succeed in your academics.Â
Not only that, but if you are actively partaking in subjects that you are skilled at and interested in, you are bound to be more motivated, which will lead to fewer hurdles when it comes to studying. Think about it this way: It’s easier to study a subject you enjoy and are good at, and it’s also easier to get good at a subject that you’re interested in.Â
That’s why having a sound knowledge of your skills and attributes is of the utmost importance. Without it, you may end up taking subjects you don’t enjoy or struggle to complete (and no one wants that!).
4. A Psychometric Test Can Help Build Your Confidence
Knowing your unique abilities and qualities can be a real confidence booster. After you take a psychometric test, you will be given a comprehensive report that will give you detailed information about your personality, career aptitude, skills, values and cognitive abilities.Â
Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to take on your academics with full confidence as you’ll know that you’re making the correct career choice and that you’re on the right path.Â
When you know the career path you’d like to follow, you are more certain about your subject choices as well as more interested in the material. Having an interest in your subjects is incredibly important, as you’ll be less likely to get bored, which enhances learning.Â
Being certain about your career also paves the way for your future, and can help you during the most difficult of times. If you do find that you are taking a module that you don’t quite like as much as the others, you’ll know that it’ll all be worth it once you’re qualified and are actively pursuing the career of your dreams. That confidence is the key to keeping you going, and will help you keep your eyes on the bigger picture.Â
5. Psychometric Tests Help You Manage Stress
Student life can be stressful, but psychometric tests can help you navigate the storm. Okay, by now you know for sure that psychometric testing removes any uncertainty you may have about your career (which is a stress reliever in itself!), but did you know that psychometric tests can actually help you manage your mental well-being. How, you ask? Well, psychometric assessment platforms like FundiMatch take a look at your personality traits and evaluate various aspects that can help you determine what kind of person you are.Â
For example, you may learn that you are more on the introverted side than you thought and that outside stimuli can actually tire you out. This makes working with others a bit more difficult for you, but no fear! You now have the knowledge to manage that stress.Â
Armed with this newfound knowledge, you may seek out strategies to better cope with this trait so that it doesn’t impact your university work, or career (because let’s face it, you can’t just avoid people forever).Â
Stress may also come in the form of your learning style, and yep, you guessed it, FundiMatch has some insights to give on that too. Are you more data-driven, or conceptual? Are you more of a doer, or a thinker? Knowing what your learning style is can help you immensely when you’re studying for exams, and tests, completing assignments and more!
The best part? FundiMatch even gives detailed explanations and advice on how to make the best of your learning style and what to watch out for.Â
Start Your Psychometric Testing Journey with FundiMatch
Now that you know about all the benefits psychometric tests have to offer, you may be considering taking one yourself!Â
Wondering where to complete a psychometric test in South Africa? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! FundiMatch is a psychometric assessment platform that matches students’ personalities with their most relevant subject choices and careers.
Get in-depth insights into your personality, skills and cognitive abilities by trying out a FundiMatch psychometric assessment today!
