Being too good at selection tests ?

[choochoochoo]

Has anyone ever heard of anyone being too good at psychometric testing ? (I certainly don't fall in that category)

I know in other occupations that psychometric testing is not just about getting maximum performance in right/wrong answer tests. There are personality questionnaires that make statements and ask how much you think that they apply to you (agree/disagree etc). They then use your answers to determine how you'd suit the role.

Now whilst role suitability might be picked up at an MMI/DMI, i was wondering if before that stage, anyone who aced every single psychometric test might be considered likely to get bored driving trains and thus not progressed through the application process.

 

[fowler9]

Has anyone ever heard of anyone being too good at psychometric testing ? (I certainly don't fall in that category)

I know in other occupations that psychometric testing is not just about getting maximum performance in right/wrong answer tests. There are personality questionnaires that make statements and ask how much you think that they apply to you (agree/disagree etc). They then use your answers to determine how you'd suit the role.

Now whilst role suitability might be picked up at an MMI/DMI, i was wondering if before that stage, anyone who aced every single psychometric test might be considered likely to get bored driving trains and thus not progressed through the application process.

But the psychometric test will be set up to find people suited to be train drivers, not just people who are good at psychometric tests, there isn't really such a person.

 

[Bromley boy]

Has anyone ever heard of anyone being too good at psychometric testing ? (I certainly don't fall in that category)

I know in other occupations that psychometric testing is not just about getting maximum performance in right/wrong answer tests. There are personality questionnaires that make statements and ask how much you think that they apply to you (agree/disagree etc). They then use your answers to determine how you'd suit the role.

Now whilst role suitability might be picked up at an MMI/DMI, i was wondering if before that stage, anyone who aced every single psychometric test might be considered likely to get bored driving trains and thus not progressed through the application process.

I doubt it.

Psychometric tests, if they work as intended, should identify people who have the capability to do a particular job role. This isn’t the same as identifying how motivated they actually are to do it.

This is why interviews are still needed and can never replace psychometric tests. The tests merely act as filter so that the interviewers pick from a pool of candidates who all, in theory, have the aptitude to perform well in the job.

 

[choochoochoo]

But the psychometric test will be set up to find people suited to be train drivers, not just people who are good at psychometric tests, there isn't really such a person.

True, but they are designed to see that you can balance accuracy with speed. I'd say 99% of the human population could not score 100% in those tests. I just wonder whether those in the 1% who could ace the tests might be psychometrically profiled as being too easily bored by the task of driving trains.

 

[fowler9]

True, but they are designed to see that you can balance accuracy with speed. I'd say 99% of the human population could not score 100% in those tests. I just wonder whether those in the 1% who could ace the tests might be psychometrically profiled as being too easily bored by the task of driving trains.

Psychometric tests don't test your balance of accuracy and speed, they judge your responses to various scenarios. I think you are mixing them up with other tests. If you do some of the air traffic control tests you can do online they will judge your accuracy and speed, that is not the same as a psychometric test.

 

[choochoochoo]

Apologies, I always thought the whole package of tests you do for driver selection were psychometric and that they measure both aptitude and establish the type of character of character through different types of testing.

 

[fowler9]

No worries mate, I may be totally wrong, just as I understand it they are more a test of personality and the way you deal with things than an actual response time and accuracy thing.

 

[baz962]

No worries mate, I may be totally wrong, just as I understand it they are more a test of personality and the way you deal with things than an actual response time and accuracy thing.

When I did the psychometric's we were told you are being tested on speed and accuracy. The situational judgement test which isn't part of the two strikes is not but is used personality wise to help shape question's for the multi modal interview.

 

[fowler9]

Ah

When I did the psychometric's we were told you are being tested on speed and accuracy. The situational judgement test which isn't part of the two strikes is not but is used personality wise to help shape question's for the multi modal interview.

Ah right, fair play mate, as I understood it there is far more to psychometrics than that, it is meant to filter out people giving what they think is the right answer. I am happy to be corrected.

 

[baz962]

Ah

Ah right, fair play mate, as I understood it there is far more to psychometrics than that, it is meant to filter out people giving what they think is the right answer. I am happy to be corrected.

That is the situational judgement test mate which gives a scenario and 4 possible answers eg what would you do if a colleague was not following procedure 1. tell a manager . 2. have a word with them .3. turn a blind eye etc type of questions. The psychometrics are the dots test and watch a square flash for 30 minutes (grey one) and every now and then turns black you hit a key. Listening to tones while circling things in a phone book lol for concentration etc.

 

[Latecomer]

True, but they are designed to see that you can balance accuracy with speed. I'd say 99% of the human population could not score 100% in those tests. I just wonder whether those in the 1% who could ace the tests might be psychometrically profiled as being too easily bored by the task of driving trains.

But driving trains can be boring. It is management of that boredom, especially when fatigued, that separates out those who are likely to have a long career as opposed to those destined for a short or incident-prone one. Some of the tests are designed to identify that so if you ace those then it should be a reasonable predictor. That said, many of the best (most consistent) drivers aren't those who came top of the class. They are the ones who manage their lifestyle and deal with the challenges of responding appropriately and effectively to a sudden change of circumstances when they've been ambling along near the end of their shift (potentially getting bored) having been up since 3am for the 4th night on the trot.

 

[fowler9]

That is the situational judgement test mate which gives a scenario and 4 possible answers eg what would you do if a colleague was not following procedure 1. tell a manager . 2. have a word with them .3. turn a blind eye etc type of questions. The psychometrics are the dots test and watch a square flash for 30 minutes (grey one) and every now and then turns black you hit a key. Listening to tones while circling things in a phone book lol for concentration etc.

Cheers mate. I stand corrected.