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Psychometrics

Yep - you're guess is as good as mine - but my answer will secure you a job...feel lucky, punk?

A psychometric test is a way of assessing a person’s ability or personality in a measured and structured way. There are 3 main types of tests: ability, personality and interest (although both personality and interest are more like psychometric questionnaires). Some tests are used by employers to help them in their recruitment process while other tests can help people with career decision making.

It is common for graduate employers to use psychometric tests as part of their selection process. Organisations believe tests help them recruit the right people with the right mix of abilities and personal qualities. They are also useful for "sifting out" large number of applicants at an early stage and so saving the employers both time and money.

Tests can be administered by pencil and paper or computer. You may be asked to take them in an assessment centre, test centre or online. Employers may set a particular score which you need to achieve to proceed. In particular, the Army love psychometric assessments, especially in the Intelligence Corps and anything to do with disposing of bombs. This is done because you need sensible, level-headed people to do these jobs, not raving lunatics. Oh hang on...

The psychometric test administered by the Army falls into the personality box and asks endless cyclical questions about motorbike gangs and shouting in church. It is - above all - a load of bollocks. But it seems to work.