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Best practice in psychometrics

Articles on assessment science, fair selection and what's changing in the industry — written by our business psychologists.

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Featured AI & assessment · 3 min read

Can candidates cheat psychometric tests with AI — and what should employers do about it?

Generative AI has changed unproctored online testing. We look at what the evidence says about AI-assisted responding, which test types are most exposed, and the detection and design measures that keep results valid.

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How-to guides 5 min read
How to read a psychometric test report: percentiles, stens and score bands
A psychometric test report packs a lot into a few numbers: a percentile, a sten, a band, perhaps a speed or accuracy figure. Read well, they tell you how a candidate compares with a relevant group and where to probe at interview. Read badly, they invite false precision. Here is how to read a psychometric test report with confidence.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Concentration and vigilance tests for safety-critical roles
In safety-critical work, the most dangerous moments often come after long stretches when nothing happens. Concentration and vigilance tests measure the ability to stay alert through those stretches. Here is the science behind them, how they are used in train driver selection, and how to make decisions from them responsibly.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Error checking tests: how to measure attention to detail
Almost every job advert asks for attention to detail, and almost every candidate claims it. Error checking tests replace the claim with evidence. Here is what they measure, where they predict performance, and how to use them without overstating what a short test can tell you.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Mechanical comprehension and fault finding tests for technical roles
Mechanical comprehension and fault finding tests are the workhorses of technical selection, from engineering apprentices to maintenance technicians and rail staff. They measure different things, and the research shows where each adds value and where it needs support from other evidence.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Spatial reasoning tests: what they measure and which roles need them
Spatial reasoning tests are less familiar to most employers than verbal or numerical tests, yet decades of research link spatial ability to success in engineering, design and technical work. Here is what spatial reasoning tests measure, what the evidence shows and which roles genuinely need them.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Inductive, deductive and abstract reasoning tests: what's the difference?
Inductive, deductive and abstract reasoning tests are often used interchangeably, but they measure different things. Knowing the difference helps employers choose the right test for the role and interpret the results sensibly. Here is how they differ and what the research behind them says.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Verbal reasoning tests: what they measure and when to use them
Verbal reasoning tests are a staple of graduate, professional and managerial selection. They are quick to administer and well supported by research, but they are only useful when the role genuinely depends on reading and reasoning with written information. Here is what they measure and when to use them.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Numerical reasoning tests: what they measure and how employers should use them
Numerical reasoning tests are among the most widely used assessments in graduate, financial and analytical hiring. Used well, they add real predictive value; used carelessly, they screen out capable people for the wrong reasons. Here is what they measure and how to use them well.
26 Oct 2026
How-to guides 6 min read
Why Word, Excel, Python and AI skills matter at work: what the research shows
Four skill areas keep surfacing in labour-market research: word processing, spreadsheets, programming, and — most recently — working with AI. The evidence shows each matters across a far wider range of roles than commonly assumed, though to different degrees. This piece reviews what the published research actually says.
2 Sep 2026
How-to guides 5 min read
Assessing work skills: Word, Excel, Python and AI
CVs list tools; they rarely tell you whether a candidate can use them. Here is how to assess the skill areas that now appear in almost every job description — and how our work skills suite measures each one.
2 Sep 2026
How-to guides 3 min read
How to run a 360 feedback programme people actually trust
Most 360 programmes fail for the same reason, and it is not the questionnaire. It is that nobody was clear what the feedback was for.
23 Aug 2026
How-to guides 3 min read
SJT or ability test? Choosing the right assessment for the role
They measure different things, fail in different ways, and suit different roles. The choice is usually clearer than it looks — and the answer is often both.
23 Aug 2026
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