What is an aptitude test?

Aptitude testing in companies and organizations is a collective term for various tests used mainly to make objective Judgments about three aspects of a person:

• Suitability for the work
• Suitability for the environment
• Future potential

Used appropriately, aptitude tests can support suitable placement, more effective education and training, and stronger organizations.

Types of aptitude tests

Aptitude tests vary greatly in their test items and analytical methods.

• Intelligence
• Personality
• Behavior
• Interests
• Ethical outlook
• Academic achievement
• Skills
• General knowledge
• Specialist knowledge
• Life experience
• Social skills
• Communication skills
• And other aspects

Although many aptitude tests exist, they can broadly be divided into psychological tests, which approach the mind and behavior, and basic ability tests, which approach accumulated knowledge and experience.

Basic ability tests

Let us first consider basic ability tests, which are easier to picture. These measure skills such as academic achievement, general knowledge and practical skills. In simple terms, they show what a person can do now, and how well. The abilities measured here are not innate abilities, but abilities developed and accumulated through experience in education, hobbies, work and social life. Someone with Skill A may be suited to work that applies Skill A. Basic ability test Judgments are therefore important when the required skills are clear, especially when immediate job readiness is needed. However, an ability demonstrated today will not necessarily develop further, and a high level in one ability does not necessarily mean a high level in another.

Psychological tests

Next, consider psychological tests. These explore the mind and behavior and can indicate a person’s dispositions and the directions of their mental processes. They do not tell us what the person can currently do, but can contribute importantly to understanding how they reached their present state and considering future development. In aptitude assessment, psychological tests can be divided into intelligence tests, which examine intellectual potential, and personality tests.

Intelligence tests

Intelligence tests mainly use quantitative problems involving figures or numbers to measure the ability to learn new things and problem-solving ability for adapting to new environments. Intelligence generally develops substantially from childhood to adulthood. Higher intelligence also tends to make the development of basic abilities easier. However, even a person with high intelligence needs opportunities to acquire those abilities. A particular basic ability may also develop to a specialist level because it is a good fit for the person, independently of general intelligence.

Personality tests

Personality tests measure a person’s behavioral and personality characteristics. The three main approaches are questionnaires, work-performance methods and projective methods.

Questionnaire method

The questionnaire method statistically analyzes answers to questions to assess personality. It reveals subjective characteristics such as self-perception and aspirations. Valid testing requires the ability to read and understand the questions and sufficient self-understanding.

Work-performance method

The work-performance method assesses personality by having a person carry out a specified task under standardized conditions, then statistically analyzing their approach and performance. Without depending on self-understanding, it can reveal objectively observed characteristics of the person.

Projective method

Projective methods ask a person to interpret ambiguous material, such as pictures, to explore inner experience and personality. Their interpretation requires appropriately qualified professionals, such as psychiatrists or psychological counselors, so the source notes that they are not often used for aptitude testing in companies and organizations.

Uchida-Kraepelin Test

The Uchida-Kraepelin Test is a psychological test classified as a work-performance method. Its features include:

• One test can assess both ability-related and personality/behavioral characteristics.
• Objective results can be expected without depending on the person’s subjective self-report.
• The method is designed for broad use with reduced dependence on language and culture, from children to adults and with both local and foreign personnel.
• It is also used in organizational assessment, safety management and mental health contexts.
• It does not tell us what a person can currently do or what they want to do.

Different providers’ aptitude tests use different combinations and weightings of items and measurement methods, as well as different ways of presenting Judgment results.

Before using aptitude tests, clarify what you want to know about the person and how you intend to use the information. Choose and combine methods thoughtfully, including interviews and submitted work or other materials.

---

To arrange the Uchida-Kraepelin Test, a work-based aptitude and personality test that can be used in the same way in Japan and overseas, please contact your nearest distributor in your country or region.

Distributors in East Asia

• South Korea
  • Korea Management Association
    • Main areas served: Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, Jeju
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Management consulting
    • Languages supported: Korean
• Mainland China
  • Shanghai Oracle Bay Enterprise Group, Co., Ltd.
    • Main areas served: Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Yancheng, Nantong, Nanning, Ningbo, Bengbu, Xining, Yinchuan
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Human resource development
    • Languages supported: Chinese
  • NINGBO NAPU TRADE CO., LTD.
    • Main areas served: Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dongguan
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Manufacturing consulting, Fabless manufacturing
    • Languages supported: Chinese, Japanese
• Hong Kong
  • N-ERVE TECHNOLOGY
    • Main areas served: Hong Kong
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Manufacturing consulting, Fabless manufacturing, Recruitment
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Chinese
• Taiwan
  • Pasona Taiwan
    • Main areas served: Taipei, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: HR consulting, Human resource development, Recruitment
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Chinese

Distributors in Southeast Asia

• Thailand
  • Krung Asia Insight
    • Main areas served: Bangkok, nationwide Thailand
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Thailand market entry consulting
    • Languages supported: Thai, Japanese
  • Waguri
    • Main areas served: Bangkok, Chon Buri, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Lamphun
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: HR consulting
    • Languages supported: Japanese
  • Pasona HR Consulting Recruitment (Thailand)
    • Main areas served: Bangkok
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, HR consulting
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Thai
  • TRAINING AND SEMINAR KOTSUKOTSU
    • Main areas served: Bangkok
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Human resource development, Recruitment
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Thai
• Vietnam
  • Kosaido HR Vietnam
    • Main areas served: Hanoi (on-site visits available for Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and other locations)
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, Human resource development, Vietnam market entry consulting
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Vietnamese
  • Success Partner
    • Main areas served: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Organizational development
    • Languages supported: Vietnamese
• Myanmar
  • J-SAT CONSULTING
    • Main areas served: Yangon, Mandalay
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, Myanmar market entry consulting, Japanese language education
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Burmese
• Cambodia
  • Creative Diamond Links
    • Main areas served: Phnom Penh
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Khmer
• Malaysia
  • Pasona HR MALAYSIA
    • Main areas served: Kuala Lumpur
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Malay, English
• Laos
  • Lao-Japan Gateway
    • Main areas served: Vientiane
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Cybozu Kintone, Laos market entry consulting
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Lao
• Indonesia
  • Bruggen Batavia Indonesia
    • Main areas served: Jakarta, Bekasi
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: HR consulting, Legal consulting, Visa consulting
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Indonesian, English
  • Japan Asia Consultants
    • Main areas served: Jakarta, Bekasi
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Indonesia market entry and company incorporation, Accounting and bookkeeping, Tax services, Labor affairs, Legal services, Visa services
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Indonesian, English
• Philippines
  • One World Human Resources Development
    • Main areas served: Manila, Quezon
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Japanese language education, Human resource development
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Tagalog, English
• Singapore
  • Pasona Singapore
    • Main areas served: Singapore
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment, HR consulting
    • Languages supported: English

Distributors in South Asia

• India
  • Pasona India
    • Main areas served: Delhi, Gurugram, Chennai, Bengaluru
    • Other services available alongside the Uchida-Kraepelin Test: Recruitment
    • Languages supported: Japanese, Hindi, English

If you cannot find a nearby distributor or would like to arrange testing in multiple regions, please contact us using the contact form.