A Predictive Index (PI) Test allows recruiters to evaluate the cognitive abilities, personality traits and behavioral tendencies of a potential employee, to determine if they are the right fit. In this article, we outline what a Predictive Index Test is, the two main types and how to best prepare for and pass one.
What is a Predictive Index Test?
Employers use two main types of the Predictive Index Tests to screen potential new hires: the Predictive Index Cognitive Assessment (PICA) and the Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment (PIBA).
Rather than testing individual skills, these tests measure your abstract intelligence or personality characteristics such as dominance, extraversion, patience and formality. They are used by thousands of corporations throughout the world to predict the likelihood that a candidate will be a good fit for the job.
Predictive Index Cognitive Assessment
The PICA objectively tests a candidate’s cognitive ability and abstract intelligence. Because your cognitive ability is indicative of your future performance as an employee, taking this assessment helps you and your potential employer understand if you’d be a good fit for the role.
The PICA aims to eliminate unconscious bias in the hiring process by gauging your ability to learn new skills and how quickly you can adapt to changing conditions in the workplace. It tests verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning. Test takers are given 50 questions and are required to answer as many as possible in the provided time allotment.
Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment
The PIBA tests your cultural fit in the workplace by discovering your personal motivations and needs. It helps employers select employees with the personality traits that will help them succeed in their position and the workplace environment.
Candidates are given two lists of adjectives in the PIBA. One list is words others would use to describe them and how they are likely to behave, and the other is words they would use to describe themselves.
How to prepare for a Predictive Index Cognitive Assessment
Since the PICA tests your ability to solve a variety of problems, it is possible to prepare in advance to get a higher score. Keep in mind that it is not just a tool for employers to screen candidates, but also a tool for candidates to find jobs that are the right fit. Here’s how to prepare for the PICA:
1. Understand the types of questions
Here are the nine types of questions you will see on the PICA:
Numerical
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Series
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Lowest value
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Number problems
Verbal
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Antonyms
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Analogies
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Analysis
Abstract
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Series
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Analogies
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Odd one out
2. Take practice tests
Knowing what to expect is an important part of test preparation. The PICA has 50 questions that must be completed in 12 minutes, so, practice based on this time allowance. s. While you won’t be required to complete all 50, your goal should be to answer honestly.
Preview all of the questions beforehand to gauge which will be easier for you to solve. Start with those and gradually progress to the more challenging questions. For example, if you are better at verbal skills than numerical, answer the verbal first.
How to prepare for a Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment
The PIBA is straightforward, relies on honest and personal insight and takes 10 minutes to complete. Here’s how to prepare:
1. View sample questions
View sample questions to get an idea of what to expect for the real test and practice your answers. Knowing what to expect and being ready to answer them will make you more confident for the test.
2. Consider what the test measures
It’s important to remember that this test measures your personality traits. Consider the four categories in which these traits will be assessed. These include:
Dominance
People who score high in dominance tend to succeed in leadership roles and are independent, self-confident and assertive. They are comfortable with challenges and dealing with conflict. Those who score low in dominance are more likely to cooperate with team members, collaborate and help others.
Extraversion
Those who score high in extraversion tend to engage with other people easily, are influencers and enjoy public recognition. People with lower extraversion drives—or ”introverts”—tend to be less trusting of others, prefer to work with facts or creative endeavors and value privacy and alone time.
Patience
People with a lot of patience tend to work at a steady pace, avoid changing situations and are good at forging long-term relationships, both in business and social settings. Conversely, those without much patience need variety in the workplace and tend to work at a faster pace for shorter amounts of time.
Formality
People who score high in formality enjoy having clear, organized expectations and tend to be detail-oriented and disciplined. People with lower formality scores value spontaneity and informality and need a degree of freedom from strict rules and controls.
Scoring high or low in a given area is not indicative of poor or excellent performance. Employers are looking for certain qualities in an employee and it’s up to them to discern whether or not a candidate is a good fit for their company.
How to pass a Predictive Index Test
A Predictive Index Test does not have a pass or fail grading measurement. Providing honest answers will be beneficial for both you and the employer. Not only does it help employers evaluate a candidate’s fit for the job, but it also helps candidates get hired for jobs that are a good fit for them.
Since the PICA is a free-choice assessment, meaning that you can select as many or as few descriptors as you’d like, its methodology guarantees that test-takers are providing more accurate answers than other types of personality assessment tests. Although you can ask the employer questions or research the company beforehand to understand its culture and values, your perception of what is expected may differ from what the hiring manager is looking for.
General test preparation tips
Here are a few tips that will help you succeed in any type of screening test:
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Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
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Do not take the test when you are hungry or ill.
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Keep your eye on the clock and budget your time.
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If you’re taking the test at home, make sure to allow sufficient time to complete the test without interruptions or distractions.
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Make sure you’re taking the test in your native language.
Though PI tests are offered in 70 different languages, it’s in your best interest to take the test in your native language even if you will not be using that language while working at the company. This will give you a better chance of understanding every question, which can involve subtle nuances that change the meaning of certain phrases.
The reliability of Predictive Index Tests
It’s important to note that PI tests are used by thousands of companies all over the world, and to date, over 18 million job candidates have taken them. These highly accurate tests were designed to comply with the standards of the American Psychological Association, as well as other test commissions.
Despite this, the tests’ success relies on a human resources department’s ability to determine which qualities are best suited for the roles they are filling. PI tests are only one part of a larger screening process for job candidates.
As a job seeker, it’s important to understand what PI tests are and how to prepare for them. Knowing what to expect will help you properly prepare for them and with luck, gain employment.