Everything You Need to Know About the College Aptitude Test

Most college entrance exams take the form of a college aptitude test. It can go by many names, usually bearing the name of the school or university, but the content is the same: a written assessment of potential ability in crucial domains related to the course being applied for. Numerical aptitude, language aptitude, and aptitude in the sciences are the staple. But specialized courses, such Architecture or Engineering, will have additional tests in the battery, such as spatial-visual aptitude and mechanical aptitude. And yes, the university personnel take College Aptitude Test scores as a reliable indicator of positive future academic performance, which is why it always pays to ace the exam.

Are there ways of making sure you score high on your College Aptitude Test? The answer is yes. Consider the following hints and tips:

Read the Brief

It may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at the number of candidates who by-pass leaflets and posters distributed by school administrators. But in most cases, school psychometricians are aware that not everyone is knowledgeable when it comes to what aptitude tests are, and what particular aptitude tests to expect. Thus, they would give their applicants tips on the coverage of their entrance exam, and where they plan to cut-off the passing score. These are relevant guidelines that every student must pay attention to before taking a College Entrance Exam.

Mind Time Pressures

Most aptitude tests are time-pressured; that is, you have a set amount of time for completion of all items in the battery. For a 40-item test, one hour is usually reserved, which means you have more or less a minute and a half to answer a question. Budget your time appropriately; don’t spend too much time obsessing on an item you can’t explain when you’d gain more accomplishing things you find comfortable. You can always mark a question as one to return to at the last free moments. 

Review

By definition, an aptitude test requires no review of past lessons taken. After all, aptitude exams are about future potential, not prior learning. However, a College Aptitude Test is the exception to this rule. Because primary and secondary education is considered as the building blocks of tertiary courses, schools require some degree of mastery of high school subjects before accepting an applicant to their college.

So do review all of your Language, Science, and Math high school courses. If you can get a tutor to help you out, or attend a review class, all the better.

Take Practice Questions

Studies have shown that those who are familiar with the test-taking situation tend to perform better during aptitude tests than those who are confronting it for the first time. For this reason, do take a practice aptitude test to get a feel for what you’re about to go through. There are many available practice tests on the internet; your high school guidance counselor probably has a copy too. Or you can be creative! Solving mathematical puzzles such as Sudoku, or word puzzles like crosswords, are the indirect but effective way of reviewing for a College Aptitude Exam.

Brush up on your Essay Writing Skills

While aptitude tests usually take the form of “fill in the blanks” and “multiple choice” questions, there are some who sneak in an essay question or two. The SATs, for example, one of the most popular College entrance exams, require test-takers to answer an essay question. In a way, essay questions are assessments of reasoning and language abilities, the only difference is, it is scored subjectively, usually by a two person-rating team. If you want to ace your College Aptitude Test, it’s essential that you can write an essay that is grammatically correct, has a clear message, follows a logical flow, and is written in an engaging style.

Lastly, relax before a college aptitude test

One of the best armaments to take to a College Aptitude Test date is a relaxed and well-rested mind. You can’t perform mathematical operations or verbal reasoning tasks optimally if your account is stressed. Make sure you get adequate sleep the night before and mind your diet. Just focus --- and all will be well.

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