What Is The General Ability Test And How Can You Prepare For It?

In your education journey, you may have come across occasions where you may be asked to do a General Ability Test. Even into adulthood, General Ability Tests are sometimes required by employers to determine the suitability of candidates that they want to hire.

As a General Ability (GA) test is often very different from the type of learning assessments that we do in school, it can feel intimidating to sit for one. That feeling of fear and uncertainty is further amplified because there is no ‘textbook’ to study to guarantee your success in it.

But! We believe it IS possible to prepare for the GA test. Although there isn’t a fixed ‘syllabus’ to learn, you can definitely prepare for it to increase your performance. Want to know how? Read on below!

What is the General Ability Test?

A GA test is similar to what we commonly know as an ‘IQ test’.

Different companies have their own version of the test. Each of these tests are standardised and used with the main objective of measuring the test-taker’s general reasoning ability. The GA test assesses test-takers on skills like:

• observation (for example, identifying patterns)
• problem-solving
• capacity to learn (with given information)

A well-designed GAT should not require subject-specific knowledge (e.g. jargon from chemistry), and should not be specific to any culture or language. For these reasons, a GAT usually includes all the information the candidate needs to solve the question in the instructions itself.

The GAT is in contrast to an achievement test. GAT measures one’s capability to learn, while an achievement test (e.g. most school examinations) measures what one has already learnt.

What is the General Ability Test used for in Singapore?

In Singapore, the GA test can be found in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) screening and selection tests. In addition to English and Math components, the GA sections of the GEP includes questions on spatial reasoning and logical thinking, amongst others.

Some schools use a GA test as part of their DSA shortlisting process, as do certain university courses. If you are applying to a school overseas, you may also find some that request for you to have proof of some GA test results to apply.

Even for job applications, some positions require candidates to sit for a GA test as part of the hiring process. This is usually for more stringent employers who are looking for a very capable candidate.

What type of questions are in a General Ability Test?

A GAT may test skills such as observation, problem-solving, and learning capability. This often translates to a few question types that are quite common across all GATs.

Here are some examples to illustrate what we mean:

Here is a question that requires pattern observation skills. Generally, the candidate has to identify the pattern, and then choose the option that fulfils the pattern.

“What comes next” question:

A similar type of question requires candidates to identify the commonalities amongst a group of objects, then choose the item that does not belong to the set, based on these common properties.

“Odd one out” question:

Below is an example of a more advanced question, combining both aforementioned types: you have to figure out the pattern and find the wrong tile, replacing it with the correct one.

Combining techniques:

Some questions may also ask candidates to manipulate the given stimulus in various ways, testing their logical reasoning.

Logical reasoning & manipulation:

How can I prepare for a General Ability Test?

By definition, the General Ability Test is a test of one’s underlying mental capabilities. Yet, it is possible to prepare for it by getting familiar with the structure and administration of the test.

Some question types are common to these sort of tests, requiring particular skills that are trainable. For example, pattern-finding is a major component in many of these tests. The ability to manipulate the given information is also frequently tested.

When you can identify these question types and the skills needed to tackle them, you can practise them according to the skills you need to work on. As you hone your skills, the increased familiarity with working these brain muscles will help you work quicker and more accurately.

GA Test Preparation & Guidance at Future Academy

If you have a GA test coming up, we’ve got you covered!

Future Academy provides preparation and guidance for those who want to improve their performance at their upcoming GA test. This could be for a school admission, overseas college application, or even a job application. We also welcome those who just want to stretch their mental capabilities for general enrichment purposes!

Our GA preparation classes are:

• open to various age groups (students and adults welcome)
• inclusive of a huge range of practice questions
• guided by trained and experienced coaches

We look forward to working with you to hone your GA skills for that test that’s round the corner!