Mechanical reasoning tests are designed to assess a candidate's ability to use mechanical and engineering concepts to solve problems.
A mechanical reasoning test is an assessment of a candidate's understanding of physical and mechanical principles.
Candidates are provided with a range of multiple-choice questions based on principles such as forces, compression, expansion, magnetism, electricity, gravity, gears, springs and levers. Using their knowledge and understanding, a test-taker must correctly select the right answer.
For some roles, you may also be expected to make calculations such as basic mathematics (ratios, percentages, averages and fractions), conversions and units, as well as calculating area.
A variety of publishers write tests for mechanical reasoning. The most popular are Bennett Test of Mechanical Comprehension, Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude, Barron's Test of Mechanical Aptitude, Stenquist Test of Mechanical Aptitude and SHL Mechanical Comprehension Test.
A mechanical reasoning test is used by employers to measure critical thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving skills in the context of mechanical and engineering concepts.
The assessment ensures high employee performance and helps identify top talent where mechanical reasoning is needed as a prerequisite for the role.
Mechanical reasoning tests are common assessments given for technical jobs such as engineering roles and positions in the emergency services and armed forces.
A mechanical reasoning test is likely to cover concepts such as forces, electricity, pressure and sound energy, temperature, fluid dynamics, kinetic energy, momentum, the properties of different materials and heat transfer.
The test is particularly useful for employers looking for talented individuals who might be able to solve complex mechanical problems with logical thinking.
74% of employers admit they’ve hired the wrong person for a position and up to 78% of resumes are misleading. Skill tests help employers ensure candidates do in fact have the skills needed to perform well in a job.
A mechanical reasoning test demonstrates a candidate’s ability in core competencies needed for engineering and mechanical-based roles, as well as how a test-taker copes under pressure.
The test is given to all applicants in your talent pool and provides comparative data, helping you to make more informed hiring decisions.
A score is given for each candidate so you can compare and advance only the strongest candidates to the next stage. During the early stages of recruitment, it can also help significantly reduce hiring bias, as the decisions will be data-driven.
What does Hooke's law refer to?
The acceleration of falling objects
The distance a spring stretches when force is applied
The change in weight on different planets
The effect of gravity on moving objects
Results for the Mechanical Reasoning Test along with other assessments the candidate takes will be compiled to produce a candidate report.
The report is automatically generated and available both online and as a downloadable pdf so they can be shared with other team members and employees alike.
Neuroworx’s mechanical reasoning test contains multiple-choice questions that are presented as diagrams. A top-performing candidate will need to determine which mechanical principle is being illustrated and select the one correct answer from the three or four other distractors.
The test is 10 minutes long, which gives a candidate roughly a minute per question. This helps simulate what a real-life work situation might feel like and helps assess how a candidate performs under stress.
The test was developed by a subject matter expert, with support from our team of organisational psychologists and psychometricians.
The intermediate-level questions cover a broad range of mechanical concepts and therefore the test is relevant for a number of roles. For civil service roles such as a civil engineer, the mechanical reasoning test is most likely to measure your understanding and skills in applying key principles. For a technical job, you may be expected to make calculations too.
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Mechanical reasoning tests are typically used in roles for the military, police force and fire service, as well as various engineering occupations. The test is relevant to any job that might require prior knowledge of mechanical or engineering concepts.