APTITUDE TESTING
THE EMPLOYEE APTITUDE SURVEY
The Employee Aptitude Survey (EAS) is a multi-aptitude
battery that is designed to assess cognitive, perceptual
and psychomotor abilities that are important for a wide
variety of occupations. The EAS is published by Psychological
Services Incorporated, a company which has been a pioneer
in skills assessment and evaluation since 1946.
The EAS has been extensively validated in over 40 years
of research, and studies at some of America’s largest
corporations, as well as companies with as few as 100 employees,
demonstrate the ability of the EAS to predict success both
in training and on the job for many different occupations.
It has been successfully used by both public and private
sector organisations in the United States including: Legg
Mason, Capital One Financial Corporation (Financial), GTE
Service Corporation, AON Consulting (Service), PPG Industries
Incorporated (Manufacturing) and 3M Worldwide (Technological)
and in Trinidad and Tobago by companies such as BPTT, Hydro
Agri, Grace Kennedy, and Fereira Optical
By using the EAS to select employees with the necessary
aptitudes, an employer can actually improve the productivity
of the workforce. The tests provide a quick and convenient
way to screen applicants so that time is not spent interviewing
applicants who may not have the skills to do the job. The
tests are furthermore ideal for both professional, skilled
and semi-skilled employees.
The ten different aptitudes measured by
the test are: Verbal Comprehension, Numerical Ability, Visual
Pursuit, Visual Speed and Accuracy, Space Visualisation,
Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Word Fluency, Manual
Speed and Accuracy and Symbolic Reasoning.
EAS 1 - Verbal Comprehension: EAS 1 measures
the ability to understand written words and the ideas associated
with them.
EAS 2 - Numerical Ability: EAS 2 measures the ability to
add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers, decimals,
and fractions.
EAS 3 - Visual Pursuit: EAS 3 measures the
ability to make rapid, accurate scanning movements with
the eyes.
EAS 4 - Visual Speed and Accuracy: EAS 4 measures the ability
to compare
numbers of patterns quickly and accurately.
EAS 5 - Space Visualisation: EAS 5 measures the ability
to visualize forms in space and to manipulate objects mentally.
Space visualisation is a strong component of “mechanical
aptitude”.
EAS 6 - Numerical Reasoning: EAS 6 measures the ability
to analyse logical numerical relationships and to discover
underlying principles.
EAS 7 - Verbal Reasoning: EAS 7 measures the ability to
combine separate pieces of information and to form conclusions
on the basis of that information.
EAS 8 - Word Fluency EAS: 8 measure flexibility and ease
in verbal communication.
EAS 9 - Manual Speed and Accuracy: EAS 9 measures the ability
to make repetitive, fine finger movements rapidly and accurately.
EAS 10 - Symbolic Reasoning: EAS 10 measures the ability
to manipulate abstract symbols mentally and to make judgments
and decisions that are logically valid.
