Speed & Power TestsIntroduction Introduction Belonging to psychometric tests Used since the early part of the 20th century and developed for use in educational psychology Measuring attributes like intelligence, aptitude and personality Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories Psychome tric tests Personality & Interest Tests Aptitude & Ability Tests . .Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories Personality questionnaires try to measure aspects of your personality Aptitude tests try to measure your intellectual and reasoning abilities. There are two different styles of maximum performance test. speed tests and power tests.Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories Aptitude and ability tests are considered as maximum performance tests because they test what you can achieve when you are making maximum effort. . • Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories Aptitude & Ability Tests Speed Tests Power Tests . Speed Tests . the time limits are of no importance. the limits are short enough to make rate of work an important factor in the score and these are called speed tests. . as nearly every subject completes all they can do correctly. In other tests.Speed Tests Most group tests of mental ability and achievement are administered with time limits. In some cases. This time limit affects performance. How many you cross out will be a function of how fast you respond.Speed Tests Often these tests are used by human resource professionals or by psychologists during the hiring process. The time limits on speed tests are usually set so that only 50% of the applicants are able to attempt every . you might be given a page of printed text and asked to cross out all the “es” in 25 seconds. for example. The Scope of Questions In a speed test. Taken individually. the questions appear relatively straightforward. the scope of the questions is limited and the methods you need to use to answer them is clear. For example: 139 + 235 = A) 372 B) 374 C) 376 D) 437 . Speed of performance is unquestionably an important aspect of language proficiency. (Harris.Speed tests in Language Tests Two extremely important factors must be considered: The time to be provided for testing. and the degree of speededness we wish to build into our test. 1986) . for example. They are speed tests in that they don’t require very much reasoning ability. You either know the answer or you don’t. You can usually find questions on all of the following: •Spelling •Grammar •Sentence Completion •Analogies •Word Groups •Instructions •Critical Reasoning . spelling. synonyms and antonyms etc. grammar.Speed tests in Language Tests These tests can include verbal ability tests that can be deal with simple verbal ability. These tests usually consist of 30 to 40 questions which need to be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. . This means that you will almost certainly have heard of the word and know its meaning. The test designer needs to choose words which are fairly common and in regular usage but which are often spelt incorrectly.Examples Spelling Questions Questions where you have to identify incorrectly spelt words are common in all levels of verbal ability tests. There would be little point in using obscure words which only a small percentage of candidates could be expected to know. Examples Spelling Questions Which of the following words are incorrectly spelt? A) separateB) ordnance C) obviously D) sucess E) none of these Choose the pair of words that best completes the sentence The -------.of the timetable caused some ---------A) rivision B) revision C) revission D) revition A)inconvenienceB)inconveniense C) inconveneince D) inconvinience . Examples Spelling Questions The following list of 20 words contains 10 that are incorrectly spelt.occurence B. dispair J. Write the letter that corresponds to each incorrectly spelt word in the answer box A.batallion I.dissipate C.weird D.accommodate E. irritable .embarassment F.repetition H. ecstacy G. -----------.because he was -----------A) redundency B) indispensable C) redundancy D) indispensible Related Word Questions kick. walk A) throw B) toes C) shin D) feet E) hand .Examples Missing Word Questions He avoided --------. Examples Synonym and Antonym Questions Which of two of these words are opposite in meaning? A) lose B) winner C) victor D) loser E) vanquish Which of two of these word is the odd one out? A) swindle B) harass C) provoke D) annoy E) pester . Power Tests . • As the name suggest.’ . the test-takers’ profundity of knowledge in the area being tested. a power test refers to any ‘ test in which time is no constraint or whose time limit is so generous that most examinees are able to attend to all the items of the test. i.e. a power test is taken to measure the power or strength of its candidates. • According to Taiwo(1995). . and working out how to answer the question is the difficult part. Once you have determined this. arriving at the correct answer is usually relatively straightforward.• The methods you need to use to answer questions in a power test are not obvious. the third is more difficult than the first two. In other words.Features of Power Tests A power test contains items that vary in difficulty to the point that no subject is expected to get all items right even with unlimited time. . the second is difficult than the first one. The first item is very easy. the items in power tests are arranged in order of difficulty. and so on. 1995) .’ (Taiwo. item difficulty generally increases gradually. well constructed power test precludes a testee from getting correct an item beyond which he gets stuck.Features of Power Tests A power test consists of graded items. and his score on the test is taken as an index of his ‘power or strength’ of work. i.e. Each item presumed to be more difficult than its preceding one. Features of Power Tests In come power tests. For example. the following is a sample of TOFEL test from listening section where difficulty increases gradually as the candidates listen to more listening dialogues : . If a student fails to find answer to the sixth item he will not be able to solve the subsequent items and his ability is reflected by item 5. Somebody left their wallet here. . Some things just can’t be helped. (D) She doesn't want the man to replace the platter. What does the woman mean? (A) She can't help the man look for another platter. What does the man suggest the woman do? (A) Try to find out who the wallet belongs to.A: Uh huh. (D)Get the attention of the person who dropped the wallet. (C) Leave the wallet where she found it. B: See if there is some kind of identification in it. (B) She forgot the platter had been broken. I’ll be more than happy to buy you a new one. B: Forget about it. (C) She didn't realize the platter had been broken. A: I don’t know how I managed to break that platter. (B) Keep the wallet until someone comes looking for it. . (C) She has already arrived at the library. (D) He waits to tell the woman what Michelle said.A: Jane told me she’d meet me here at the library reference desk at one o’clock. (D) She is consulting with the reference librarian A: Could you give this note to Mitchell? B: Give it to Mitchell? What am I? a messenger? What does the man imply? (A) He does not know who Michelle is. (C) He does not want to deliver the note. What does the man say about Jane? (A) She left the library at 12:30. (B) She canceled the meeting unexpectedly. I just saw her upstairs in the third floor study lounge. B: Oh. She said she had been expecting you at 12:30. But she hasn’t shown up yet. (B) He has gotten a job as a messenger. This makes power test a sort of graded scale. . and the higher up the scale a candidate can move. of the candidates to attempt every item. the greater is his profundity of knowledge in the area being tested. or at least most.Features of Power Tests In power tests. a definite but ample time is given for all. Features of Power Tests Power tests tend to be more relevant to such purposes as the evaluation of academic achievement. for which the highest level of difficulty at which a person can succeed is of greater interest than his speed on easy tasks. For example: here comes a sample of a test which measures proficiency in English: . professional or managerial level. Power tests are used more at the graduate. . .Features of Power Tests A power test on the other hand will present relatively a small number of complex questions. Power aptitude tests meanwhile involve questions that require more time for thinking and comprehension. For example: Below are the sales figures for 3 different types of network server over 3 months. Server January February March Units Value Units Value Units Value ZXC43 32 480 40 600 48 720 ZXC53 45 585 45 585 45 585 ZXC63 12 240 14 280 18 340 In which month was the sales value highest? A) January B) February C) March What is the unit cost of server type ZXC53? A) 12 B) 13 C) 14 . Speed vs. Power Tests . . although candidates sense speed tests as being more encumbered by limited time. both types of tests have the same approximate time limit.Allotted Time When it comes to times allotted. speed tests contain more items than power tests. in power tests the emphasis is on ability rather than the speed. Thus. .Number of Questions Although they have the same approximate time limit. Level of Difficulty In speed tests the questions are relatively straightforward and the test is concerned with how many questions you can answer correctly in the allotted time. A power test on the other hand will present a smaller number of more complex questions. . Use Speed tests tend to be used in selection at the administrative and clerical level. power tests tend to be used more at the graduate. professional or managerial level. . By contrast. if you do well in speed tests then you will also do well in power tests. A power test contains items that vary in difficulty to the point that no subject is expected to get all items right even with unlimited time. though this is not always the case. . Speed Tests are the ones in which individual differences depend entirely on the speed of performance. speed tests do give an accurate indication of performance in power tests. One classification which is based on the rate of performance distinguishes between Speed Test and Power Test. However.Conclusion Psychological Tests can be classified on various dimensions. In other words. (2006) Psychological Testing. New Delhi: SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd. D.com/aptitude-test s/speed-versus-power-tests. from http://www. USA. 2013 from http://www. Fundamentals of Classroom . Norms in Applied Psychometry. Domino.php? term=Speed%20Tests Taiwo. G. 2013. (1995). (1986). from http://www. Retrieved May 12.Works Cited Chadha.htm "Speed Tests. K. 2013. Testing English as a Second Language.psychometric-success. (2009). Retrieved May 14. Cambridge University Press Harris.com/glossary/definition. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Book Company. Psychological Testing." Psychometric Success. and Domino. M. AdedIran.alleydog. Retrieved May 14.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/481664/p sychological-testing/23854/Written-group-versus-or al-individual-tests "Speed and Power Tests. N. 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