Speed & Power Tests

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

Introduction

Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories

Psychometric tests

Personality & Interest Tests

Aptitude & Ability Tests

Personality questionnaires try to measure aspects of your personality

Aptitude tests try to measure your intellectual and reasoning abilities.

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. There are two different styles of maximum performance test; speed tests and power tests.

Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories

•Speed and Power Tests as Subcategories

Aptitude & Ability Tests

Speed Tests Power Tests

Speed Tests

Most group tests of mental ability and achievement are administered with time limits. In some cases, the time limits are of no importance, as nearly every subject completes all they can do correctly. In other tests, the limits are short enough to make rate of work an important factor in the score and these are called speed tests.

Speed Tests

Speed TestsOften these tests are used by human resource professionals or by psychologists during the hiring process.This time limit affects performance; for example, you might be given a page of printed text and asked to cross out all the “es” in 25 seconds.How many you cross out will be a function of how fast you respond.The time limits on speed tests are usually set so that only 50% of the applicants are able to attempt every item.

The Scope of QuestionsIn a speed test, the scope of the questions is limited and the methods you need to use to answer them is clear. Taken individually, the questions appear relatively straightforward.

For example:139 + 235 =

A) 372 B) 374 C) 376 D) 437

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. Speed of performance is unquestionably an important aspect of language proficiency. (Harris, 1986)

Speed tests in Language TestsThese tests can include verbal ability tests that can be deal with simple verbal ability, for example; spelling, grammar, synonyms and antonyms etc. These tests usually consist of 30 to 40 questions which need to be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. 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•Verbal Deductions

ExamplesSpelling QuestionsQuestions where you have to identify incorrectly spelt words are common in all levels of verbal ability tests. The test designer needs to choose words which are fairly common and in regular usage but which are often spelt incorrectly. There would be little point in using obscure words which only a small percentage of candidates could be expected to know. This means that you will almost certainly have heard of the word and know its meaning.

ExamplesSpelling QuestionsWhich of the following words are incorrectly spelt? A) separate B) ordnanceC) obviously D) sucessE) none of these

Choose the pair of words that best completes the sentenceThe -------- of the timetable caused some ---------- A) rivision B) revisionC) revission D) revition A)inconvenience B)inconvenienseC) inconveneince D) inconvinience

ExamplesSpelling QuestionsThe following list of 20 words contains 10 that are incorrectly spelt. Write the letter that corresponds to each incorrectly spelt word in the answer box

A. occurenceB. dissipateC. weirdD. accommodateE. embarassmentF. ecstacyG.repetitionH.batallionI. dispairJ. irritable

K. accidentlyL. liaisonM.mementoN.milleniumO.yieldP. existanceQ.independentR. insistantS. excedeT. privilege

ExamplesMissing Word QuestionsHe avoided --------- because he was ------------

A) redundency B) indispensableC) redundancy D) indispensible

Related Word Questionskick, -----------, walk

A) throw B) toesC) shin D) feetE) hand

Examples

Synonym and Antonym Questions

Which of two of these words are opposite in meaning?A) lose B) winnerC) victor D) loserE) vanquish

Which of two of these word is the odd one out?

A) swindle B) harassC) provoke D) annoyE) pester

Power Tests

• As the name suggest, a power test is taken to measure the power or strength of its candidates, i.e. the test-takers’ profundity of knowledge in the area being tested.

• According to Taiwo(1995), 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.’

• The methods you need to use to answer questions in a power test are not obvious, 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.

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. In other words, the items in power tests are arranged in order of difficulty. The first item is very easy, the second is difficult than the first one, the third is more difficult than the first two, and so on.

Features of Power Tests

A power test consists of graded items. Each item presumed to be more difficult than its preceding one, i.e. item difficulty generally increases gradually.

well constructed power test precludes a testee from getting correct an item beyond which he gets stuck, and his score on the test is taken as an index of his ‘power or strength’ of work.’ (Taiwo, 1995)

Features of Power Tests

In come power tests, 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.

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 :

Features of Power Tests

A: Uh huh. Somebody left their wallet here.B: See if there is some kind of identification in it.What does the man suggest the woman do?

(A) Try to find out who the wallet belongs to. (B) Keep the wallet until someone comes looking for it. (C) Leave the wallet where she found it. (D)Get the attention of the person who dropped the wallet.

A: I don’t know how I managed to break that platter. I’ll be more than happy to buy you a new one.B: Forget about it. Some things just can’t be helped.What does the woman mean?

(A) She can't help the man look for another platter. (B) She forgot the platter had been broken. (C) She didn't realize the platter had been broken. (D) She doesn't want the man to replace the platter.

A: Jane told me she’d meet me here at the library reference desk at one o’clock. But she hasn’t shown up yet.B: Oh, I just saw her upstairs in the third floor study lounge. She said she had been expecting you at 12:30.What does the man say about Jane?

(A) She left the library at 12:30. (B) She canceled the meeting unexpectedly. (C) She has already arrived at the library. (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. (B) He has gotten a job as a messenger. (C) He does not want to deliver the note. (D) He waits to tell the woman what Michelle said.

In power tests, a definite but ample time is given for all, or at least most, of the candidates to attempt every item. This makes power test a sort of graded scale; and the higher up the scale a candidate can move, the greater is his profundity of knowledge in the area being tested.

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.

Power tests are used more at the graduate, professional or managerial level. For example: here comes a sample of a test which measures proficiency in English:

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.

Features of Power Tests

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

When it comes to times allotted, both types of tests have the same approximate time limit, although candidates sense speed tests as being more encumbered by limited time.

Allotted Time

Although they have the same approximate time limit, speed tests contain more items than power tests. Thus, in power tests the emphasis is on ability rather than the speed.

Number of Questions

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.

Level of Difficulty

Speed tests tend to be used in selection at the administrative and clerical level.

By contrast, power tests tend to be used more at the graduate, professional or managerial level.

Use

Psychological Tests can be classified on various dimensions. One classification which is based on the rate of performance distinguishes between Speed Test and Power Test. Speed Tests are the ones in which individual differences depend entirely on the speed of performance. 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. However, speed tests do give an accurate indication of performance in power tests, though this is not always the case. In other words, if you do well in speed tests then you will also do well in power tests.

Conclusion

Chadha, N. K. (2009). Norms in Applied Psychometry. New Delhi: SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd.

Domino, G. and Domino, M. (2006) Psychological Testing, USA. Cambridge University Press

Harris, D. (1986). Testing English as a Second Language. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Book Company.

Psychological Testing. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 12, 2013 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/481664/psychological-testing/23854/Written-group-versus-oral-individual-tests

"Speed and Power Tests." Psychometric Success. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from http://www.psychometric-success.com/aptitude-tests/speed-versus-power-tests.htm

"Speed Tests." Psychology Glossary. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Speed%20Tests

Taiwo, AdedIran. (1995). Fundamentals of Classroom Testing. New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House PVT Ltd.

Works Cited