The Advanced Numeracy Test Workbook - Mike Bryon [46]
If you found that you did not have enough time to complete all the questions, practise estimating the answers rather than working the whole sum, look to rule out some suggested answers as wrong and thereby narrow the field of possible answers. Practise more, with a view to increasing your confidence and speed.
You will find additional suitable material in my book How to Pass Advanced Numeracy Tests (Kogan Page, 2008).
A score below 50
To compete with the best consider setting aside a quite significant amount of time to review the key skills examined by advanced numeracy tests. With practice you will succeed in acquiring the confidence, accuracy and speed in answering these questions. It may take time, it might even be painful – you may have to work hard at revising long-forgotten rules and rusty mental arithmetic – but if the opportunity to which you are working is something you really want, then go for it. You have nothing to lose. Follow the advice in the early sections on how to organize your programme of practice. Track down sufficient material on which to work. Get started in plenty of time and begin with the key operations covered in this section. When you have realized confidence, speed and accuracy in the operation of these concepts, move on to the material covered in the remaining sections of this book. You will find lots of suitable material in the books listed on page 3.
Test 2: Fundamental accounting terms
A score above 27
If you face the ABLE Financial Appraisal Exercise, this is the only score you should be content with. Your score suggests a high level of confidence and familiarity with the fundamental vocabulary of accounting and business. This language is taken for granted in the workplace and a command of it is assumed in many advanced numeracy tests. You can expect to perform well in this aspect of these tests and so should concentrate on other challenges in order that you perform to this high standard in all spheres.
A score of 20 or above
You realized a good score but if you face one of the highly competitive tests for a senior managerial position then you should seek to further enhance your confidence and command of these fundamental terms. Achieve this by reading more of the specialist business journals, check the definitions of any terms with which you are not familiar and practise the language of business at every opportunity.
A score below 20
The language examined by this test is fundamental to the day-to-day operation of every business, and a working knowledge of it is expected in both the workplace and the psychometric tests used to recruit to that work place. To succeed in the competitive tests used by employers you need to develop greater confidence in using, and a command of, this language. You will realize this through, for example, reading the business section of a quality newspaper and the weekly specialist business journals. Obtain a dictionary of business terms and look up any words that you do not understand.
Test 3: Business comprehension
A score above 85
This test was not only an examination of your command of the language of business but also a test of your endurance and ability to stay focused. Your score suggests that you demonstrate all these qualities. Concentrate your remaining practice on other challenges confident in the knowledge that you have a command of the terminology of business that will serve you well.
A score of 65 or above
This is a good score but if you face one of the highly competitive tests for a senior managerial position, you should seek to further enhance your confidence and command of these fundamental terms. It may be that you simply could not answer all the questions in the given time or that you found it difficult to work at the same rate right up to the end. If this was the case, read more of the specialist business journals, check the definitions of any terms with which you are not familiar and practise building up your levels