What is a psych evaluation test

What Is It & More I Psych Central

A psychological evaluation can be a key part of your therapy journey. It gathers information about how you think, feel, behave, and much more.

If you or a loved one have just started therapy, you might have been told that you’ll receive a psychological evaluation.

These evaluations include a series of tests and assessments similar to the ones given in any other medical office. They’re used to provide your mental health professional with valuable insights into the symptoms that you might be having and guide your course of treatment.

A psychological evaluation is often thought of as the first line of defense in diagnosing and treating a mental health condition. Performed by a psychologist, it helps them gain an understanding of the severity and duration of your symptoms.

Tests and assessments are the two main components used in an evaluation. The testing part of an evaluation typically includes using formal tests, or “norm-referenced” tests. These are standardized tests that measure an individual’s ability to learn and understand several concepts.

Standardized tests, for example, can measure your reading ability compared to others of your same age and grade or intellectual level.

In a psychological evaluation, these tests can be adapted to measure whether an individual might have a particular condition or disorder.

An assessment, on the other hand, can include formal tests, like standardized ones, and informal tests, which are those that measure your performance and progress on certain activities.

Common components of an assessment include:

psychological tests
surveys and tests
interviews
observational data
medical and school history
medical evaluation

Based on the questions asked, assessments can help determine a variety of things from whether you might have a learning disorder to how well you’d work as a manager.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), these evaluations assess your psychological functioning, including your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to help determine the sort of treatment you may need — in short, the best way to move forward.

If you’re having dizziness or lightheadedness and visit a doctor’s office or clinic, a medical exam will be done. The doctor might perform a battery of tests, such as a blood test or an X-ray, to see whether you have an underlying health condition, like anemia (low iron) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

A psychological evaluation works in a similar way.

They’re tailored to help your mental health professional get to the root of the symptoms that may be concerning you and influencing certain aspects of your life. And, just like medical exams, early intervention and treatment can help prevent your symptoms from worsening.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) points out several signs and symptoms that might be an indication a psychological evaluation might be needed. These include the following:

changes in mood
nervousness
social withdrawal

changes in your sleep or eating habits
difficulty concentrating
trouble performing your usual tasks
a lack of interest in activities you previously enjoyed

If any of these signs sound familiar to you, do know that help is available — and that a psychological evaluation can be an important first step towards treatment and recovery.

Some people wonder why both tests and assessments have to be done. Aren’t they the same thing?

Well, yes and no.

Tests and assessments are separate ideas but are often used together to get a full picture of where you stand.

“A psychological assessment is gathering information to evaluate a person’s behavior, character, strengths, and needs for the purpose of diagnosing, setting goals, and recommending treatment,” explains Wendy Pitts, LCSW-C, a clinical social worker in Maryland. “While tests can be used as a part of gathering information for an assessment, the tests themselves are not the assessment.”

On the other hand, “tests are instruments used to assess specific features of a person’s functioning.”

For example, aptitude testing may be used to clarify your skills. Meanwhile, the PHQ-9 test — a self-reported questionnaire — might be used to assess for depression.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all evaluation. Each one will be tailored to you and your needs. The tests and assessments chosen will be specific for you.

In general, you can expect to spend anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes at the evaluation. Prior to the evaluation, you may be asked to write down your symptoms, thoughts, and emotions.

During the evaluation, it’s important to be honest about your current state of mind, your history, and your day-to-day challenges. This will better inform your mental health professional’s understanding of who you are and what may need to be done next.

Clinical interview

A clinical interview is usually the first step in the therapy process.

During this time, a mental health professional may spend 1 to 2 hours with you to review your history, symptoms, and concerns. Throughout the interview, they will make several observations, primarily about the way you reason and think.

Keep in mind that such interviews are done in an accepting, non-judgmental manner.

Your mental health professional may also choose to interview those who are close to you, such as your significant other or a family member. However, these interviews won’t be done without your consent.

Behavior test

A behavior test looks at how you would perform in a given situation. Research shows that these tests can help measure your interests, personality, values, and attitudes.

Again, this is done to give your mental health professional a complete portrait of who you are.

Personality tests

A personality test is used to help understand several aspects of your personality and what shaped it — your environment, genetics, and social circumstances.

One example of a personality test that may be done this is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. This particular test can help your mental health professional evaluate what form of care you may need.

Intellectual functioning (IQ) test

Though this type of test isn’t as common, it might be added based on your specific needs.

Hearing that your IQ might be tested can seem unnerving. And yes, this test is used to understand your intellectual capacities, but it’s also used to understand your future possibilities.

Intelligence tests can be used to measure:

reasoning
problem-solving
abstract thinking, ability to understand real concepts
judgment
academic learning
experiential learning, ability to learn by doing

The scores on an IQ test might not reflect the overall intellectual performance, so interviews might be conducted with family members, teachers, and caregivers to give a complete picture.

Medical exam

A physical exam might also be involved.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms, blood tests or X-rays might be done to help determine whether your symptoms are due to a medical condition.

A complete medical history — which includes which medications you take — will also be taken into account as some medications can cause symptoms that mimic a mental health condition.

These evaluations measure a number of factors to help your mental health professional understand what you’re going through — and where you may need support. These aspects include:

attention span
memory
language skills
judgment skills
the biggest stressors impacting your life
thought patterns
feelings
behaviors
ability to reason
developmental delays (in children)

Psychological evaluations are primarily used to help make an accurate diagnosis and ultimately, determine the best treatment options, if needed.

Some of the mental health conditions evaluations are used for include:

anxiety disorders
depression
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Alzheimer’s disease
substance use disorder

At the same time, psychological evaluations can also be used to encourage self-awareness, evaluate job candidates, and assist in academic placement.

The words “psychological evaluation” may sound intimidating at first. But these evaluations can give your mental health professional essential information about you, your personality, your behaviors, your symptoms, and importantly, your challenges.

It’s important to be candid about your experiences, thoughts, and emotions during your evaluation. A trusted mental health professional will always have your best interests in mind — and want to support you.

Remember that this is a common and necessary part of the therapy journey. And what awaits at the end could be your path towards recovery.

What I Need To Know About A Psychiatric Evaluation

Providing appropriate mental health care is important for individuals and society. The importance of diagnosing and treating psychological and mental health issues could be the difference between life and death. There are those who have mental illnesses that stop them from functioning properly in their life or may add extra hardship to their lives that they need support and healing for. Psychological help is available.

Is Therapy Right For You?

Psychiatric Help Is Just A Click Away

A psychological evaluation is often the first line of defense in treating mental illness, and it helps mental health professionals draw up a treatment plan based on their findings.

This evaluation can help psychologists determine the nature and severity of a person’s mental illness while giving insights into evaluation and treatment options. This evaluation can help detect depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, phobias, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder, among others.

A clinician has a variety of evaluation assessment tools available based on the reasons for evaluation. They may ask about a person’s medical and family history, previously diagnosed mental health conditions, psychiatric symptoms, past psychiatric treatment, physical symptoms, current mental status, past and current substance abuse, and more.

This can sound intimidating, but it’s a chance for you to talk about yourself, your experiences, and your feelings openly in order to receive the best treatment possible. In some cases, you may also undergo a brain scan, lab tests, and physical examination to rule out physical conditions and gain as much information as possible. Getting psychiatrically evaluated is nothing to be afraid of, and while the assessment process may not be particularly fun, psychological evaluations serve as the first step in your mental health journey.

Psychological evaluation testing can also detect developmental delays in children, give insights into an individual’s personality, and provide an evaluation of intelligence and aptitude. An online therapist is a great place to start.

Psychiatric Testing

If you or someone you know is referred for a psychiatric evaluation and assessment, you probably have questions, concerns, and maybe a little apprehension. Although this is common, it need not interfere with your daily life. During a psychiatric evaluation, patients simply receive knowledge to better understand and manage their issues and symptoms. We’ll discuss this in greater depth as we move throughout this article. A lot of things can impact our connection to the world around us: relationships, family history, our experience with psychotherapy (whether that be a psychiatrist or psychiatry in general), consultation experience, physical health, mental health conditions, or a personality disorder.

Is Therapy Right For Me?

When we think about getting help for our issues, we may feel as though it is our decision alone, and we may be hesitant to seek out the necessary resources because we believe that something might be wrong with us or that we are the only ones that are having issues. The truth? Many people struggle with mental illness, and others simply seek out therapy by looking for ways to find a therapist to help them cope with day-to-day problems. More importantly, therapy is effective and helps them to properly deal with their issues rather than trying to deal with them on their own. If you or a loved one is putting off getting psychological testing, consider this: Just like medical issues, early intervention can prevent potentially serious illness. Mental wellness has positive effects on your entire life, and getting treatment can have lasting impacts.

Signs a Psychological Evaluation Test May Be Necessary

By knowing the symptoms and early warning signs of mental illness, one could proactively seek the help of a psychologist/ find a therapist or other professional. The American Psychiatric Association outlines several warning signs that warrant a psychiatric evaluation.

Social withdrawal: Losing interest in interacting with others, especially close friends and family.
Problems with thinking: Having issues with memory, concentration, speech, and logical, rational thought.
Decreased functioning: Having significant difficulties at school, work, or social activities. This includes quitting previously enjoyed activities and struggles to perform routine tasks.
Apathy: Loss of motivation and desire to participate in familiar tasks.
Disconnected feelings: A hard-to-shake idea of being disconnected from oneself or surroundings. A feeling of reality has been altered in some way.
Increased sensitivity: Being affected or overloaded by sensory input like sights, sounds, and touch. Avoiding situations in fear of over-stimulation.
Mood changes: Unexplained rapid or dramatic shifts in emotions.
Unusual behavior: Acting in uncharacteristic ways of displaying peculiar behaviors.
Changes in sleep or appetite: Declining personal care due to changes in sleep and eating patterns.
Irrational thinking: Illogical thought patterns that impact daily functioning. These could include intrusive thoughts, “magical” thinking, or unusual and exaggerated beliefs.
Anxiety or paranoia: Fears or suspicions of others, situations, or one’s environment.

When someone has one or two of these signs, it may not be cause for alarm, especially when they are temporary. When you or someone you know has more of these symptoms that impact daily functioning and social interactions, a psychiatric evaluation or psychiatric assessment (they have the same purpose) is necessary to check for a potential physical disorder or mental health condition. If the person in question has thoughts of self-harm, harming others, or suicide, they should find a therapist or seek other available immediate assistance.

What Is a Mental Health or Psychiatric Evaluation?

Psychological testing and assessment are similar to medical tests. When a patient goes to a doctor with chronic pain, fatigue, or other symptoms, a medical doctor often orders appropriate tests to find out what is happening with the patient physically. For example, if someone falls and experiences severe hip pain or chronic pain, a doctor would order an X-ray to determine the problem. From there, the appropriate course of treatment is determined. Instead of tending to physical needs, a psychiatric evaluation observes and measures a client’s behaviors, thoughts, and emotions to determine a diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Often, doctors also ask about a patient’s personal history, family history, and medical history. The same concept applies to psychological evaluations and the resulting treatment plan.

Psych Assessment

A psychological evaluation test gives your therapist a snapshot of your emotional state. The assessment looks at thinking, reasoning, and cognitive function. Also, the psychologist will note your mood, behaviors, daily functioning, and social interactions. Since mental health issues are often complex, psychological testing has a variety of methods.

What Will A Psychiatric Evaluation Look Like?

Psychological testing can involve formal questionnaires, checklists, surveys, interviews, and observations to assess a person. It may also involve physical tests and examinations to rule out any physical health issues. The type of psychiatric evaluation often depends on the person and what needs to be assessed. When determining the appropriate test, an individual’s cognitive functioning, current symptoms, abilities, and attitudes are all taken into consideration. A mental health professional can answer questions that you have about what a psychiatric evaluation may look like for you.

Types Of Tests

Psychological tests help assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of children and adults by using verbal, visual, or written evaluations. Several psychological testing methods are helping assess attributes like personality, mental ability, and neurological functioning. Here are the common types of psychological testing:

Psychological Personality Test

Personality testing is used for a variety of reasons. From screening a potential employee to diagnosing forms of psychopathology like a personality disorder, these tests identify characteristics of a person’s personality. By using personality tests, a clinician can evaluate attitudes, emotions, thoughts, and behavioral traits contributing to one’s personality. These tests can help determine a person’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to make informed life choices based on their personality traits. Also, if someone shows signs of psychopathology, personality testing can help identify these emotional problems and start the treatment process. Types of psychological personality tests include:

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for Adolescents (MMPI-A)
Millon Pre-Adolescent Clinical Inventory (M-PACI)
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

Projective Test

During a psychological projective test, the individual looks at ambiguous stimuli such as pictures, inkblots, or incomplete sentences and shares an interpretation. The individual’s responses give insight into thoughts, feelings, and themes consciously or unconsciously projected into the material. Response frequencies and ratios are compared to normal and abnormal averages determining particular tendencies or pathologies. Examples of projective tests include:

Rorschach (inkblot) Test
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Sentence Completion Test
House-Tree-Person Test

Neuropsychological Tests

For children and adults dealing with a traumatic brain injury, brain damage, or organic neurological problems, a neuropsychological test may be necessary. These tests assess a person’s level of functioning and help identify areas of mental impairment. Individuals undergoing treatment or rehabilitation for a neurological illness may need these tests to evaluate their progress. Also, some neuropsychological tests can help screen children for learning disabilities and developmental delays like autism and attention deficit disorder. Examples of neuropsychological tests include:

Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS)
Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test
Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination
Kaplan Baycrest Neurocognitive Assessment (KBNA)
Dean-Woodcock Neuropsychology Assessment System (DWNAS)

Achievement and Aptitude Tests

These tests measure intellectual functioning and cognitive ability. Achievement tests measure a person’s knowledge in a specific area, while aptitude tests assess learning and ability to perform in new situations. Similar to aptitude tests, intelligence tests measure a person’s ability to adapt to the environment. Many achievement and ability tests are established standardized assessments with uniform procedures and testing protocols. They can be used in schools, universities, outpatient healthcare settings, and social agencies. Formats include written, verbal, or computer-based tests. Examples of this test include:

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III)
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Direct Observation Tests

As the name implies, these tests involve the observation of a trained clinician. During these tests, the clinician watches and records interactions and behaviors while a person completes activities. Direct observation tests are usually conducted in a laboratory, classroom, or home. The purpose of these tests is to establish a pre-intervention baseline regarding a child’s behavior and parent-child interactions, so family members are typically present for these tests as well. Direct Observation Tests include:

Parent-Child Interaction Assessment-II (PCIA)
MacArthur Story Stem Battery (MSSB)
Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System-II

Preparing For a Psychiatric Evaluation

A psychological assessment can include many components such as information from tests, surveys, interviews, medical evaluation, observational data, and other records. A psychiatric evaluation can take between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the reason for testing. Sometimes, a few days before a psychiatric evaluation, you will be asked to keep a journal of your thoughts, emotions, or symptoms. This gives doctors or psychologists a better view of what you are experiencing in your day-to-day life. Be honest and candid. If you are truly seeking help, your cooperation is essential.

Family members or loved ones may be asked to accompany you during a psychiatric evaluation. They can provide insights, observations, and perspectives helping the psychologist assess your current strengths and needs.

Be ready to share any medical issues you are experiencing. Know all of the medications and supplements you take, including recreational drugs. This helps a psychologist rule out physical health problems, medication side effects, and issues with drug interactions. Make a list of questions and concerns for the clinician. During an appointment, it’s easy to forget questions about the need for the test, its risks, and what the results mean. By writing them down ahead of time, you will remember and have the confidence to ask during the psychiatric evaluation.

A mental health assessment could cause you a variety of emotions. Depending on the reasons for a psychiatric evaluation, you may feel resentful, hostile, afraid, or anxious. These are all common reactions to someone evaluating how you think and feel. Remember that psychologists are here to help you work through problems, not to judge you. If you are not willing to work with the clinician or complete the tests honestly, you are sacrificing the first step of receiving help.

Properly diagnosing some mental health issues is difficult. A psychologist may need to order additional psychological testing, blood work, urine samples, or a physical exam. Try your best to be patient. Improper diagnosis may only cause you more problems.

What Can You Do?

While you should never self-diagnose and treat your own disorder, there are some things you can do at home that can help you in the future and allow you successfully tackle your issue when you finally do start treatment. Here are a few of those tips to get you started.

Come Up With a List of Your Symptoms and symptom-related Issues

Having a mental illness can be a bit like having a cluttered closet; you aren’t sure of everything that you have until you get organized and take stock of everything. Fully understanding your mental illness and getting a better idea of what you may have all starts with learning more about your symptoms and how they are impacting you.

Take a Look Into Potential Disorders

While you shouldn’t self-diagnose, you should seek to learn more about potential disorders before you walk into your therapists. Knowing more about what you may be dealing with can help to move the process forward faster and help your therapist when you begin counseling. Take a look at some of the most common mental illnesses and see if your symptoms match up with any of those to learn more about what you could be facing.

Improve Your Self-Care Routine

Not every mental health disorder can be impacted by what you do on your own time, but self-care can often go a long way when it comes to alleviating many mental illness symptoms. Before and during therapy, make sure to take care of yourself to the best of your ability. This can help to reduce your daily stress to make things easier as you gradually work through your current situation.

Getting help for mental illness can seem like a daunting experience. By agreeing to participate in a psychiatric evaluation honestly, you are taking the first brave step in changing your life. If a traditional therapy setting is too expensive or inconvenient, they are other options. Try to find a therapist— The accredited, caring therapists at BetterHelp provide convenient, affordable online counseling. If your struggles with everyday life seem overwhelming, let the dedicated therapists at BetterHelp.com guide you on a path to happiness and mental well-being.

BetterHelp gives you a chance to connect with a variety of certified therapists through an online platform, allowing you to skip the inconvenience of having to leave your home, work out a schedule that may interfere with other important responsibilities, and search through a handful of physically-based therapists until you find the right one. Read below for some reviews of BetterHelp counselors, from people experiencing different issues and life challenges.

Counselor Reviews

“Kristen helps me to see my life and myself from a different perspective. I tell her about my experiences, and she is able to hone into another side of the story that I couldn’t get working things out on my own. And I had tried for a very long time. As someone particularly skeptical of counseling in general, it has been refreshing to speak and work with someone who genuinely recognizes that I am seeking help but reluctant to take it. Her patience and consistent inquiry have been the greatest asset for me, and I appreciate my time with her.”

Is Therapy Right For You?

Psychiatric Help Is Just A Click Away

“I’ve worked with Jamie for a number of months, and he’s helped me with everything that life has thrown my way. Difficulty in work, my relationship, and other stresses that I’ve struggled to navigate by myself. He listens, and he helps. I always feel validated and supported. He gives me tools and perspectives that have made a big difference in my overall happiness. ”

Conclusion

Although the act of seeking out therapy and getting an initial diagnosis can seem daunting, letting your mental illness go untreated can have a much more serious impact on your life. Taking the first steps and connecting with a counselor today will open up the path to healing and push you into the life that you have been capable of living all along.

The way you see the world and how your mind works can vary based on anything as small as answers you were given from family members, your experience with wellness and MD doctors, cases in ADHD or any other thing or diagnosis you have received, as well as any thing you were told from a random page or blog that was taken as a fact.

Commonly Asked Questions On This Topic Found Below:

What do they do at a psych evaluation?
What is an example of psychological evaluation?
How do I prepare for a psych evaluation?
How long is a psych evaluation?
What are the 5 signs of mental illness?
How do you fail a psych evaluation?
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Psychology Is Personal

Psychology is a personal experience, and not everyone will go into it seeking the same things. Keeping this in mind can ensure that you will get the most out of online psychology, regardless of what your specific goals are. If you’re still wondering if therapy is right for you, and how much therapy costs, please contact us at [email protected] to get started.

Psychological testing - Psychologos

Psychological testing (section of psychodiagnostics) - the study of certain psychological qualities and personality traits through the use of psychological tests. Psychological testing is used in job selection, psychotherapy and psychological counseling, etc.

A good psychologist (not necessarily with a degree in psychology: it can be an experienced leader, a qualified personnel officer, an attentive psychiatrist) will tell you everything or almost everything about a person without any testing. Sometimes a conversation is enough for this, sometimes a conversation is not needed, just one look is enough: at a person’s face, at his gait, it is enough to hear the intonations of his conversation. However, there are few good psychologists, and you need to understand people, and this is where psychological tests come in handy.

What can and can't psychological tests do? The most difficult thing in a person to determine two seemingly elementary things: common sense and decency. Other psychological characteristics (extroversion, agreeableness, general intelligence, neuroticism, openness to experience) - it is quite possible to catch with the help of tests.

The main characteristics of psychological tests are validity, reliability, representativeness and reliability. Validity is the conformity of the results of a test to the characteristic it is intended to measure. Reliability - the property of a test to give close results when measured again. Reliability as internal consistency - the focus of all elements of the test scale on the measurement of one quality. Representativeness - the correspondence between the norms (intervals on the test scale) obtained on the sample and the norms that can be obtained on the population. Reliability - the property of the test to counteract falsification - intentional or unconscious distortion of the results by the subjects.

During development and testing, different researchers may change the number and composition of the test question, but in this case it is difficult to compare the results obtained by different researchers. Only over time, a standardized test is created - a psychological test with a clearly defined unchanging list of questions, instructions, methods for processing results and scoring. It takes more than 10 years of work of teams of authors to create an effective psychological test. The quality of the test is ensured by a multi-stage procedure for checking and standardizing its scales. Tests that have been adapted to Russian reality 19The 90s are few, so the choice of good psychological tests for personnel assessment is difficult.

Professional testing, or testing in personnel work - a method of selecting candidates for work. There are two main categories of tests in vocational testing: tests designed to assess the effectiveness of work performance, professional knowledge and skills; and tests designed to assess character traits and properties (special abilities) that contribute to effective job performance.

Psychological test - a standardized task (test), the results of which are used to judge the psycho-physiological and personal characteristics, knowledge, skills and abilities of the subject. Tests that judge the knowledge, skills and abilities of the subject occupy an intermediate position between psychological, educational and professional tests.

Personality tests ( Personality tests ) - tests of psychological testing aimed at studying the character, abilities, emotions, needs and other properties of the human personality. (See Classification of Psychotypes). Personality tests are divided into projective tests, personality questionnaires and activity tests (situational tests, cases).

Intelligence test - tests of psychological testing aimed at studying the degree of development of intelligence in a person.

Verbal test ( Verbal test ) - a test built on the use of the language, when the person being tested, performing the task, must not perform actions, but describe them in words.

Achievement test ( Achievement test ) is a standardized test designed on educational material and designed to assess the level of mastery of educational knowledge and skills.

Aptitude test - a psychological test aimed at identifying individual interests and preferences, helping to determine the most preferable job for a particular person.

When applying for a job, the imitation test and personnel performance are also often used as tests. The imitation test is a psychological test in which a person is asked to perform a task, although the situation in which the task is to be performed is not recreated. Personnel performance is a procedure where applicants are given a creative group task that requires teamwork and reveals such personal characteristics as willingness to take the initiative, responsibility, positive and constructive interaction.

Test results are often presented in the form of a psychogram ( Psychogram ), graphically depicting the results of the study of the mental activity of an individual using a series of tests.

Projective methods:

Rorschach test
Color psychology: Luscher color test, Freeling color analysis test,
Image psychology: Markert's test - "What mood are you in?"
Rosenzweig Frustration Test

Questionnaires:

Rotter questionnaire (level of subjective control)
Civilization Questionnaire
Shmishek Questionnaire,

Tests

Cattell test (16 PF questionnaire),
Raven test,
Socionic DV-Test,
MMPI,
diagnostic complex 7 (SAN, MMIL, SMIL, SMIL abbr., Cattell, Spielberger),
Myers and Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
self-esteem scale (Spielberger-Khanin),
depression scale,
Kelly software package,
interactive psychodiagnostics,
repertory techniques,
psychogeometry,
methodology for studying intra-family relations
NEO PI-R
[[FIRO-B]]
Leary Interpersonal Relationship Diagnostic
Polygraph (lie detector)
Handwriting analysis (graphology)

Useful links

Website about psychological testing
Personality Interpreter test
Collection of 500 psychological tests
Psychological test site
Psychology tests
Encyclopedia of Psychodiagnostics

Testing when applying for a job or study

How to pass a psychological test

Recently, some employers, when hiring, are increasingly using psychological tests to assess the abilities of their future employees.

Of course, this is an unusual thing for most people, and the excitement about the results of testing and its consequences is quite natural.

What should you do if you are offered such a test?

The employer wants to make sure that your qualities meet the requirements of the position. Arguing about the need for testing means losing the opportunity to get the job you need in advance. Therefore, your best course of action in this case may be to agree to be tested and demonstrate your willingness to do so in the interests of the case.

However, you should have specified the following two conditions. Firstly, you have the right to make sure that a qualified psychologist or professional consultant will conduct the test.

Second, by agreeing to be tested, you have the right to learn about the results of that test. You must be explained why you are qualified or not qualified for the position. Especially if these results serve as grounds for refusing employment.

Is it possible to prepare for the test?

Testing is not an exam. And what questions you will be asked is unknown. And, nevertheless, it is quite possible to prepare for testing, moreover, you need .

First of all, you should get an idea of what psychological tests are. For those of you who have never taken a real psychological test, it may seem that the test is some kind of puzzle. Decided everything is in order, did not decide - everything was gone. However, this is absolutely not the case.

What are the tests?

For psychological professional selection for various positions, two types of psychological tests are mainly used: the so-called personality questionnaires and intellectual tests.

Personality questionnaires consist of several tens or hundreds of questions, for each of which you are asked to choose one of two or more answers. Personality questionnaires are designed to determine various character traits and personality types, interests, inclinations, abilities to communicate and manage one's condition. There is usually no time limit for completing the Personality Questionnaire. During testing, you can return to previous questions, check and correct answers.

Is it possible to give false answers or hide any information when answering personality questionnaires? Most professional personality questionnaires, unlike popular questionnaires, are protected from distortion by an insincere person. They provide the specialist with several ways to check the veracity of your answers. Therefore, so that your results are not rejected, carefully read the questions and choose the answers that are most suitable from your point of view.

Intellectual tests are designed to assess your learning and cognitive abilities and represent several dozen tasks. Some of these tasks require logical reasoning, some - calculations, some - spatial imagination, some - attention and memorization. In each problem, as a rule, there are several possible answers, one of which is correct. You need to find this option.

In most cases, the time for solving all tasks is limited and amounts to several minutes or tens of minutes. During this time, you need to solve as many tasks as possible. However, you most likely will not be able to solve all the proposed tasks. For the time is chosen in such a way that during this time no one will be able to correctly solve all the problems. Therefore, if some task does not work out for you right away, you should not linger on it for too long, it is better to move on to the next ones. If there is time left, it will be possible to return to unsolved problems, as well as check or correct already solved ones. This strategy will allow you to score the most points. The main thing is to remember that your goal is not to solve all problems, but only the largest number of them.

Typically, psychological testing includes several different tests and can last several hours.

Learn more