Aptitude testing

Like many employers the NZDF uses aptitude tests in its selection procedures. The NZDF has been doing so since World War II when it began using aptitude tests to select aircrew.  

Aptitude tests provide reliable and objective information about an individual’s ability to perform under training and on the job. They help the NZDF to identify the candidates who are most likely to succeed in training and early career.

What are aptitude tests?
Our aptitude tests are different to the tests you have done at school. Rather than assessing what a person knows, they assess a person’s ability to do certain things compared to others (e.g.  solving unfamiliar problems). These assessments are conducted under strict time constraints that allow candidates to be compared against one another.

After submission
After submitting your application, a Candidate Engagement Facilitator (CEF) will invite you to complete your aptitude testing either through remote proctoring or in person at your nearest recruiting office. Aptitude tests are an important part of the application process and provide us with some specific information about how you might perform in a particular job.

Example questions can be found below. These are only intended to give you a general idea of the type of questions you will be asked.

Once you have reviewed the question types, complete the practice tests before completing the real test. Practice tests can be found here.

These tests will simulate the types of questions you will be asked with the added pressure of answering questions under time constraints.
NOTE: you are required to create a login to access the tests, and can only complete each test once.

Not all of the tests on the practice site will be relevant to the tests you will undergo. The tests that are most similar to the real assessment are the:

• General Ability Test (Standard Multiple-Choice), and
• Mechanical Comprehension Test

We strongly recommend that you attempt both these tests before the real assessment.

You may also like to attempt the:

• Numerical Reasoning (Standard Multiple Choice)
• Inductive Reasoning (Standard Multiple Choice)
• Deductive Reasoning (Standard Multiple Choice)

These tests are different from the real assessment in that they assess one ability at a time. They can be a good way to practice answering numerical, inductive, and deductive questions. Keep in mind that the real assessment will be a mixture of numerical, deductive, and inductive questions just like in the General Ability practice test listed above.

What else can you do?
Some applicants find it useful to complete practice tests found elsewhere on the internet. Please be aware that the questions found elsewhere may not be similar to what you will receive in NZDF selection tests. That is why we only specifically recommend the tests at the practice site. These will be the most similar to those in the actual assessment.

If you do search elsewhere for practice tests, you should know that some websites require payment for practice tests. It is up to each candidate as to whether they are willing to purchase practice material.