Pay Attention to Testing Details

03/06/07

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you test:

Choose an able administrator. To oversee your testing program, you need someone who is careful, well organized, a good communicator, and has good human-relations skills.

Use the proper procedures. Make sure the person administering a test understands testing procedures. These are usually outlined in an administrator’s manual that accompanies a test. The manual should discuss such things as the nature of the questions, how tests are scored, how long people have to complete the test, and so on.

The more an administrator knows about the test, the more he or she can put test-takers at ease. (A good way to learn: Take the test yourself.)

Get permission, if necessary. Some states may require you to get written permission from applicants before testing them. Check with your state’s labor department or a lawyer.

Find a quiet room. It’s important that all test-takers for a position have the same conditions for taking the test. Find a well lit, comfortably furnished room that is quiet and allows test-takers to concentrate.

Test expert Jesse M. Llobet, Ph.D., says, “Always test in a quiet area, free from distractions. Most reputable tests are validated in a quiet environment. Therefore, if the same does not hold true during ‘real’ test administrations, the validity of the test is jeopardized.”

Adds Llobet, “Make applicants feel as comfortable as possible at the time of testing. Never tell them that the hiring decision will be based entirely on their test performances. Always explain that the test is only one piece of the decision-making pie.”

Consider special circumstances/accommodations. You may need to make an accommodation for a test-taker. That might mean anything from providing another place to take the test to offering another version of the test—like a large-print version for someone with a visual impairment.

Accommodations, however, shouldn’t invalidate the test. If in doubt, ask the test publisher.

Maintain security. Keep tests under lock and key, or on a secure computer. Employees have been known to filch tests to enable a friend to have an advance look. And ensure that only those with a legitimate need to know have access to the results.