SAMPLE QUESTIONS: CLERICAL TEST BATTERY
Test Design
The Clerical Test Battery (CTB) is a one hour online test. There are three components in the CTB:
- Proofing & Checking – This component measures a candidate’s ability to compare words and numbers to detect errors. There are two sections in this component that assess this ability.
- Adaptive Profile Quantitative Reasoning – This component measures a candidate’s applied numerical reasoning.
- ADEPT-15 – This component measures aspects of a candidate’s personality that are linked to effective work performance.
Test Design
The Clerical Test Battery (CTB) is a one hour online test. There are three components in the CTB:
- Proofing & Checking – This component measures a candidate’s ability to compare words and numbers to detect errors. There are two sections in this component that assess this ability.
- Adaptive Profile Quantitative Reasoning – This component measures a candidate’s applied numerical reasoning.
- ADEPT-15 – This component measures aspects of a candidate’s personality that are linked to effective work performance.
Proofing and Checking
In the first component, Proofing and Checking, you are given a ‘Correct List’ containing typed names, addresses, and dollar amounts. You are to compare a ‘List To Be Checked’ to the ‘Correct List’ line by line, to detect any differences, and then indicate the number of differences or errors by selecting the correct number of errors.
Read the examples below and compare the ‘List To Be Checked’ to the ‘Correct List’ and select the Number of Errors.
SECTION I: CORRECT LIST
Name, Address, Amount
1. Mr. John Smith, New York, N.Y., 127.32
2. Dr. Jane Dunn, Moline, Ill, 2437.16
SECTION I: LIST TO BE CHECKED
Name, Address, Amount
1. Mrs. John Smythe, New York, N.J., 127.32
2. Dr. John Dunn, Moline, Ill, 2374.16
Please select the number of errors in each of the above examples. As the examples show there could be an error in any of these: title, first name, last name, city, state, and amount.
In example item 1, there are three errors in the ‘List To Be Checked’ item, so you would have selected ‘3.’ The three errors are:
- The title ‘Mrs.’ rather than ‘Mr.’
- Last name ‘Smythe’ rather than ‘Smith’
- The state ‘N.J.’ rather than ‘N.Y.’
In the second example item, you would have selected ‘2’ indicating there are two errors:
- First name ‘John’ rather than ‘Jane’
- Error in the dollar amount, ‘2374.16’ rather than ‘2437.16’
In the next section of the first component there are also two lists to be compared. One is an alphabetically sorted ‘Correct List’ and the other is an unsorted ‘List To Be Checked.’
You are to compare each entry in the ‘List To Be Checked’ to the appropriate entry in the ‘Correct List,’ count the number of errors and select the correct answer. Each word in the name of the business could be an error, and there could be an error in the number for each business.
Read the examples below and compare the ‘List To Be Checked’ to the ‘Correct List’ and select the Number of Errors.
SECTION II: CORRECT LIST
Alignment Services, Inc., 41-003
Bicycle Recovery Ctr., 10-1212
Czek’s Sausage Shop, 14-10-1
Dyad Consulting, 99-110
Everlasting Floral, 81-10-1
SECTION II: LIST TO BE CHECKED
3. Dyad Consultants, 99-101
4. Bicykle Recovery Center, 01-2121
In example item 3 there are two errors:
- ‘Consultants’ rather than ‘Consulting’
- ‘99-101’ rather than ‘99-110’
In example item 4 there are three errors:
- ‘Bicykle’ rather than ‘Bicycle’
- ‘Center’ rather than ‘Ctr.’
- ‘01-2121’ rather than ‘10-1212’
Proofing and Checking
In the first component, Proofing and Checking, you are given a ‘Correct List’ containing typed names, addresses, and dollar amounts. You are to compare a ‘List To Be Checked’ to the ‘Correct List’ line by line, to detect any differences, and then indicate the number of differences or errors by selecting the correct number of errors.
Read the examples below and compare the ‘List To Be Checked’ to the ‘Correct List’ and select the Number of Errors.
SECTION I: CORRECT LIST
Name, Address, Amount
1. Mr. John Smith, New York, N.Y., 127.32
2. Dr. Jane Dunn, Moline, Ill, 2437.16
SECTION I: LIST TO BE CHECKED
Name, Address, Amount
1. Mrs. John Smythe, New York, N.J., 127.32
2. Dr. John Dunn, Moline, Ill, 2374.16
Please select the number of errors in each of the above examples. As the examples show there could be an error in any of these: title, first name, last name, city, state, and amount.
In example item 1, there are three errors in the ‘List To Be Checked’ item, so you would have selected ‘3.’ The three errors are:
- The title ‘Mrs.’ rather than ‘Mr.’
- Last name ‘Smythe’ rather than ‘Smith’
- The state ‘N.J.’ rather than ‘N.Y.’
In the second example item, you would have selected ‘2’ indicating there are two errors:
- First name ‘John’ rather than ‘Jane’
- Error in the dollar amount, ‘2374.16’ rather than ‘2437.16’
In the next section of the first component there are also two lists to be compared. One is an alphabetically sorted ‘Correct List’ and the other is an unsorted ‘List To Be Checked.’
You are to compare each entry in the ‘List To Be Checked’ to the appropriate entry in the ‘Correct List,’ count the number of errors and select the correct answer. Each word in the name of the business could be an error, and there could be an error in the number for each business.
Read the examples below and compare the ‘List To Be Checked’ to the ‘Correct List’ and select the Number of Errors.
SECTION II: CORRECT LIST
Alignment Services, Inc., 41-003
Bicycle Recovery Ctr., 10-1212
Czek’s Sausage Shop, 14-10-1
Dyad Consulting, 99-110
Everlasting Floral, 81-10-1
SECTION II: LIST TO BE CHECKED
3. Dyad Consultants, 99-101
4. Bicykle Recovery Center, 01-2121
In example item 3 there are two errors:
- ‘Consultants’ rather than ‘Consulting’
- ‘99-101’ rather than ‘99-110’
In example item 4 there are three errors:
- ‘Bicykle’ rather than ‘Bicycle’
- ‘Center’ rather than ‘Ctr.’
- ‘01-2121’ rather than ‘10-1212’
Adaptive Profile Quantitative Reasoning
The second test component is Adaptive Profile Quantitative Reasoning. This component is a measure of applied numerical reasoning. Numerical reasoning abilities are an important predictor of success in nearly all professional and managerial positions, and are involved in analyzing and understanding quantitative information, making predictions, and in problem solving and complex decision making. This type of test is valid in a variety of industries including manufacturing, insurance, financial services, healthcare, and technology.
Example A
An office manager bought a computer for A dollars, three desks for B dollars, and two chairs for C dollars. What is the total cost of the order?
- A. A + B + C
- B. AB + 2C
- C. A + 3B + 2C
- D. A + (B + 2C)/3
- E. (A + B + C)(3 + 2)
The correct answer is ‘C’ because this represents the sum of the costs of one computer (A), three desks (3B), and two chairs (2C).
Example B
A commodity has been on the market for four years and is currently worth $1,107. In its first two years on the market, its value increased by 50% every year. Its value doubled in the third year and tripled in the last year to reach its current value. What was the initial value of the commodity?
- A. $862
- B. $454
- C. $186
- D. $82
- E. $68
The correct answer is ‘D’ because the commodity price increased by 50% each of the first two years on the market (Year 1: $82*1.5=$123; Year 2: $123*1.5=$184.50), doubled in the third year (Year 3: $184.50*2=$369), and tripled in the fourth year (Year 4: 369*3=$1,107).
Adaptive Profile Quantitative Reasoning
The second test component is Adaptive Profile Quantitative Reasoning. This component is a measure of applied numerical reasoning. Numerical reasoning abilities are an important predictor of success in nearly all professional and managerial positions, and are involved in analyzing and understanding quantitative information, making predictions, and in problem solving and complex decision making. This type of test is valid in a variety of industries including manufacturing, insurance, financial services, healthcare, and technology.
Example A
An office manager bought a computer for A dollars, three desks for B dollars, and two chairs for C dollars. What is the total cost of the order?
- A. A + B + C
- B. AB + 2C
- C. A + 3B + 2C
- D. A + (B + 2C)/3
- E. (A + B + C)(3 + 2)
The correct answer is ‘C’ because this represents the sum of the costs of one computer (A), three desks (3B), and two chairs (2C).
Example B
A commodity has been on the market for four years and is currently worth $1,107. In its first two years on the market, its value increased by 50% every year. Its value doubled in the third year and tripled in the last year to reach its current value. What was the initial value of the commodity?
- A. $862
- B. $454
- C. $186
- D. $82
- E. $68
The correct answer is ‘D’ because the commodity price increased by 50% each of the first two years on the market (Year 1: $82*1.5=$123; Year 2: $123*1.5=$184.50), doubled in the third year (Year 3: $184.50*2=$369), and tripled in the fourth year (Year 4: 369*3=$1,107).
ADEPT-15
The third component, ADEPT-15, measures 15 aspects of individuals’ personality linked to effective work performance. It has been proven effective in selection, promotion, and development contexts by over 8 million global administrations, is backed by 50 years of research, and is built upon a database of 350,000 unique items.
Instructions
This assessment is composed of pairs of statements. You simply need to indicate which one you agree with more. The closer you move the selector towards a statement indicates a greater level of agreement with that statement than the other. For each pair of statements, you must move the selector left or right, you cannot leave it in the middle. If you change your mind, simply move the selector to another location or click the new location. There will be five pairs of statements on each screen.
At times, it may be hard to choose because you agree or disagree with both statements. This is a normal part of the assessment. When faced with this type of choice, you should review each statement and then move the selector closer to the one you agree with slightly more.
You should be careful not to over-think your responses; you should go with your first reaction whenever possible.
There are a total of 100 statement pairs on the assessment. An example of a real item pair can be seen below.
ADEPT-15
The third component, ADEPT-15, measures 15 aspects of individuals’ personality linked to effective work performance. It has been proven effective in selection, promotion, and development contexts by over 8 million global administrations, is backed by 50 years of research, and is built upon a database of 350,000 unique items.
Instructions
This assessment is composed of pairs of statements. You simply need to indicate which one you agree with more. The closer you move the selector towards a statement indicates a greater level of agreement with that statement than the other. For each pair of statements, you must move the selector left or right, you cannot leave it in the middle. If you change your mind, simply move the selector to another location or click the new location. There will be five pairs of statements on each screen.
At times, it may be hard to choose because you agree or disagree with both statements. This is a normal part of the assessment. When faced with this type of choice, you should review each statement and then move the selector closer to the one you agree with slightly more.
You should be careful not to over-think your responses; you should go with your first reaction whenever possible.
There are a total of 100 statement pairs on the assessment. An example of a real item pair can be seen below.