An overview of
the Cambridge Profile
A presentation to staff
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What is the Cambridge Profile?
• A battery of eight aptitude tests
• Assessing aptitudes/abilities
• Revealing thinking and learning skills
• Academic potential – independently from normal
school forecasts
• Key strengths and weaknesses
• Paper based or online tests available
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The Tests
• Working Quickly and Accurately - Part I
(5 mins)
• Abstract Reasoning (9 mins)
• Numerical Reasoning (18 mins)
• Verbal Reasoning (7 mins)
• Spatial Reasoning 2D (5 mins)
• Spelling (5 mins)
• Spatial Reasoning 3D (7 mins)
• Arithmetic Calculation (10 mins)
• Working Quickly and Accurately - Part
II (4 mins)
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Working Quickly and Accurately
• Tests candidates speed and
accuracy in matching symbols
• The first test is repeated as the last
test but time reduced
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Working Quickly and Accurately
• The ability to work quickly and accurately is
important for computer operators/software
writers, secretaries, typists, bankers,
musicians (for reading musical scores) etc,
who need to maintain accuracy at speed in
their work.
• This test does measure a valuable skill which
can be a considerable asset in many types of
activities and a good score can be of great
encouragement for students who may not
have performed brilliantly in other Aptitude
Tests. It is particularly supportive for
repetitive and detailed clerical activities eg in
clerical or accounts work.
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Abstract Reasoning
• Tests the ability to discern abstract
trends
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Abstract Reasoning
• A candidate's Abstract Reasoning score can be a valuable
indicator of his or her intellectual ability and can supplement the
results for Verbal and Numerical Reasoning. Students with
dyslexia may perform far better in Abstract that in Verbal
Reasoning - indicating their academic potential in using nonverbal concepts
• Courses/Careers: potential engineer, scientist,
physicist, mathematician, lawyer, builder, artist, architect,
economist, historian. Abstract Reasoning can play an
important role for those who need to envisage the causes and
effects of situations eg in understanding how a road accident
has occurred, how a game of football/tennis is being played,
how a sequence of events is likely to progress in the future,
how market prices may develop in a particular financial
sector.
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Numerical Reasoning
• Tests the ability to recognise
numerical relationships
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Numerical Reasoning
• This test focuses on the ability to recognise and analyse
numerical relationships. This aptitude could be a valuable
indication for those considering Mathematics at higher level.
Numerical Reasoning of this type is also likely to be valuable
in the support of Physical Sciences and Engineering courses,
Actuarial or Economics Courses.
• For Business Courses good Numerical Reasoning should also
prove valuable. Biology eventually calls for a knowledge of
statistics and mathematical techniques which are central to
Biological Research, so strong Numerical Reasoning could be an
asset here.
• The Numerical Reasoning scores give another very important
indication of a candidate's intellectual ability which can
supplement the results for Verbal and Abstract Reasoning.
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Verbal Reasoning
• Tests the candidates ability to use
verbal concepts logically
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Verbal Reasoning
This ability is always central to the study of Arts subjects eg English,
History, Law, Modern Languages. In these subjects a great deal of
reading of books or translation between languages can be involved,
calling for the ability to interpret verbal relationships. If a student is
considering Arts subjects, tt would be reassuring if the scores for
this aptitude were above average or at least if the bar graph for
accuracy were to be high, despite a lower speed of completion.
Good Verbal Reasoning is a valuable asset for all academic
work since the ability to communicate ideas of all kinds is
central to such activity. It is valuable in assessing a person's
overall Academic Level, in association with Numerical and
Abstract Reasoning. It is especially a valuable measure of verbal
and written communication skills
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2D Spatial Reasoning
• Assesses the ability to think in 2dimensional terms
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2D & 3D Spatial Reasoning
2D test is concerned with pattern recognition and pattern
manipulation. 3D test- the task in this test is to mentally fold a
patterned figure into a 3D shape and to choose, from amongst four
options, the representation which matches the folded figure.
High scores would be encouraging for: graphic designers,
artists, architects, surveyors, civil and mechanical engineers,
builders, scientists, surgeons and indeed for all careers
where an ability to think clearly in spatial terms would be
important.
High scores indicate a high level of intellectual ability in
using visual and spatial concepts and can be very helpful in
providing core skills which can compensate a candidate who
may have difficulty in e.g. Verbal Reasoning.
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Spelling
• Measures an ability to detect their
own and other people’s spelling
errors
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Spelling
Competence in spelling is a great asset for those who have to write
letters and articles or assemble accounts, instructions, produce books
etc. (or can use spellchecker!)
Dyslexia can sometimes be indicated where candidates
produce low scores, especially if both speed and accuracy
scores are low. However, many people with mild dyslexia
may learn to largely overcome this problem and can do
well in these tests
Spelling tests of this type do not directly reflect general
intellectual ability. Indicate a student’s detail and precision
skills
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Arithmetic Calculation
• Tests the candidates ability to use
arithmetic quickly and accurately
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Arithmetic Calculation
This test uses straightforward examples of addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division in one-step calculations.
Good performance in simple arithmetic is an asset in most
careers, but especially important for: accountants, bookkeepers,
invoicing staff, retailers, bankers, surveyors, engineers etc. An
ability to make mental calculations of quantities, distance, speeds,
costs etc is especially valuable during negotiations and contracts.
Ability in this type of arithmetic test should not
be confused with ability in Numerical Reasoning.
Some candidates excel at both, but many others
can excel at only one of these. Arithmetic does
not necessarily predict ability in general
mathematics
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Results and Analysis
• Percentile
– A student’s performance relative
to other students of a similar age
and academic background
• Speed
– The percentage of answers
attempted
• Accuracy
– The percentage ‘accuracy’ of the
answers attempted
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Presentation of Results
The results are shown in each candidate's report with
3 separate scores
1. Percentile Score: A student’s performance
relative to other students of a similar age and
academic background. (Irish norms used). This is
represented by a boat shaped symbol – green
symbol). These represent a student’s strengths and
weaknesses in terms of the aptitude measured. This
is important in helping to select subjects/courses
based on strong aptitudes.
If the student has a percentile score of 90 for
Numerical Reasoning, indicating that 10%
of students of his age, and academic background, are
likely to do better than he has in this test.
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Interpreting Results
• 2. Bar Graph: Speed (gray bar)- The second bar graph in each set
indicates 'Speed' as the percentage of answers attempted. Thus
a candidate attempting only 15 out of say 30 possible questions
would be given a score of 50% (15/30 x 100) for speed.
• 3. Bar Graph: Accuracy (blue bar) This indicates the percentage
'Accuracy' of the answers to the questions attempted during the
allocated time scale. Thus a candidate completing 30 out of say
40 questions - and getting 27 of these correct, would be shown
as having a 90% accuracy score (27/30 x 100).
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Percentile Scores
• Each individual aptitude is discussed in the light of the
percentile score of the candidate and career/course
implications are described. These commentaries are shown on
the page facing the bar graphs.
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Interpreting Results: Percentile Scores
The percentile scores in Spatial, Verbal, Numerical and Abstract
Reasoning can tell you about a student’s potential for higher
education and particular careers areas
Percentile Scores : 70-79: Above Average Score
30-69: Average Score
0-29: Below Average Score
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Results and Analysis
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Results and Analysis
Comments on:
• Importance of aptitudes in future
careers or courses
• Strengths and weaknesses likely in
future performance
• Careers fields to be avoided
• Careers fields which are strongly
supported/encouraged
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Note
it is important that we do not assume the test scores are absolute
and unchallengeable. We must always look for encouraging
scores, for example, note high levels of accuracy, where the
overall score has been spoiled by low speeds.
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Qualities not measured by aptitude tests
• Aptitude Tests are very valuable in many of the aspects outlined
above - but they do not measure many other important qualities
which are vital in successful careers, some of which include:
• • Determination to succeed.
• • Enthusiasm and confidence.
• • Energy to work very long hours to achieve objectives.
• • The determination to identify and find solutions to problems.
• • Integrity, loyalty, honesty.
• • Commercial instinct - being able to spot opportunities.
• • Initiative, creativity and inventiveness.
• • Power to understand, persuade and motivate others
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Qualities not measured by aptitude tests
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Leadership
• Sympathy for others.
• Forward planning.
• Sense of humour - being able to laugh at yourself.
• Being prepared to accept constructive criticism from others.
• Being prepared to ask others for advice.
• Having fun in your chosen career or work.
• Refusal to accept defeat.
• Good communication with others
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