What Is The Irish Defence Forces Aptitude Test?
The Irish Defence Forces are the armed forces for the Republic of Ireland. The Forces encompass the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, and Reserve Defence Forces.
The Irish Defence Forces have a duty to defend the state, to aid the civil power, to assist with multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian relief, and to ensure maritime security and fishery protection. Each branch also has ceremonial responsibilities.
To enlist in any of the sectors of the Irish Defence Force, you'll first need to pass the Irish Defence Forces test, an aptitude test covering numerical, verbal, and problem solving skills.
The test is administered early in the recruitment process to give insight into a candidate's skills and strengths, and to determine whether they are suitable for a role in the armed forces.
You can find a list of current vacancies, referred to as competitions, on the Irish Defence Forces website.
How Is The Irish Defence Forces Test Structured?
The Irish Defence Forces aptitude test is an online assessment. The initial round of testing is unsupervised and the test is taken from home via an emailed link. If you progress in the recruitment process, you may be asked to resit the test in a facilitated environment to validate your score.
The Irish Defence Forces test has five sections, referred to as sub-tests. You will have 30 minutes to answer as many questions as possible. The test comprises the following question topics:
Irish Defence Forces Error Detection Test
Error detection questions assess your attention to detail and ability to spot consistencies and discrepancies. You will be presented with two boxes, both featuring a combination of letters and numbers. The first box will be labelled as the correct version, and the second the copy version.
Your task will be to identify any differences between the two instances. Your answer will be the number of differences between the two - for example, if there are three discrepancies between the combinations, your answer will be 3.
Note that the combinations may match, in which case the answer will be 0.
Irish Defence Forces Orientation Test
The orientation section of the test features questions assessing your logical and spatial awareness. For each question, you will be presented with two rules which govern a set of arrows.
You'll need to remember these rules and visualise what the scenario would look like with the rules applied (i.e. visualise how the arrows will be positioned and shaded).
There will be a series of answer options to choose from, but remember that this is a memory exercise too. Once you view the answer options, you will not be able to go back to read the rules.
Irish Defence Forces Number Fluency Test
The number fluency questions are similar to those featured on a numerical reasoning test. They assess your basic numeracy skills, focusing upon your ability to perform calculations quickly in your head.
Each question will present you with two calculations. You'll need to work out the answer to each, and then indicate which has the greater value.
You'll only be able to see one calculation at a time, so you will need to remember the answer from the first sum.
Irish Defence Forces Word Rules Test
The word rules section possesses similarities to some of the questions featured on a verbal reasoning test, as it assesses how well you can remember words and apply logical rules.
You'll be presented with a rule for a set of three words. You'll then be presented with three words and asked to indicate whether the combination follows the rule. Note that the rule must be followed in the same order.
Your answer will be the number of words that match the rule. So, if all three words follow the rule, your answer will be 3.
You will need to read and memorise the rule as, when you view the combination, it will disappear.
Irish Defence Forces Deductive Reasoning Test
The deductive reasoning questions featured in the test assess your ability to reason with verbal information. You'll be presented with two short rules followed by a question. Your task is to use the rules to select the correct answer from a list of options.
The rules are based around concepts such as the order of temporal occurrence, the order of proximity, and the size, speed, or height of objects.
Note though that, as with the other questions, you won't be able to see the rules once you click through to the answer options. Make sure you are clear on your answer before you click to progress.
Top Tips To Pass The Irish Defence Forces Test
1. Take Practice Tests
The Irish Defence Forces aptitude test has proven to be an accurate predictor of future performance on the job, so it is important to score as highly as possible to impress the recruiters. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what the test entails and are well-prepared to answer the questions.
The best way to familiarise yourself with the format, style, and content of the test is to sit practice tests. There are some available on the Irish Defence Forces website, but further tests to assist your preparation can be found through Military Aptitude Tests.
2. Actively Review Your Practice
Once you've taken a practice test, go through your answers carefully and identify your areas of strength and of weakness. This will help you to focus your attention - and remaining valuable practice time - on the areas that most need improving.
Note, though, that it is also important to practice topics you feel confident in, as aptitude tests can present questions in ways that are different from what you are used to.
3. Hone your Pace
The Irish Defence Forces test is timed, so you'll need to work through the questions at a fairly rapid pace to complete the test. When preparing, make sure you sit all your practice tests in timed conditions.
Use your phone or a clock to keep track of the remaining test duration and the speed at which you are answering each question. This will ensure that you become used to working at the required pace.
4. Set Yourself Up For Success
The Irish Defence Forces test features different styles of problem solving questions and many memory and recall elements, so you'll need to be able to focus clearly upon the information presented.
Make sure you take the test in a quiet environment, free from distractions. This will help you to give the assessment your full attention and work through the questions at a faster pace.
