What Are Cubiks Tests?
A global assessment and talent development consultancy, Cubiks is a leading provider of psychometric assessments. It's tests are used by employers worldwide to assist with effective recruitment and employee advancement.
Cubiks tests come in multiple forms. Ability tests measure a candidate's natural aptitude for logical reasoning in one or more areas. Personality and behavioural tests look at an individual's character, working preferences, and professional judgement.
Each test can be used as a standalone tool, or in conjunction with other assessments to give a well-rounded candidate profile.
Cubiks tests offer several benefits to an employer. They're scientifically designed to identify key skills and attributes known to contribute to success in any given profession, including the armed forces. These are hard to judge through a candidate's qualifications and experience alone.
They're also objective, removing any unconscious bias from the selection process, and are an effective way of narrowing down the applicant pool when recruitment is done at scale.
Founded in the UK in 2000, Cubiks delivers recruitment solutions to clients in over 50 countries. It became part of US-based PSI Services in 2019, but it's popular psychometric testing suite remains unchanged.
What Are The Different Types Of Cubiks Tests?
Cubiks tests can be split into three primary categories:
- Ability tests
- Personality assessments
- Situational judgement tests
Each test type is administered online, typically in the early stages of recruitment, though may also form part of a later stage assessment centre.
It's likely your prospective employer will use a combination of Cubiks tests to assess your overall suitability for the role, so it's important to understand the purpose of each assessment, and what's involved.
Ability Tests
Cubiks ability tests go by the name of Logiks, and are administered at both intermediate and advanced levels.
The Logiks test series does not require any specific knowledge. All the information you need to complete these tests will be contained within the questions, and you'll have multiple choice response options for each.
Candidates taking the Logiks intermediate will sit a general test that measures various aspects of reasoning ability. Those taking the Logiks advanced may also sit general tests, or complete one or more individual tests focused on specific aptitudes.
All Logiks tests are taken under timed conditions.
Logiks General
Logiks General is a combined assessment covering verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning.
At intermediate level, this is a 12 minute test, allowing for four minutes per section:
Verbalreasoning- you'll face 24 questions that look at basic verbal ability. For example, your capacity for drawing logical conclusions from new information, and your understanding of word relationships. Questions are not complex - usually one or two sentences long.
Numerical reasoning- this section contains 16 questions based on general arithmetic and number sequences.
Abstractreasoning- finally, you'll complete 10 questions that assess your ability to use rules and relationships to complete sequences containing abstract shapes and patterns.
At advanced level, the same three areas are assessed, with a 20 minute time allowance given. The structure of Logiks General advanced is:
- Verbal - 8 minutes, 12 questions
- Numerical - 8 minutes, 8 questions
- Abstract - 4 minutes, 10 questions
The major difference, other than structure, is test complexity. Questions at this level are of the same format as those in the individual tests described below.
Logiks Verbal
In the Logiks verbal reasoning test, you'll be presented with paragraphs of text that are quite complex in nature. You'll need to carefully evaluate all the information and answer multiple choice questions relating to it.
These questions may ask you to draw logical conclusions, identify assumptions that can or cannot be made or choose a summary that best delivers the key messages of a passage.
There are 36 questions in total, with 25 minutes to work through as many as possible.
Logiks Numerical
The Logiks numerical reasoning test looks at how well you're able to interpret, and draw conclusions from, sets of data.
This data is presented in tables, charts and graphs, with around four multiple choice questions relating to each.
In interpreting the information presented, you'll need to work with percentage, ratio and decimal conversions, and perform calculations using general arithmetic.
This test is 25 minutes long, with a total of 20 questions.
Logiks Abstract
In the Logiks abstract reasoning test, you'll work through 30 questions, each relating to an abstract sequence.
Within these sequences may be one or more governing rules, which you'll need to quickly identify to determine which of the multiple choice options fits into the part of the sequence left blank.
There are 15 minutes allowed for this test, so if you want to complete it in full, you'll need to allocate just 30 seconds per question.
Personality Assessments
Cubiks offers employers three personality tests to choose from. One is referred to as Cubiks Factors, with the other two falling under its Personality and Preferences Index (PAPI).
These are used to understand how your character traits and preferences contribute to your working style - and how that style fits with the nature of the role.
These tests are untimed, and there are no right or wrong answers. It's all about who you are as a person.
PAPI N
PAPI N stands for Personality and Preferences Index Normative. This personality questionnaire is typically used for recruitment purposes.
Candidates' test results are compared to those of a normative group - a collection of individuals that have proven effective in a particular role. From this comparison, employers can identify those with similar traits to other successful recruits.
Questions are presented as a series of statements, against which you'll rank yourself on a seven point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
You're able to work through the test at your own pace, and it should take no more than 30 minutes to complete.
PAPI I
PAPI I stands for Personality and Preferences Index Ipsative. It differs from the PAPI N test in that results are not compared, but used to determine ways in which an individual can grow in their role.
For that reason, the PAPI I test is most often used for employee development rather than recruitment.
It also differs in format. In this test, each question contains three statements. You'll select which of the three is most like you, and which least, in a professional context.
Most candidates take 30 to 35 minutes to complete the PAPI I.
Cubiks Factors
Cubiks Factors is a shorter questionnaire structured in the same way as the PAPI N test.
Statements about personality and working preferences are presented, and you'll rate yourself on a sliding scale in relation to each.
There are 54 statements in total, which the average test taker completes in around 10 minutes.
Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs)
The Cubiks situational judgement test looks at a candidates decision making skills and professional judgement.
A range of hypothetical scenarios are given, much like you'd expect to encounter in a workplace setting. For each scenario, you'll be asked to rank and/or rate a number of possible responses based on how effective you deem them to be.
In rated questions, you'll mark each response offered as either counterproductive, ineffective, slightly effective, effective, or highly effective. In ranked questions, you'll choose which response you see as most effective, and which as least. Some questions ask you to do both.
Again, there are no right or wrong answers on a situational judgement test. You're being assessed on your own understanding of what constitutes effective behaviour in the workplace.
Top Five Tips To Prepare And Pass Your Cubiks Assessments
1. Know which tests to prepare for
As there are several test types in the Cubiks Logiks series, you'll need to clarify which you'll be taking. It could be one, or a combination of the verbal, numerical and abstract tests, or the blended general assessment. In the latter case, you'll also need to know at what level the test will be taken, as question types differ between intermediate and advanced. Your recruitment contact should make this information available to you.
2. Practice as much as possible
These tests may be unlike anything you've encountered before, so practice is key. The more familiar you are with the format, the better you'll be able to focus on the task at hand. You'll also develop your reasoning skills through regular practice, and hone in on any areas that may need more work.
3. Learn to work accurately at speed
In Cubiks ability tests, it's not just aptitude under assessment. Time restrictions are in place to see how well you perform under pressure, so you need to work both quickly and precisely. Take practice tests against the clock, and experiment with time saving techniques like the process of elimination.
4. Don't linger on difficult questions
Spending too long on one question will damage your score, so if you find yourself stuck, move on. You can always return to any unanswered questions if you have time. It's also wise to take an educated guess, since you won't be marked down for incorrect answers.
5. Read everything carefully
When working at speed, it's tempting to scan rather than read information, but that's the easiest way to misunderstand a question. Make sure you know exactly what's being asked of you, and that you've taken in every detail relevant to the problem posed.
