The Differential Aptitude Test (DAT) is a battery of tests published in 1947 to assess multiple aptitudes. It measures abilities like verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, abstract reasoning, and mechanical reasoning. The DAT aims to help students choose careers and courses that suit their strengths, understand their performance in different subjects, and set appropriate educational and career goals. It provides percentile and stanine scores to benchmark student performance compared to peers.

1. The Differential
AptitudeTest
(DAT),

2. DAT
 The Differential AptitudeTest (DAT), first published in
1947 byThe Psychological Corporation, is a battery of
tests whose goal is to assess multiple separate aptitudes
of students and adults.The latest (fifth) version of the
DAT, published in 1990.
 GEORGE K. BENNET
 HAROLD G. SEASHORE
 ALEXANDER G.WESMAN

3. ~ Differential Aptitude Tests ~
Designed to measure an individual's ability to learn or to
succeed in a number of different areas such as mechanical
reasoning, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and
space relations.
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Ability
Abstract Reasoning
Mechanical Reasoning
Language Usage

4. Why we do the DATs?
 Help students to choose educational and career options on the basis of
strengths and weaknesses.
 Help students to understand better why they do well/poorly in some
subjects.
 Broaden student’s horizons by suggesting new and expanded career options
consistent with tested abilities.
 Raise the level of occupational aspirations or change their direction.
 Motivate an underachiever by identifying strengths that were unrecognised
or underestimated.
 Supplementing existing achievement data to facilitate admission to
educational courses or apprenticeships.
 For the experience, some courses/careers have similar type tests.

5. Aptitude
 Tendency
 Natural Ability
 Readiness to Learn
 Personal Strengths/Weaknesses

6. What is Measured?
 Verbal Reasoning
 Numerical Reasoning
 Abstract Reasoning
 Perceptual Speed and Accuracy
 Mechanical Reasoning
 Space Relations
 Spelling
 Language Usage
 {Educational Aptitude}

7. Verbal Reasoning
 This test measures the ability to reason with words and
to think logically.
 Important for work involving communicating ideas or
understanding written material.
 Highly important in academic courses.
 Sample Careers/courses; Law, Journalism, SocialWork,
Arts, European Studies, Media, P.R., Advertising,
Education….
 Sample subjects; English, History, Languages….

8. Verbal Reasoning
..… is to water as eat is to …..
A. continue ----- drive
B. foot ----- enemy
C. drink ----- food
D. girl ----- industry
E. drink ----- enemy
..... is to night as breakfast is to …..
A. supper ----- corner
B. gentle ----- morning
C. door ----- corner
D. flow ----- enjoy
E. supper ----- morning
….. is to one as second is to …..
A. two ----- middle
B. first ----- fire
C. queen ----- hill
D. first ----- two
E. rain ----- fire
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

9. Numerical Reasoning
 Measures the ability to reason with numbers and to deal intelligently
with quantitative measures.
 In order to ensure that the reasoning rather than the computational
facility is stressed, the computational level of the problem is low.
 Sample careers/courses; Finance, Science,Accounting, Banking,
Architecture, Engineering….
 Sample subjects; Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Maths,
Accounting, Economics….

10. NumericalAbility
Add
A. 8
30 B. 15
20 C. 16
D. 26
N. none of these
Add
A. 14
13 B. 16
12 C. 25
D. 59
N. none of these
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

11. Abstract Reasoning
 Non-Verbal/Non-Numerical measure of reasoning power.
 It assesses how well one can reason with geometric
figures or designs.
 Sample careers/courses; Engineer, Doctor, Scientist,
Musician, Software Design,Teacher, Computer
Programmer, Mechanic, Management…
 Sample Subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music,
History, Art…

12. Abstract Reasoning
PROBLEM FIGURES
ANSWER FIGURES
A B C D E
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

13. Abstract Reasoning (cont.)
PROBLEM FIGURES
ANSWER FIGURES
A B C D E
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

14. Perceptual Speed & Accuracy
 Measures the ability to compare and mark written lists quickly and
accurately.
 Test items do not call for reasoning skills the emphasis is on speed.
 Important for scientific or technical work where precision is
necessary.
 Sample careers/courses; I.T. Lab.Technician,Office Administration,
Surgeon, Forensics…..
 Sample subjects; Important in all subjects but the main challenge
occurs at examinations.

15. Example: The following list is given to the
student. The list is then repeated on the
answer sheet. The student is instructed to mark
off the underlined
combination on a separate answer sheet.
A : AB AC AD Ae AF
B : aA aB Ba BA Bb
C : A7 7A B7 7B AB

16. Mechanical Reasoning
 Measures the ability to understand basic mechanical
principles of machinery, tools and motion, and the laws
of everyday physics
 Sample careers/courses; Engineer, Mechanic, Electrician,
Technician, Science, Product Design…
 Sample subjects; Physics, Applied Maths…

17. Mechanical Reasoning
Which weighs more?
(If equal, mark C.)
A B
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

18. Space Relations
 Measures the ability to visualise a three-dimensional
object from a two-dimensional pattern and to visualise
how this object would look if rotated in space.
 Sample careers/ courses;Art, Design, Architecture,
Engineering, Carpentry, Dentistry, Photography, Fashion
Design….
 Sample subjects; Art, Home Economics,Technical
Graphics…

19. Space Relations
A B C D
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

20. Spelling
 Measures ability to spell common English
words.
 This is a basic skill necessary in many
academic and vocational pursuits, especially
in courses requiring written reports.

21. Example: Which word is not
spelled correctly?
 A: cycle
 B :gurl
 C :arrow
 D :wrote

22. Language Usage
 Measures the ability to detect errors in grammar,
punctuation and capitalization.
 Sample careers/ courses;Writing,Teaching and almost all
University courses.
 Sample subjects; All subjects, all exams
 Language Usage and Spelling are included in the DAT
because the skills they measure are important in so many
areas of education and work.

23. Example
 Jason and Carl / will be mowing / the lawn / this Weekend
 A B C D
 E No error

24. Educational Aptitude
 Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning
combined.
 This score provides the best general measure
of educational aptitude or the ability to learn
from books andTeachers and to perform well
in academic subjects.

25. Subject Choice
Your choice of subjects should include
those subjects;
 Which are required/necessary to get into your
intended course(s) or career.
 Which you are interested in and prepared to work
at… a particular grade at a particular level may be
required.
 Which suit your particular strengths and talents.
 Which will help you to gain sufficient points to get
into your chosen course.

26. SCORING
 These two systems are referred to as,
 Percentiles
 Stanine

27. Percentile
 A percentile score indicates the
percentage of candidates who fall below a
particular raw score.
 A score, which falls at the 65th percentile,
means that an individual’s score is better
than 65% of the students

28. Stanine
 Stanine scores is a range expressed as a series
of single digits numbers between 1 and 9
 4 to 6 represents an average score.

29. Percentile scores can be used in
conjunction with stanine score as
outlines below.
Stanine Percentile
Very high 9 97 and above
Above averages 8 90-96
7 78-89
Average 6 59-77
5 42-58
4 23-40
Below average 3 12-22
2 5-11
Very low 1 4 and below

30. Avoid these ideas!
 None of my friends are doing that
subject; so I’m not doing it.
 Only boys do well in that.
 If I don’t do it for L.C. then I can’t do it
in college.
 Doing 8 subjects will give me a better
chance/more options.
 I’m already good at it so I will not need
to do much work.

31. DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED
ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE
ENERGY TO WORK LONG HOURS TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES
DETERMINATION TO IDENTIFY AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, AND HONESTY
COMMERCIAL AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTINCT
INITIATIVE, CREATIVITY, AND INVENTIVENESS
ABILITY TO PERSUADE AND MOTIVATE OTHERS
TEAM SPIRIT
LEADERSHIP
ABILITY TO HELP OTHERS SUCCEED
EMPATHY
FORWARD PLANNING
REFUSAL TO ACCEPT DEFEAT
INTRAPERSONAL SKILLS
INTERPERSONAL SKILL
Remember aptitude tests do not measure many
other qualities that are vital in successful careers
such as,

32. Success is not about
how smart you are,
but how are you
smart*!
 * and it is not usually measurable by a
test.

33. Questions