About ACER
Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is a publishing company that allows users to create, administer, and score assessments. Their platform is commonly used by educators, researchers, and organizations to create and deliver tests and assessments.
ACER assessments are regularly used to support aviation companies' recruitment processes. They also provide reporting tools and services to schools, universities, training organisations and employers in other sectors.
How Are ACER Assessments Different?
ACER assessments are different from other assessments in several ways:
- Comprehensive: ACER assessments are designed to assess a wide range of knowledge, skills, and abilities, providing a comprehensive view of an individual's strengths and weaknesses.
- Reliable and Valid: ACER assessments are developed using rigorous psychometric techniques to ensure that they are reliable, valid, and fair. This means that the assessments are consistent in their results, measure what they are intended to measure, and are unbiased.
- Flexible: ACER assessments can be customized to meet the specific needs of different organizations and individuals. This allows for greater flexibility in the assessment process, enabling organizations to tailor assessments to their specific requirements.
- Technology-Driven: ACER assessments are developed using the latest technology and psychometric research. This enables the assessments to be delivered in a variety of formats, including online, paper-based, or a combination of both.
- Expertise: ACER assessments are developed by experts in the field of psychometrics, who have extensive experience in developing assessments that are reliable, valid, and fair.
ACER Assessment Categories
ACER assessments cover a wide range of categories, including:
- Vocational Selection Assessments
- Core Skills Profile Assessments
- Online Writing Assessments
- Language Assessments
ACER Vocational Selection Assessments
Five tests exist within the ACER VST, but generally candidates only have to take three of the following five tests (depending on the job role you’re applying for):
1. Verbal reasoning test - this consists of two types of verbal reasoning questions. The first is where you will be given passages of texts that you’ll have to answer questions on. The second will present you with a flow chart detailing a task and again, you will be asked to answer questions on it.
2. The core vocational selection test - this includes three tests: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and abstract reasoning.
3. Numerical reasoning test - this test examines your numerical and mathematical skills.
4. Abstract reasoning test - you’ll have to work through diagrams to identify the relationship between each diagram, before choosing the missing one.
5. Optional components - this includes two tests. Mechanical reasoning, which tests your understanding of mechanical systems, and the relationship between the moving parts in a mechanism. And interpersonal understanding, which is essentially a personality questionnaire.
ACER Core Skills Profile For Adults Assessments
The ACER CSPA aptitude test is most commonly used in Australia, and again consists of five test types. Cleverly, the test adapts to your capability level based on how you have answered the previous questions. The five test types include:
1. Numeracy - this test looks at how well you can solve simple mathematical challenges in measurement, geometry, statistics, probability and algebra.
2. Reading - similar to verbal reasoning, this test requires you to read and understand passages of texts in order to answer questions.
3. Writing - this test will require you to write a letter, report or short passage based on a specific brief.
4. Abstract reasoning - this test requires you to determine what the patterns, rules and relationships are between different images.
5. Mechanical reasoning - moving parts, mechanisms, circumference, diameter, radius, volume and area are just some of the subjects tested.
Online Writing Assessment For Adults
The OWAA is used to determine your ability to write a report, as well as an argumentative piece. It evaluates:
- Quality of ideas
- Language choice
- Sentence structure
- Punctuation (of and within sentences)
- Spelling
- Purpose and audience
- Text cohesion
ACER Language Assessments
The ACER language assessments are a suite of language proficiency tests developed by ACER. These assessments are designed to measure a candidate's proficiency in a particular language, and are used by employers and government agencies to assess language skills for employment.
The ACER language assessments cover a range of languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Chinese. They are available in different formats, such as online tests, paper-based tests, and computer-based tests.
Which Airlines Use ACER?
Airlines operating in Australia and New Zealand may use ACER's psychometric assessments as part of their recruitment and selection processes. These airlines may include major carriers, regional airlines, and low-cost airlines.
It is worth noting that the use of psychometric assessments in recruitment and selection is not unique to the aviation industry, and many other industries also use these assessments to help identify candidates with the skills, abilities, and traits that are required for a particular role.
Top 5 Tips To Pass ACER Assessment
Here are five tips to help you prepare for and pass the ACER assessments:
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Test Format
Before taking the ACER assessment, make sure you understand the test format and structure. Look for practice tests and sample questions online to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that are likely to be asked, as well as the time limits for each section.
2. Practice Time Management
Time management is crucial for success in the ACER assessment.
Practice working through questions quickly and efficiently, and prioritize difficult questions that may require more time to solve.
3. Brush Up on Core Skills
Depending on the specific ACER assessment you are taking, you may need to brush up on core skills such as verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, abstract reasoning, or language proficiency. Look for study materials, online courses, or tutoring services that can help you build your skills in these areas.
4. Be Honest and Authentic
If you are taking an ACER personality assessment, be honest and authentic in your responses. Don't try to game the system by answering questions in a way that you think will make you look good, as this can backfire and ultimately hurt your chances of success.
5. Practice Self-Care
Finally, it's important to take care of yourself in the lead-up to the ACER assessment. Get plenty of rest, eat well, and take breaks when you need them. Anxiety and stress can negatively impact your performance, so it's important to be in a good mental and physical state on test day.
