RAVEN'S™ Adaptive

RAVEN'S™ Adaptive

RAVEN'S™ Adaptive

Assess general cognitive ability using cutting edge adaptive test technology

RAVEN'S™ Adaptive

Required Training

Recruitment needs have evolved over recent years, affected by time pressures, market conditions and finance. But one thing that has remained consistent is the need for a reliable measure of problem-solving and reasoning ability. However, to address the needs of today's organisations, a digital test that uses CAT technology is essential to provide: 

  • Greater test security 
  • Improved test engagement that avoids candidate discouragement 
  • The ability to fairly assess a wide pool of candidates 
  • Remote testing that meets the needs of today's candidates 

The latest edition, RAVEN'S Adaptive responds to this need, using cutting-edge Computerised Adaptive Testing technology which results in a shorter test, more reliable scores and an improved test taker experience. 

 

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What is RAVEN’S™ Adaptive? 

RAVEN’S is a gold-standard, highly trusted cognitive assessment that helps organisations measure an individual’s level of general cognitive ability by assessing non-verbal abstract reasoning skills that are required for success in many job roles or training courses. 

What does RAVEN'S™ Adaptive measure? 

The RAVEN’S Adaptive specifically assesses the following abilities: 

  • Lateral thinking 
  • Learning new concepts quickly 
  • Solving new and complex problems without drawing on prior knowledge 

It is widely used within graduate recruitment, and for roles across multiple sectors as it offers information about someone’s capacity for analysing and solving problems, cognitive thinking, abstract reasoning, and their ability to learn.

Required Training

If you would like to learn more about how the RAVEN'S™ Adaptive Test can benefit your organisation, please contact us.

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"We have found the RAVEN’S™ to be a good measure of fluid intelligence and it is especially good where other ability tests could disadvantage candidates from different cultural and language backgrounds."

Smithfield Performance Limited

Why choose RAVEN'S™ Adaptive?

Proven predictor of performance

RAVEN’S is one of the most proven predictors of performance in roles requiring the ability to solve new problems, and learn quickly, and it has been used in many countries for decades as a measure of problem-solving and reasoning ability.  

Bias and language free

The assessment is diagrammatic and free from words and text meaning it is ideal when testing candidates who speak varying languages and making it perfect for recruiting across geographies.  

Tests potential

The non-verbal content of the questions also minimises the effect of prior knowledge and verbal ability on the test scores, which means RAVEN'S can assess an individual’s true intellectual potential. 

Reduce risk and increase candidate pool

Adaptive testing means that you can use just one test to assess a diverse pool of individuals with differing abilities along the performance spectrum  On average, a 'bad hire' costs companies 30% of each hire's annual salary. Using RAVEN'S Adaptive can help strengthen your decision-making process.

Improves candidate engagement

RAVEN'S Adaptive is shorter than the previous versions thanks to the adaptive testing methodology. It only has 15 items and is untimed but typically take around 12 minutes to complete. 

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Improves company brand and candidate motivation

The adaptive testing methodology means that test takers have a better experience, as items are presented at the ability level of test taker. This stretches higher ability test takers and enables those with a lower ability to find the test more motivating.  

About RAVEN'S™ Adaptive

Measuring Lateral Thinking with the RAVEN'S™ Test

There is no one clear test to measure a candidate's ability to think laterally. However, measuring a candidate's thinking via abstract reasoning testing is used as one of many ways to measure lateral thinking. These tests measure a candidate's speed and accuracy in which they can interpret information and identify relationships between shapes and patterns. Measuring abstract reasoning in this manner provides a non-bias way of assessing reasoning and thinking. This reasoning test allows recruiters to better understand how prospective candidates can identify patterns and solve problems relative to their business industry. 

What is this Abstract Reasoning Test used for?

RAVEN’S is one of the most proven predictors of performance in roles requiring these abilities. It uses a non-verbal approach (diagrammatic) and therefore reduces potential linguistic bias, thus making it perfect for recruiting across geographies.

Why use CAT Technology?

Compared with traditional fixed form tests, scored using classical test theory, Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT) presents a modern method of delivering tests to job applicants or students.

One of the key features of CAT is that the difficulty of items presented to each test-taker is tailored to their level of ability, meaning that those who answer the items correctly will receive more difficult ones. Despite this, it is possible to compare test scores. 

 

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Product Information

Use  Applicants for graduate, supervisory, managerial, technical and executive level roles across all industry sectors 
Format  15 items, untimed, unsupervised
Adaptive Improves candidate experience - difficulty varies according to ability 
Languages  French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, UK English, US English, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese
Price Available on request

Example of RAVEN'S™ Adaptive Test

The RAVEN’S Adaptive Test presents candidates with a completely non-verbal abstract reasoning test. The questions are presented using three-by-three geometric designs. Each image has a piece missing from the diagram. The candidate is tasked with choosing the correct piece from a set of eight to complete the pattern within the matrix. 

 

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What is the format of RAVEN'S™ Adaptive?

  • Sophisticated scoring system, using computer adaptive testing which tailors the difficulty of items to a test-taker and can offer a more positive test-taker experience.​ 
    • ​Each item is assigned a difficulty level and each test taker starts with an item of average difficulty.​ ​If answered correctly, they are then presented with a harder item; if they answer incorrectly they receive an easier one. 
    • This is repeated for each item and ensures an accurate estimation of the test taker’s ability level in much fewer items. ​ 
  • ​Items are drawn from a large bank, ensuring that that the chances of two test-takers receiving the same set of items is minimal, but the tests are nevertheless equivalent in terms of difficulty. Item-banking reduces the chances of items being over-exposed or people sharing items with others.
  • Reports in more than 12 languages
  • Easy online administration.

 

About TalentLens

Our Team. Your Service.

TalentLens is a core component within the newly established Workforce Skills division of Pearson plc, the world’s lifelong learning company and global market leader in assessments. Workforce Skills is comprised of TalentLens - Pearson’s established and successful workplace psychometrics team, plus two exciting new acquisitions, Faethm AI – the world’s first data backed and truly end to end future of work company and Credly, the global leader in digital credentials.    

Supported by over 70 years of research, our psychometric tests, such as the Watson Glaser test, are used by hundreds of companies around the world for their employee recruitment and development projects. As experts from the business world, our primary objective is to provide you with ongoing assistance to review your practices, understand and define your needs, and support you in choosing and using our assessment solutions. 

We can support you with: 

  • choosing the relevant training required.
  • the administrative and technical procedures required.
  • the development and implementation of customised services to meet your HR needs.
  • administering tests from our dedicated online test platform, understanding the results of candidates, and making well-supported hiring decisions.

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FAQs

What does RAVEN’S™ Adaptive measure?

Ravens™ Adaptive is a non-verbal assessment tool designed to measure an individual’s ability to think laterally, solve unfamiliar problems, make meaning out of confusion, and the speed with which they learn or “grasp” new things.

For which type or level of candidates can I use RAVEN’S™ Adaptive?

RAVEN'S™ Adaptive can be used to evaluate a candidate’s potential for success in a wide range of positions in an organisation. It is suitable for a wide range of ability levels as the items are presented at the ability level of the test taker.

What are the most important features in the RAVEN’S™ Adaptive?

Compared with traditional fixed form tests (like the RAVEN'S™ APM II) scored using classical test theory, computerised adaptive testing (CAT) presents a modern method of delivering tests to job applicants or students. One of the key features of CAT is that the difficulty of items presented to each test-taker is tailored to their level of ability, meaning that those who answer the items correctly will receive more difficult ones. Despite this, it is possible to compare test scores.

How can we ensure that the randomly generated adaptive tests are equivalent in terms of difficulty and item content?

Each item is coded by difficulty on a finely incremented scale. Upon test completion, the test-taker is assigned a theta score. Somebody answering 15 difficult questions will receive a different theta score to someone answering 15 easy items. 

CAT is a further adaptation to itembanking, presenting items to suit the response of the test taker. If the responder answers an item correctly, the next item will be harder and vice versa.

Our studies have shown that a reliable score can be obtained with 15 items. Therefore, the tests are set to a fixed length of 15 items.

What languages are available for RAVEN’S™ Adaptive?

At launch, the test instructions AND reports will be available in the following languages:

French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, UK English, US English, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese.

How long does it take to complete the test?

Each test contains only 15 items. When 15 items have been answered the test finishes. If a candidate chooses not to answer 15 items, they will not obtain a score. The test is untimed, but in our studies the average time taken for someone to complete it is 12 minutes.

Theta Scoring and Item-banks

An advanced scoring methodology is used to calculate a test-taker’s theta score, which is an estimate of someone’s ability based on their responses to the items they completed. Each item has a difficulty and discrimination characteristic, based on research data, which is taken into account when scoring.

For example, test-takers will receive higher scores if they successfully answer the more difficult and discriminating items in the test than those that respond correctly to only the easier and less discriminating items. This results in a more sophisticated scoring system to traditional ‘number correct’ raw scores and also allows for candidates to complete different test items and still be scored on the same scale, which is not possible with traditional scoring.

Theta scores for the RAVEN’S™ Adaptive test range from -4.000 to +4.000. Scores at the lower end of the scale (-4.000) signify very lower levels of ability, whilst scores at the top end of the scale (+4.000) indicate someone with very high levels of ability. Theta scores run on a finely incremented decimal point scale, but are not easy to interpret. Therefore, scores are converted to percentiles for interpretation purposes.

Why aren’t theta scores presented in the profile reports?

The theta scores are converted to percentiles for easier interpretation and comparison purposes and these are included in the profile reports.

Percentile Scores and Norms

A test score is compared against a Norm Reference Group. For example, if you are using the test to recruit a manager it makes sense to compare the individual’s theta score against the scores of other managers who have taken the tests. These are contained in a norm group. There are a number of different norm groups to compare scores against.

Using the example above, if the candidate achieved a theta score of -1.500 (on the scale ranging from -4.000 to +4.000), if 80% of the people making up the norm group achieved scores of higher than -1.500, the person with the score of -1.500 is only at the 20th percentile, which is a low percentile score. The maximum score achievable is 99th percentile.

What research and validation has been carried out on RAVEN’S™ Adaptive?

Descriptive statistics and reliability values for the new test are presented in the Technical Manual.