aptitude

An aptitude is a component of a competency to do a certain kind of work at a certain level. Aptitudes may be physical or mental. Aptitude is not knowledge, understanding, learned or acquired abilities (skills) or attitude. The innate nature of aptitude is in contrast to achievement, which represents knowledge or ability that is gained.^[1]

Intelligence and aptitudes

Aptitude and intelligence quotient are related, and in some ways opposite views of human mental ability. Whereas intelligence quotient sees intelligence as being a single measurable characteristic affecting all mental ability, aptitude refers to one of many different characteristics which can be independent of each other, such as aptitude for military flight, air traffic control, or computer programming.^[2] This is more similar to the theory of multiple intelligences.

Concerning a single measurable characteristic affecting all mental ability, causal analysis of any group of intelligence test scores will nearly always show them to be highly correlated. The U.S. Department of Labor's General Learning Ability, for instance, is determined by combining Verbal, Numerical and Spatial aptitude subtests. In a given person some are low and others high. In the context of an aptitude test the "high" and "low" scores are usually not far apart, because all ability test scores tend to be correlated. Aptitude is better applied intra-individually to determine what tasks a given individual is more skilled at performing. Inter-individual aptitude differences are typically not very significant due to IQ differences. Of course this assumes individuals have not already been pre-screened for IQ through some other process such as SAT scores, GRE scores, finishing medical school, etc.^{[citation needed]}etc.^{[citation needed]}

Combined aptitude and knowledge tests

Tests that assess learned skills or knowledge are frequently called achievement tests. However, certain tests can assess both types of constructs. An example that leans both ways is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which is given to recruits entering the armed forces of the United States. Another is the SAT, which is designed as a test of aptitude for college in the United States, but has achievement elements. For example, it tests mathematical reasoning, which depends both on innate mathematical ability and education received in mathematics.

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See also

• Test (student assessment)
• Skill
• General Learning Ability
• Spatial Visualization Ability

External links

• Cognitive Styles and Implications for the Engineering Curriculum
• Measuring Aptitude - from the Education Resources Information Center Clearinghouse on Tests Measurement and Evaluation, Washington DC.
• Detailed Description and History of Aptitude Testing, Comparison to Other Types of Assessment

References

1. ^ Standardized tests: Mental ability (UC Davis)
2. ^ Standardized tests: Mental ability (UC Davis)
3. ^ The Too Many Aptitudes Problem
4. ^ Multipotentiality: multiple talents, multiple challenges
5. ^ Personal Reflections on Testing
6. ^ What Do Aptitude Career Tests Measure?