By Shruti Menon Seeboo
For many students, choosing a career path can be a daunting task. With a myriad of options available, it’s often challenging to determine the best fit. This is where psychometric testing comes in.
Psychometric testing offers valuable insights into a student’s strengths, weaknesses, personality traits, and learning styles. CA Counselling Services (CACS) has incorporated this tool into its comprehensive approach to student guidance, aiming to bridge the gap between a student’s aspirations, parental expectations, and inherent abilities.
In Mauritius, CACS’s approach to student guidance is meticulously structured into three key components: psychometric testing, test preparation, and career guidance and counselling. This process begins as early as Form 3, recognising the need to align students’ ambitions with their parents’ expectations and their own aptitudes. Parul Patel, a counsellor at CACS, explains, “We consider three parameters: the student’s ambition, the parents’ expectations, and the student’s inherent aptitude. This is where psychometric testing comes into play. As a young student, you might be overwhelmed with the number of career options available. This might make it confusing to choose a career path for yourself. If you feel clueless about making a career decision and can’t evaluate your skills, it might be time to take a psychometric test.”
How Do Psychometric Tests Function?
Psychometric tests are designed to help students understand their strengths and weaknesses better. Through a set of simple questions or queries, these tests aim to gauge an individual’s capabilities, interpreting their physical and mental state as well as their conditioning. Unlike traditional tests, psychometric tests assess both emotional and cognitive capacities, providing valuable insights into how particular subjects or careers align with a student’s personality. Parul describes the process: “Psychometric tests are unique because they judge the student’s emotional and cognitive capacity. The results can be incredibly helpful in making significant life decisions.”
At CACS, psychometric testing involves a straightforward online assessment with approximately 40 questions based on Holland Codes. These questions help reveal students’ personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, cognitive abilities, and learning styles. The tests categorise students into six personality types:
- Realistic (R): Careers in construction, engineering, agriculture, and skilled trades.
- Investigative (I): Careers in science, research, technology, and academia.
- Artistic (A): Careers in graphic design, writing, music, and performing arts.
- Social (S): Careers in counselling, teaching, healthcare, and social work.
- Enterprising (E): Careers in entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and sales.
- Conventional (C): Careers in accounting, administration, finance, and clerical work.
Parul elaborates, “We generate a report detailing the student’s personality type. For instance, a student might be categorised as a CEA type (Conventional, Enterprising, and Artistic). This information is then used in counselling sessions with the student and their parents to understand their background and ambitions. Certified counsellors analyse the profiles and prepare holistic reports, which are shared with the students and their parents to guide them on their career paths.”
Pradeep Malik (Tony), an Independent Director at CACS, emphasises the importance of periodic testing: “Repeating the process in Form 5 helps students narrow down their subject choices as they grow and evolve. This ensures they are on the right path according to their personality types.”
Aptitude Test Preparation
In addition to psychometric testing, CACS offers extensive preparation for various standardised tests such as the SAT (for the US), UCAT (for medical studies in the UK), and LNAT (for law). Parul notes, “Our comprehensive packages include 30 classes for the SAT, 40 hours for the UCAT, and 15 hours for the LNAT. We also offer tailor-made solutions, such as doubt-clearing sessions or preparation for specific sections of a test.” Understanding the format of these exams is crucial; for example, the SAT now features digital, adaptive testing that adjusts difficulty based on a student’s performance.
CACS also assists students with the university application process, particularly for US institutions that use a holistic approach to admissions. Tony explains, “The US education system provides academic excellence, diverse programs, research opportunities, and flexibility in changing majors without losing a year. This flexibility is crucial for students who may realise their true interests after a year or two.” He outlines the application process, including test preparation, gathering application materials, submitting documents through the Common App, applying for financial aid and scholarships, preparing for interviews, and receiving offer letters. “We assist students every step of the way, ensuring they are well-prepared and confident in their choices,” Tony adds.
Looking ahead, CACS is set to launch its own SAT portal, offering students a year-long access to over 3,300 practice questions, seven full-length adaptive practice tests, and teacher-assigned assignments. This portal aims to enhance preparation with practice questions tailored to varying difficulty levels.
In conclusion, Parul reflects on CACS’s achievements: “Since our inception in January, we have successfully guided two cohorts of SAT students, and we have students preparing for various other exams. Our LNAT student, inspired by the show ‘Suits,’ is just one example of how diverse interests can lead to specific academic paths.”
Through its multifaceted services, CA Counselling Services continues to play a pivotal role in helping students navigate their educational and career journeys with clarity and confidence.
