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What is an Arctic Shores assessment?
An Arctic Shores assessment is a task based psychometric assessment from the UK publisher Arctic Shores. Instead of question banks, you complete short interactive tasks while the assessment measures how you behave, capturing thousands of data points to profile personality, workplace intelligence and learning agility. There are no right or wrong answers in most tasks and no traditional multiple choice format, and you get a practice task before the real thing.
| Test types | Task based measures of personality, workplace intelligence and learning agility |
|---|---|
| Format | Interactive tasks online, behaviour based, mobile friendly |
| Typical time limit | No fixed per question limits; tasks are short exercises |
| Used by | Volume and early careers hiring at employers including Siemens, Thales, Capita and the AA |
What is an Arctic Shores test?
An Arctic Shores assessment is a task-based psychometric assessment from the UK publisher Arctic Shores. Rather than asking set questions, it gives you short interactive tasks and measures how you behave as you complete them, capturing thousands of data points along the way. Employers use it to make more objective, data-driven hiring decisions, particularly for early-careers and high-volume roles.
Arctic Shores now frames its assessment around three areas: personality, workplace intelligence (its alternative to a traditional cognitive test) and learning agility. There are no right or wrong answers in most tasks, and no traditional multiple-choice format.
What is the format of an Arctic Shores test?
Once an employer has reviewed your application, you’ll usually receive an email with a link to your assessment. You can complete a short practice task first, so you know what to expect. Because the assessment measures how you behave rather than what you know, there is nothing to revise in the usual sense, but getting comfortable with the task-based format helps you feel settled on the day.
Depending on the role, employers often pair an Arctic Shores assessment with, or look for, the kinds of reasoning skills below. Practising these is a good way to sharpen the thinking the tasks draw on:
- Numerical reasoning
- Verbal reasoning
- Spatial reasoning
- Abstract reasoning
- Error checking
- Technical test
- Personality test (self-report)
- Personality test (behaviour-based)
- Situational judgment
Practicing problem-solving for the following tests below can greatly improve your chances of landing a high score and moving on to the next rounds of hiring.
Arctic Shores’ numerical reasoning
The Arctic Shores numerical reasoning test measures a candidate’s ability to analyse, interpret, and draw logical conclusions from numerical data.
The test assesses skills such as:
- Basic arithmetic: Candidates are expected to have a strong foundation in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Fractions and percentages: The test may include questions requiring the manipulation of fractions and percentages to solve problems.
- Data interpretation: Candidates should be comfortable interpreting data from various formats, such as tables, charts, and graphs.
- Problem-solving: The test aims to evaluate the candidate’s ability to apply numerical reasoning skills to real-life situations and problem-solving.
Candidates may be required to complete calculations, identify patterns, or interpret data.
Arctic Shores’ verbal reasoning
The Arctic Shores verbal reasoning test evaluates a candidate’s ability to understand, analyse, and draw logical conclusions from written information. This test measures skills such as:
- Vocabulary: Candidates should have a strong command of the language and be familiar with a wide range of words and their meanings.
- Reading comprehension: The test requires candidates to read and understand passages of text and answer questions based on the information provided.
- Logical reasoning: Candidates must be able to identify relationships, patterns, or trends within the text and draw logical conclusions.
- Critical thinking: The test assesses the ability to evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, and determine the validity of statements.
The verbal reasoning test is also presented as engaging games that incorporate language and reasoning tasks. Candidates may be required to identify synonyms, analyse passages, or evaluate statements.
Arctic Shores spatial reasoning
The Arctic Shores spatial reasoning test measures a candidate’s ability to visualise, manipulate, and understand spatial relationships between objects. The test assesses skills such as:
- Mental rotation: Candidates should be able to mentally rotate objects and identify their position in three-dimensional space.
- Visualising shapes and patterns: Candidates must be able to recognise patterns and understand how shapes fit together.
- Spatial awareness: The test evaluates the candidate’s ability to understand the position and orientation of objects in relation to one another.
For spatial reasoning tests, candidates may be required to manipulate objects, identify patterns, or determine the position of items.
Arctic Shores abstract reasoning
The Arctic Shores abstract reasoning test evaluates a candidate’s ability to identify patterns, relationships, and logical rules in abstract information. This test measures skills such as:
- Pattern recognition: Candidates must be able to identify patterns and relationships among abstract shapes or symbols.
- Logical reasoning: The test assesses the ability to deduce rules or principles that govern a set of abstract information.
- Problem-solving: Candidates should be able to apply their abstract reasoning skills to solve novel problems.
Candidates may be required to identify patterns, complete sequences, or deduce rules within a game setting.
Arctic Shores error checking
The Arctic Shores error-checking test measures a candidate’s ability to quickly and accurately identify errors, discrepancies, or inconsistencies in information. The test assesses skills such as:
- Attention to detail: Candidates must have a keen eye for detail and be able to spot errors or inconsistencies in data.
- Speed and accuracy: The test evaluates the candidate’s ability to work quickly and accurately under time constraints.
- Data comparison: Candidates should be able to compare sets of information and identify any discrepancies.
The error-checking test is presented as engaging games that incorporate error-checking tasks. Candidates may be required to spot errors in data, compare sets of information, or identify inconsistencies within a game setting.
Arctic Shores technical test
A technical test will relate to a specific role, usually in STEM. These types of tests often use problem-solving tasks combined with spatial reasoning, numerical reasoning, and logical reasoning style questions.
Arctic Shores personality test (self-report)
A self-report style personality test requires the candidate to answer questions that capture their personality traits. They are often statements listed on a scale from “most like me” to “less like me”. For example: “I’m an inquisitive person”, or “I thrive when I am working in a team”.
Arctic Shores personality test (behaviour-based)
Behaviour-based style personality tests focus on a candidate’s authentic behaviour when completing a series of tasks - they are free from test questions or statements. Candidates aren’t required to know anything about their personality, so the test assesses how they respond. As a result, these assessments are particularly useful for early career screening, where candidates have little work experience to go on.
Arctic Shores’ situational judgment
The Arctic Shores situational judgment test evaluates a candidate’s ability to make appropriate decisions and judgments in work-related scenarios. The test assesses skills such as:
- Decision-making: Candidates must be able to analyse situations and make informed decisions based on the information provided.
- Judgment: The test evaluates the candidate’s ability to use sound judgment and consider the potential consequences of their actions.
- Ethical reasoning: Candidates should be able to identify ethical dilemmas and choose the most appropriate course of action.
Candidates may be required to make decisions, evaluate options, or resolve conflicts.
What is a passing score on the Arctic Shores tests?
There is no universal “passing score” on Arctic Shores tests. Instead, your performance is compared to a benchmark group or a specific employer’s criteria. The employer will decide what constitutes a good fit for their company based on the traits and abilities they value for a particular role.
Which professions use Arctic Shores tests, and why?
Arctic Shores tests are used across various industries, including finance, technology, healthcare, retail, and more. Employers such as Unilever, Siemens, and Vodafone have utilised these assessments to identify high-potential candidates and reduce bias in their recruitment processes.
Practise Arctic Shores style tests
Arctic Shores assessments draw on the test types below. Each link takes you to free practice questions in the same format, so you can get comfortable before the real thing:
