PSB Tests

What is a PSB test?

The PSB tests evaluate each individual’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to working in healthcare. As a result, anyone thinking of such a career will take the PSB before applying to their chosen college.

The PSB tests can be taken on a computer or paper. They’re often sat at the healthcare organization or college you’re applying to join. You apply to take a PSB test via www.psbtests.com.

You may be asked for an interview as part of the process – though as this varies from place to place, it’s wise to check if you’re unsure.

Your score will be an integral part of the college application process. While it’s not enough on its own to get you into your chosen college, a high PSB score will greatly improve your chances.

There are four different tests. The one you’ll take depends on the program you’re applying for:

• 1) The Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination (PSB-PN) – for prospective practical and vocational nurses.

• 2) Health Occupations Aptitude Examination (PSB-HO) – a more varied test for those interested in a range of different healthcare careers.

• 3) Registered Nursing School Aptitude Examination (PSB-RN) – this test was developed to assess readiness for a career in nursing, but is now more commonly used to determine placement and planning for the curriculum.

• 4) Reading Comprehension Examination – this test involves reading passages of text before answering questions on the information.

Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination

The purpose of this test is to find dedicated, qualified and competent individuals who are suited to a career in nursing.

The five parts of the test (detailed below) help the examiner to see how ready each individual is for the demands of a career in nursing.

Part 1: Academic aptitude

As well as your overall ability across different academic subjects, this test is designed to see how adept you are at reasoning, drawing conclusions and keeping calm under pressure. Within this section of the test there are three subsections:

• Verbal – questions designed to assess the breadth of your vocabulary. You’ll be asked to identify which word is the odd one out in a list.
• Arithmetic – you’ll need to find a balance between speed and accuracy as you answer math questions that are roughly at eighth-grade level. The topics covered are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages and ratios.
• Non-verbal – using logic, you’ll need to show you can mentally manipulate shapes and find patterns between series of images and objects.

Part 2: Spelling

This section of the test is assessing your overall written communication skills through spelling-based questions. Typically, you’ll be given a few versions of the same word and asked to identify the correct one.

Part 3: Information in the natural sciences

This part of the test covers a broad range of subjects including biology, chemistry, and health and safety.

Part 4: Judgement and comprehension in practical nursing situations

As a nurse you’ll be required to use your intuition and exercise sound judgement on a daily basis. This section of the test assesses how well equipped you are to do so.

Part 5: Vocational adjustment index

The final section focuses on your behaviours and personality type to examine your suitability for a career in nursing. It will compare your personal opinions, feelings, judgements and characteristics versus what’s ideal for a nurse.

Health Occupations Aptitude Examination and Registered Nursing School Aptitude Examination

These two tests use the same structure, and are different to the Aptitude for Practical Nursing Examination in that the situational judgement section is replaced by one on reading comprehension.

The first is open to anyone with an interest in a healthcare career. The second is for those looking to join a professional nursing preparation program.

Part 1: Academic aptitude

As above.

Part 2: Spelling

As above.

Part 3: Reading comprehension

Reading through passages of text and answering related questions.

You’ll be expected to show that you can separate fact from fiction, analyse an author’s intent, organize ideas and fundamentally understand and be able to interpret what’s in front of you.

Part 4: Information in the natural sciences

As above.

Part 5: Vocational adjustment index

As above.

Reading Comprehension Examination

The reading comprehension examination is designed to give the examiner a clearer idea of your reading ability.

This knowledge can help an examiner to judge how you learn, and how you might react to different challenges and scenarios you’re likely to come up against on the job.

Typically, those who score highly in reading comprehension are bright, motivated and driven – and therefore the type of candidate a college or healthcare organization might want to take on.

This test can also be useful to determine the areas you may need to work on, which can then be taken forwards into a personal development plan.

Have a go at some verbal reasoning test questions to prepare for the style and format of question.