Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test

Understanding the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test

Pre-employment assessments have become pretty mainstream in the last few decades. If you have applied for a new job in that time you have likely had to take tests questioning your personality and situational behaviour. This growth in the use of pre-hiring evaluations has led to a large growth in companies creating these exams.

Still, there are no companies quite as well-known in the world of evaluations as Pearson.

Pearson Assessments is considered the leading creator of pre-employment tests, and their mechanical comprehension test is regarded just as highly.

Their test, the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test, has been used for decades by many prominent companies. Delta Airlines, Coca Cola, Valero, Tyson, DuPont, and Nestle are just a few of the companies that use the Bennett assessment for roles small and large.

What is the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test?

The Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test (BMCT) is a field-specific pre-employment assessment that helps employers gather an understanding of an examinee’s ability to understand mechanical issues as well as use critical thinking and mental adaptability to continue their learning during employment.

The test uses visual representations of problems and well-known, unbiased imagery to help improve hiring practices and avoid gender, social, race, and educational bias.

The BMCT focuses on mechanical aptitude, spatial visualization, the application of physics, and reasoning and deduction.

BMCT vs. BMCT-II?

As previously mentioned, the BMCT has been used for decades. The test is fantastic, but as times change, so do the needs of certain companies. This is why the updated exam – BMCT-II – was created.

Here are some differences between the two exams:

Though some companies still use the original, pen and paper BMCT, most companies have transitioned in the BMCT-II which provides an online testing format and updated questions. For the rest of this guide, information will be based on the more current BMCT-II.

What Does the Test Look Like?

The BMCT is a multiple-choice test with illustrated questions. The illustrations are straightforward and cleanly explain the problems. While some mechanical comprehension tests use low-quality drawings and graphics, the BMCT uses higher quality images to ensure test-takers can clearly make out all pictures.

1. Which man carries more weight

2. which wheels are turning counter clockwise

3. in the objects presented above are not in motion, which represents an unlikely situation

How is the Test Graded?

The modern Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test has an in-depth scoring system. When the test is taken, the examinee receives multiple types of scores.

• Raw Score: The raw score is based on the number of questions answered correctly. Most companies use this score in comparison to a testing sample group to see how the examinee compares to other candidates in their job-field.
• T-Score: The T-score is a standardized score used to compare test taker’s raw results.
• STANINE Score: Some companies use an alternate standardized score system based on a 9-point scale; this is called a STANINE score.
• STEN Score: Similar to the STANINE score, STEN is a variation of standardized scoring that is based on a 10-point scale.

These alternate scoring types are only used in certain scenarios where it is preferred by the test administrator. In the US, an examinee’s raw score and that score’s comparison to the control (norm) group determine their result.

For example, if you get 33 out of 55 questions correct on your exam, you have a raw score of 60%. However, this score only matters after comparison to the norm group. If the group of others performing the job have an average score of 58%, it means that you are actually performing above average for the position.

This scoring system allows employers to get a true understanding of a potential employee’s potential and also gives the test taker the ability to improve their chances through practice and preparation.

Tips for Passing the BMCT

Once you have applied for a job requiring pre-employment evaluations, you must pass them to move forward in the hiring process. That means that the BMCT may stand between you and your dream career.

You don’t want to let test anxiety or lack of preparation ruin your goals.

Here are some tips to pass the BMCT:

• Pay attention to the time-limit: Whether you are taking the original BMCT or the modern BMCT-II, there is a strict time limit that can make a huge difference in your score. Don’t get so caught up on one question that you lose precious time for other questions on the exam.
  
  
• Avoid wild guessing: You might come across a problem that involves theories of physics or mechanics you don’t understand. Don’t guess a random answer on these questions. The old theory that most answers are C is not something to hang your future career on! Employers want their employees to be able to deduce answers from the context of unfamiliar situations, so try comparing the question to familiar imagery or events in your life to help come up with an educated guess. Or better yet, never have to guess in the first place by studying for the test beforehand!
  
  
• Be rested and relaxed: Sure, stress can make it hard to sleep, but do your best to show up for your exam with a full night’s rest. Take a few breaths and relax before starting. Go in with the confidence of preparation and you’ll see how big of a difference being relaxed during an exam can make.
  
  
• Be Prepared: The best thing you can do for yourself before taking a mechanical comprehension test is prepare through studying and practice tests.

How to Prepare for the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test

To have the best odds of passing your BMCT, you should use the best in mechanical aptitude practice exams and curriculum.

At JobAssessmentHelp, we have curated the best mechanical aptitude practice bundle available.

Our bundle has 14 tests and over 140 unique questions along with an extensive list of in-depth lesson plans and learning material. If you are ready to get prepared for your Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test – or any other pre-employment test – check out JobAssessmentHelp today.