The time has come, from September the adaptive capacity test (MCT-A) will be available via the NOA Talent Portal.
Many of NOA's customers are familiar with the Multicultural Capacity Test, of which there is a version for secondary and a version for higher education level. In recent years, Michiel Hol, researcher and developer at NOA, has been working the next step in the development of these tests, namely the adaptive capacity test. A test that responds to the candidate's skill level during administration and thus produces "tailor-made" results. "It was a beautiful and challenging project, but I am happy that the test is now available to our customers and will really be used."
How does such an adaptive test work? The principle is that the candidates are asked questions based on his or her previous answers. For example, if someone is good at math and answers the initial questions correctly and within the time, the test program registers that, after which it chooses follow-up questions that are more difficult. Until they become too difficult for the candidate and a step back is taken until the right level is reached. Conversely, the program also registers it when the initial questions are too difficult, then the level is adjusted downwards. Michiel: "In this way, the skill level of the candidate in question can be determined faster and more accurately."
During the test, the candidate cannot go back to a previous question, which is a difference with the classic ability test. In addition, the language used in the instruction and report is simpler. And very important: the test itself is shorter and can therefore be completed faster. That's because candidates have fewer questions to answer that don't fit their skill level. All in all, the new adaptive test is a lot more user-friendly.
Michiel emphasizes that an adaptive test is not AI. The test is based on a statistical model. For the adaptive capacity test, all calculations are first prepared in the statistical program R. With adaptive testing, all kinds of calculations are performed that have been worked out in advance during the completion of the test. The programmers then built all calculations into the NOA Talent Portal. "This was followed by the first real testing. But that's a lot of fun to do because then you see if it works as you hoped."
All analyses and studies have now been completed and the MCT-A has been operational since September. "Last year we extensively researched and tested the software and made small adjustments and improvements. But it is always exciting when a new test is really put into use."
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Features and benefits of the MCT-A
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- The MCT-A can be taken instead of the MCT-M or the MCT-H and is therefore suitable for both intermediate and higher levels
- The MCT-A starts at a relatively low level for everyone
- The MCT-A consists of six subtests: Comparing words, Thinking logically with words, Arithmetic, Thinking logically with numbers, Thinking logically with pictures, Combining shapes
- The MCT-A is faster yet precise
- A candidate is always offered questions based on previous answers in the test. The MCT-A therefore provides a better match with candidates
- The questions are less likely to become known due to the larger number of questions available
- Cheating is more difficult during large-scale purchases due to differences in demand selection and differences in question order
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