IKM Assessment Test: A 2024 Guide with Essential Tips and Examples
Updated November 21, 2023
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- What Is the IKM Assessment Test?
- Who Uses IKM Assessments?
- What Is Different About IKM Test Assessments?
- The Different IKM Test Assessment Types
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- IKM Assessment Practice Test
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- Understanding the IKM Assessment Scores
- How to Pass the IKM Assessment: Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
The IKM Assessment test is used in the recruitment process for lots of different roles across different industries, so you are likely to face one if you are looking for a role in accounting, IT, sales, or even in a call center.
In this article, you will learn about the history of the IKM Assessment test and why IKM’s assessments are used in recruitment and elsewhere, as well as some details about the specific types of assessment that it publishes.
There are also some examples of the type of question that you will have to face during the ikm online assessment, and their answers.
You’ll also find some helpful hints and tips to help you prepare in the most efficient way so you can perform at your best.
What Is the IKM Assessment Test?
IKM was founded back in 1979 as Bookman Consulting, a New York City-based firm that provided COBOL (the coding language) consultants to corporate clients.
To do this effectively, Bookman Consulting created a test that was designed to make sure that the consultants actually had the right level of skill to do the job.
Realizing that testing was a major need in the IT community, Bookman started using adaptive testing, which is when the questions change throughout the assessment based on how well the candidate has answered the previous questions.
Bookman relaunched as ‘TechChek’ in 1987 with a host of technical assessments in the IT sphere that were delivered to candidates via floppy disk.
Knowledge Universe acquired TechChek in 2001, and renamed the business International Knowledge Measurement (IKM) in 2005.
It is currently owned by the global brand, Spiegel Partners, and there are hundreds of different IKM Assessments available covering occupational skills, job-related aptitudes, personality traits and work behaviors.
Take a Practice Test on JobTestPrep
Who Uses IKM Assessments?
You are likely to come across IKM Assessments when you are applying for an accounting or sales role (such as the IKM data entry test or IKM Excel test).
They are widely used when recruiting for IT professionals who need specific knowledge and skills, as well as the ability to apply that knowledge in practical situations (such as the IKM technical assessment or IKM SQL assessment).
Some companies that use the IKM Assessment include:
- Walmart
- Experis
- HSBC
- Sony
- Thomson Reuters
- Morgan Stanley
- Merrill Lynch
- Compuware
What Is Different About IKM Test Assessments?
IKM Assessments are written by specific subject matter experts that are recruited by IKM to share their knowledge, and the assessments are based on proven methodologies in adaptive testing.
The IKM assessment practice tests are available in multiple languages, which fits the global coverage that IKM has, with offices in the US, the UK, Australia and South Africa.
Each test can be administered as it is written, and batteries of tests are available based on the type of role that is being recruited for (there is more on this below).
The IKM assessment tests themselves are flexible enough to be administered remotely or proctored in a test center, and they have developed online testing, so there is no need for floppy disks anymore.
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to IKM Assessments is that they are computer-adaptive tests, which means that they will automatically adjust the difficulty of the assessment according to the ability you have demonstrated in answering the previous question.
If you find the question difficult, take a long time to answer it or get it wrong, then the next question will be slightly easier. The same applies if you breeze through a question – the next one will be more difficult.
What this means for you as a candidate is that you will find the assessment challenging no matter your skill or ability level, and it all feeds into the scores that you receive at the end of the assessment.
The Different IKM Test Assessment Types
Although there are some assessments that are broadly used in all sorts of different recruitment processes, such as reasoning assessments, personality tests and work preference questionnaires, the IKM excel Assessment is mostly split into career-related pathways.
This makes it easier for recruiters and employers to choose the best assessments for their needs.
IKM Assessments aren’t only used in pre-employment screening; they are also useful tools for employers in pre- and post-training evaluation, succession and workforce planning, as well as for development and certification programs.
IT Professionals
The range of assessments for IT professionals are a blend of tests on functional skills, knowledge and aptitude, with a focus on roles like programmers, developers, technical support and administration.
There is also a series of assessments designed to look at things like disaster recovery and IT project management, as well as coding and server-side skills.
Accounting/Finance
The assessments in this section focus on math-related aptitudes, and also on specific software knowledge that is useful in an accounting position (such as QuickBooks or Peachtree, for example).
These are the tests that you might take if you are looking for a role in payroll, accounts payable or accounts receivable.
Attitude/Aptitude
This is a collection of assessments that focus on your aptitude in a specific area needed for the role, as well as things like characteristics and attitudes.
These tests are used for general skills and knowledge, as well as your fit for the role, the culture of the business and the organization as a whole.
Basic Computer Skills
These assessments are less specific than the coding and IT professional assessments, and they are based on candidate knowledge of using basic office-based programs like Adobe and Microsoft Office, as well as ability to navigate the internet using Google Chrome or Internet Explorer.
Call Center
This series of assessments includes functional skills like data entry and error checking, as well as other soft skill-related aptitudes like telephone skills, customer service and sales.
These assessments might be more like job simulations.
Foreign Language Proficiency
With more and more companies becoming global, foreign language proficiency and the ability to communicate at a business level in a second language is a good skill for employees to have.
These assessments are designed to make sure that candidates are competent enough in the major languages, including Mandarin and French, among others.
Healthcare
Aimed at assessing certain skills found in nursing (and in some cases, nursing administration) related to the daily tasks they might have to complete, including things like billing and filing codes, medical terminology, medical codes and dosage calculations.
There are assessments that are in specific fields like intensive care, labor and delivery, pediatrics, critical care and psychiatric nursing.
Industrial
Suitable for recruiting in roles across different industries, these assessments are suitable for construction workers, mechanics, electricians and plumbers.
There is a focus on things like industrial-related mathematics, physics knowledge, machine skills and industrial safety.
IT Coding
This is a specific career pathway for programmers and coders, and these tests are all about different programming languages used in front-end, back-end and full-stack positions.
The tests are about writing code in response to real-world situations, specifically in languages like Python, C and Ruby.
MS Office
This is another specific range of assessments based around proficiency in using Microsoft Office products like Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Sales
These are assessments suitable for roles in business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales, as well as sales management and retail.
These tests cover sales skills, teamwork and customer service, with a focus on leadership and management.
Secretarial and Clerical
Administrative roles like secretarial and clerical positions need specific functional skills in math, English and business, as well as things like typing, data entry and filing.
Some roles might need coding skills, while others might require knowledge of software like Lotus or WordPerfect.
There are also tests about office management and telephone skills.
Staffing Industry
The staffing industry has several requirements that are quite specific, including needing essential knowledge about compliance with regulations, laws and rules regarding compliance.
There are also assessments about sales, operations management and training, as well as specific recruiting tests.
Talent Acquisition
Talent acquisition assessments are more about looking for future ability and potential, so the assessments in this section include evaluation of personality and behavioral traits, learning agility, reasoning and cognitive skills.
IKM Assessment Practice Test
With so many different types of tests available, all with different knowledge, skills, aptitudes and competencies being assessed, it is difficult to provide examples of the range of content available.
However, there are a few general rules about the IKM online assessment that you should bear in mind whether you are taking an IKM Assessment practice test or doing the real thing:
- Most tests have between 30 and 50 questions, and the time limit is usually less than an hour.
- The questions are structured with multiple choice options for answers.
- Some questions will have more than one answer that is correct, and you might need to select more than one to complete the question.
- You cannot skip questions.
- You cannot go back to a previous question.
- There is a time limit.
- Speed and accuracy are important for your overall score.
Example Big Five Personality Question
This test measures 25 fundamental personality traits that are considered essential for good performance, including things like agreeableness, leadership, cooperation, sociability and self-confidence.
In this assessment type, you will be presented with a statement you need to rate from 1 to 5, where 1 is very uncharacteristic and 5 is very characteristic.
'I enjoy a challenge'.
Very uncharacteristic | Uncharacteristic | Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic | Characteristic | Very characteristic
Example Excel Assessment Question
The Excel Assessment is a combination of functional knowledge and skill application.
Which chart is the best for showing time-based data?
a) Column chart
b) Bar chart
c) Radar chart
d) Line chart
What is the scientific name given to the small tubes that carry air into the alveoli in the lungs?
a) Capillaries
b) Trachea
c) Bronchioles
d) Veins
If you need to prepare for a number of different employment tests and want to outsmart the competition, choose a Premium Membership from JobTestPrep.
You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.
Understanding the IKM Assessment Scores
When the assessment is complete, there are different scores that feed into what is known as the IKM Proficiency Profile.
There is a lot of detail included in the report, which is very useful for recruiters and employers to learn more about candidates and their relevant skills:
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Overall score – This is a simple representation of the number of questions that you got correct, bearing in mind things like the difficulty of the questions, the speed of your answers and overall accuracy. This is also displayed as an infographic that shows whether you are weak, proficient or strong.
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Percentile – In this part of the report, your score is compared to other test-takers in the form of a percentile. This means that you are ranked against your peers. If, for example, you score in the 85th percentile, you will have performed better than 85% of other people who also took the test.
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Subject analysis – This is a detailed analysis of how you performed in certain skills that are being tested.
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Word/speed accuracy – This demonstrates how quickly you are able to read, understand and answer questions accurately. This part of the profile rates your performance on a five-point scale from very fast to very slow.
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Application ability – In many test situations, this is an important facet that needs to be covered. It is about how well you can apply your knowledge, skills and aptitudes to real job-related situations.
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Subject coverage – This is more about the content of the test and the specific questions that have been asked, showing how you have demonstrated your understanding of the subject matter. This score is calculated by breaking down all the sub-skills. The results are displayed as a color coordinated pie chart: weak is red, proficient is yellow and strong is green.
The IKM Proficiency Profile is used by recruiters to decide whether a candidate already has the right level of inherent skill or knowledge, and if they are going to fit within the culture and values of the business.
It can also be used by employers to assess employees already in a role, for things like training needs, developmental planning and establishing leadership potential.
How to Pass the IKM Assessment: Top Tips
Step 1. Know Which Assessment You Are Taking
With so many different types of assessment available in the IKM battery, it is really important that you know which assessment(s) you are going to be taking before you start preparing.
You might have a good idea of the general type of tests – for example, if you are going for an IT role, you can guess that you will need to demonstrate some specific coding knowledge.
The recruiter or employer will tell you beforehand which tests you’ll be taking, and you should therefore know which tests you should be preparing for.
Step 2. Get Familiar With Multiple-Choice Tests
Taking other multiple-choice tests can actually be quite helpful for you, especially if you are not entirely comfortable with taking tests or the particular subject matter.
Take some multiple-choice tests in a range of different subjects so that you can get used to answering quickly, making educated guesses and thoughtfully disregarding answers that you know to be wrong.
There are different methodologies that can be used to answer multiple-choice questions, and with some practice you can decide which way works best for you.
Step 3. Take a Practice Test Online
Online practice tests are a really important part of your preparation.
Before you do anything else, find a relevant practice test and take it. This will establish the structure and layout of the assessment that you are about to take.
It will also give you some clues about where you should be focusing your attention when it comes to preparation and revision.
If you struggle to answer correctly or get an answer wrong, you can use that to create a study plan to improve your IKM assessment passing score – and then you can take another practice test later to see your improvement.
Step 4. Review Basic Knowledge About the Subject
The IKM Assessments were created to test quite specific knowledge and skills, and this might mean that all you need to do is a quick revision of the basics just to ensure you are completely up to speed.
The more you know about the role you are applying for and what the recruitment team are looking for, the easier you will find it to choose what to look at in terms of preparation.
Step 5. Answer All the Questions
You need to answer all the questions in the IKM Assessment, and you need to do it quickly.
Remember that the test is adaptive, so if you do not know the answer, you are better off just guessing and moving on – if you get it wrong, the next question will be easier.
Another thing to consider is that you don’t want to take too long to answer the questions, because the test will be suspended if there is no answer given within a certain timeframe.
IKM Assessments are a range of different tests that can be used in recruitment and development, focusing on occupational skills, language proficiency, coding tests, personality traits, work preferences and aptitude tests.
IKM Assessments are designed to be challenging, and the adaptive nature of the tests means that the level of challenge will be appropriate for your level of skill and aptitude.
The IKM Assessment is about the functional application of skills and cultural compatibility, so it needs to be hard enough to filter out unsuitable applicants.
The IKM online Assessment is used by companies because they are online tests that adapt to the level of the test-taker, and the questions have been created by subject matter experts.
They allow businesses to know that the content is really relevant to the role that they are recruiting for.
IKM Assessments are timed tests that adapt to the ability of the user and are often used as a pre-employment evaluation, which means that job hunters have to pass to be considered for the role.
While this might mean some people would consider cheating on the assessment, this is not advised because, not only are there built-in measures to prevent cheating, not taking the test honestly could have long-lasting repercussions for you.
If found out, your application will be terminated. You could also end up landing a role that you are not qualified or suitable for, which isn’t a tenable situation in the long run.
The best way to prepare for an IKM Assessment is to revise and practice. As soon as you know which test(s) you are going to be taking, you need to seek out an online IKM practice test assessment in the same subject so that you can see what type of questions will be asked.
The results will point out where your strengths and weaknesses lie so you can create a solid study plan to improve.
The score that you need to pass the IKM Assessment depends entirely on the needs of the role and the wider organization.
For the best chance at getting the job you are after, you need to prepare and practice to get the best score possible.
You can find some examples of what an IKM Assessment is all about on the IKM website, where there is a General Knowledge test that you can take.
There are other sources available online like the JobTestPrep Accounting prep pack, which are quite useful.
You might be taking the IKM Assessment at home or at a test center. Either way, you can expect an online assessment that needs to be completed using a PC or laptop.
The test will be timed, and you need to answer each question as it is presented, because you cannot skip questions or go back during the test.
You are not allowed to use certain keys during the test as an anti-cheating measure (although they are also just part of the way the questions have to be answered, because you cannot skip questions or go back during the test).
Googling the answers is cheating and will be picked up if you try it. You are not likely to get accurate answers quickly enough for it to be useful.
The best way to pass the IKM Assessment is to be prepared. You need to know what test you will be taking, the content of the questions and the way the assessment will be presented.
The best way to do that is to find practice tests like the Accounting prep pack, which is available on JobTestPrep.
There are many different IKM Assessments, and the majority of them will have a time limit (usually between 30 to 60 minutes).
There is also an undefined time limit on each question, which means that if you take too long, the test will be suspended.
This means you need to practice answering quickly as part of your preparation.
You can find a complete guide for the IKM Assessment online. The Accounting prep pack from JobTestPrep includes full-length practice tests, revision materials and hints about how to perform at your best.
IKM assessments are online tests designed to evaluate individuals' knowledge and proficiency in various subjects, such as IT skills and programming languages.
After registering on the IKM platform, test takers select or are assigned specific tests related to their skills or job requirements.
These assessments can include multiple-choice questions, coding exercises, and other formats, often with a timed element to assess problem-solving abilities under constraints.
Upon completion, immediate feedback, including scores and performance insights, is provided to the test takers.
Final Thoughts
IKM Assessments cover a wide range of topics and are used as part of the recruitment process for a number of different roles. Whether you are going for a role in IT, accounting, sales or customer service, you might end up facing an IKM Assessment.
If you are taking an IKM Assessment, whether during the recruitment process or as part of learning and development while you are in a role, the best thing that you can do is prepare thoroughly and practice so that you can get the best results from the test.
