The Thomas International PPA Test – A 2024 Guide with 4 Sample Questions

The Thomas International Personality Profile Analysis (commonly known as the PPA test) is a standardised test that allows hiring managers to uncover more about a candidate’s personality to determine if they are the right person for the job.

The algorithm of the PPA assessment will allow an employer to understand more about how you work, how you react under pressure and your motivations.

In the UK, the PPA test is becoming more mainstream, with large employers and education institutions such as Virgin Trains, Leeds Beckett University and Thames Valley Police choosing to use it.

What Is the Thomas International PPA Test?

The Thomas International PPA assessment has been around for over 35 years. The PPA testing uses psychological analytics to examine a candidate’s personality profile.

The resulting data report can be used by employers to make decisions throughout a candidate’s career; from the very start of the recruitment process through to promotions and career trajectory decisions.

The comprehensive nature of the PPA assessment means that it is used beyond just recruitment. Schools are increasingly using the test during their application periods, while sporting teams are also using the analytics to see if they can spot potential.

The Thomas Personality Test: What Is Being Assessed?

The PPA assessment is popular because of its simplicity and ease of use. Candidates will be asked to sit an eight-minute personal profile analysis test, comprising of 24 questions across four core areas of your personality:

• Dominance
• Influence
• Steadiness
• Compliance

The PPA test (which is available in 56 different languages) asks candidates to select two adjectives from a choice of four – one that most describes their attitude or approach at work and one that describes those things least.

The result is that the candidate has selected 48 words out of a maximum of 96, giving analysts enough data to create an informed report about the candidate’s core personality.

Your answers will show an employer how you might act within its workplace; it demonstrates how you want to be seen by your employer.

According to Thomas themselves:

‘The PPA determines whether individuals see themselves as responding to workplace situations that they perceive to be favourable or challenging, and reveals whether their response patterns are active or passive; thus classifying the individual’s behavioural preferences in terms of four domains: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance.’

The Thomas international PPA test is independently verified by the British Psychological Society and the European Federation of Psychologists Association to determine its reliability and validity.

What to Expect From Your PPA Test in 2024

If you’ve been asked to take a PPA assessment as part of a recruitment process or, perhaps, as part of continual evaluation of your skills, then you may be wondering what to expect.

As previously mentioned, you will be asked to choose two adjectives, one which describes your approach at work most and one least. Each answer is attributed with a points value.

Although there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to PPA testing, it should be noted that some questions will have clear preferences.

For example, if you’re applying for a customer-facing position or one which involves working alongside a team, you would want to choose adjectives which indicate a favourable attitude to working with others.

If you're looking for a study pack that will teach you how to prepare for the PPA test, we recommend this guide from JobTestPrep.

The Four Key Areas of the PPA Assessment

If you have been asked to complete a Thomas personality test, then you should make sure you’re aware of the four key personality factors.

Below are some examples of how we can describe each of the four core elements within the PPA personality test.

Dominance

Are you forceful? Do you like to take charge? Perhaps you’re courageous and not afraid to take a risk. Maybe you’ve shown that you’re ambitious or competitive, or perhaps you’ve had moments where a colleague could describe you as aggressive.

In some scenarios, these dominant elements of your personality could cause alarm, but equally, an employer may view them as indicating managerial potential or potential for promotions.

Influence

How do you influence other members of the team? Would you be described as sociable and outgoing? Are you inspiring and do you help motivate others to improve their skills? Perhaps you’re seen as friendly or as a mentor to those working alongside you.

The Thomas international PPA test allows employers to see how a candidate would fit in with the rest of the team. If the recruiter is looking for a candidate to fill a pastoral element within the workforce, then this section could score you highly.

Steadiness

When it comes to busy workforces, an employer will need to know how you react under pressure. Can you remain calm and level-headed? Are you able to multi-task and prioritise changing scenarios? Can you remain in control and do you have the ability to lead others in a cool and relaxed manner?

The official Thomas website declares that organisations such as Thames Valley Police have used Thomas PPA assessments. You can see how it would be important for a candidate working within the policing profession to have clear traits of steadiness.

Compliance

The final element is to determine how much you listen to what is being said. Are you someone who follows rules and listens to instructions? Are you respectful and orderly to other members of the team regardless of their seniority? Can you pay attention to policies and procedures – and understand why they have been implemented?

If you’re applying for a position in a large organisation, the potential employer will want to know how you cope with internal systems and processes. Every company operates in its own way and will want to know how you can adapt to its way of working.

Example Thomas PPA Test Questions (2024)

As a forced-choice test, the Thomas PPA uses what’s called an ipsative method, which means that each person’s pattern of responses is analyzed on a one-to-one basis rather than being compared to a group.

During the eight-minute PPA assessment, you will be expected to answer questions by selecting the adjective that you believe most describes you in a set scenario and the adjective that is least like you.

So, you’ll have to select two traits from four possible answers, a procedure that is repeated 24 times to give those analyzing your results 48 choices and 96 words.

To help you visualize the format of the PPA test examples, here are four practice questions that could feature in your test (the wording may be different, though).

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4:

How Is the Thomas International PPA Test Scored?

Each Thomas PPA test will be scored in accordance with the job description of the role that is being recruited for. This means that an employer can feel confident that it will find the ideal candidate for its needs.

The scoring is based on your behaviour, your personality and your aptitude – the result is a star rating which can be used by employers to make decisions on recruitment, leadership, sales and training, and help them to understand an individual’s strengths and limitations.

The PPA assessment provides the employer with a wide range of profile reports and these can be used and referred back to throughout that candidate’s career. Thomas describes its personal profile analysis tool as being the ideal resource to help employers ‘recruit, develop, promote, motivate, manage and retain’ employees.

The use of big data and data analytics is more important than ever before, and HR teams and hiring managers are continually using this data to allow them to make predictions for the future.

Therefore, detailed insights provided through resources such as the Thomas PPA assessment are vital for making informed decisions.

Tips On How To Pass the Thomas PPA Test

If you are preparing for the Thomas Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) Test, here are some general tips that can help you perform your best:

• Familiarize Yourself with the Assessment: Learn about the purpose and structure of the Thomas PPA Test. Understand the traits or dimensions it measures and how it relates to workplace behavior.

• Be Honest and Authentic: The PPA Test aims to assess your natural behavioral preferences, so it's essential to answer the questions truthfully. Trying to manipulate the results may lead to an inaccurate profile that doesn't truly represent you.

• Understand the Instructions: Take the time to read and understand the instructions provided for each question or section. This will help you respond appropriately and avoid misunderstandings.

• Practice Sample Questions: Seek out practice questions or sample tests to become familiar with the format and types of questions asked in the PPA Test. This can help you become more comfortable and confident during the actual assessment.

• Manage Your Time: Depending on the specific version of the PPA Test you take, there may be time limits for each section. Practice time management techniques to ensure you can complete all the questions within the given time frame.

• Relax and Focus: It's normal to feel some pressure during an assessment, but try to stay calm and focused. Take deep breaths, maintain a positive mindset and concentrate on each question without rushing.

• Reflect on Your Work Context: As you respond to the PPA Test, consider how your behavioral preferences might manifest in a work environment. Reflect on your experiences and consider how your natural strengths can contribute to your performance.

In most scenarios, you will likely be informed by an HR team if you are required to participate in a PPA assessment during a formal interview.

Before taking a Thomas PPA test, make sure you do some preliminary research so that you feel confident in what to expect:

Ready to practice for your PPA test? Then try out this guide from JobTestPrep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Thomas International PPA test is an insightful personality test that is used as part of the recruitment process and throughout a candidate's career.

The test uses verified analytics to help businesses choose a specific person with the knowledge that they are likely to succeed. Considering the cost implications for businesses when it comes to recruitment and employee retention, it’s important to use as much data as possible to feel confident in the decision making processes.

For candidates themselves, participating in a personality test may tell them a lot more about themselves than they realised. They may find that, through their choice of adjectives, they start to understand their motivators and develop alternative ambitions.

The PPA personality test could be an opportunity to learn something new about yourself and discover your strengths and weaknesses in a new way.