General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB)

The General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) is a work-related multiple-ability assessment

developed by the U.S. Employment Service (USES), a division of the Department of Labor.

Historical Development of the GATB

In the mid-1930s, the USES initiated a program of aptitude test research, resulting in
approximately 100 ability tests designed to predict success across a wide variety of occupations
representative of the U.S. labor force at the time. The USES then examined a set of these tests
through a series of factor analyses, ultimately identifying 12 tests measuring 9 aptitudes or
abilities -

Symbo
Name Test(s)
l

General
G Vocabulary, Arithmetic Reasoning, Three Dimensional Space
Intelligence

V Verbal Aptitude Vocabulary

N Numerical Aptitude Computation, Arithmetic Reasoning

S Spatial Aptitude Three Dimensional Space

P Form Perception Tool Matching, Form Matching

Q Clerical-Perception Name Comparison

K Motor Coordination Mark Making

F Finger Dexterity Assemble, Disassemble

M Manual Dexterity Place, Turn

The abilities could be clustered into 3 groups: cognitive (G, V, N), perceptual (S, P, Q) and
psychomotor (K, F, M).

GATB edition B-1002 comprised these 12 tests and was published in 1947 in two forms (A and
B). Two additional forms (C and D) were subsequently published in 1983. State employment
service offices used the GATB for vocational counseling and applicant referral, and high
schools, technical schools, universities, labor union apprenticeship programs, vocational
rehabilitation agencies, and other authorized agencies used the battery for vocational and career
counseling.

Revision:

In the late 1980s, a review of the GATB by the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) of the
National Academy of Sciences raised a number of concerns, and, subsequently, the battery went
through several important changes in development. The concerns of the NRC included
aesthetics, speed of completion, scoring, and susceptibility to coaching. The result of the revision
process comprised GATB Forms E and F, now referred to as Ability Profiler Forms 1 and 2,
respectively. These forms represent the current operational versions of the battery and are
designed exclusively for vocational counseling, occupational exploration, and career planning.

Characteristics of the Ability Profiler

The Ability Profiler, comprising 11 separately timed tests, measures nine work-related abilities:

1. Verbal Ability: ability to understand the meaning of words and use them effectively in
good communication when you listen, speak, or write

2. Arithmetic Reasoning: ability to use several math skills and logical thinking to solve
problems in everyday situations

3. Computation: ability to use arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication,

and division to solve everyday problems involving numbers

4. Spatial Ability: ability to form pictures of objects in your mind

5. Form Perception: ability to quickly and accurately see details in objects, pictures, or
drawings

6. Clerical Perception: ability to quickly and accurately see differences in detail in printed
material

7. Motor Coordination: ability to quickly and accurately coordinate eyes with hands or
fingers when making precise hand movements

8. Manual Dexterity: ability to quickly and accurately move hands easily and skillfully

9. Finger Dexterity: ability to move fingers skillfully and easily

Administration

There are three options for administering the Ability Profiler:

  First, all 11 tests can be administered in approximately 2.5 hours. This option is
preferable for individuals exploring all occupations, including those requiring
psychomotor abilities.
 Second, the 7 paper-and-pencil tests can be administered in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
This option is preferable when individuals are not exploring occupations requiring
manual or finger dexterity.
 Third, the 6 non-psychomotor tests can be administered in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
This option is preferable when individuals are not exploring occupations requiring
psychomotor abilities.

For all options, examinees must

(a) be at least 16 years old,

(b) read English at a sixth-grade level or higher, and

(c) not have taken any form of the Ability Profiler or GATB within the prior six months.

Scoring

The first step is include all the correct responses obtained on the test. Once the raw scores are
converted referencing to each norming populations that are different for each subtests. The third
step is to sum up the converted scores to obtain aptitude scores. The new VG-GATB requires
further steps. The aptitude scores are converted to B scores.The aptitude are reduced to three
composites- cognitive composite (G+V+N), Perceptual composites (S+P+Q) and psychomotor
composites (K+F+M). there is a conversion for each composite scores, the total 15 B scores are
obtained. The B scores are used to get a percentile.

Psychometric Properties

Extensive research generally supports the reliability and validity of earlier GATB forms. For
instance, numerous studies indicate the GATB instruments demonstrate acceptable test-retest
reliability (most estimates are greater than .70), convergent validity, and at least modest
correlations with ratings of job performance, although the evidence is often stronger for the
cognitive aptitudes (e.g., Verbal Ability) than for the perceptual (e.g., Form Perception) or
psychomotor (e.g., Finger Dexterity) aptitudes. Although there is less evidence to date for
Ability Profiler Forms 1 and 2, reliability and construct validity analyses also support the use of
these forms.
Current Usage and Availability of the Ability Profiler

The Ability Profiler is currently in use as part of the Department of Labor’s Occupational
Information Network (O*NET) Career Exploration Tools. The O*NET is an extensive
computerized occupational database of both job and worker characteristics. The O*NET Career
Exploration Tools consist of a set of instruments designed to help individuals identify their work-
related abilities, interests, and values, as well as to find the occupations that best correspond to
individuals’ attributes. The Ability Profiler instrument compares the individual’s profile of
abilities obtained from the Ability Profiler tests to similar ability requirement profiles of each
O*NET occupation. Occupations with profiles closely matching the individual’s profile (as
reflected in the correlation between profiles) are suggested as promising areas for further career
exploration.

The Ability Profiler and supporting documents (e.g., score reports, user’s guide) can be
purchased from the U.S. Government Printing Office or downloaded from the O*NET Resource
Center Web site. Although certification is not required to administer the Ability Profiler, training
should be given; the O*NET Resource Center Web site also provides training materials.
Furthermore, users are allowed to modify or extend the Ability Profiler tool to develop
customized products, but they must do so in accordance with the terms of the O*NET
Developer’s Agreement.