How MindmetriQ works
MindmetriQ is a series of six computer-adaptive games. Test Partnership’s technical manual says individual games have maximum times of 4 to 7 minutes and 10 to 15 items, the full series takes about 30 minutes, and at least two games are recommended for high-stakes use. The manual says they are mainly used early in hiring, to sift applicants.
The games adapt: a correct answer makes the next question more difficult, and an incorrect one makes it slightly easier. Items come from large, frequently updated banks, so two candidates are unlikely to get the same set.
Net the Numbers, Link Swipe and Pipe Puzzle
Net the Numbers: drag the highlighted net over the numbers that, added together, give the largest possible total, remembering that the highest number may be negative. The manual gives 12 items in about 6 minutes including instructions, and links it to quantitative reasoning, working memory and visual processing.
Link Swipe: swipe to say whether a pair of words are approximate synonyms, approximate antonyms or neither. The sample screen labels the directions Almost the same (right), Almost opposite (left) and Other (down). The manual gives 15 items in about 4 minutes, drawing on lexical knowledge, verbal processing and grammatical sensitivity.
Pipe Puzzle: rearrange the pipes to connect the two end points, avoiding the solid obstacles and making sure you have enough pipes. The manual gives 10 items in about 6 minutes, covering spatial scanning, visual memory and flexibility of closure.
Test Partnership’s website gives 4 to 6 minutes per game, and its anti-cheat page describes game-based questions with time limits of 15 to 30 seconds. Follow the instructions on screen for the version you are given.
How it is scored
Scoring is weighted by difficulty. Test Partnership’s sample report gives a percentile and a sten score from 1 to 10 for each game and for the games combined, and also shows percentiles against alternative norm groups.
Each game has three norm groups: graduates, professionals, managers and executives; administrative, operational and non-graduate roles; and apprentices, school leavers and entry-level roles. Results stay valid for up to 24 months.
How our practice versions work
We have practice versions of these three games, each adapting after every item on our own difficulty ladder, with no skipping and no deductions. Net the Numbers is 12 items at 25 seconds each: a 5x5 grid and a 2x2 net that you tap to move, then place.
Link Swipe is 15 items at 20 seconds each. Swipe right for synonyms, left for antonyms and up for neither, or use the buttons, and your accuracy is broken down by pair type. The real sample screen uses down for Other.
Pipe Puzzle is 10 items at 35 seconds each on a 4x4 grid. Test Partnership’s description has you rearrange a limited number of pipes; ours only rotates pieces already on the board, and compares your rotation count with the minimum. We do not have practice versions of the other three MindmetriQ games.