Preparing for South Australia Police (SAPOL) Cognitive and EI Testing

If you are applying to join SA Police (SAPOL) , you will be asked to complete a variety of tests as part of your entrance exam.

In the screening phase, you will be asked to complete a set of 6 Cognitvie mini tests focusing on: :

• Numerical reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• Abstract Reasoning

In additional you will be asked to complete a timed Emotional Intelligence test.

1. SAPOL's Cognitive test

SA Police measures your cognitive suitability by using the Cognify mini tests.

What is the Cognify Test?

The Cognify Test is a game based type of psychometric testing. Each test is timed and looks like a basic video game.

The Cognify test moves away from the question/answer based style of standard psychometric tests.  Instead, it uses game based tests to measure your abstract, verbal and numerical reasoning. This means that you no longer have a series of questions on the screen andno calculator or paper pad is necessary.

You are expected to follow the instructions carefully as you start each test or game.

The theory behind the Cognify Test

The Cognify Test model is based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory of the structure of human cognitive abilities.

The theory combines concepts like fluid and crystallised intelligence and the three-stratum model of intelligence.  It has aided the evolution of the psychometric approach in understanding human cognitive characteristics by employing advanced statistical techniques like factor analysis.

What to expect in the Cognify Test

The Cognify Test measures three components about your cognitive abilities:

1. 1.    Problem Solving: 

In problem solving the test assesses your ability to quickly learn, adapt and solve problems.

This measures your ‘fluid intelligence:’ the ability to see a problem for the first time and find out how to solve it without any prior knowledge.

1. 2.    Numerical Reasoning: 

In numerical reasoning the test assesses your ability to understand numerical concepts, work with numbers and use formulas to solve problems.

1. 3.    Verbal Knowledge 

In verbal knowledge the test measures your knowledge of the English language – focusing on spelling, grammar and identification of errors in text.

Timer

Each of the tests in the Cognify set of games is timed at 5 minutes.

What to expect in Problem Solving tests:

The Cognify Test has three mini tests measuring your problem solving skills:

• Gridlock
• Resemble
• Short Cuts

The ‘Gridlock’ test

In this mini test you need to solve a number of consecutive grid based puzzle games as quickly as you can.

There is generally a central grid and you have to fit the given figures in (rotate, drag and drop) to complete the grid.

The ‘Resemble’ test

In this mini test you will be presented with a figure in the left section and generally a simple ‘angle of rotation’ value given beneath it, for example: 180^o or 90^o.

All you have to do is mentally rotate the figure on the left by the angle indicated and recreate the resultant figure in a central grid on the right.

The ‘Short Cuts’ test

In this mini test you are asked to move a particular ball and move it to a destination indicated by stars. You are supposed to move the target ball to the destination using the fewest moves as quickly as possible.

What to expect in the Numerical ability tests:

The Cognify Test has two mini tests measuring your numerical ability:

• Numbubbles
• Tally Up

What to expect in the ‘Numbubbles’ test

This mini test displays a target number and a number of bubbles with simple equations.

Your task is to identify the bubbles containing an answer equal to the target value displayed.

What to expect in the ‘Tally Up’ test

This mini test displays two sections with numbers (appearing as tokens) in each frame. Your task is to decide which frame has a higher value of numbers (tokens) or both frames might be of equal value.

What to Expect in Verbal knowledge tests:

In the Cognify Test you will have two mini tests measuring your verbal knowledge:

• Proof It
• Pop Up

What to expect in Proof It test

In this mini test you are presented with series of texts that include grammatical errors such as punctuation errors, missing words, misspelled words and grammatical errors.

Your task is to identify all grammatical errors in each text in 1 minute.

2. SAOPL's Emotional Intelligence Test

Emotify is a new Emotional Intelligence test developed by Revelian to measure two aspects of Emotional Intelligence. 

What is the Emotify Emotional Intelligence test?

The Emotify test was developed by Revelian as a reasoning measurement of people’s emotional intelligence using 2 distinctive aspects of your emotional intelligence.

• Ability to identify emotions in facial expressions
• Ability to identify people's emotions based on their behaviour

Emotify includes 2 parts:

Part 1 measures your ability to identify people's emotions based on a scenario or situation. In addition, part 1 also measures your ability to recognise the basic 8 emotions in people's facial expressions. Part 1 has 3 sections with a break in between each section.

Part 2 measures your ability to identify emotions in facial expressions.

The Emotify has 20 questions in part 1 and 30 questions in part 2.

The difference between Emotify and other EI tests

Contrary to most Emotional Intelligence tests used in the market, Revelian developed a reasoning rather than a personality based test. This means that the Emotify regards EI as a cognitive ability and therefore uses a timer as part of the test.

What is an Emotify Emotional Intelligence test question?

The Emotify test has two types of test questions:

The first type or Emotify test question style includes a short scenario that describes a situation about one or two people. Then you are asked to decide what is each person in the scenario likely to feel. Your answer will not only include the emotion but also the facial expression that conveys the correct emotion.

The second type or Emotify test question style includes a screenshot of a face and you are asked to decide whether this facial expression conveys a specific emotion. Your answer can only be yes or no. 

Let's review the following example test question for the Emotify test:

Is this Contempt?

Here you need to analyse the facial expression to identify the correct emotion.

The Challenge with the Emotify test:

Many job applicants find the Emotify test very challenging due to the following reasons: 

• The Emotify's timer is very short. This makes it very difficult for test takers to consider all the options before the time runs out.
• The test questions are very different from what people are used to.
• The test questions require people to deal with things outside their comfort zone.

* Emotify, Revelian and other trademarks are the property of their trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with the Institute of Psychometric Coaching or this site.

IPC's preparation for SA Police (SAPOL) Cognify test & Emotional Intelligence test

The Institute of Psychometric Coaching (IPC) has developed a variety of tailored preparations to ensure you are ready for your Cognify Test.  Our professionals have analysed strategies and techniques and developed a full range of countermeasures.  Our preparations include:

Online SAPOL's Cognify practice tests

• Online practice mini tests – tailor made for Cognfiy Test
• A large pool of timed practice tests online such as Resemble, Tully Up, Numbubbles, Pop-Up, Proof It and Shortcuts
• Step by step solutions at the end of each mini test
• Test scores in comparison to others
• Feedback on how to improve

Benefits include:

• Based on real Cognify Test questions
• Timer mimics the pressure of taking the real test
• Immediate access

Personal tutoring for SAPOL's Cognify & Emotional Intelligence tests:

Experience gold standard service with IPC’s personal tutoring. 

Our personalised service includes:

• One-on-one tutoring delivered by experienced Psychometric test trainers.
• Face to face sessions (in our Melbourne and Sydney offices) or via Skype live
• In depth analysis of your cognitive weaknesses to focus the session and maximise your scores
• Working together to ensure you reach maximum potential and capabilities in your Cognify  and Personality Tests

Please note that IPC is not in any way affiliated with, endorsed or authorised by state or federal police and that your training courses are not approved by or based on any official state and federal police training courses. Similarly, Cognify and other trademarks are the property of their trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with the Institute of Psychometric Coaching or this site.

Start preparing for SAPOL tests