1. What Is This Test?
After passing the initial eligibility screening, shortlisted applicants receive an email with a link to a psychometric assessment. This catches many applicants off guard because it's rarely discussed on forums or third-party sites. If you didn't know about it before reading this page, you're not alone.
The test consists of two parts: an abstract reasoning test and a personality assessment. You have 10 days from receiving the email to complete it. Miss the deadline and you're out — no exceptions, no extensions.
Timed visual pattern recognition. Tests how quickly you identify logical relationships in shapes and diagrams.
Untimed Big Five personality questionnaire. Measures openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
The 10-day deadline is strict. You'll receive the email after being shortlisted. The clock starts the moment it arrives in your inbox — not when you open it. Check your email (including spam folders) regularly during this period.
2. Part 1: Abstract Reasoning Test
This section tests your ability to identify patterns, sequences, and logical relationships in visual diagrams. It involves shapes that rotate, translate, transform, and mirror. Think of it as testing how quickly you can identify logical patterns in unfamiliar visual information.
Here's what you need to understand about this part:
Why this matters so much
Low scores on the abstract reasoning section are one of the most common reasons for rejection at this stage. Two applicants with similar academic backgrounds and essay quality can be separated entirely by their psychometric scores. This isn't a formality — it's a real filter.
3. Part 2: Personality Assessment (Big Five)
The second part measures five personality traits. Unlike the reasoning test, there are no "right" or "wrong" answers here. The personality assessment is more about fit than filtering.
Openness
How receptive you are to new experiences, ideas, and creative thinking
Conscientiousness
Your tendency toward self-discipline, organization, and goal-directed behavior
Extraversion
How energized you are by social interaction and external stimulation
Agreeableness
Your tendency toward cooperation, trust, and consideration of others
Neuroticism
Your emotional stability and how you respond to stress and negative emotions
Consistency matters. Don't try to game it by giving answers you think they want to hear. The test includes built-in consistency checks that flag contradictory responses. If you say you love meeting new people in one question and then say you prefer working alone in a similar question, that gets noticed.
The best approach is straightforward: be honest. Answer based on how you actually are, not how you think a scholarship winner should be. There's no single personality profile they're looking for.
4. How to Prepare
You can't study for this test in the traditional sense, but you can absolutely prepare. The abstract reasoning section rewards practice. The more pattern types you've seen before, the faster you'll recognize them during the real test.
Practice the Reasoning Section
On Test Day
The personality section needs no preparation
For the Big Five personality assessment, there's nothing to practice. Just answer honestly and consistently. Trying to present a "perfect" personality profile will likely backfire due to the built-in consistency detection. The only thing to prepare is your mindset: relax, be yourself, and don't overthink each question.
5. Why This Test Matters More Than You Think
With over 15,000 applications competing for roughly 1,100 spots, the selection committee needs efficient ways to screen candidates. The psychometric test exists for exactly this reason — it's a significant differentiator at a stage where many applicants look similar on paper.
Two applicants with similar academic backgrounds and essay quality can be separated by their psychometric scores. That's the reality. Taking it seriously and preparing for it gives you a real competitive advantage, because the truth is that many applicants don't.
Annual applicants
Scholarships awarded
Success rate
Think of it this way: The psychometric test is one of the few parts of the application where preparation directly translates to better performance. Your GPA is fixed. Your work experience is what it is. But your abstract reasoning score? That can genuinely improve with practice.
6. Common Mistakes
These are the mistakes that trip up applicants year after year. Every single one is avoidable.
Not knowing about the test until the email arrives
By the time you get the link, you have 10 days. That's not enough time to properly prepare from scratch. Start practicing before you even submit your application.
Waiting until the last day of the 10-day window
Technical problems — internet outages, browser crashes, server issues — happen at the worst possible times. Complete the test within the first few days.
Not practicing abstract reasoning beforehand
Abstract reasoning is a skill that improves with practice. Walking in cold means you're competing against people who prepared. Don't give them that advantage.
Trying to "game" the personality test
Answering with what you think sounds impressive instead of what's true. The consistency checks catch this, and inconsistent profiles raise red flags.
Having unstable internet during the timed test
The reasoning test is timed. If your connection drops mid-test, you lose valuable seconds or minutes. Use a wired connection or a reliable network.
Rushing through without reading instructions carefully
Each section may have different instructions. Spending 30 seconds reading them properly can save you from misunderstanding what's being asked in every subsequent question.
7. What Happens After the Test
Once you complete both parts of the psychometric assessment, here's what the process looks like going forward.
Results are combined with your application
Your psychometric scores are merged with the rest of your application assessment — your academic record, essays, references, and other materials. It's one piece of a larger picture, but an important one.
You receive a progress notification
You'll be notified of whether you're moving forward to the next stage of the selection process. This communication comes via email.
No individual feedback is shared
You won't receive your test results or any specific feedback on your performance. This applies whether you progress or not. The results remain internal to the selection committee.
If you progress: detailed assessment and possible interview
Applicants who make it past this stage move into a more detailed assessment phase. Depending on the scholarship category, this may include an interview. That's a separate process with its own preparation requirements.
Don't email asking for your results. The selection committee does not share individual test scores or breakdowns. Sending follow-up emails asking for feedback on the psychometric test won't change the outcome and won't get you any additional information.