Wolfe-Spence Programming Aptitude Test

Purpose

The WSPAT can be used for two purposes:

1. To determine candidate success potential in computer programming training classes.
2. To serve as a pre-screening diagnostic instrument for organizations selecting computer programmers. Persons doing poorly on the test should not be considered further. Persons doing well on the test should be given the Aptitude Assessment Battery: Programming test.

General Description

The WSPAT is independent of prior training or experience. It consists of eight work exercises which require the candidate to demonstrate logical ability, skill in interpretation of specifications and documentation clarity. It is expected that this test will select 10% of the candidates as passing, and another 15% as marginal. Screening out the remaining 75% with this method is far less expensive than interviewing and checking references.

The test is not education-oriented, nor is it a speed test. High school graduates with better logical skills will do better on the WSPAT than college graduates who do not demonstrate the same level of precision and reasoning skills.

Positions for which the test is appropriate

The WSPAT is used to screen entry-level and inexperienced applicants for an applications programmers' training program. It is also useful as a pre-screening test when hiring programmers. The WSPAT alone is not designed for hiring, but should be used to answer the question, "Should the candidate consider a career in the programming field?"

Job criteria measured

Test administration

No special skills are required by the administrator. Candidates should be allowed two hours to complete the test. Ninety-nine percent of all applicants finish within two hours, though most require 100 minutes or less.

Sample question (segment)

Sample Candidate Evaluation Report

Click here to view a sample detailed evaluation report.

Scoring

Candidate's evaluation consists of a raw score, percentile and an overall evaluation.

Evaluation

The overall rating is based on scores according to the following table:

Validation Information

August, 1990: The Programmer Analyst must accomplish fourteen tasks to successfully perform his/her job responsibilities. A total of 54 traits were judged to be essential to accomplishing these tasks.  Of these 54 traits, 33 are assessed by one or more questions in the Wolfe-Spence Programming Aptitude Test (WSPAT). Thus, a significant portion (61.1%) of the intended domain is assessed by the WSPAT. As well, if the relative importance of the essential traits tested, to the ''weighted'' importance of the task, is considered - the overlap percentage improves to 63.2%.

December, 1980: This concurrent validation study was conducted at a large and prominent insurance company. Entry-level programming candidates were selected for an on-going extensive in-house training program. The study was designed to measure the effectiveness of the Wolfe-Spence Programming Aptitude Test in predicting successful completion of the programming training course, and on-the-job performance as measured by the first supervisory evaluation.

July 1990: This validation study conducted in three introductory university programming courses simulated the training class environment commonly found in industry. The Wolfe-Spence Programming Aptitude Test was found to be predictive of final course grades obtained by the students.

Languages published