One such aptitude test is the Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory (HBRI), one of the main Hogan assessments, which also include the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI), Hogan Development Survey (HDS) and the MVPI (Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory). The HBRI assessment can be used to place someone in a job role or to assess a current employee for promotion within the company. The HBRI tends to be used for positions in sales, marketing and management.
What Skills Does the HBRI Test?
The skills tested are mainly problem-solving and decision-making, using quantitative data in the form of text, stats and graphs. The HBRI measures the candidate’s quantitative and qualitative reasoning via a 30-minute test containing 24 carefully developed questions. The prospective employer or company wants to see that the individual can make important decisions with just a small amount of factual information using tactical reasoning in addition to analyzing past flaws and mistakes in data, and finding a new, successful solution (strategic reasoning). The test is computerized and is scored with a percentage.
HBRI Sample Questions
There are three main types of questions in the Hogan HBRI test. These may be grouped together or mixed up.
Sample Verbal Reasoning Question
Sample Numerical Reasoning Question
a) £5 more b) £2 more c) £10 more d) £50 more
Sample Abstract Reasoning Question
a) Same as Box 2, but with a shaded circle b) Same as Box 5, but with a shaded circle c) Same as Box 5, but with a shaded hexagon d) Same as Box 2, but with a shaded hexagon One of the challenges is that some of the questions don’t have a right or wrong answer, so candidates don’t know what the company is looking for. However, there are some things you can do to make the HBRI assessment test less overwhelming and improve your chances of success: Do as many as possible before your assessment. Take practice tests that relate to each of the three main categories as well as specific HBRI practice tests. There are timed ones, which generally do cost, but are useful for ensuring you can pace yourself in the test. It focuses on problem solving and decision-making skills, with questions that use quantitative business-related data in the form of graphs and tables. The HBRI asks 24 questions that must be answered within 30 minutes. This will help to familiarise you with the style of questions that you might find as well as highlighting any areas which may potentially be weaker.
Problem solving Decision making Use of quantitative data Abstract reasoning
A percentage score of 70% shows that you performed to the same standard or better than 70% of the normative group and would place you at the high end of the scale. It is widely considered to be an accurate and reliable way of assessing aptitude and skill.
Overall Business Reasoning – presented as a percentage and compared to a norm group; a higher score demonstrates that you can process information quickly and are able to think carefully and critically before making a decision. Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning – this is slightly more complex, as it is not about being ‘the best’ at reasoning, the focus is on the way you make sense of information. Those with high qualitative reasoning skills tend to be able to make sense of complex information while those who have low qualitative reasoning skills tend to learn through experience. Similarly, those with low quantitative reasoning skills are more likely to make decisions based on instinct, while those with high quantitative reasoning skills are more likely to use relevant data to come to a conclusion. Cognitive Style – One of four styles is attributed to each test taker, and this is about how you like to learn and think. The options are Expedient Thinker, Contextual Thinker, Analytical Thinker, and Critical Thinker
The report will also provide some insights into your strengths and weaknesses. With all this detail, there is not really a ‘good’ score to aim for in the HBRI – it depends on what criteria the recruitment team are using to select their ideal candidates, so the best thing you can do is aim as high as you are capable. In the Overall Business Reasoning section, the scores are presented as a percentage against a sliding normative scale, with your result being described as either low, average, high, or very high as well as a percentage. In the Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning section, your result is show as a quartile – you will be regarded as either high or low in each type of reasoning. The Cognitive Style section describes the way you prefer to think, putting you in one of four categories depending on the way you have answered the questions. The original HBRI did not have a time limit, but usually takes candidates about 25 minutes to complete. Both tests are in use at this time, and the one you will be taking will depend on the recruitment team. The questions themselves are in three distinct sections – verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and abstract reasoning. The employer is looking for specific capabilities and it is important to know what these are before taking the test. Prepare with practice questions, and ensure you are at your best during the assessment. Remember if you are applying for a role that requires these specific abilities, it is likely you already have some skill in those areas. Relax, take your time reading the questions, and check over your answers to ensure success.
