Job seekers have gotten accustomed to sitting for pre-employment aptitude tests when applying for their desired jobs. These tests serve as a means to not only test their academic fortitude but to evaluate their psychological makeup, especially for stressful and high-risk positions. High school and college graduates are not exempt from these assessments, as their academic qualifications do not provide any relevant information about their psychological profile.
What Is the MMPI Test?
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is a pre-employment screening test used worldwide. It was developed at the University of Minnesota in the 1930s by Starke R. Hathaway and J. C. McKinley. The exam initially published in 1943, was later updated in 1989 to the now popular MMPI-2 exam. There are two other versions of the test; One for adolescents, the MMPI-A and a restructured version, the MMPI-2-RF. The exam must be taken in an assessment centre with a psychologist present trained to administer the exam.
MMPI-2 is offered in 22 languages.
What Is the Format of the MMPI Test?
There are three variants as expressed above, but the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-2-RF are the two more popular variants.
Both the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF are untimed exams. The MMPI-2 consists of 567 questions which candidates generally complete in approximately 90 minutes. The test has nine validity scales to aid in the prevention of fake answers.
First published in 2008, the MMPI-2-RF is based on the 2003 Restructured Clinical Scales. The exam consists of 338 questions taken from the MMPI-2 and is taken in situations where the MMPI-2 cannot be administered. Due to there being fewer questions, it usually takes a shorter time of about 35-50 minutes to complete.
The MMPI-2 remains the more popular of the two, being the third most popular psychometric exam behind the IQ test and Achievement tests.
The MMPI Scoring & Reporting
The MMPI-2 has a number of reporting options that are currently being used. They are as follows:
->Extended Score Report
->The Minnesota Report: Adult Clinical System, 4th Edition Interpretive Report
->The Minnesota Report: Revised Personnel System, 3rd Edition Interpretive Report
->The Minnesota Report: Revised Personnel System, 3rd Edition Adjustment Rating Report
->The Minnesota Report: Reports for Forensic Settings
The report filed is dependent on the purpose of the exam and the job in question. For example, the Minnesota Report: Adult Clinical System, 4th Edition Interpretive Report is provided in the evaluation and management of substance abuse patients while The Minnesota Report: Revised Personnel System, 3rd Edition Interpretive Report, is presented when evaluating persons for occupations such as law enforcement officers, emergency response teams, and pilots.
How to Pass the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Test?
Study guides will not provide you with the holy grail to passing this exam, but they might be able to give you some rewarding tips. One of which is to expose yourself as much as possible to the exam material. This can be done by attempting MMPI questions and practice assessments. This process helps you to optimise your responses to suit the psychological profile best aligned to your desired job.
Being familiar with this material from repeated practice and study sessions provides the candidate with added confidence which allows them to answer the questions with little hesitation and increased clarity. The MMPI test is not timed, and therefore there is no rush to complete the questions. It still may help however to attempt the practice questions in an environment more in line with the conditions expected at the assessment centre.
Conclusion
The job market has become increasingly competitive, and passing assessments such as the MMPI-2 may be an integral part of a company’s onboarding process. Knowing this, I think it’s safe to say it would be in your best interest to double down on your preparation efforts and make the opportunity count.
All the best with your journey to landing that dream job!
