BARB Test key terms

The ability to spot underlying patterns and rules in information that is not presented as words or numbers, then use those patterns to solve new problems.

A comparison that shows how two pairs of things are related in the same way, such as 'hand is to glove as foot is to shoe.'

A natural or learned capacity to acquire a particular skill or to perform well in a specific type of task after training or practice.

The ability to notice small features, differences, or errors in information while ignoring irrelevant distractions and sustaining focus on the task.

The general mental capacity to understand, learn, remember, reason, and solve problems; often measured by standardised tests of thinking skills.

The amount of mental effort and working-memory capacity needed to process information and complete a task at a given moment.

The process of choosing between options by weighing evidence, comparing possible outcomes, and applying judgment, often within a limited time and with incomplete information.

Drawing a certain conclusion from general statements or premises that are assumed true, moving from broad rules to specific cases.

An answer option or piece of information designed to look plausible but that is incorrect or irrelevant, testing whether you can ignore it.

Finding a general rule or pattern from specific examples or observations, then applying it to predict what is likely to come next.

A conclusion reached by reasoning from evidence, clues, or premises rather than being stated directly or explicitly in the information provided.

How the mind takes in, interprets, stores, and uses data from the environment to make decisions and produce appropriate responses.

Using structured, step-by-step thinking to evaluate arguments and reach valid conclusions that follow clearly from the given evidence or premises.

The mental system that encodes, stores, and retrieves information so it can be used later, including short-term and long-term forms.

Performing calculations with numbers in your head, without a calculator, written working, or other external aids, often under time pressure.

The ability to solve problems using shapes, symbols, and diagrams rather than words, often assessing abstract, spatial, and visual thinking.

The ability to understand and work with numbers, including comparing quantities, spotting number patterns, and solving quantitative problems accurately and efficiently.

A question type where all but one item share a common feature, and you must identify the item that does not fit.

The ability to identify regularities, repetitions, or rules in sequences of shapes, symbols, or numbers and use them to predict.

The process of identifying a goal, working out obstacles, and choosing a course of action that effectively reaches the goal.

How quickly a person can take in information, make a simple decision, and produce an accurate response under time limits.

A standardised assessment that objectively measures mental abilities, personality traits, or other psychological characteristics in a consistent and repeatable way.

The ability to use mathematical concepts and numerical data to analyse situations, compare values, and draw sound conclusions quickly and reliably.

The mental process of forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences from evidence and information rather than relying only on memory or guesswork.

An ordered set of items, numbers, or shapes that follows a rule, where the task is often to find the next item.

Understanding how objects, shapes, and positions relate in space, including how they look when rotated, moved, or viewed from another angle.

The ability to solve problems about shape, position, direction, and movement by mentally manipulating objects and accurately imagining their transformations.

The tendency for faster responding to produce more errors, so that test takers must balance finishing quickly against answering correctly.

A group of separate tests administered together to measure different abilities, with scores often combined into a single overall profile.

The capacity to understand word meanings, relationships between words, and the structure of language, including vocabulary, grammar, and sentence construction.

The ability to understand and analyse written information, including relationships between words, sentence logic, and drawing valid conclusions from short texts.

A limited mental workspace that holds and manipulates information briefly while you perform a task such as calculating or following instructions.