Kabir, a Class XII student in Lucknow, has never repaired or built a machine. His school counsellor gives him a timed test of picture puzzles on gears, levers, pulleys and moving parts. None of the puzzles comes from his school syllabus. The counsellor will compare his score with those of other students and use it to decide who should be sent to a two-year engineering training programme run by a local firm. Students chosen for the programme will be taught to work on machines from the start.
Which of the following best describes what the counsellor's test assesses in Kabir?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → His underlying potential for acquiring skills in a particular field
Option (1) His global capacity to understand the world and think rationally — Incorrect. This is <strong>intelligence</strong>. Intelligence tests give a global measure of general cognitive competence, including the ability to profit from schooling. Kabir's test looks at one field and at his <strong>success after future training</strong>.
Option (2) His relatively enduring characteristics that make him distinct from others — Incorrect. This is <strong>personality</strong>, such as being dominant or submissive, outgoing or withdrawn. The puzzles measure <strong>a capacity in one skill area</strong>.
Option (3) His preference for engaging in specific activities relative to others — Incorrect. This is <strong>interest</strong>. An interest test finds which activities a person likes more than others. Kabir's test checks <strong>how well he solves machine puzzles</strong>.
Option (4) His underlying potential for acquiring skills in a particular field — Correct. This is <strong>aptitude</strong>, a person's underlying potential for acquiring skills. Aptitude tests predict what a person <strong>will be able to do if given proper environment and training</strong>. A test on gears and levers, used to pick trainees for engineering, measures Kabir's mechanical aptitude.
NCERT (2026-27): “Some Domains of Psychological Attributes … |