Psikotes Kerja: Common Tests and How to Prepare

If you apply for a job at an Indonesian corporate, bank, BUMN or large startup, you will almost certainly sit a psikotes (psychological test) at some point. It usually comes after the CV screen and before the user interview. Many candidates treat it as a lottery. It is not: each test measures something specific, and knowing what that is changes how you approach it. This guide covers the tests you are most likely to see and how to prepare for each.

Cognitive tests: verbal, numerical and logical reasoning

These are the closest thing to an aptitude exam, and they have right and wrong answers. Verbal tests include synonyms, antonyms and analogies ('Doctor is to hospital as teacher is to ...'). Numerical tests include number series ('2, 6, 12, 20, ...') and short arithmetic word problems. Logical tests include syllogisms ('All A are B, some B are C, therefore ...') and picture puzzles where you find the next shape in a pattern. They are timed tightly, so speed matters as much as accuracy. This is the one category where practice clearly improves your score: once you recognise the common patterns, you stop wasting time working out what the question is asking.

Kraepelin and Pauli: the column-addition test

The Kraepelin test (and its longer cousin, the Pauli test) gives you sheets of single digits arranged in columns. You add each pair of adjacent numbers and write the last digit of the result, moving to the next column when the examiner says so. It is not a maths test. It measures speed, accuracy, consistency and endurance across the whole session: whether your pace drops sharply, whether your errors climb when you get tired. The best strategy is a steady pace you can hold to the end, rather than racing through the first columns and fading.

Drawing tests: Wartegg, Draw-A-Person and tree drawing

Projective tests ask you to draw: complete eight small boxes that each contain a mark (Wartegg), draw a person (DAP), draw a house, tree and person (HTP), or draw a tree (Baum test). Psychologists read them for traits such as emotional stability, confidence and how you relate to others. There is no single correct drawing, and trying to game them usually shows. Practical rules: finish every box or drawing, use the space you are given, draw complete figures rather than stick figures, and do not leave the test half-done because you are unsure.

Personality inventories: DISC, PAPI Kostick, EPPS and MBTI

These are questionnaires where you choose the statement that describes you best, often from pairs or groups of options. Employers use them to see how you work: whether you lead or follow, prefer structure or flexibility, focus on people or tasks. There are no right answers, but there are consistency checks — the same trait is asked several ways, and contradictory answers make your profile look unreliable. Answer honestly and quickly. Before you start, re-read the job description: you are not faking a personality, but it helps to answer as the version of yourself you are at work.

How to prepare in the week before

Do timed practice on verbal, numerical and logical questions every day — this is where practice pays off most. Try one full Kraepelin sheet so the format does not surprise you. Sleep properly the night before: tiredness shows up directly in Kraepelin and reasoning scores. For online tests, use a laptop rather than a phone, check your internet connection, close other tabs, and find a quiet room, because many platforms log tab switches and time away from the test. Bring or prepare pencils and an eraser for in-person drawing tests.

Psikotes in Apto

Some employers send their reasoning and English tests through Apto for Business. If you receive an Apto test link, you will see what each test covers and how long it takes, and you are asked for consent before you start. The reasoning test uses picture and logic puzzles under a time limit, so the preparation above applies directly. Your CV still decides whether you reach the test stage at all — use Apto to tailor your CV to each job description and check it against ATS before you apply.