The Pearson Differential Aptitude Tests™ Next Generation (DAT™ Next Gen) is a contemporary, computer adaptive cognitive assessment designed to measure the underlying aptitudes that drive success across a wide variety of roles. The DAT is used to predict success in training programs and have demonstrated strong overall validity for predicting performance across a wide range of job roles. Built on over 70 years of research from Pearson TalentLens, the DAT provides a highly efficient and engaging experience, because it adapts to the candidates’ ability levels, while evaluating an individual’s capacity to solve verbal, numerical, abstract, or spatial problems.

What the APM Measures

DAT is composed of five targeted subtests, each containing 15 item, selected from a bank of items tailored to the test taker’s ability level. The aptitudes assessed includes:

1. Verbal Analogies: Assesses verbal reasoning by evaluating relationships between pairs of words. This subtest requires identifying conceptual links and applying them to new pairings, which is a strong indicator of linguistic reasoning and conceptual thinking.
2. Numerical Calculations: Measures arithmetic computation such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and basic algebra. This test predicts success in roles requiring quantitative accuracy and comfort with numerical concepts.
3. Numerical Sequences: Assesses the ability to detect rules in number patterns and identify missing or next values. It measures rule finding, pattern recognition, and the ability to work through multi-step numerical logic.
4. Abstract Reasoning: Assesses the capacity to identify relationships and patterns within shapes and diagrams, reflecting a classic measure of fluid intelligence, which does not require prior knowledge or existing language skills to complete the assessment. This test predicts the ability to solve unfamiliar problems and learn new things quickly.
5. Space Relations: Measures spatial visualisation or how well an individual can mentally manipulate shapes in two and three dimensions. This is useful in technical, engineering, design, and operations roles.

Why Organisations Use the DAT™ Next Generation

• Predicts performance across diverse job families: The DAT battery is a validated assessment of different cognitive aptitudes that are predictive of job performance across different roles.
• Adaptive and engaging: Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT) ensures that questions adjust to the test taker’s level, increasing precision while reducing test taking anxiety and the opportunity for item exposure.
• Short and efficient: Each subtest contains only 15 items, allowing most candidates to complete the entire battery in approximately 12 minutes on average while still delivering robust psychometric accuracy.
• Applicable across roles and levels: Because the test adapts to the individual, DAT can be used from entry-level through managerial selection. Instead of administering multiple difficulty tiers, one test fits all ability levels.
• Assessment integrity: Test items are drawn from a large item bank, reducing the risk of overexposure. Because each test‑taker receives a different set of items, there is little benefit in sharing test content. This approach helps maintain the integrity and security of the assessment and is particularly important for tests administered in unsupervised environments.
• Available in multiple languages: Supporting English (US/UK) and other languages (depending on the aptitude test being administered), making it suitable for multinational selection processes.

Report Outputs

Separate reports, for each aptitude, provide different norm‑referenced scores (percentiles, T-scores, Stanines, and Stens) with an explanation for what the scores mean.