1. a set of questions, exercises, or practical activities to measure someone's skill, ability, or knowledge
a test to find out if you have the necessary skills to do a particular job or activity:
• After the interview you will be asked to take an aptitude test.
emotional quotient test; a test that employers give to possible future
Employees to find out if they have the character,
creativity (= ability to produce new ideas), and social skills necessary to be good at their jobs
IˈQ test
intelligence quotient test; a test to measure a person's level of intelligence, with 100 being the average result. The test consists of problems related to letters, numbers, and shapes
a test to find out if someone has the right character and attitudes for a job :
• Employers use psychological tests to screen out potentially violent applicants.
a scientifically-based test that measures someone's ability and their thinking skills, and also their personality and attitudes, in order to find out if they are suitable for a job:
• The two main types of psychometric tests used are personality questionnaires and aptitude tests.
2. a process used to find out whether something is of the right quality or works correctly, or to find out whether it contains a particular substance:
psychometric test for
• a test for chemicals in the water
\add at sense 2 a test of software in order to find out if it works properly, done by the company that is writing the software
— alpha-test verb [transitive] :
• The CD ROM is currently being alpha-tested.
a test of software in which it is given to customers to use, so that any problems will be found
— beta-test verb [transitive] :
• The games are all beta-tested by a representative sample of gamers before release.
ˈblind test
MARKETING a way of testing a product in which people are asked to try the product and give their opinion about it without telling them the product's name:
• In a blind test, 58% of those tested preferred butter to margarine.
ˈfield test
a test on a new piece of equipment done in the place where it is to be used rather than in a
Laboratory, factory etc;
= FIELD TRIAL a type of market research in which a group of consumers are asked what they think of specific products, advertisements etc:
• We got paid $35 an hour to participate in a hall test this weekend.
ˌliquid ˈratio test
a test in which a new product is made available in one area in order to find out if people like it or if changes should be made:
• You will be developing products, from initial ideas to market test and national launches.
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beta test UK US noun [C]
► IT »
During the beta test some testers reported serious problems with the software.
beta-test verb [T]
► »
We shall be beta-testing the system later in the year.
beta testing noun [U]
► »
The software will be undergoing extensive beta testing through the end of the year and is expected to be commercially available soon after.