Any aptitude than an individual possesses has little to do with the knowledge that they have gleaned through their education, the culture in which they grew up in or any interest they may have. It actually has more to do with heredity than it does to do with environment. For instance, whether an individual is right-handed or left-handed may be considered an aptitude. Every career choice for occupation requires specific aptitudes from the individuals who work in them. The people who are most likely to be successful and enjoy the work they do are those individuals whose aptitudes match the occupation they have chosen.
For instance, if you choose to become an engineer but the aptitudes you possess are not used in engineering, your work may feel unrewarding and will be more difficult or unpleasant than it is for others. Many aptitude tests will evaluate verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, perceptual ability, spatial ability, technical ability, analytical ability and acuity. The one weakness that aptitude tests possess is that they only show you what you are capable of doing in the immediate time period. These tests have no way of knowing how well you will perform once you discover the career paths that are right for you.
Research data has shown that individuals who are administered aptitude tests have a better indicator of their future scholastic achievements and have a way of comparing their performance with that of other individuals in the same situation. Most of these tests provide a profile of strengths and weaknesses and can assess the differences between individuals. Interestingly, they are able to uncover hidden talents that some individuals may not even know they have and are valuable tools for working with individuals who are physically or emotionally handicapped.
References:
(1) Education.com: Aptitude Testing
http://www.education.com/reference/article/aptitude-tests/
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