The whole battery of aptitude tests centers upon and includes every aspect of reading, writing, and arithmetic

Significantly absent are those subjects which seem to consume so much time in school--finger paints, health, weather, togetherness, cutting pictures from magazines, and social studies. One test deals with word definitions. In the same practice test provided, such words as noble, toilsome, damp, and selfish may be used. However, in the real test, definitions of such words as belligerent, eminent, askew, incongruous, and onerous are asked for; one such test contains one hundred and sixty words. A careful check of the textbooks used in the eight grades of public school will quickly reveal that a vocabulary so extensive is not to be found. Preparation for such a test will have come through well directed reading habits developed sufficiently at home to carry the reading standards of the child beyond the level required in school. About such reading much will be said later.

The proper choice of words to give exact meaning to sentences will also play an important part in the aptitude tests. In the sample test there might be a statement such as: A wide range of

Will enable a person to enlarge his

Along with the sentence will be words listed from which may be chosen the proper words to complete the sentence. In this case reading and vocabulary would doubtless appear. But in the real test the candidate is asked to put to proper use such words as itinerant, philanthropic, faction, chronology, asset, dialect, syllogism, and many others of equal or greater difficulty. It is wise to remember that the practice book of tests is meant only to acquaint the student with the type of test, and the method of execution, and is in no way meant to indicate the degree of difficulty of the material of the actual test. The sample tests are always composed of easy material so as to allow the student to concentrate entirely on mastering the type of questions and the proper methods to be used in answering. Tests dealing with words and the relationship of words to thinking and sentence use also include matching test for words having the same meaning and for those having opposite meanings--synonyms and antonyms, and the meaning of synonym and antonym must be understood in order to know what the test requires. The sample tests reproduced below could be most disillusioning if their limited purposes were not kept in mind. They are to show the type of test and the method of answering only. Word lists in the real tests will be much more difficult. Instead of big, good, small, round, one will find laudatory, superior, clever, disparaging.

* The following sample tests are used with permission of the Secondary Education Board, Milton, Mass.