Preparation for the test

For test preparation, we recommend the following:

Inform yourself about the test, the conditions of implementation, and processing techniques. In order to do so, read the following information as well as the additional information you will find on this website.
If you do an online test with proctoring, you can find detailed information here
Execute the prep test for the test you are taking. Preferably twice:

The first time under “serious conditions”. This will give you a good impression of the corresponding requirements and you will familiarise yourself with the navigation within the test system and the given time frames.
The second time, take a closer look at the exercises again, especially those you had difficulties with. This will help you recognise typical sources of error and you will know better what you should pay attention to during the test.
You can also do preparation tests for other ITB-tests, as they often have similar modules.

Level of difficulty

The difficulty of the demo test is similar to the difficulty of the real test. There are easy, medium and difficult exercises; the test is designed in a way that an average participant correctly solves about half of the exercises. For the knowledge modules (e.g. in PhaST), we recommend that you refresh your relevant knowledge from middle and high school.

How to reduce stress

Once you have the invitation letter, inform yourself on how to get to the test center.
Check if you have an official photo identification that is valid on the date of the test and ensure that you have it with you on the testing day.
Be well rested – long processing times make high demands on stamina, power of concentration, and your ability to work under pressure.
Relaxation techniques or simple exercises such as taking a quiet, deep breath, loosely shaking out your hands, strongly stretching, and a relaxed sitting position may relieve or prevent cramps.

Why just that and not more?

The competencies we measure with the subject-specific ability modules are the result of many years of learning and development processes; they thus largely elude short-term influence. Wherever possible, we select exercise types for our tests that are demonstrably difficult to train, so that success in the test does not depend on attending expensive preparation courses.

Useful processing techniques

Allocate your processing time well

A steady and careful, but nonetheless speedy work promises the best success.

Read the exercises thoroughly and accurately

It is all too easy to overlook information that is relevant to the solution by simply skimming over the texts. The response options that appear reasonable at first view are not always correct (but not always incorrect either).

Process the exercises in the given order

It is possible to generate and benefit from a certain “warm-up” effect, since the first exercises of a group of exercises are usually easier than the following ones.

Do not spend too much time on exercises that you find extremely difficult or unusual

You must not assume that by not having solved an exercise of a certain group of tasks, you will not be able to solve the next tasks of this group either. In fact, the difficulty of the individual tasks is perceived differently by all persons. Therefore, first work on the tasks that seem easier to you and then, if you still have time left, return to the tasks that are not as easy for you.

First, search for an answer yourself

For some exercises it is best to initially try to find the solution yourself and then check whether your own solution is among the given answers. If you proceed the other way round, i.e. if you first look at the alternatives offered, you may easily be “led astray”, because the wrong answers are sometimes designed to appear plausible.

Try to exclude answers

If you are unable to find a solution, you may try an “exclusion” technique. Often, the decision is easier if only some of the provided answers are still applicable.

Guess the correct answer

If you cannot solve a task, or a shortage of time does not allow you to complete a task, you should select at random! No points will be deducted for wrong answers, so you may still get some points by guessing.

We design the tests in a way that on average about half of the exercises are solved. This means that the tests provide a good differentiability in both the upper and lower performance range.