Trade Aptitude Test Battery (TRAT)

J.W. von Mollendorf & J.J. Taljaard

The TRAT was compiled with a view to the selection of prospective learners with a Grade 8 to 10 qualification, for admission to technical institutes and FET colleges as well as to provide an indication of the suitability of a candidate to successfully complete training in a particular trade field.

The battery consists of 16 tests of the pencil and paper type, namely:

• Dexterity;
• Co-ordination;
• Patterns;
• Components;
• Classification;
• Assembly;
• Computations;
• Inspection;
• Graphs;
• Mechanical Insight;
• Mathematics;
• Spatial Perception (2-D);
• Vocabulary;
• Figure Series;
• Woordeskat and

• Spatial Perception (3-D).

The various tests provide inter alia measures of a testee’s hand-eye co-ordination, drawing ability, analytical perceptual ability, non-verbal reasoning ability, ability to assemble mechanical components, mathematical ability, ability to interpret graphs in general, mechanical insight, spatial perceptual ability, English vocabulary and Afrikaanse woordeskat.

Norms

Stanines (jointly for Grades 8 to 10) were established for Black learners in schools from the erstwhile Department of Education and Training.