THE TESTS measure natural talents, innate abilities, by actually measuring the ability itself. Each test asks you to do a task that uses the particular ability we are testing. If we were going to test your balance and coordination (we don't), we might ask you to walk on a tightrope and time how long it took before you fell off. We might have you do it several times and average the results. That way, we would be actually measuring your balance and coordination.

The tests are constructed so that they are not influenced by skills you may have developed in using this talent. They measure the pure talent you were born with. In fact, if you were to go through the testing program at age 16, then spent your life using a particular ability every day, and were tested again at age 50, you would score very much the same.

Some clients say they are terrible or terrific at test taking and worry this will skew the results. It doesn't. These tests are different from anything you have done previously.

ADMINISTRATION of the tests is done using two audio CDs or tapes. They guide you through the whole process, giving instructions and telling you when to start and stop. The entire process takes approximately 3.5 hours including filling out an in-depth client information form.

You can do all the tests at once or break them into two sessions. Which is better? It depends on you. For most people, we suggest doing it in one session. If your schedule is tight, or if you are delicate, you might do them in two sessions.

Morning is usually the best time, if possible. Pick a time when you don't have a bad cold and haven't been out all night swinging from the chandeliers. Prescription drugs (except heavy pain killers) rarely affect your test results. It doesn't matter if you are in a positive mood so long as you can concentrate on going through the tests.

SCORING is done at Rockport Institute. Your results are compared with many thousands of people who have done the Pathfinder Career Testing Program. It is not better or worse to score high or low in any particular test. The whole idea is for you to understand your natural talents (and areas where you have less talent). This is not a competition to see who gets the best grades.

INTERPRETATION is highly personalized. Your interpretation session is uniquely your own. There are more than 30,000 different combinations of abilities, so to communicate to you about them involves a combination of both science and art, analysis and insight. Our goal is to move your life forward and help you deal with the questions in front of you. You may be a Fortune 500 CEO, a high school student, a medical student picking a specialty, an artist or someone who has never found sufficient satisfaction or success in your work. We tailor the interpretation session around you, your situation and your needs. Make sure you let us know about any specific areas you want to discuss, so we make sure to fit them in.

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