What is a blended assessment?

Have you been invited to take a blended assessment? If so, don't panic – we'll explain how you can prepare to succeed.

In this article, we’ll run through what to expect from the blended assessment format and how to prepare. We’ll cover:

• What is a blended assessment?
• How long does a blended assessment take?
• How do I prepare?
• How to use AI responsibly in an online blended assessment

A blended assessment is a method of evaluating applicants that combines various assessment types into one. It’s mainly used by employers when reviewing job candidates, but some universities also use it to select prospective students.

The elements you might come across in a blended assessment include:

• Scenario-based puzzles. Sometimes, you’ll be told about a hypothetical or real-world situation and asked to explain how you’d respond.
• Applied intellect questions. If you’re asked to share a time you faced a problem and how you dealt with it, your assessor is looking for evidence of how you apply your intelligence.
• Video responses. An online blended assessment may involve you recording video responses to questions.

The idea of a blended assessment is that the varied elements will provide the assessor with a well-rounded view of an individual and their abilities. A blended assessment is also designed to get to know candidates’ potential, not just their past experiences. Its range of assessments should give interviewers a more comprehensive understanding of each applicant.

A strong candidate will tackle a blended assessment with perseverance and show that they can apply intellect and creativity to different situations.

You don’t need any prior knowledge or experience to do well at a blended assessment. However, doing interview preparation will help you get familiar with the types of things that could come up.

Typically, a blended assessment combines multiple elements into one session. While some recruitment processes will involve you taking different assessments across several weeks, a true blended assessment will see you do multiple types in one go.

How long a blended assessment will take will depend on how many elements it involves. It will also vary depending on your speed. Most blended assessments will be untimed, meaning you can take however long you like to fill in a form or record video responses.

While it’s hard to generalise for all blended assessments, expect most to take around 45 minutes to complete.

There’s no need to worry if a blended assessment takes you more or less time. Even if there is a time limit, you might need longer if you require any reasonable adjustments. If you do need any adjustments, make sure to notify the employer of your needs in advance.

Although you usually can’t rehearse answers for a blended assessment as the test is unpredictable, there are things you can do to help you succeed:

• Brush up on general job application and interview advice, including tips for video interviews. It’ll boost your confidence even if the blended assessment format ends up being different from the types of questions you practise.
• Make use of any practice tests so you know what to expect. You’ll usually find details in your initial invite email.
• If you can do the blended assessment in your own time, keep an eye on the deadline and mark it in your calendar. Plan the time to do the assessment when you can fully focus without distractions.
• When you’re ready to complete your blended assessment, find a quiet space with a good internet connection where nobody will interrupt you.
• Make sure you’ve got everything you need (ie. calculator, pen and paper) nearby before you start the assessment.

With advancements in generative AI, you’ve got easy access to tools like ChatGPT. Employers know that AI is changing how remote assessments happen and want to keep the process fair.

Here’s a quick guide on how to navigate using AI tools throughout a blended assessment:

In many online blended assessments, employers will ask multiple-choice questions to understand your approach, knowledge and capability. Employers want to know what you think, not what ChatGPT assumes is the right answer. So, use your instinct.

To ensure equality across all candidates, employers monitor answer patterns for unusual activity. If they spot anything suspicious, they could remove you from the process. You don’t want to disqualify yourself by not having confidence in your answers.

Preparing for a video interview can be nerve-wracking, and that’s where AI tools can be your friend.

Feel free to use platforms like ChatGPT to:

• Get a feel for potential questions
• Practise different response styles to find the one that suits you best
• Refine and develop your words to express your thoughts more clearly
• Research companies and industries

However, always remember that AI tools are just a starting point. Employers want to evaluate your unique voice, so share your personality with them.

Make sure you do your own research, validate any information that ChatGPT gives you and only share responses that reflect who you are as a candidate.

When you’re delivering a video response, don’t just read from a script. Instead, let employers see the real you and speak freely.

If you do use AI, use it to enhance your preparation rather than replace it. Stay authentic and let the best version of yourself shine through. That's what employers want to see.

A blended assessment helps potential employers test candidates on a range of abilities. By using various techniques to quiz applicants, assessors get a better overall picture of a person’s potential. A blended assessment can also benefit the candidate because they get more chances to prove themselves and show how they’d apply their skills.

As blended assessments typically take place online, unsupervised and without a time limit, some candidates might use AI in their responses. However, you shouldn’t use AI to answer questions that an employer expects you to know. While it’s OK to use it to help you prepare video responses, you need to stay true to yourself. Remember, the employer wants to know what you know – not what ChatGPT does.