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An initial needs cognitive assessment without compromise:
Engaging, robust and cost-effective.

Aptem Assess: your solution for initial cognitive needs assessment

Aptem Assess is a cutting-edge cognitive assessment tool designed to help identify and address learners’ needs effectively:

Pinpoints potential cognitive need

Identifies whether a learner may have specific areas of cognitive challenge.

Streamlines learner categorisation

Differentiates those without signs of cognitive needs from those who may require further support, enabling more targeted intervention.

Supports proactive decision-making


Allows providers to focus attention where it’s most needed, eliminating reliance on learner self-identification, hand-raising, or subjective tutor feedback.

The assessment process

In just 15 minutes*, learners engage in eight interactive games designed to assess the key cognitive processes that underpin learning and assessment performance.

*80% of learners with no cognitive needs identified will complete this assessment within 15 mins. For the remainder it will take on average 15-30 minutes to complete.

Actionable insights for educators

With Aptem Assess, you gain access to a powerful admin portal that enables you to:

  • View detailed assessment results and comprehensive overviews.
  • Access interpretation guides to understand results effectively.
  • Develop tailored strategies to support learners throughout their educational journey based on identified cognitive needs.

Equip your team with the insights needed to make a meaningful impact on learners’ success.

The Aptem Assess promise​

A cognitive assessment that delivers without compromise: engaging, robust, and cost-effective.

Aptem Assess was developed in direct response to customer feedback, addressing the need for a versatile cognitive assessment tool suitable for all types of learners and any learning programme.

Our guiding principles, shaped by your input, include:

Affordability at scale

Designed for widespread use, Aptem Assess offers a price point that enables cost-effective application across your entire learning population.

Engaging and positive experience

Our assessments are crafted to be highly engaging, ensuring learners have a seamless and enjoyable experience.​

Scientifically robust design

Grounded in the trusted Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory, Aptem Assess employs well-researched, widely accepted paradigms in educational assessment. Learn more

Fast and efficient

With an average completion time of just 15 minutes, our assessments save valuable time without compromising on quality.*​

Flexible and accessible

Aptem Assess works seamlessly across mobile, laptop, and desktop devices, providing learners with flexibility and ease of use.​

assessments completed
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In stats:

10,000 assessments completed

65% of learners are HE learners

What our customers say:

Aptem Assess enables us to tailor our support and gives tutors a clear picture of each student’s needs, which leads to much better learner outcomes.

Bradford College

We were seeking an effective way to assess all our learners for potential learning needs. We loved the Aptem Assess tool from the outset and find it particularly engaging for our non-technical apprentices. After thoroughly reviewing the market, we chose Aptem Assess, especially valuing the chance to pilot and shape the product.

Time2Train

Our focus is on providing high-quality, inclusive training for everyone, regardless of their background. A cornerstone of our strategy is ensuring that every learner has the best chance of success. As part of this effort, we are excited to participate in the pilot programme for Aptem Assess. We are impressed by its engaging design, efficient completion time, and accessibility across all devices. The academic foundations are strong, and we look forward to piloting it with our learners.

Specialist Skills Hub

 

Science behind Aptem Assess

Aptem Assess was developed by Chartered Psychologists who followed psychometric best practice guidelines as described by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the International Test Commission (ITC), and the European Federation of Psychologists. It enables training providers to identify and address an individual’s learning support needs, which would otherwise limit their ability to reach their potential. 20% of adult learners will have a non-statemented learning difficulty for which they may need support (McLoughlin, D & Doyle, 2017).

Among academic researchers there is agreement that cognitive differences are described by the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory. Building on the CHC model, eight ‘games’ were developed for Aptem Assess. The assessment techniques were designed to cover information presented in terms of visual, spatial, verbal, and numerical as well as memory and perceptual processes typically involved in learning.

Aptem Assess uses norm-referenced scoring, comparing individual results to a normative group. Individual results are compared to an existing data set collected from a large group of people. The individual’s performance is interpreted relative to the population of other people who have previously completed the test.

FAQs

Q. Is Aptem Assess an adaptive test?

Yes. The assessment adapts in length according to the answers an individual provides. Where an individual’s initial answers indicate a possible need, the assessment will adapt to ask more questions to ascertain the need.

Q. Why does Aptem Assess quality score each assessment?

Sometimes learners do not engage effectively with an assessment, or may be interrupted, or have connection issues, so the result is not a true reflection of their needs. A quality score is included for Skills teams to assess the accuracy of the results. Retesting is available if a learner is borderline.

Q. What guidelines is Aptem Assess built upon?

Aptem Assess was developed by Chartered Psychologists who followed psychometric best practice guidelines as described by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the International Test Commission (ITC), and the European Federation of Psychologists.

Q. What validation has taken place?

For each ‘game’ a large set of items covering varying difficulty levels were written by Chartered Psychologists with extensive experience in writing ability test items. These items were then completed by hundreds of participants from a selected number of Aptem customers. Participants included a range of gender, age groups and self-reported ethnic backgrounds. 16% of the group reported having a recognised learning or health issue under the relevant ILR categories. The data from the trialling phase was analysed applying recognised best practice in the development of psychometric tests (see guidelines published by the British Psychological Society and the International Test Commission). For each test type, questions were chosen to create multiple versions of a short test and a longer test.

Q. Is Aptem Assess accepted by the Department for Education?

Yes, the ESFA (now Department for Education) accepted the product at an assurance review.

Aptem Assess costs

A range of options to suit your needs:

Pay as you go

Number of assessments Cost per assessment
Flexible
£25
500-999
£21
1,000 – 2,499
£19
2,500 – 4,999
£17
5,000 – 9,999
£15
10,000+
POA

Validity period from purchase: 12 mths.

Subscription pricing

Tier Monthly fee Discount Per assessment
Freemium – 10 assessments/yr
£0
N/A
Introductory – 10 assessments/mth
£242.50
3%
£24.25
Basic – 50 assessments/mth
£1,000
5%
£20
Professional – 250 assessments/mth
£3,750
12%
£15
Enterprise – 500 assessments/mth
£5,000
33%
£10

Minimum term – monthly or 1 mths for Basic and Professional. 12 mths for Enterprise. Flexibility to use up to 3 months’ assessments in one month on 12-month agreements.

Behind the product – Aptem

Aptem is an award-winning SaaS technology company that focuses on developing innovative technology that enables people to learn and improve their lives. Aptem offers a range of best-in-class products, including the market leading Aptem Apprentice. Aptem Assess is the latest in a suite of innovative software solutions that supports high quality education and learning.

We were founded in 2009

There are over 100 of us

Supporting nearly 200 customers

And 130,000 learners and jobseekers

We’ve won 12 major industry awards

And have several certifications including ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, CHECK and Cyber Essentials Plus

Explore in depth

How science explains Specific Learning Difficulties

The Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of cognitive abilities (e.g., Schneider & McGrew, 2012) provides an explanation of how different cognitive abilities relate to each other and …

Level 5 learners with functional skills at highest withdrawal risk

Apprentice learners who need to complete functional skills in English and Maths often struggle more with their apprenticeship programmes. They tend to fall behind schedule …

Functional skills modules have a negative impact on apprenticeship completion rates

Aptem’s study of over 160,000 apprentices highlights that functional skills modules in English and Maths negatively impact completion rates. Apprentices that have these modules as …

Apprentices with LLDD increase by 2.6% in two years

Aptem’s analysis shows that the percentage of apprentice learners reporting a learning difficulty or disability (LLDD) has risen dramatically over the past two academic years. …

We'd love to hear from you

The best way to find out if Aptem Assess is suitable for your organisation, is to arrange a demonstration with one of our friendly experts. They can take you through the assessment, show you the admin portal and answer any questions you may have.