Cubiks PAPI Test: Focus Areas and Test Format (2024)
The Cubiks Personality and Preference Inventory (PAPI), sometimes known as the Cubiks Factors, Cubiks PAPI Test, or just merely the PAPI assessment, is a psychometric test intended to determine the personality traits of a candidate in the workplace which might affect their suitability for a given position.
Cubiks Assessment & PAPI Preparation Course
What is the Cubiks PAPI Test?
It is a powerful labor personality test backed by a wide consensus from the scientific community with regard to its validity.
Its current edition, the PAPI 3 I Test, was released in 2014 and explores a wide range of work-related personality dimensions through the use of 22 scales which are divided into 7 key areas:
Cubiks PAPI Test Focus Areas |
| Composure | Engagement | Impact & Drive | Organization & Structure |
| Emotional Restraint | Need to be Upwardly Supportive | Need to Achieve | Need to Finish a Task |
| Optimism | Work Focus | Need to Influence | Need for Rules and Guidance |
| Core Composure | Leadership Role | Attention to Detail | |
| Need to be Noticed | Planner | ||
| Need to be Organized |
Cubiks PAPI Test Focus Areas |
| Ideas & Change | Interaction | Work Momentum |
| Need for Change | Need to Relate Closely to Individuals | Need to be Direct |
| Conceptual Thinker | Social Harmonizer | Work Tempo |
| Need to belong to Groups | Ease in Decision Making | |
Since its inception, the Cubiks PAPI Assessment has been utilized and recognized by numerous companies and organizations such as the British Psychological Society and the Swedish Test Committee.
For over 40 years, the Cubiks Factors is highly looked upon due to its validity and reliability when measuring a candidate’s personality, and interpersonal skills, and how these can affect their overall workplace performance.
Although one can take the Cubiks PAPI test without any preparation since this is a personality-type test which means that there are technical ‘no right or wrong’ answers, you must understand that companies will have a set profile or result in mind that they deem ideal or best for the position that is being offered.
Can I take the Cubiks PAPI Assessment without any Preparation?
Even with good intentions, if the test-taker carelessly answers the Cubiks Factors test, if their personality profile clashes with what the company has in mind, then the applicant, no matter how capable or qualified they are, may not be allowed to proceed further in the hiring process due to this misstep.
However, with our Cubiks PAPI Test Preparation Pack, which is designed by expert psychometricians who are familiar and well-versed in the mechanics of the Cubiks PAPI assessment, we can help you understand how it works in-depth and prepare for the course so that you may effectively convey the desired traits to prospective employers and progress to the next stage of the screening process.
Featuring text/video-based modules, along with our specially-made Cubiks PAPI practice tests, our preparation packs are designed to get you one step closer to that dream job.
The Cubiks PAPI Test Format
The PAPI test is delivered in two formats: PAPI-I (Ipsative) and PAPI-N (Normative).
The Cubiks PAPI-I (Ipsative)
The PAPI-I, being an ipsative instrument, examines and compares the attributes of an individual, without allowing the comparison of two individuals – the aim of this test is to understand a particular candidate without making judgments in order to compare with other candidates.
As such, this format is more suitable for assessment situations that do not necessitate comparative judgments, where individuals will benefit from presenting themselves more honestly, such as:
- Counseling
- Personal development
- Career development
- Coaching and mentoring
- Work problem diagnosis
- Aiding better performance
- Identifying training needs
- Team-building
The PAPI-I is comprised of items containing three statements paired in a forced-choice format, from which one must be chosen. Half of these items assess ‘Roles’ and the other half assess ‘Needs’.
The Cubiks PAPI-N (Normative)
The PAPI-N is a normative assessment, and as such presents questions as single statements, accompanied by a rating scale.
This manner of the normative instrument is suitable for the comparison of candidates, so is appropriate for situations where individuals would benefit from presenting themselves in the most favorable possible light, such as:
- Selection between candidates for a job role
- Matching a candidate against a ‘template’ for a specific job
- Development of in-house ‘norms’
The PAPI-N test is a questionnaire comprised of single statements, accompanied by a Likert-like rating scale of 5 responses ranging from ‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’.
Getting your Results from the Cubiks PAPI Assessment
When taking either format of the test, the individual is required to spend approximately 15 minutes completing the questionnaire.
Once it is completed, the results will be mapped on a PAPI profile ‘wheel’ displaying the respondent’s profile in a visual format.
This wheel, as of the PAPI 3 launch, has been updated to an interactive interface, where each element may be selected and expanded to a more in-depth explanation for the purpose of the exploration of the candidate’s profile.
Following this, the participant is involved in a feedback discussion in which results are explored, giving the candidate the opportunity to verify or refute the hypotheses generated by the profile.
Preparing for the PAPI Test
As with any personality questionnaire, it is widely claimed that there is no ‘correct’ answer in a PAPI test. Given that these tests are presented as a means to select appropriate candidates for a job position, it stands to reason that there are, in fact, preferable traits.
The claim that there are no wrong answers is, thus, little more than a tactic to elicit self-sabotage from unassuming candidates.
Prepterminal offers the resources required to avoid these pitfalls and present yourself in the best possible light to prospective employers.
Our educational course content featuring text and video-based study guides explore each scale in-depth so that you may have a comprehensive understanding of what is being measured when you take the test, allowing you to put your best foot forward.
Accompanying this, our Cubiks PAPI practice tests are made available so that you may benchmark your progress towards achieving the personality profile you desire.
Ensure that you show your best self to prospective employers with Prepterminal, your partner in test success.
