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Data Literacy Assessment

Dashboards are everywhere. Every department has them, every manager opens them, few understand them. Correlation is mistaken for causation, one spike in a chart is mistaken for a trend, and averages hide what the spread would reveal. The cost of poor data interpretation lies in decisions that only turn out to be wrong later. The Data Literacy Assessment measures in 20 multiple-choice questions whether a candidate reads numbers, charts and dashboards critically. Not a statistics test, not an Excel exercise. A measurement of the thinking between 'I see a number' and 'I make a decision on it'.

Time

~15 minutes

Type

Hard skills test (data interpretation)

Form

Multiple choice (20 questions)

Perfect for:
Marketing and communications, Business development and sales, Product and project managers, HR and people analytics, Controllers and finance professionals, Policy and advisory roles, Lawyers and consultants working with numerical materials
Marketing and communications, Business development and sales, Product and project managers, HR and people analytics, Controllers and finance professionals, Policy and advisory roles, Lawyers and consultants working with numerical materials
Contact us for a demo of this test
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Welten company logo with stylized pink and navy blue diagonal stripes.Quooker brand logo in red text.Home of HR logo with pink abstract shape above dark blue text.DPD logo with red 3D cube icon and lowercase black letters 'dpd'.Continu Professionals logo featuring blue stylized text and an abstract figure with an extended arm.Talent & pro logo with the tagline 'value in people'.Oxfam Novib logo with a green circle and stylized black figure inside.Graph illustrating the progression from an initial point to an advanced stage with steps labeled as launched and maturing, showing growth in capabilities.
Welten company logo with stylized pink and navy blue diagonal stripes.Quooker brand logo in red text.Home of HR logo with pink abstract shape above dark blue text.DPD logo with red 3D cube icon and lowercase black letters 'dpd'.Continu Professionals logo featuring blue stylized text and an abstract figure with an extended arm.Talent & pro logo with the tagline 'value in people'.Oxfam Novib logo with a green circle and stylized black figure inside.Graph illustrating the progression from an initial point to an advanced stage with steps labeled as launched and maturing, showing growth in capabilities.
Welten company logo with stylized pink and navy blue diagonal stripes.Quooker brand logo in red text.Home of HR logo with pink abstract shape above dark blue text.DPD logo with red 3D cube icon and lowercase black letters 'dpd'.Continu Professionals logo featuring blue stylized text and an abstract figure with an extended arm.Talent & pro logo with the tagline 'value in people'.Oxfam Novib logo with a green circle and stylized black figure inside.Graph illustrating the progression from an initial point to an advanced stage with steps labeled as launched and maturing, showing growth in capabilities.

3 Reasons we love this assessment

01
From dashboard to decision
Most employees receive data, but rarely receive training in reading it. The test measures whether someone makes the jump from 'I see it' to 'I understand what it means for my work'.
02
Correlation versus causation
The classic pitfall, present daily in dashboards, marketing reports and business cases. The test shows examples and measures which candidate spots the logical error and which unconsciously acts on it.
03
Statistics without a statistics class
No formulas, no Greek letters. Just scenarios from daily work: 'What does this chart mean?', 'What's misleading here?', 'What conclusion would you draw?'. Understandable for everyone, regardless of educational background.
Technical Details
Self-developed by Selection Lab.
Explore

Information

Reading charts critically

Axis manipulation, cherry-picked timeframes, missing context. The test shows examples and gauges whether a candidate recognises the misdirection or falls for it.

Interpreting statistics

Mean versus median, absolute versus relative numbers, confidence intervals. The basics that are misused daily in meetings.

Data in decision-making

When is data good enough to base a choice on, when do you need more, and how do you weigh data against experience and intuition.

Measurement
Objectives

The Big Five Personality Model assesses key personality traits that influence behavior and performance:

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Graphical interpretation

Reading charts and dashboards without falling for visual traps. Distinguishing between visualisation types and their appropriate use.

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Statistical intuition

Averages, distributions, correlations and causation. Not as a formula, but as a framework for judging numbers.

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Critical reasoning with data

Recognising cherry-picking, misleading presentations, and the jump from data to conclusion. Knowing when to ask further.

Want to add this assessment to your selection flow?

Give us a call and we can talk you through how it works and find what assessments will find you the best candidates.

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