Criteria Mechanical Reasoning Assessment (CMRA)
Updated
by
Amy Thomas
At a glance
Type of assessment | Cognitive aptitude |
Measures | Ability to learn how to operate, maintain, install, and repair equipment and machinery |
Time | 15 minutes |
Format | 30-item, multiple-choice questionnaire |
Workplace outcomes | Better job performance, reduced turnover, improved training outcomes, increased productivity |
Recommended for | Positions that require the use of machinery, including machine operators, electricians, construction workers, utility workers, service technicians, mechanics and many more. |
Description
The Criteria Mechanical Reasoning Assessment (CMRA) measures a candidate’s mechanical aptitude and reasoning ability. The CMRA is a short, mobile-friendly test that can predict performance for occupations involving the operation, maintenance, and servicing of tools, equipment, and machinery.
Format
The CRMA consists of 30 multiple-choice questions with a 15-minute time limit. The assessment is dynamic, so that each item for an individual candidate is pulled from a larger item pool, with difficulty levels predetermined for all items. This allows for all candidates to receive the same number and overall difficulty of items while encountering a relatively unique selection and ordering of items.
Measures
The CMRA test content encompasses various areas that are representative of mechanical reasoning, including weight distribution, fulcrums, air flow, buoyancy, gears, pressure, momentum, speed, light, force, and other related subject matter. By targeting all of these areas of mechanical reasoning, the test triangulates on mechanical reasoning more effectively than other comparable instruments, while also providing a broader measure of general mental ability than these narrower tools.
What score ranges are available?
The CRMA includes a series of suggested score ranges that help you understand how each candidate’s results meet the range that has been associated with successful performance in various roles. These ranges are based on large samples of prior scores from individuals applying for or occupying similar roles and are supported by multiple validation studies.
Score ranges include:
- Electrician
- Forklift Operator
- Manufacturing/Production
- Materials Handler
- Mechanic/Maintenance Tech
- Oil Services Worker
- Sales (Mechanical Equipment)
- Service Technician (Install & Repair)
- Utility Worker
- Warehouse
Score Reports
Each individual is given a raw score and a percentile ranking. The raw score indicates how many questions (out of 30) the individual answered correctly, while the percentile ranking is a relative performance metric that indicates how the individual scored in relation to others who have taken the test. For example, a percentile ranking of 65 means that an individual scored better than 65% of the group on which the test was normed.
Candidate Experience
The CMRA is a brief assessment that is optimized to be taken anytime, anywhere. The assessment provides a quick and seamless test-taking experience on any device.
The reading level for the CMRA is estimated to be at the sixth-grade level, and the content is designed to minimize gender and racial/ethnic bias that can occur in other traditional mechanical aptitude tests.
Additional resources
Get an overview of the CRMA assessment | |
View the sample score reports available for the CRMA assessment | |
A guide for interpreting the CRMA Score Report | |
Get detailed information including the candidate experience and validity information on the CMRA. | |
Watch the video on interpreting the CRMA Score Report | |
Case study: Manufacturer Increases Training Completion Rates and Retention for Technicians | View a case study where the Mechanical Reasoning Assessment helped an organization improve their recruitment process. |
