Passing Paramedic Personality Tests

Although there is little evidence that particular personalities do improve a persons likelihood of being a good paramedic and long-term continuation in the paramedic career path, many Ambulance Services still require a person to pass a paramedic personality test or psychometric evaluation.

These tests are often bizzare, and I have regularly watched people who I could immediately recognise as being competent paramedics be knocked back based on their personality, and likewise, watched many people who I wouldn’t let treat my cat, let alone an injured person, some how walk through the exams like a breeze.

What is in these exams?

Generally, these exams can’t be “faked” or “cheated” – meaning that they are designed in such a way that if you think you are giving them the answers that they want, they will most likely recognise this and fail you. The exams are different in each state, but basically consist of several (hundred) different questions, all worded in slightly different ways, so as to develop a pattern of your thought processes. It is because of this structure, that they are very hard to cheat. If you answer yes to several questions that show “high levels of empathy” in your personality, and then you start to answer no to questions taht also (but in a tricky sort of way) show “high levels of empathy” in your personality, the computer will realise this, and fail you.

So how do I pass a paramedic personality test?

The easiest way to pass a personality test for paramedics, is to literally circle the first thing that comes into your head for everything. Majority of the answers aren’t correct or have no “right” way of answering. The exams are designed to develop an idea of your overall thought processes and personality. They don’t care how you answer each individual question.  If you answer every question with the first thing that pops into your head, you will generally pass the paramedic  personality test.