Testing & Assesment
TECO Energy engages in pre-employment testing to ensure knowledge, skills and abilities match organizational need.
Some tests require candidates to receive a minimum score in order to participate in later phases of the selection process. All tests used by TECO Energy for selection have been validated and shown to be reliable through extensive research.
For more information about a particular test, preparing for a test, or testing accommodations, please visit the following links for more specific information:
Preparing to Take a Test
Before the Test
- Pace yourself. If you choose to prepare for your test, review the material (books, practice problems or a study guide) in several relatively short periods rather than a few long periods. Studying in several 30 to 60-minute sessions allows you to absorb the material more easily than if you were to review large quantities of information at once.
- Relax. The best preparation is to relax. Just be yourself. Try and make sure to get a good night’s sleep before the testing session and drink caffeine in moderation. Also, you should bring any visual aids needed.
- Be positive. The tests are not designed to trick you or be unnecessarily difficult. In fact, if you’ve taken other tests in school or at work, you’ll probably find these very similar. Start with a positive attitude and don’t give up. Remember, each question counts the same as any other question. If you can’t answer one, don’t be discouraged, move onto the next question. Begin each section or test with the same positive attitude. No one is expected to get every answer right.
- Arrive on time. It’s important to arrive on time for your test. Late candidates will not be admitted to take their test(s).
When You Arrive
- Relax. Stress or tension will cause you to forget what you know or to think irrationally. You can reduce stress by preparing in advance, avoiding others who are stressed about the test beforehand and making sure you understand what to expect.
- Read the directions carefully. Sometimes we assume we know what type of question we are answering, but many times test takers get answers wrong because they did not read the directions. An example of this would be the differences between mark all that apply, answer only one, and mark the one that does not belong.
During The Test
After the test has begun you will be relying on the information you studied, but sometimes you may we come across questions you aren’t prepared for. For such situations, we have put together some general test taking strategies that may be helpful:
- Complete the easiest questions or sections first. Begin the test by identifying and completing the areas in which you are strongest while remembering to mark the questions you skip. Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Since all questions have the same value in scoring, it is always to your advantage to complete as many questions as you can.
- Mark questions you skip for easy relocation. If you don’t understand the question or don’t know the answer, mark it on your answer sheet with your pencil and return to it later. Surprisingly, one of the most common mistakes made by test takers is spending valuable time on a test item that cannot be readily answered. You’ll likely have better results if you mark that item, continue on, and come back to it later, time permitting. Marking your answer sheet when you skip an item can help you keep track of where you are on the test, saving valuable time.
- Read each question carefully. After reading each question, make sure you understand it clearly.
- Try not to make RANDOM guesses. Narrow down for the correct response. It is best to eliminate at least one wrong answer before guessing. If you are given four choices and randomly guess, you only have a 25% chance of guessing the right answer—or a 75% chance of guessing the WRONG answer. Further, if you can eliminate just one wrong answer you have boosted your chances to 33%. Obviously, if you can eliminate two wrong answers your chances have gone up to 50%. When all else fails, and you must make guesses:
- Be aware of key words: “always,” “never,” “all,” or “none.” Consider these options carefully.
- Trust your instincts. Usually your first guess is right.
- Be aware of being tempted to pick wrong answers. Sometimes answers are created to deter you from the right answer. At first, they appear to be the correct choice but are not. Take your time to work through the problem if it involves numbers and to read actively if the question involves grammar and spelling situations.
- Leave time for review. If you complete the test before the time is up, don’t stop working. Review your answers, but don’t look for patterns in the responses. The tests have been developed by experts and don’t necessarily have the same number of “A,” “B,” or “C” answers. If you find that you have answered mostly “A,” for example, trust your instincts and don’t assume that it must be wrong. Research has shown that many people who change answers during review, change right answers to wrong ones. Changes should be made only when you are certain the original answer is wrong. You can also use any extra time to make certain your answers are marked darkly and clearly. Be sure all your changed answers are erased completely and there are no stray marks on the answer sheet.
- Listen for time warnings. This will help you to verify your pace.
Strategies for Various Question Types
True – False
- If any part of the statement is false, the entire statement is false.
- Words such as “always,” “never,” “all,” and “none” are often, but not always, signals that a statement is false.
Multiple Choice
- Read the entire question and try to answer it before looking at your options.
- Even if you think you know the answer be sure to read through all of your options.
- If you are uncertain, begin by eliminating answers that are wrong, increasing your chances of being right.
Accommodations
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability that you feel requires special arrangements, you must let your TECO Energy recruiter know prior to testing. We cannot retest candidates if the matter is brought to our attention after testing. Candidates that need a special testing arrangement may need to produce professional documentation of the disability prior to the test administration.
If you need more information regarding TECO Energy’s accommodations or policies, contact the recruiter and ask them to put you in touch with someone from the Assessment Department.
