Aptitude tests are a form of assessment used to measure a person's abilities, skills and willingness to learn a particular subject or task. They are used for a wide range of purposes, from student assessment to recruiting and selecting suitable candidates for jobs. The results of aptitude tests can provide an indication of an individual’s potential and therefore can play an important role in decision-making.

Aptitude tests are different from intelligence tests, which are designed to measure intelligence, or aptitude tests which measure knowledge. Instead, aptitude tests measure a person’s potential for learning a particular subject or task. Aptitude tests can typically measure a range of qualities, from the capacity to solve problems quickly to the aptitude for leadership.

Aptitude tests are used to determine an individual's abilities, assessing how they are likely to perform in a particular area even if they do not possess prior knowledge or training in the subject. Aptitude tests can be used in schools to help determine which advanced placement classes a student should take, and which areas an individual should pursue in terms of career development and higher education. Businesses can use aptitude tests to more accurately assess the capabilities, job specialization and training needs of potential employees.

Aptitude tests can also be used to identify the psychological traits of the individual. This type of information can be beneficial in developing a customized training or leadership program for the employee, or in helping the employer make informed decisions about job assignments, promotions or other personnel issues.

Aptitude tests are also useful for revealing certain talents or flaws in an individual which may not be obvious through ordinary tests of knowledge or intelligence. For example, aptitude tests may show that an individual has a great aptitude for leadership, or that an individual may excel at a certain type of problem solving.

All in all, an aptitude test can be an invaluable tool for both the employer and potential employee. An aptitude test can provide insight into a person's potential and strengths, and can help identify areas that need attention in order to improve performance. Thus, aptitude tests are invaluable in providing employers with a more accurate picture of a person’s abilities, allowing them to make more informed hiring decisions and to create better training and development programs.