Computer Operator Aptitude Battery (COAB)

Unfortunately, this product has been discontinued.

Please see our Computer Skills category for alternatives.

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Use the Computer Operator Aptitude Battery (COAB) to assess a candidate’s ability to perform the job of computer operator and potential for learning computer programming. 

What It Was Best Used For

• Testing 3 Critical Sub-Aptitudes: The test measured technical precision across three distinct timed modules: Sequence Recognition (10 minutes), Format Checking (5 minutes), and Logical Thinking (30 minutes).
• Evaluating Logic and Compliance: It verified a candidate’s baseline capacity to perceive conformity of numbers and letters to specified formats, analyze system problems, and logically visualize complex software solutions.
• Rich Historical Validation: Originally part of the Science Research Associates (SRA) lineup under IBM, the test possessed extensive percentile norm data and validation studies across insurance, retail, and government organizations.

The Computer Operator Aptitude Battery (COAB) tests can help determine an individual’s ability to perform the job of computer operator and potential for learning computer programming. The three subtests help measure the following critical aptitudes:

Sequence Recognition: Ability to recognize sequences quickly. Ten-minute time limit.

Format Checking: Ability to perceive conformity of numbers and letters to a specified format. Five-minute time limit.

Logical Thinking: Ability to analyze problems and visualize solutions logically. Thirty-minute time limit.

Normative Data: Percentile norms are listed by subtest and total score for both experienced computer operators and trainees.

Validation Studies: Validation studies were conducted for the following organizations:

• Data processing service
• Municipal government
• Railroad company
• Insurance company
• Retail catalogue company

This assessment was originally a part of the Science Research Associates (SRA), assessment lineup, a subsidy of IBM. The ownership then changed as follows over the years and became London House, then Reid London House, then Pearson Reid London House, then Vangent, then General Dynamics IT, and finally Fifth Theory.

This, and other related assessments, went off market around 2018 and is no longer being published or available for purchase.