Learning Styles Test

To test if a person's learning style is preponderantly visual or auditory, one could do the following test with him. The testee must not know the purpose of the test in advance, otherwise he will become too conscious of the associations which he forms.

Read the list of ten words below to the testee. Tell him to write on a piece of paper the first word, preferably noun or verb, which comes to his mind when he hears a word that you call out to him. Here are the ten words:

wall
cake
book
noise
file
river
letter
bird
flag
hat

Then look at the words which the testee wrote. Generally speaking, there are two possibilities: (1.) he may have written words like these:

picture, paper, ceiling
flour, sugar, icing
page, illustration, text
propeller, music, serene
paper, draw, box
water, boat, fishing
envelope, typewriter, stamp
feather, wings, egg
cloth, mast, signal
ribbon, straw, felt

or (2.) he may have written words like these:

hall, ball, value, valet
make, bake
look, hook, bug
poise, choice, moist
pile, mile, fine, fire
liver, ringer
latter, ladder, ledger, lecture
flirt, hurt, birth
bag, drag
bat, chat, flat

Of course these words are only examples, and the variety of words which the testee may have written in response to the words called out to him is almost unlimited. But whatever his response is, a survey of his answer will show whether more words are similar to Group 1 or whether more words are similar to Group 2.

As you see, the examples in Group 1 contain words which somebody with a vivid imagination may see if he thinks of wall, cake, book, and so on. The examples given in Group 2 indicate words which are similar in sound to the words which you called out to him. Therefore, if you check the testee's paper, you must compare the words that you gave him with the words that he wrote down. If you find more words which belong in Group 1, the testee is preponderantly visual; if you find more words which belong in Group 2, he is preponderantly auditory.

Other Articles of Interest:

Learning Principles: More Important than Learning Styles
Although there is some value in adjusting to a preferred learning style, its value should not be overrated. Learning principles, which are universal, are of far greater importance than learning styles, which are individual. Learning failure will not necessarily result if one omits to adjust to a preferred learning style. However, the chances of learning success if one fails to teach or learn in accordance with learning principles are remote. Read more…

Beyond Learning Styles – Strengthening Learning Weaknesses
Generally speaking, if a teacher has the luxury of working with a small group of learners, there is no reason why she may not tailor her teaching style to address their particular preferences. However, we should not overlook that a child must be prepared for the real world and real time. Therefore it is essential to teach a child a versatile learning approach from a young age, which means that he will be able to use multiple senses and cognitive skills when learning. We must not improve only his strengths, but also his weaknesses. Read more…