Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
For years, career choices in India have followed a familiar pattern. Parents often had the final say, students looked at what their peers were choosing, and academic marks became the starting point for deciding what came next.
But with students now facing a growing number of career options, marks alone may not always provide enough clarity. Psychometric assessments are increasingly becoming part of career counselling, helping students understand their aptitude, interests, personality and behavioural traits before choosing an academic stream or career.
advertisement
The growing interest is also reflected in the psychometric testing market. The industry, estimated at around $5.8 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $13.2 billion by 2034, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.6 per cent. Online testing accounted for 71.5 per cent of revenues in 2025, pointing to the adoption of digital assessments.
WHY MARKS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
Marks remain an important part of the education system, but they do not necessarily tell a student what kind of work they may enjoy, how they deal with pressure or whether their personality is suited to a particular professional environment.
Depending on the assessment, psychometric tests may evaluate aptitude, interests, personality and behavioural tendencies. The objective is not to predict a student’s future, but to provide a clearer picture of their strengths and preferences.
India’s vocational education framework also places emphasis on self-awareness, interests, aptitude, values and personality when it comes to career planning.
For students approaching the Class 10 or Class 12 decision point, this can change the conversation. Instead of simply asking which career is successful or secure, students can also consider whether they have the aptitude and interest to pursue it.
PARENTS, PEERS AND CAREER PRESSURE
Career decisions are rarely made in isolation in India. A student may be interested in one field while parents prefer another. Friends can influence choices, while the perceived status or salary associated with a profession can also shape decisions.
The problem is compounded by the number of career options available today. Students are entering a world of work that includes professions and specialisations that were not widely known or considered a decade ago.
There is also growing academic interest in the subject. A 2026 peer-reviewed study from India examined an assessment framework combining interest, aptitude and personality to support career decision-making among adolescents and young adults.
The idea is straightforward: the more a student understands about their own abilities and preferences, the better equipped they may be to make an informed choice.
ONLINE PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS CAN ANALYSE, IDENTIFY PATTERNS
Technology is becoming part of career assessment too. Online psychometric tests can analyse information and identify patterns across behavioural and personality traits. AI tools can process these results and generate possible career recommendations.
However, data cannot provide the full context. A test may indicate that a student is uncomfortable in high-pressure situations, but it cannot by itself establish whether this is linked to examination stress, family circumstances or a long-standing behavioural pattern.
That is where counsellors and psychologists continue to play an important role.
Venket Rao, founder of SynqSol, said the challenge today is not a lack of information but having the right tools to make sense of it. His start-up uses behavioural and psychological assessments to understand personality, stress, relationships and decision-making.
“The vision is to help people truly understand themselves before making major life choices,” Rao said. He said combining psychometric science with AI could make intelligent decision-making “more accessible, affordable and credible.”
Psychometric testing is not a substitute for academic performance, career counselling or parental advice. Nor can a test determine what career a student should pursue.
Its role is to provide students with another piece of information before they make decisions that could shape the next several years of their lives.
For students facing career confusion, the question may increasingly shift from “What should I become?” to “What am I good at, what interests me and where could I fit?”
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
