How to prepare for the Leuphana Study Skills test

Leuphana University’s official FAQ states plainly: ‚It is neither necessary nor possible to prepare for the study skills test in any particular way.‘ It’s a reasonable thing to say the test measures cognitive abilities, not subject knowledge. But here’s the catch: familiarity with test formats, time pressure, and task types demonstrably improves performance. Here’s how to prepare smartly for the Leuphana University Study Skills test.

---

Why the „you can’t prepare“ argument misses the point

Research on cognitive aptitude testing consistently shows that prior exposure to test formats improves scores by 10–20%, even without any change in underlying intelligence. This is about fluency, not cramming. Just as an athlete performs better in familiar conditions, test-takers perform better when they know what’s coming.

---

Section 1: Analysing Interrelationships (Diagrams and Tables)

This section asks you to draw correct conclusions from diagrams and tables quickly. Train by reading charts in newspapers and asking yourself: What is this actually showing? What would be a false conclusion? What trends are visible? The Financial Times, Economist, or Statista are excellent daily resources.

One underrated skill: spotting misleading scales. A bar chart that doesn’t start at zero can make a 5% difference look like 200%. Recognising this quickly is a learnable reflex.

---

Section 2: Recognising Structures (Linguistic Systems)

This section presents invented languages and asks you to decode their grammar logic. Practice with analogy tasks and pattern-recognition puzzles. The key skill is structured thinking: observe → hypothesise → test → apply. Crossword puzzles and logic riddles build exactly this muscle.

---

Section 3: The Ability to Concentrate and Work Carefully or Solving Quantitative Problems

If you take the test on campus, you will encounter a concentration test. This section is a pure speed and precision test: you work through a large number of tasks in a short amount of time, with the goal of working both quickly and accurately. This is exactly the area where daily practice makes the biggest difference.

In the online version, you will instead face quantitative problem-solving tasks. Many of these questions are presented in text form, meaning your reading comprehension and mathematical abilities are tested simultaneously. While prior knowledge of the specific question types is not strictly required, familiarity with them makes an enormous difference: helping you answer questions both quickly and correctly on test day.

---

Your study plan

4–6 Weeks Before the Test: Start with at least 20 minutes of focused practice every day. Work through our structured preparation books, which cover all three test areas systematically.

The Final Week: Ramp up to 1–2 hours of daily practice and complete the full simulations to experience the test under realistic conditions, so that nothing catches you off guard on the day itself. Our preparation books are available on Amazon.