How The Value Of The Highlands Ability Battery Compares To Other Aptitude Tests

The Aptitude Inventory Measurement Service (AIMS) is the most comprehensive, but the most cost-prohibitive and the least accessible aptitude test

In our discussion on value, let me begin with a discussion on the AIMS. The Aptitude Inventory Measurement Service is a non-profit research foundation located in Dallas, Texas. This non-profit foundation provides college and career guidance to high school students who are on a college track, as well as current college students and adults who are considering a career change. Unlike other aptitude testing batteries, the AIMS must be taken at a testing facility and proctored by an administrator who works directly for AIMS.^[1] This is partially because, unlike other batteries that can be taken completely online, the AIMS also has work samples that require pencil and paper, headphones, and an instrument to test grip strength. This allows the test to measure more discrete differences in certain types of aptitudes, such as instrument dexterity, and measurements for timbre, loudness, and time discrimination.

The fee to take the AIMS is $925, as of 2026. If a student outside of the Dallas area wishes to take the AIMS, and is unable to travel, it is possible to schedule a testing proctor to travel to one’s location. This occurs several times a year, and if a parent calls the facility, they may find out that a test is scheduled to take place closer to their location. For the AIMS to take place at a guest testing site, a minimum number of students must be signed up. Additional fees for the proctor’s travel may apply.

The AIMS is the most expensive of the available testing batteries that measure aptitude and provide career guidance to pre-collegiate students. It is also the most thorough and tests the largest number of distinct aptitudes. The AIMS then assigns students with one of eight Aptitude Profiles, that helps them understand how they perceive the world. For example, a student may be a Creative Generalist, or a Specialist. This information can provide students a “road map” to their personality, how they communicate, and how they fit into positions of leadership and a larger corporate structure.^[2] However, the AIMS testing center does not provide ongoing coaching services or additional resources, beyond the standard final conference to debrief about the test results. Students who are administered the AIMS are provided with extensive materials to take home for their later reference, and spend multiple hours discussing their results, often with a parent present.

The Kolbe Y Index provides students with a quick and affordable way to measure instinctive strengths

The Kolbe Corp is a company that provides a number of online assessments, or ‘indexes’, that can be used by children, students, or adults. These indexes can be used as tools to help a person measure their connotative strengths, which may be helpful in learning how to study, how to better manage time, how to manage business employees, how to relate better to family members, or how to better communicate.^[3] Unlike the AIMS and the HAB, the Kolbe Corp does not solely focus on career development. The Kolbe Corp offers numerous assessment tools to choose from, depending on a person’s needs– Index A, Index B, Index C, Index Y, or Index R.

For students who are seeking information that will assist them in choosing a college, or career path, Index Y is the appropriate assessment. Index Y was developed for middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. The Kolbe Y index results claim to help students learn how to study more effectively, reduce stress, communicate more effectively, and achieve goals. The biggest pro of this index is that it only takes 15 minutes to complete. It is also highly affordable at $17. For an additional fee, parents may purchase the Parent Guide Report Package ($39), which provides an extended report and greater insight as to how a parent can support their student. ^[4]

One of the major pros of the Kolbe Corp is that the entire family may find usefulness in taking the various assessments. Parents may wish to complete the Kolbe A index and learn about their own connotative strengths. As students grow into adults, they may find usefulness taking the other indexes, which can provide information into the corporate world and romantic relationships. Kolbe also offers additional products for sale, including books, activities, and consultant services. ^[5]

The Kolbe Y index is a low cost, low risk assessment took, that students can complete in a very short period of time. This test may be favorable for students with short attention spans, or for parents who would like to dip their toe into aptitude assessment but are not prepared to make a significant financial purchase.

The HAB is affordable, accessible, and is often available as part of a coaching bundle

The Highlands Assessment Battery is an aptitude assessment which is completed online within the comfort of a student’s home. The HAB consists of 19 different work samples, and the test may be taken in one sitting or broken up as needed. Students who take the HAB do not require any special equipment and are sent a testing link by their certified consultant.

Like the AIMS, the HAB is an extensive measure of aptitude and provides high school students insight into their strengths and weaknesses, so they can better plan their college career path. Aptitude results tend to be stable over time, and a child’s natural strengths will generally remain stable throughout their lifetime. The HAB can also be used for young adults who are interested in a career change.

The HAB is an online test that is administered by certified college consultants all across the country. The price to take the HAB is dependent on the specific college consultant’s pricing structure and services. In my coaching practice, I schedule an initial call with your child to discuss what they can expect when they are taking the HAB. I will discuss with your child the testing logistics, such as when they plan to take it, how much time it will take them to complete, and what to do if they begin to feel fatigued. I stress that with the HAB there are not right or wrong answers, and that it is not possible to “fail.” Because it is a test of one’s natural strengths, the test does not require a student to study or prepare. With that said, it is best if the student is well rested and takes the test in a distraction free space.

Once your student has completed taking the Highlands Assessment Battery, I will schedule one to two follow up sessions with them to discuss and interpret the test results. This session will help your student understand their Personal Style, their Driving Abilities, their Specialist Abilities, and their overall vocabulary. This information will help them learn what kind of environment they thrive in– for example, if they prefer to work as an individual, or in a group. It will help them understand how they solve problems and view the world– if they are more analytically minded, or more creative. And they will understand if they fall more into the generalist or specialist category.

I will discuss with your child what their career goals are, and together we will discuss majors and career paths that most closely align with their natural aptitudes. I will help your child learn how to research careers that they are curious about and will provide them with work sheets and an easy to follow process that will guide them to the information they are looking for. Once your child has explored various options and found a career path that they are most interested in, I will put them in contact with a professional in their chosen field. They will then have an informational interview with this professional, so that they may ask questions and get a better idea of what the day-to-day routine of this career looks like.

In my practice, the cost for taking the Highlands Assessment Battery, the follow-up coaching sessions, and the informational interview with a professional is $795. I believe that the HAB is most valuable when it is combined with additional career coaching services. For parents who want additional services, I also offer further assistance with building lists of colleges to apply to, assistance writing college essays, and college application assistance.

Each aptitude test has its own strengths and weaknesses, and should be chosen based on your child’s needs

For many parents, choosing the service that will best assist your child in securing their future may feel daunting. As I have laid out in this article, there are several well-respected aptitude assessments that have various pros, depending on the family. If your family lives in the Dallas area, your child may best be served to take the AIMS. The AIMS is a well-respected aptitude test that is the most extensive when it comes to measuring aptitudes. The AIMS may be of particular use for children with highly sensitive auditory abilities, or very specialized dexterity abilities, as the AIMS uses some work samples that are not on the computer screen.

For parents who do not wish to spend a significant amount of money, but who would like some insight into their child’s strengths, the Kolbe Y provides a nice gateway into the world of aptitude assessment. The strengths of the Kolbe are that it does not take a great deal of time to complete, and it has an additional guide for parents to help them understand their child’s results and can help parents support their child. The Kolbe system also has additional indexes that adults may wish to take, if they find their student’s results helpful.

In my practice, I use the HAB, both due to its extensive results, but also because of its accessibility. The HAB can be administered to any child in the country with internet access, and while the test’s nineteen work samples can take time to complete, the test does not need to be completed in one sitting. I also find that the HAB provides practical information that students can use to zero in on a career that they will find both fulfilling and that they will excel at.

I am a college planning consultant and help students from all over the country prepare to take the next step from high school to college student. My step-by-step process helps students find the school and major that will set them up for a lifetime of success. If you would like more information about my services, contact me today.