There is an exam at NIU that students can take and not worry about failing.

The Strong Interest Inventory exam is given by the Counseling and Student Development Center located at the Campus Life Building.

Brian Pillsbury, a psychologist at the Counseling and Student Development Center, advises students who are not sure about their future occupation to take the exam.

The exam consists of 317 questions and only takes an estimated half an hour to complete.

“They ask you questions about different occupations interests, activities and school subjects,” Pillsbury said. “It is a very forward kind of test.”

The exam is broken down into six sections that the founder, E.K. Strong, developed.

Realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional situations all are described within the different structures of work environments available.

Strong developed the exam in the 1920s after working with the military to place recruits in suitable jobs, according to the Career and Personality Tests Web site.

“The test breaks down from very high interest to very low interest within the six areas,” Pillsbury said. “Then it breaks it down to related activities. It has nothing to do with abilities, although abilities influence our interest.”

Alan Farber, a counselor at the Career Planning and Placement Center, believes the exam is worthwhile.

“Although results of interest inventories alone are never sufficient for making important career decisions, in the hands of a skilled career counselor, inventories like the Strong Interest Inventory can definitely help students clarify,” Farber said. “This test is a strong link in helping people identify their interests and seeing where they have interests in common with people in their field.”

Pillsbury believes the exam can help students in a variety of different ways. The test can help those who are unsure of their career plans or need help getting ideas about their future career.

“I recommend taking this exam if it is something students feel they need,” Pillsbury said. “It is a good way to step into the career decisionmaking process.”

Students can take the exam for $10, and incoming freshmen can take the exam before starting classes for a fee of $35.