TU Delft MPT-Study: How to Approach the Academic Aptitude Assessment

The MPT-Study accounts for 40% of your final ranking in the TU Delft Aerospace Engineering selection. Yet most applicants spend all their time preparing for the Selection Exam and treat the MPT-Study as an afterthought. That's a mistake.

This guide explains what the MPT-Study actually measures, what TU Delft is looking for, and how to approach it strategically.

What is the MPT-Study?

The MPT-Study is a personality assessment developed by NOA, a psychological consultancy that works with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. It consists of 92 statements about your behavior in study-related situations.

For each statement, you rate how strongly it applies to you on a scale from "completely disagree" to "completely agree."

Examples of the types of statements you might see:

• "I find it easy to stay focused during long study sessions"
• "I prefer working in groups over working alone"
• "When I don't understand something, I ask for help"
• "I get stressed when I have multiple deadlines"

The test is designed to be completed in about 20 minutes. TU Delft recommends going with your gut feeling and not overthinking each answer.

Why Do Students Score Lower Than Expected?

Many applicants are surprised by their MPT-Study score. Here's why:

1. They don't understand what's being measured.The test isn't measuring whether you're a "good" or "bad" person. It's measuring whether your personality traits match what TU Delft believes leads to success in their programme.

2. They're inconsistent.With 92 questions, it's easy to contradict yourself. The test detects this. If your answers don't form a coherent picture, your score suffers.

Diversity — Respecting different perspectives, backgrounds, and approaches. Being open to learning from others who think differently.

3. They answer too quickly.While TU Delft says to trust your instincts, some statements genuinely require thought. Misreading a question or answering carelessly hurts your score.

4. They don't know what TU Delft values.If you don't know what traits the university is looking for, you can't present yourself effectively.

What TU Delft Is Looking For

TU Delft explicitly describes the kind of student they want. From their selection procedure manual:

What kind of student are we looking for?

• Analytic, critical, and optimistic problem-solvers
• Pro-active students with the courage to think out of the box
• Students skilled in communication, collaboration and teamwork
• Students who master fundamental knowledge of mathematics and physics
• Disciplined and motivated students, capable of handling large amounts of self-study
• Students who adhere to the TU Delft values: Diversity, Integrity, Respect, Engagement, Courage and Trust (DIRECT)

The DIRECT Values

Before taking the MPT-Study, read TU Delft's Code of Conduct. The university organizes its values under the acronym DIRECT:

Diversity: Respecting different perspectives, backgrounds, and approaches. Being open to learning from others who think differently.

Integrity: Being honest, taking responsibility for your actions, admitting mistakes, giving credit where it's due.

‍Respect: Treating others with consideration, listening actively, valuing others' contributions.

Engagement: Being actively involved, participating fully, caring about outcomes beyond just your own grade.

Courage: Willing to take on challenges, speak up when something is wrong, try new approaches even if they might fail.

Trust: Being reliable, following through on commitments, creating an environment where others can depend on you.

The Ideal AE Student Profile

Based on TU Delft's descriptions and what we know about successful aerospace engineering students, here's the profile they're looking for:

Genuine curiosity. You're interested in aerospace topics because you find them fascinating, not just because you want a degree. You ask questions. You want to understand how things work.

Motivated by challenge. Hard problems don't discourage you — they energize you. When something is difficult, you see it as an opportunity to grow, not a reason to give up.

Resilience. You can handle setbacks. When you fail a test or don't understand something, you don't spiral. You figure out what went wrong and try again.

Ability to move on. When you're stuck on a problem, you don't stay stuck forever. You know when to take a break, try a different approach, or ask for help.

Prioritization skills. You can distinguish between what's essential and what's extra. You're curious about tangents, but you don't let them derail you from what matters.

Self-discipline. You can manage your own time and motivation. You don't need someone standing over you to get work done.

Teamwork orientation. You work well with others, contribute to group projects, and value diverse perspectives.

Strategic Approaches

1. Be consistent.Before you start, have a clear mental picture of yourself as a student. Keep this picture in mind throughout the test. Your answers should all describe the same person.

If you strongly agree that you "love working in teams" early in the test, don't later say you "prefer working alone." The test will flag this inconsistency.

2. Think like your best self.When answering, think about how you behave when you're at your best — not your worst moment, but also not some fictional ideal version of yourself.

If a statement is about handling stress, think about how you've successfully handled stress in the past, not the one time you had a breakdown before an exam.

3. Read carefully.Some statements have subtle wording that changes their meaning. "I sometimes feel stressed before exams" is very different from "I always feel overwhelmed before exams."

Don't rush so fast that you miss these distinctions.

4. Avoid extreme answers when uncertain.If you're not sure about a statement, the middle-ground options are often safer than strong agree/disagree. Extreme answers on every question can look inconsistent.

5. Don't try to "game" it.The test has built-in checks for people trying to present an unrealistic image. If you strongly agree with every positive statement and strongly disagree with every negative one, it's obvious you're not being authentic.

Be thoughtful, not deceptive.

What NOT to Do

Don't lie. The test can detect inconsistencies. And even if you "pass," you'll end up in a programme that might not actually suit you.

Don't answer randomly. Some students rush through because it's "just a personality test." 40% of your ranking is not insignificant.

Don't skip preparation. Reading the Code of Conduct and understanding the DIRECT values takes 30 minutes. That small investment can meaningfully impact your score.

Don't overthink to the point of paralysis. Yes, be thoughtful. But don't spend 5 minutes on every statement. Find a balance.

Practical Checklist

Before the test:

• Read TU Delft's Code of Conduct
• Review the DIRECT values
• Reflect on your own study habits and behaviors
• Think about times you've demonstrated the traits TU Delft values

During the test:

• Find a quiet environment with no distractions
• Read each statement carefully
• Keep your "best self" image consistent
• Don't rush, but don't overthink
• Answer every question

Timeline:

• Opens: 23 February 2026
• Deadline: 2 March 2026, 13:59 CET
• Duration: ~20 minutes (but take your time)