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Numerical Reasoning Tests

What is a Numerical Reasoning Test?
A numerical reasoning test is one of the core sections of any psychometric
assessment test. You’ll need to understand numerical information, then apply the
appropriate operations to find the correct answer.

Numerical reasoning tests are multiple choice, and you’ll typically be given
between 4 and 6 options to choose from.

The maths required is generally high-school level (for age 16). Despite this, you’ll
need to be well practised and efficient. In most tests, you’ll typically have between 45
seconds and 2 minutes on average to answer each question. Some rarer forms of
numerical reasoning tests have no time limit and/or negative scoring (incorrect
answers subtract from your total score, rather than just scoring 0).

In numerical reasoning tests, you will typically deal with graphs, tables, number
sequences and text. These will contain the raw data needed to answer a written
question, but you will often have to perform several operations on that data to arrive
at the answer. The key is being practised enough to quickly identify what operations
are needed, and then to perform them accurately.

It’s important that you remember not to make assumptions. Everything you need to
answer the question is on the page, and on the page alone. Similarly, there should
be no prior knowledge required beyond basic mathematical skills. No niche formulas
to memorise or anything like that.

Depending on the company, numerical reasoning tests could be taken at home or at

an assessment centre. Sometimes both: many organisations use an anti-cheating
method that requires candidates to take another test at the assessment centre in
person. If the home score and the in-person score are wildly different, then alarm
bells start to ring. Basically, don’t pay someone to take your test for you.

Here’s what we’ll cover in the rest of this article:

Contents

1. Free Example Numerical Test

2. Why Do Employers Use These Tests?
3. What Makes Numerical Reasoning Tests Challenging?
4. What Maths Knowledge Do I Need to Pass?
 5. Different Suppliers of Numerical Reasoning Tests?
6. How to Prepare in Advance for a Numerical Reasoning Test: A Step-by-Step
Guide
7. Effective Strategies When Taking the Test
8. What Information or Allowances Should the Test Provider Give You?
9. FAQs
10. Additional Resources

Free Example Numerical Test

If you want to dive in and get practising, then we’ve got you covered. Try this one
below.

It was created by WikiJob in association with psychometric experts and closely

modelled on real tests. You'll find it's similar to the SHL tests that are often used.

The test consists of 10 questions. While there’s no time limit on the test, it was
designed to be taken in 10 minutes. This test is a little harder than the real thing, so
don’t worry if you struggle at first. It’s better to tough it out in practice and then be
pleasantly surprised at the test itself.

You need to score 70% to pass the test, which you can take as many times as you
like. Click the 'Take test' link below to get started.

Numerical Practice Test 1

Try this numerical reasoning practice testsimilar to SHL, PSL and the GTIOS psychometric tests used by
many companies as part of their application process.

Questions 10

Pass Percentage 70%

Time Limit 10 min

Take test
Why Do Employers Use These Tests?
Psychometric assessment tests have a long history of research behind them. A strong
correlation between performance on these tests and performance in the workplace
has led to companies all over the world investing heavily in them and employing
them as a crucial aspect of their recruitment process.

The numerical reasoning part of these psychometric tests focuses on your ability to
work with numbers.

Many employers need to know that you have a solid foundation of basic
mathematical skills. These skills (calculating percentages, ratios, fractions, profit,
revenue and so on) are crucial in almost any area of business.

Company recruiters know that their new hires won’t necessarily have a great deal of
industry or job-specific knowledge. That’s what comes with experience. The key for
them is to choose applicants who have the foundations that allow them to adapt to
the environment and pick up the skills and knowledge they need.

That’s the reason why these numerical reasoning tests typically don’t require
mathematical skills beyond addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, ratiosand percentages. Companies are primarily interested in your grasp of
the basics. They’re asking: ‘Is this person confident working with numbers in
general?’.

It’s also the reason why they often have a strict time limit. This sort of arithmetic
should be the kind you can do quickly and accurately, whenever it is needed.

To summarise, employers use these tests primarily because of:

 Their proven track record at indicating workplace performance;

 Their use of mathematical skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
 The fact that these tests are quite fair in general.

They’re based on nothing but your raw ability and practice.

For these reasons and more, many employers even say that they value
these aptitude tests more than university degrees.

What Makes Numerical Reasoning Tests Challenging?

Numerical reasoning tests are often the most difficult aptitude test type