It’s a competitive job market out there, and employers are increasingly turning to numerical tests to help them make choices about whom to invite to interview.
Our practice tests are created by the same psychologists who design tests for the likes of SHL, Kenexa, Talent Q, and Saville Assessment. So our test platform and example questions will give you a good feel for the numerical tests employers use. Performing your best in your numerical reasoning test is all about practice, and knowing what to expect!
What are numerical reasoning tests?
If you’re doing an online application it’s likely you’ll have to sit a numerical reasoning test as they’re an extrememly popular test for employers to use.
Numerical reasoning tests assess a candidate’s ability to handle and interpret numerical data. You will be required to analyse and draw conclusions from the data, which may be presented in the form of tables or graphs. The tests are timed and in a multiple choice format.
Numerical reasoning tests differ from the sort of numerical tests you may be familiar with from GCSE or A level exams. The tests you will face are designed to measure your ability to problem solve, often mimicing the type of analysis you will be required to undertake in your future role e.g. Comparing the productivity of two different branches of a company. This type of workplace numerical data can often be tricky to understand if you are not familiar with it, so it’s extremely important to take practice tests to familiarise yourself with these beforehand.
What you should know before taking your numerical reasoning test
With thousands of job applicants to choose from, it’s common for employers to use aptitude testing to sift the good candidates from the mediocre. The most common way for employers to use numerical reasoning tests is online, after they have accepted your CV or initial application form. If you pass your online test larger employers tend to then invite you to an assessment centre. Often employers ask you to sit a repeat test at the assessment centre to verify that you are indeed the same person who scored that great score on the online test, so don’t get your friends to help with your online test! The best way to familiarise yourself with these tests is to take one of our free example numerical reasoning tests below.
As well as taking example tests, you should read the advice and findings below on how these tests work and what they measure.
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By taking example numerical reasoning tests you will become familiar with the question format. Luckily for you most employers use a similar format of numerical reasoning test, which means it’s easy to get some realistic practice beforehand.
The great thing about the numerical reasoning tests used for employment selection is that they are not the same as a maths test. You don’t have to remember complex formulae or write long proofs. The important characteristics of a numerical reasoning test are:
- Multiple choice answers – no longhand answers or showing your working-out.
- No prior knowledge required – no uncommon equations to memorise (or surreptitiously write on your arm).
- Strict time limits – some are generous while some are very short.
- Relevant to the workplace – modern tests are based on the kind of numerical information you would deal with in the job.
- Based on only the information given – you should not make assumptions about data you are not given.
Why do employers use numerical tests?
In a competitive job market, employers of all shapes and sizes use a range of methods to narrow down their pool of candidates for any given opening. Numerical reasoning tests are one such method.
The questions posed in these tests are based on the particulars of a given job function, such as determining profit margin or estimating material quantities. As such, they give employers a good indication of how an applicant would perform in the role in question, allowing them to separate those with promise from those who would struggle with their daily tasks.
Numerical reasoning tests are also a good measure of how well an individual works under pressure. Employers want to know that you can perform well in any given circumstance, and since these assessments are timed, they demonstrate your ability to interpret data and draw accurate conclusions at speed.
How numerical reasoning tests work
Numerical reasoning tests are not standardised. They can vary in duration, complexity and format depending on a number of factors, including:
- The test provider – there are several publishers of numerical reasoning tests, each with its own slight variation on the assessment, so the exact nature of your test will depend on which provider the employer uses.
- The occupation in question – since numerical reasoning tests are used to predict your workplace performance, they vary in relation to the role for which you’ve applied. For example, the questions posed to an aspiring engineer will differ from those presented for a financial post.
- The level of the position – typically, the higher up the ladder you climb, the more complex the numerical reasoning test, so the difficulty rating of your assessment will increase as you progress from graduate, to professional, to managerial level.