Numerical reasoning
Practise SHL's classic numerical format: read a data table or a short business case, do the calculation and pick the right answer from five options.
Every drill and full-length test has 10 questions.
Every question type, explained
The interactive test uses two question formats. Here's how each one works, what it really measures and where candidates lose points. Every demo is a working question from our practice set — try it.
Read the table and the extra information, then select one of five answers.
What it tests
Finding the right figures in a table and combining them with percentages, ratios and growth.
Common pitfalls
Tip: Underline the exact row and column the question needs before you calculate anything.
Live demo · try it
Read the short case, work out the calculation and select one of five answers.
What it tests
Turning a written business situation into the right sequence of calculations.
Common pitfalls
Tip: Write down what the question asks for first, then work backwards to the figures you need.
Live demo · try it
Know what is being assessed
Numerical reasoning is about making sense of information. You need to identify relevant figures, recognise the relationship between them and use the right calculation. In an interactive test, you also need to translate that result into the requested chart or response.
Practise reading units, time periods and labels carefully. A correct calculation can still lead to a wrong answer if you use the wrong baseline or confuse a percentage with a percentage-point change.
Confirm the exact test name, deadline, calculator rules and any adjustments agreed with the employer.
Refresh percentage changes, proportions, ratios and averages. Review why an answer is correct rather than memorising it.
Once the format feels familiar, rehearse under the conditions given in your invitation and look for where you lose time.
Use a stable connection and a quiet space. Read the official instructions and complete any introductory examples carefully.
No. They are separate tests. Numerical Ability uses a multiple-choice format, while this page focuses on numerical reasoning. Use the exact name in your invitation to choose your preparation.
We cannot know your employer's question set. The goal is to prepare for the skills and interaction types, not to provide confidential assessment questions.
The overview above is provisional and may differ from your assessment. Your employer's invitation and the official test instructions are the source of truth for the question count and time limit.
Yes. The free preview has 5 questions covering every interactive question type, with a results overview and step-by-step solutions at the end. You get two free sessions.
Start with the free preview, then build up to full-length practice.
