Practice Aptitude Tests

What is a numerical reasoning test?

A numerical reasoning test measures how well you interpret data and draw correct conclusions from it under time pressure. Employers use it to sift graduate applicants before interview. You are given tables or charts and asked to calculate percentages, ratios, rates and trends, then choose the best answer from four options. Working at a steady pace matters as much as accuracy.

What does a numerical reasoning test actually measure?

A numerical reasoning test measures whether you can draw correct conclusions from data quickly, not whether you can do arithmetic. The maths rarely goes beyond percentages, ratios and simple arithmetic that you covered by age sixteen. What makes it difficult is that you are given more information than you need, less time than feels comfortable, and answer options designed to match the mistakes people commonly make.

How do you solve percentage questions under time pressure?

Fix the base before you calculate anything. Almost every wrong answer in a percentage question comes from dividing by the wrong number, not from bad arithmetic. Percentage change always uses the starting value as its base. If revenue goes from £240,000 to £276,000, the change is £36,000 and the calculation is 36,000 divided by 240,000, which is 15%.

How do you read a data table quickly without missing the trap?

Read the question before you read the table. Most candidates lose time absorbing data they never use, because a typical stimulus contains three to five times more information than any single question needs. A reliable order of operations: Read the question stem first and note exactly which figure it wants. Read the column headers and the units. This is where the trap usually lives.

How do you handle ratio questions?

Convert the ratio into parts, then find the value of one part. That single habit solves the large majority of ratio questions in a graduate test. If 4,900 parcels are split between three depots in the ratio 3:4:7, add the parts: 3 + 4 + 7 = 14. One part is 4,900 ÷ 14 = 350. The largest depot takes 7 parts, so 7 × 350 = 2,450. Check by adding: 1,050 + 1,400 + 2,450 = 4,900.