Numerical Reasoning Test: Free Practice, Examples & Answers
A numerical reasoning test is a timed aptitude test used by employers to measure how well you interpret data, work with percentages, ratios, tables and charts, and make accurate decisions under time pressure. This guide explains what the test measures, shows free example questions with answers, and gives you a practical preparation plan.
Also called a numeracy reasoning test, a numerical ability test or a numerical aptitude test — employers and publishers use the names interchangeably for the same data-interpretation assessment.
What the tests cover
Every major test draws from the same twelve areas. Our bank of 1125+ verified questions is organised the same way, so your practice maps one-to-one onto the real thing.
Which test will you actually sit?
Employers buy their tests from publishers — SHL, Criteria, Aon, Wonderlic and others — and each uses a different format, timing and calculator policy. Pacing is what fails most candidates, so once you know your publisher, practise in its exact format.
All test providers and simulators
Or start from the employer: we track which test each major company is reported to use — Barclays and Goldman Sachs (SHL), Morgan Stanley and UBS (cut-e), Citi (Talent Q), the Big 4 (Cappfinity), the consulting firms’ own assessments, and more.
The graduate numerical reasoning test
Most people meet this test on a graduate scheme application, where it sits early in the process — usually straight after the online form, and often bundled with verbal reasoning and a situational judgement test. Employers set a percentile cut-off and sift on it automatically, so a weak numerical score can end an application before anyone reads your CV.
The content is the same data interpretation described above. What makes the graduate version distinctive is volume and pacing: you may sit several in one application season, each from a different publisher with its own timing and calculator policy. Practising the format your employer actually uses beats general revision.
How scoring works
Real tests report a percentile against a norm group, not a percentage. That’s why a “good” score depends on who you’re compared with. Our free diagnostic gives you a real raw score, names the areas you missed, and reports a percentile only against a clearly labelled baseline — never an invented one.
The preparation loop that works
1 · Diagnose
Take the free 12-question test. It ramps from quick reads to multi-step problems and names the areas you miss.
2 · Learn & drill
For each weak area: the method in a few lines, a worked example, then focused drills with instant feedback.
3 · Prove it
Re-test under mixed, timed conditions. When weak areas stop leaking marks, you're ready.
Common questions
What is a numerical reasoning test?
A timed aptitude test used by employers to measure how well you interpret numerical data — tables, charts, percentages, ratios and rates — and reason with it under time pressure. It tests data interpretation, not advanced mathematics.
What maths do I need?
GCSE-level arithmetic: percentages, ratios, averages, rates and basic algebra. The difficulty comes from reading data accurately and working quickly, not from the maths itself.
How long are the tests?
Most run 15–35 minutes with roughly 45–90 seconds per question depending on the publisher. Some allow a calculator; speed-focused tests don't.
How should I prepare?
Take a diagnostic to find your weak areas, learn the method for each, drill those areas with fresh questions until they're fast, then practise under timed, mixed conditions.
Start where you are
Twelve questions, no signup, instant score — and the exact areas to fix.
Start the free test