Numerical and verbal reasoning tests, explained
These timed online tests decide who gets an interview for many graduate and professional jobs. The format is predictable, which is why practice works: once you know what each question wants, the clock stops being the problem.
Free Reasoning practice test
- 50 questions
- 45 minutes
- Instant score
By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts
- 2
- most common types
- 3
- verbal answers
- 5
- numerical answers
- 45 min
- our practice test
What reasoning tests are
A reasoning test is a short, timed, multiple-choice assessment sent to applicants, usually after the application form and before any human reads your answers. Employers use it because it is cheap to run and predicts how well people learn a job. Numerical and verbal are the two you meet most often. Others include abstract (patterns), inductive and situational judgement tests.
The best-known publishers include SHL, Cubiks, Saville (now part of Willis Towers Watson), Talent Q and cut-e. Each has its own look, but the skills are the same ones we practise here. LifeScore is not affiliated with any of them.
Numerical reasoning: tables, charts and the five formulas
You see a table or chart of business data (sales by region, costs by year, exchange rates) and answer a question with a calculator. The maths is school-level: percentages, percent change, ratios, averages, and unit or currency conversion. The difficulty is reading the right numbers quickly and not falling for the near-miss answers.
Nearly every question is one of five things: percent change, share of a total, a ratio, a mean, or applying a growth rate. Name which one it is before you touch the calculator.
Verbal reasoning: True, False or Cannot say
Words such as "all", "only", "most", "at least" and "unless" are where marks are won and lost. A statement that is nearly what the passage says, with one qualifier changed, is usually False or Cannot say.
| Answer | It means | The trap |
|---|---|---|
| True | The passage says it, or it follows directly | Choosing it because it is true in real life but not stated |
| False | The passage says the opposite | Choosing it when the passage simply does not mention it |
| Cannot say | The passage does not settle it either way | Avoiding it because it feels like giving up |
How the tests are scored
Most publishers do not mark you on a fixed pass score. They compare your number of correct answers with a norm group (for example, graduate applicants) and report where you rank. Employers then set their own cut-off, which they rarely publish, so it can change between roles and years.
The practical consequences are simple: accuracy matters more than finishing every question, and a slightly higher raw score can move you a long way up the ranking. Our score guide shows the ranges candidates report.
How to prepare
Start with the free reasoning practice test to find out which half costs you more. Try the numerical reasoning questions and verbal reasoning questions, then follow the plan in how to pass reasoning tests.
Practice under real Reasoning timing
50 original questions, 45 minutes, scored the moment you finish. Free, no sign-up.
Start the free Reasoning testFrequently asked questions
What is a numerical reasoning test?
What is a verbal reasoning test?
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Is the practice test on this site the real thing?
LifeScore is not affiliated with SHL or any test publisher. SHL is a trademark of its owner. Our practice tests are original questions written in a similar style (tables of business data, and passages with True, False or Cannot say statements) and are not the real tests. Reviewed October 2026 by the LifeScore Editorial Team.