Numerical questions test whether you can read a table or chart, pick the right numbers and calculate accurately against the clock. Hiring managers rely on them because most jobs involve prices, targets, percentages and budgets. This page explains the question types, works through 10 examples with full answers and finishes with a timed quiz game.
The SHL numerical reasoning format is the reference most candidates meet. It presents business data in tables and graphs, then asks multi-step questions with several answer options. A calculator is usually allowed in SHL-style tests, unlike some other batteries, yet speed still decides the result. Therefore, estimation and number sense matter as much as exact arithmetic.
Numerical reasoning test overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it measures | Number fluency: percentages, ratios, averages, currency and data reading |
| Main format | Tables, charts and short business scenarios with multiple-choice answers |
| Famous version | SHL numerical reasoning test (Verify suite) |
| Calculator | Allowed in many SHL-style tests; banned in some others, so check your invite |
| Core skills | Percentages, percentage change, ratios, averages, unit conversion, estimation |
| On this page | Quick answer, a worked data set, 10 questions with solutions, a timed quiz and FAQs |
Numerical reasoning: the quick answer
A numerical reasoning test is a timed, multiple-choice assessment in which you interpret tables, charts and short business scenarios and calculate answers involving percentages, ratios, averages and totals. Employers use it to predict how well a candidate handles the numbers inside real reports and budgets. Most questions need two or three small steps, so choosing the right numbers matters more than advanced mathematics.
- Read the question first, then hunt for the two or three figures it actually needs
- Estimate before you calculate, because one option is usually far off
- Watch the units: thousands, millions, per month versus per year
- Above all, percentage change always divides by the original value, never the new one
What are numerical questions in hiring tests?
In fact, candidates often ask what are numerical questions, because the label covers several styles. Firstly, data questions give a table or chart and ask for a total, a share or a comparison. Secondly, word problems hide the same arithmetic inside a sentence about salaries, discounts or travel. Thirdly, number-completion items ask you to find a missing value from a pattern or an average.
Overall, the mathematics itself stays at school level throughout. However, the timer turns easy sums into a real test of composure. In addition, answer options are built from common mistakes, such as dividing by the wrong base. So the winning skill is method: identify the operation, estimate the size, then compute once. The set below mirrors shl numerical test questions and answers in style, with the working shown for every item. Pair this guide with the verbal reasoning test page to cover the classic SHL pair.
Numerical reasoning example questions
Use this data set for questions 1 to 3. A store sells three products in one month. Product A: 120 units at $15 each. Product B: 80 units at $25 each. Product C: 200 units at $5 each.
- What is the revenue from Product A? A. $1,500 B. $1,800 C. $2,000 D. $2,400
- What is the store's total revenue for the month? A. $4,200 B. $4,800 C. $5,200 D. $5,600
- If the price of Product C rises by 20%, what is its new price? A. $5.50 B. $6.00 C. $6.50 D. $7.00
Word problems (questions 4 to 10)
- A salary of $48,000 rises by 5%. What is the new salary? A. $49,200 B. $50,000 C. $50,400 D. $52,000
- A car uses 8 liters of fuel per 100 km. How many liters does it use for 350 km? A. 24 B. 26 C. 28 D. 32
- In a team of 45 people, 60% are women. How many are men? A. 15 B. 18 C. 20 D. 27
- A jacket sells for $63 after a 30% discount. What was the original price? A. $82 B. $85 C. $90 D. $95
- What is the average of 12, 18, 25 and 33? A. 20 B. 21 C. 22 D. 24
- If 3 workers build a wall in 12 days, how long will 6 workers take at the same rate? A. 4 days B. 6 days C. 8 days D. 24 days
- A phone battery falls from 100% to 35% in 5 hours of use. At this rate, how many percent does it lose per hour? A. 11% B. 12% C. 13% D. 15%
Answers and explanations
Data set answers (1 to 3)
- B. So, 120 units times $15 equals $1,800.
- B. Product B earns 80 times $25, which is $2,000, and Product C earns 200 times $5, which is $1,000. Therefore, the total is 1,800 + 2,000 + 1,000 = $4,800.
- B. So, 20% of $5 is $1, and the new price is $6.00.
Word problem answers (4 to 10)
- C. In fact, 5% of 48,000 is 2,400, so the new salary is $50,400.
- C. Likewise, 350 km is 3.5 hundreds, and 8 times 3.5 equals 28 liters.
- B. In contrast, men are 40% of the team, and 0.40 times 45 equals 18.
- C. Instead, after a 30% discount you pay 70%, and 63 divided by 0.70 equals $90.
- C. Overall, the sum is 88, and 88 divided by 4 equals 22.
- B. Similarly, doubling the workers halves the time, so 12 divided by 2 equals 6 days.
- C. Finally, the battery loses 65 points in 5 hours, and 65 divided by 5 equals 13% per hour.
In fact, every solution above uses one or two operations. Numerical reasoning test practice works when you name the operation before touching the numbers. In short, the test rewards a calm method far more than mental speed alone.
How to pass a numerical reasoning test
- Learn the five core moves: percentage of, percentage change, ratio share, average and reverse percentage
- Estimate the answer range first, then eliminate options outside it
- Write the units beside every figure so monthly and yearly values never mix
- Skip a question after 60 to 75 seconds and return if time remains
- Practice reading tables fast: find the row, the column and the total before calculating
- If a calculator is allowed, still estimate first, because keying errors are the top silent killer
In short, build the habit with short daily sets rather than one long session. For instance, ten questions a day for a week covers every core move several times. Then test yourself in the timed quiz above, which turns this page into a scored numerical test with answers. Finally, complete the reasoning set with our inductive reasoning test guide, which trains pattern spotting instead of arithmetic.
Timed game: numerical reasoning practice quiz
Play the timed practice game: 10 questions, 5 minutes on the clock, instant score and explanations at the end. No sign-up, no calculator.
Frequently asked questions
About the test
What are numerical questions in an aptitude test?
Numerical questions ask you to calculate with data from tables, charts or short scenarios. They cover percentages, ratios, averages, totals and unit conversions. The math is school level, and the real challenge is choosing the right figures quickly.
Is a calculator allowed in the SHL numerical reasoning test?
SHL-style numerical tests usually allow an on-screen or physical calculator, but rules vary by employer and test version. Always read your invitation email carefully before the test. Practicing mental estimation still helps, because it catches keying mistakes.
How many questions are in a numerical reasoning test?
Counts vary by provider and level. SHL-style tests typically present a set of data scenarios with several questions each under one overall timer. The safe approach is to budget about a minute per question in practice.
Scoring and practice
How is a numerical reasoning test scored?
Each correct answer earns one point, and employers usually compare your score with a norm group for the role. Some tests also weigh accuracy by ending the sequence early when answers go wrong. A steady pace with few careless errors beats a rushed finish.
How do I get faster at numerical reasoning?
Master the five core moves first: percentage of, percentage change, ratio share, average and reverse percentage. Then practice with a timer and review every error the same day. In short, speed comes from recognizing the operation in the first five seconds.
What is a good numerical reasoning score?
A good score is one above the benchmark your employer sets for the role, often around the middle or upper range of past candidates. So, because benchmarks differ, aim to answer about two-thirds of questions correctly with high accuracy. Consistent practice usually lifts candidates by several points.
3 thoughts on “Numerical Reasoning Test Questions & Answers”