You’ve received a recruitment invitation and it lists not one but three assessments: an SHL numerical reasoning test, an SHL verbal reasoning test, and an SHL deductive reasoning test. If you’re not sure what any of those involve or where to start, you’re not alone.
The good news is that SHL-style tests follow predictable formats. Once you understand what each one is testing and what the questions look like, targeted practice gives you a genuine performance advantage. This guide breaks down all three formats, walks through a worked example for each, and gives you five preparation tips you can act on immediately.
What are SHL-style tests?
SHL is one of the most widely used aptitude test publishers in graduate and professional recruitment. SHL-style tests are standardised assessments modelled on SHL’s question formats, designed to measure specific cognitive skills quickly and consistently across large candidate pools.
Employers use them because they are format-consistent, reduce bias in shortlisting, and have a strong track record of predicting job performance. Rather than relying solely on CVs or interviews, recruiters can compare candidates on a level playing field.
All three formats share the same core features: they are timed, multiple-choice, and completed online. What differs is the cognitive skill each one targets and the type of information you’re working with. You can find out more and try realistic questions on our SHL-style practice test page. For a broader overview of what to expect, our guide on top tips to pass your SHL test is also worth reading before you begin.
The three core SHL-style test formats
There are a variety of SHL-style tests, from cognitive assessments, behavioural assessments, personality assessments to skills assessments. Among them, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning and deductive reasoning are the primary tests candidates face.
SHL-style numerical reasoning
The SHL numerical reasoning test measures your ability to interpret data presented in tables, graphs, and charts and use it to reach an accurate conclusion. You are not being tested on complex maths. The focus is on how quickly and accurately you can extract the right figures and apply a calculation.
A typical test presents 18 to 25 questions in 25 to 35 minutes. A calculator is usually permitted, so speed of data interpretation matters more than mental arithmetic.
The most common error is spending too long on a single data set. If a question isn’t coming together quickly, move on and return to it if time allows.
SHL-style verbal reasoning
The SHL verbal reasoning test measures your ability to evaluate written arguments and draw accurate conclusions from short passages. Each question presents a statement and asks you to judge whether it is True, False, or Cannot Say, based only on the text in front of you.
A typical test presents around 30 questions in 19 minutes, making it one of the more time-pressured formats.
The critical rule is to base every answer strictly on the passage. Prior knowledge, general plausibility, and common sense are all traps. If a statement seems reasonable but the passage does not directly support it, the answer is Cannot Say, not True. Our guide to True, False, Cannot Say questions walks through this rule in detail with worked examples.
SHL-style deductive reasoning
The deductive reasoning test measures your ability to follow logical rules from a set of premises to a valid conclusion. Questions present conditional or syllogistic statements and ask you to evaluate whether a given conclusion follows logically.
A typical test presents around 20 questions in 18 minutes.
The key rule is to accept all premises as true, regardless of whether they reflect reality. Candidates frequently lose marks by questioning unrealistic or counterintuitive premises rather than following the logic as given. The test is not asking whether the premises are believable. It is asking whether the conclusion follows from them.
Worked examples for each SHL-style format
Numerical Example
A table shows that a company’s revenue was £240,000 in 2023 and £288,000 in 2024. What is the percentage increase?
- Difference = £48,000
- 48,000 divided by 240,000 = 0.20
- 0.20 x 100 = 20%
Common trap: dividing by the new value (£288,000) instead of the original. Always use the original figure as the base when calculating percentage change. For a full refresher on this calculation, see our guide to percentage change questions in numerical tests.
Takeaway: identify the original value before you calculate, not after.
Verbal Example
Passage: “The company piloted a four-day working week across two of its UK offices. Managers in both locations noted improvements in staff punctuality during the pilot period.”
Statement: The four-day working week improved employee performance across the company.
Answer: Cannot Say.
The passage reports improved punctuality in two offices only. It does not mention other performance measures, other locations, or the company as a whole. The statement extends well beyond what the text supports.
Takeaway: plausibility is not proof. If the passage doesn’t say it, the answer is Cannot Say.
Deductive Example
Premises: All project leads attend the weekly briefing. Sam does not attend the weekly briefing.
Conclusion: Sam is not a project lead.
Answer: This conclusion follows.
If all project leads attend and Sam does not attend, Sam cannot be a project lead. The premises may or may not reflect how things work at any real company. That is irrelevant. The logic holds, so the conclusion is valid.
Takeaway: accept the premises as given and follow the logic. Real-world plausibility is not part of the test.
Tips for SHL-style test preparation
1. Practise under timed conditions from the start. Timing pressure is the primary differentiator across all three formats. Untimed practice builds familiarity, but it doesn’t replicate the constraint you’ll face on the day. Introduce time limits early, even if your accuracy dips at first.
2. Identify your weakest format and weight your practice accordingly. Most candidates have a natural lean toward one format. Spending equal time across all three is rarely the most efficient approach. Take a short diagnostic session on each format first, then direct more time to the area with the biggest gap.
3. For numerical: practise reading data tables before focusing on calculation speed. In SHL-style numerical tests, the bottleneck is usually locating the right figures, not performing the arithmetic. Practise scanning tables quickly and identifying which rows and columns are relevant before you touch a calculator.
4. For verbal: after every question, find the exact sentence in the passage that justifies your answer. This proof-first habit prevents assumption errors and builds the disciplined reading style the format rewards. If you can’t point to a specific sentence, reconsider your answer.
5. For deductive: run through conditional logic problems daily until premise acceptance becomes automatic. The most common source of errors in deductive reasoning isn’t logic, it’s the instinct to challenge unrealistic premises. Repetition is the fastest way to override that instinct.
Putting it Together
SHL-style tests are not designed to catch you out. They are designed to be consistent, and that consistency is your advantage. Every numerical question follows the same data-interpretation structure. Every verbal question applies the same True, False, Cannot Say logic. Every deductive question asks you to follow premises to a conclusion. The format doesn’t change. Your familiarity with it can.
If any of the three formats felt unfamiliar at the start of this article, it should now feel navigable. The next step is practice.
Try PAT’s free SHL-style practice tests and measure where you’re starting from.
FAQs
Can you use a calculator in SHL-style numerical tests?
In most cases, yes. SHL-style numerical reasoning tests typically permit a basic or on-screen calculator. However, calculator rules can vary depending on the employer or the specific assessment version, so always check the instructions in your invitation before the test begins.
What is a passing score for SHL-style tests?
There is no single universal pass mark. Employers set their own cut-off scores, and results are usually presented as a percentile ranking that compares your performance against a relevant norm group. In competitive graduate schemes, performing above the average of the applicant pool is typically what moves a candidate forward.
How do SHL-style verbal tests differ from reading comprehension tests?
Reading comprehension tests primarily assess whether you have understood what a passage says. SHL-style verbal reasoning goes further: it requires you to evaluate statements logically and determine whether they are supported, contradicted, or unresolvable based solely on the text. The key difference is the evidence-only rule, which reading comprehension tests don’t always enforce as strictly.