Numerical Reasoning Test

Ratios, percentages, number sequences, data interpretation, financial analysis and currency conversion, in the formats employers actually set. Every question below comes with the full working, not just the answer.

Free · No sign-up · Scored the moment you finish

Question 1 of 20
Question 1 of 20 Percentages Easy

By what percentage did the North region’s revenue increase from Q1 to Q2?

Regional revenue for a courier firm, Q1 and Q2
RegionQ1 revenue (£)Q2 revenue (£)
North 240,000 276,000
South 180,000 189,000
West 150,000 141,000
Total 570,000 606,000
Show worked solution

The increase is £276,000 − £240,000 = £36,000. Percentage change always uses the starting value as the base, so divide by the Q1 figure: 36,000 ÷ 240,000 = 0.15, which is 15.0%. Dividing by the Q2 figure instead gives 13.0%, and dividing by the Q1 total of £570,000 gives 6.3%. Both use the wrong base. Reading the £36,000 increase itself as the percentage gives 36.0%; the size of a change in pounds and the percentage it represents are different quantities.

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.

Free numerical reasoning test

What's inside
5 easy 10 medium 5 hard
Skills covered

Start the free test. It opens full screen, without leaving this page.

Prefer paper?

Download this test as a PDF or a second practice paper with different questions.

Worked solutions included. No sign-up.

How to move up the scale

One test tells you the style. A pack gives you the pace: batches under time pressure, marked, with the working shown.

41
Numerical Reasoning tests
588
questions, all solved

Types of numerical reasoning question

Every numerical test draws on the same handful of question types. Each guide below explains the format, the trap it sets, and how to practise it.

Percentages

Percentage change, reverse percentages and compound change. The trap is the base: most wrong options come from dividing by the wrong number.

Practise percentage questions

Data interpretation

Tables of revenue, headcount and costs. The skill is finding the two figures that matter in a table built to bury them.

Practise data interpretation questions

Graph interpretation

Bar, line and pie charts. Read the axes before the shapes: scales and units are where the traps live.

Practise graph interpretation questions

Number series

Find the rule, complete the sequence. The arithmetic is simple; the pattern is what hides.

Practise number series questions

Currency conversion

Convert between currencies and units at a given rate. Direction errors cost the marks, not arithmetic.

Practise currency conversion questions

Ratios

Simplify, share and scale quantities. Keep the order of the ratio fixed and the parts straight.

Practise ratio questions

What does a numerical reasoning test measure?

A numerical reasoning test measures judgement applied to numbers: whether you can draw correct conclusions from data quickly, not whether you can do arithmetic. The maths rarely goes beyond what you covered by age sixteen. The difficulty is more information than you need, less time than feels comfortable, and answer options built from the mistakes people commonly make.

Employers use it because the skill transfers. Someone who can read a table under pressure and spot which figure matters is doing the same thing an analyst does with a sales report or a manager does with a budget.

How are numerical reasoning tests scored?

Most employers score you against other candidates, not against a fixed pass mark: your raw score becomes a percentile. Competitive graduate schemes commonly sift at around the 70th to 80th percentile, and some banks and consultancies go higher. Speed is worth as much as accuracy, because most tests are designed so few candidates finish, and guessing usually pays: negative marking is rare, but check the instructions.

Practice Aptitude Tests · Original data

How our test takers score

Results from our numerical reasoning test.

Average score65%
75th-percentile score90%
0%50%100%
Average75th percentile

Source: Practice Aptitude Tests

Based on 2827 completed practice sittings, all time. Checked 29 September 2026.

The 75th percentile marks the boundary of the top quarter of recorded scores; tied scores can share that boundary. These are our practice results, not employer pass marks.

How we calculate these figures

We use all-time completed, scored attempts at this practice test. Repeat attempts count separately, so the sample is sittings rather than unique people.

The average is the mean score across those sittings. The 75th percentile comes from their recorded score distribution. The “checked” date is when we retrieved the figures, not the period when the tests were taken.

Sharing these figures? Please credit Practice Aptitude Tests and link to this page.

Who uses numerical reasoning tests?

Numerical reasoning tests are standard across graduate recruitment in finance, consulting, engineering, law, accountancy and the civil service. Most employers do not write their own: they license from a small number of test publishers, and the format varies noticeably between them, so find out which publisher your employer uses before you prepare seriously. It is usually stated in the invitation email, and it changes what good practice looks like. Our test publisher guides cover each format, and the employer guides cover specific companies’ processes.

Video tutorials

The methods behind the questions above, from our team

Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5 across 1,669 reviews. A selection:

Good test for practicing numerical reasoning

This test was helpful for improving my numerical and data interpretation skills. The questions were clear and based on graphs and tables, which made it good practice for real exams. Some questions required careful reading, which helped improve accuracy and speed.

Clear, challenging and well structured test

The test was engaging and balanced with a good mix of data interpretation, percentage change, and ratio-based questions. I appreciated the realistic business and weather-related scenarios. The graphs were clear, but a few values needed sharper detail for faster solving.

Great preparation tool for aptitude tests!

This test was a great way to practice under realistic conditions. The format, timing, and types of questions helped me get used to the pressure and structure of actual recruitment tests. I appreciated the clear layout and useful feedback after completion. Highly recommend!

Start practising today

Take a free test in any format, then upgrade when you know which one you need.