Practise for your SHL test with a free numerical test in the SHL style. It’s timed, scored the moment you finish, and shows the working for every question.
Free · No sign-up · Scored the moment you finish
SHL is the largest occupational test publisher in the UK graduate market, and its standalone Verify Numerical test is reported as 18 questions in 17 to 25 minutes depending on the job level. SHL publish no specification of their own, so this test is built to that reported shape: 18 questions, each one read off a table or chart, at the top of that time range. The real test draws every sitting from a large calibrated item bank and reports a percentile against a comparison group; this test is a fixed form.
You have 25 minutes to answer 18 questions. Each question is based on a table or chart. Choose the one correct answer from the options shown. The questions are modelled on the SHL Verify numerical format and get harder as you go. Calculators and rough paper are permitted.
Question 1 of 18
| Division | Overhead (£) | Recharged share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 248,000 | 45% |
| Logistics | 136,000 | 30% |
| Retail | 92,000 | 25% |
| Support | 74,000 | 60% |
The table shows each division’s overhead charge and the share of it recharged to group. How much of the Retail division’s overhead is recharged to group?
Answer: A. £23,000
Read the Retail row: overhead £92,000, recharged share 25%. 92,000 x 0.25 = £23,000. A common error here is taking the complement and answering £69,000, which is the part the division keeps rather than the part it recharges.
Question 2 of 18
| Departure | Passenger bags (kg) | Cabin freight (kg) | Mail (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 1,880 | 940 | 300 |
| Midday | 2,140 | 1,260 | 380 |
| Afternoon | 1,650 | 820 | 260 |
| Evening | 2,050 | 1,100 | 340 |
The table shows the loads carried on four Grangewood departures. How many kilogrammes of passenger bags and mail did the midday departure carry in total?
Answer: B. 2,520 kg
Find the midday row, then add only the two columns named. Passenger bags 2,140 kg and mail 380 kg. 2,140 + 380 = 2,520 kg. A common error here is adding all three load columns, which brings in cabin freight and gives 3,780 kg.
Question 3 of 18
| Branch | Q1 (£m) | Q2 (£m) | Q3 (£m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fenwick | 9.7 | 10.2 | 9.9 |
| Kirkgate | 12.4 | 13.1 | 15.8 |
| Marsden | 18.3 | 17.6 | 19.4 |
| Oldgate | 7.5 | 8.1 | 8.8 |
The table shows quarterly deposits taken by four branches. What were the Kirkgate branch’s total deposits across the three quarters?
Answer: B. 41.3
Find the Kirkgate row and add its three quarterly figures. 12.4 + 13.1 = 25.5; 25.5 + 15.8 = £41.3m. A common error here is adding down the Q1 column instead of across the row, which totals £47.9m.
Question 4 of 18
| Service | June | July |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway | 128 | 96 |
| Directory | 54 | 71 |
| Payments | 210 | 165 |
| Search | 43 | 38 |
The table shows downtime minutes for four Calderwood services in June and July. How many minutes of downtime did the Gateway service record across the two months?
Answer: C. 224 minutes
Find the Gateway row and add its two monthly figures. 128 + 96 = 224 minutes. A common error here is reading the Payments row, which carries the largest figures in the table and gives 375 minutes.
Question 5 of 18
| Station | First half | Second half |
|---|---|---|
| Ilkeston | 1,240 | 1,090 |
| Jervaulx | 860 | 940 |
| Longmoor | 1,510 | 1,680 |
| Newbold | 720 | 655 |
The table shows bags mishandled by Kirkbourne Handling. How many more bags were mishandled at Longmoor than at Newbold in the second half of the year?
Answer: D. 1,025 bags
Work in the second half column only, and find the Longmoor and Newbold rows. Longmoor: 1,680 bags. Newbold: 655 bags. 1,680 - 655 = 1,025 bags. A common error here is reading across the first half column instead, which gives 790 bags.
Question 6 of 18
| Station | Passengers | Monthly charge (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Peniston | 40,000 | 172,000 |
| Quenby | 62,000 | 173,600 |
| Vernham | 45,000 | 144,000 |
The table shows Rowsley Handling’s monthly charge at three stations. Each charge includes a fixed monthly fee of £18,000. What was the variable charge per passenger at Vernham?
Answer: A. £2.80
Strip the fixed fee out of the Vernham charge before dividing by passengers. 144,000 minus 18,000 = £126,000 variable. 126,000 divided by 45,000 = £2.80 per passenger. A common error here is dividing the whole £144,000 by passengers, which gives £3.20 and spreads the fixed fee across the passengers as though it varied with them.
Question 7 of 18
| Court | Listed 2024 | Adjourned 2024 | Listed 2025 | Adjourned 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashfield | 3,200 | 384 | 3,440 | 432 |
| Calderbrook | 2,500 | 375 | 2,750 | 442 |
| Denhurst | 1,800 | 162 | 2,000 | 200 |
| Marlow | 2,400 | 288 | 2,500 | 350 |
The table shows two years of listings at four courts. By what percentage did the number of hearings listed at Ashfield rise between 2024 and 2025?
Answer: A. 7.5%
Ashfield’s listings went from 3,200 to 3,440, a rise of 240. 240 / 3,200 = 0.075, which is 7.5%. A common error here is working from the adjourned columns, which sit between the two listed columns, and getting 12.5%.
Question 8 of 18
| Station | Bags handled |
|---|---|
| Peniston | 42,000 |
| Quenby | 33,000 |
| Scarcliffe | 27,000 |
| Vernham | 48,000 |
The table shows bags handled at four stations last month. Rowsley Handling’s total charge of £96,000 is apportioned between the stations in proportion to bags handled. What is Vernham’s share?
Answer: B. £30,720.00
Find the total bags handled, then take Vernham’s proportion of the charge. Total: 42,000 + 33,000 + 27,000 + 48,000 = 150,000 bags. Vernham’s share: 48,000 divided by 150,000 = 0.32. 0.32 x 96,000 = £30,720.00. A common error here is dividing the charge by the four stations, which gives £24,000.00 and ignores that Vernham handled the most bags. Another is leaving Vernham out of the total, which gives £45,176.47.
Question 9 of 18
| Band of spend | Recharge |
|---|---|
| First £100,000 | 8% |
| Next £150,000 | 5% |
| Above £250,000 | 2% |
Group recharges central overhead at the rate shown on each band of a division’s spend. What is recharged to a division spending £310,000?
Answer: B. £16,700
Charge each band in turn. First £100,000 at 8% = £8,000. Next £150,000 at 5% = £7,500. The remaining £60,000 at 2% = £1,200. Total = £16,700. A common error here is applying 2% to the whole spend, giving £6,200.
Question 10 of 18
| Channel | Contacts received | Resolved first time |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1200 | 948 |
| 850 | 561 | |
| Web chat | 940 | 705 |
| Post | 210 | 126 |
The chart shows contacts received and contacts resolved at first contact, by channel. For phone and web chat together, how many contacts were not resolved at first contact?
Answer: C. 487
Total the received bars for phone and web chat, total their resolved bars, then subtract. Received: 1,200 + 940 = 2,140. Resolved first time: 948 + 705 = 1,653. 2,140 - 1,653 = 487. Email and post are not wanted. A common error here is answering for phone alone, which gives 252.
Question 11 of 18
| Fee income | |
|---|---|
| Account fees | 840 |
| Overdraft charges | 552 |
| Card fees | 480 |
| Foreign exchange | 312 |
| Insurance commission | 216 |
The pie chart shows how Northbank’s retail fee income of £2.4m breaks down. How much more did account fees generate than card fees?
Answer: C. £360,000
Read the two slices the question names and take the difference. Account fees £840,000; card fees £480,000. 840,000 − 480,000 = £360,000. A common error here is adding the two slices, giving £1,320,000, which is more than half the total fee income and should look wrong for a difference.
Question 12 of 18
| Portfolio | 2024 (£000s) | 2025 (£000s) |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgages | 5,880 | 6,200 |
| Unsecured | 3,400 | 3,876 |
| Motor | 1,840 | 1,730 |
| Card | 960 | 1,104 |
What was the percentage change in the Unsecured portfolio’s arrears from 2024 to 2025?
Answer: C. 14.0%
Percentage change is measured against the starting value. 3,876 − 3,400 = 476. 476 ÷ 3,400 x 100 = 14.0%. A common error here is dividing by the 2025 figure, giving 12.3%.
Question 13 of 18
| Cost line | Vernham (£) | Upwell (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Landing | 4,820 | 3,960 |
| Handling | 6,360 | 3,900 |
| Parking | 1,180 | 1,540 |
| Passenger charges | 2,460 | 2,120 |
The table shows Ryedale Airways’ station costs at two stations last month. What percentage of the Vernham total was handling?
Answer: D. 42.9%
Total the Vernham column first, then take handling as a share of it. 4,820 + 6,360 + 1,180 + 2,460 = £14,820. 6,360 divided by 14,820 x 100 = 42.9%. A common error here is dividing by the two stations’ combined total of £26,340, which gives 24.1%. The question asks about Vernham only, so the Upwell column stays out of both the numerator and the denominator.
Question 14 of 18
| Currency | Units per £1 |
|---|---|
| Euro | 1.152 |
| US dollar | 1.284 |
| Swiss franc | 1.150 |
| Canadian dollar | 1.712 |
A practice bills an overseas client CHF 96,000 in fees plus CHF 2,400 of disbursements. Converted at the rate shown, what is the total sterling receivable?
Answer: D. £85,565.22
Add the two Swiss franc amounts, then convert once. 96,000 + 2,400 = CHF 98,400. 98,400 ÷ 1.150 = £85,565.22. A common error here is converting the fees alone and leaving the disbursements out, which gives £83,478.26.
Question 15 of 18
| Programme | Sectors | Mean sector time (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Thornleigh Air, short haul | 180 | 84 |
| Thornleigh Air, medium haul | 60 | 192 |
| Marsden Air, short haul | 120 | 150 |
The table shows last month’s sectors. Taking every Thornleigh Air sector as a single group, what was the mean sector time in hours?
Answer: A. 1.85 hours
Weight each Thornleigh Air programme by its sectors, pool, then convert once. Short haul: 180 x 84 = 15,120 minutes. Medium haul: 60 x 192 = 11,520 minutes. Pooled: 26,640 divided by 240 sectors = 111 minutes. 111 divided by 60 = 1.85 hours. A common error here is averaging 84 and 192 without weighting, which gives 2.30 hours. Three quarters of the sectors are short haul, so the true mean sits close to the short haul figure, not midway between the two.
Question 16 of 18
| Station | Local currency | Ancillary revenue (local currency) | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quenby | euro | 522,000 | 45,000 |
| Scarcliffe | euro | 696,000 | 24,000 |
| Vernham | krone | 2,835,000 | 30,000 |
The table shows Ryedale Airways’ ancillary revenue at three stations. £1 buys €1.16 or 10.50 krone. Taking every passenger at Quenby and Vernham as a single group, what was the mean ancillary revenue per passenger in pounds?
Answer: B. £9.60
Convert each station’s revenue to pounds first, then pool the two named stations. Quenby: 522,000 divided by 1.16 = £450,000. Vernham: 2,835,000 divided by 10.50 = £270,000. Pooled revenue: £720,000 across 45,000 + 30,000 = 75,000 passengers. 720,000 divided by 75,000 = £9.60. A common error here is averaging the two stations’ own per-passenger figures of £10.00 and £9.00, which gives £9.50. Quenby carries more passengers, so the pooled figure sits above the unweighted average.
Question 17 of 18
| Station | 2025 charge | 2026 charge | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldercote | 40,500 | 42,120 | € |
| Hartwell | 78,000 | 89,700 | kroner |
The table shows landing charges at two stations. £1 buys €1.20 or 13.00 kroner. Taking the two stations as one total in pounds, by what percentage did the charge rise?
Answer: C. 5.7%
Convert each row to pounds before pooling anything. 2025: 40,500 divided by 1.20 = £33,750, and 78,000 divided by 13.00 = £6,000, so £39,750. 2026: 42,120 divided by 1.20 = £35,100, and 89,700 divided by 13.00 = £6,900, so £42,000. Rise: 2,250 divided by 39,750 x 100 = 5.7%. A common error here is adding the raw figures without converting, which gives 11.2% because the kroner column carries far more units per pound and so dominates the total.
Question 18 of 18
| Component | Units shipped | Unit weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Brake unit | 40 | 45 |
| Wheel | 60 | 70 |
| Filter | 500 | 2 |
Kirkbourne Handling ships the spares below from Osgathorpe. Freight costs £980 per tonne, and £1 buys 1.15 euros. What is the freight cost in euros?
Answer: D. €7,889.00
Build the consignment weight, convert it to tonnes, price it, then convert the currency. Weight: 40 x 45 = 1,800 kg, 60 x 70 = 4,200 kg, 500 x 2 = 1,000 kg, giving 7,000 kg. 7,000 divided by 1,000 = 7.0 tonnes. 7.0 x 980 = £6,860. 6,860 x 1.15 = €7,889.00. A common error here is dividing by 1.15 rather than multiplying, which gives €5,965.22. One pound buys more than one euro, so the euro figure must be the larger of the two.
An SHL test is an online assessment employers use to screen candidates before interview. SHL is one of the world's largest test publishers, and its assessments cover numerical, verbal, inductive and deductive reasoning, alongside behavioural and personality questionnaires. Most SHL tests are multiple choice and strictly timed, and some are adaptive, meaning the questions get harder or easier depending on your answers.
Which SHL test you sit depends on the employer and the role: an entry-level position will not be given the same assessment as a graduate or managerial one.
Four things to know before you sit one. Timings and difficulty vary with the level of the role.
Your invitation email will name the assessment rather than describe it. This is what each name means, how many questions it carries and how long you get.
| Assessment | What it measures | Questions | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verify G+ (General Ability) | Numerical, inductive and deductive, mixed together | 30 | 36 min |
| Verify Interactive G+ | The same abilities, with drag-and-drop questions | 24 | 36 min |
| Verify Numerical Reasoning | Tables and charts, one or two steps of arithmetic | 18 | 25 min |
| Verify Verbal Reasoning | True, false or cannot say from a short passage | 30 | 19 min |
| Verify Inductive Reasoning | Shape and sequence rules, no words or numbers | 18 | 24 min |
| OPQ32r | Work personality, 32 traits, no right answers | 104 blocks | Untimed |
Counts and timings vary by role level and by the version an employer licences. Check the instructions on the screen before you start. Facts checked 11 September 2026.
These figures refer to the versions named above, including older Verify assessments. Interactive replacements have different limits; use the exact name and instructions in your invitation.
Check the assessment name in your invitation: selecting an answer, building one on screen and describing yourself call for different approaches.
Illustrations by Practice Aptitude Tests · not SHL screenshots
What is the percentage increase?
In Verify G+, work out the answer, then select it from the options. Numerical, inductive and deductive questions share one timed test.
Explore the G+ guideSplit the total between two teams
Verify Interactive G+ uses activity-based questions. You may adjust a chart or arrange information on screen to give your answer.
Explore the Interactive guideWhich is most like you?
OPQ32r asks you to choose between statements about your working style. It is untimed, with no right or wrong answers.
Explore the OPQ guideIf you know which company invited you, start there: the employer guide tells you which SHL assessment sits at which stage of that firm's process.
Not listed? Browse all employer guides.
The free test shows you the style. A pack gives you the pace: 35 to 90 seconds a question, marked, with the working shown.
Practice Aptitude Tests · Original data
Results from every test in our SHL pack, past and present.
Key finding1 in 9 SHL sittings scores full marks.
42% scored 80% or more, and 21% scored under 40%.
Share of sittings in each score band.
Regular practisers went from 64% on their first test to 68% on their fifth.
4,513 people who took five or more tests.
Speed makes little difference here.
Typical pace: 36 seconds a question.
SHL is a trademark of its respective owner. Practice Aptitude Tests is not affiliated with SHL and our practice tests are not endorsed by them.
