SHL Tests

There are a number of tests that SHL offer.

The most common SHL for online graduate job applications and assessment centres are:

• Numerical Reasoning Tests
• Verbal Reasoning Tests

SHL Numerical Reasoning

The SHL numerical reasoning test is a data interpretation test. You will be required to interpret data from tables, graphs and charts, and to perform simple calculations on them.

Although the maths required is basic, a very thorough understanding of it is necessary.

The skills tested are:

• Fractions
• Percentages
• Ratios
• Calculations involving time
• Interpretation of data from a chart.

Often, the questions will revolve around a business situation, for example:

• A set of financial results for a company
• The number of staff in different sectors
• The cost of various products and their parts

You will require a calculator and scrap paper for the tests. You have 21 minutes to answer 21 questions.

SHL Verbal Reasoning

The SHL verbal reasoning test requires a good level of English to perform well. You will be presented with a paragraph and a statement about the paragraph. You have three choices of answer relating to the statement:

• True
• False
• Cannot Say

You must take the paragraph literally. You are not required to use any knowledge or information not provided with the test. You have 15 minutes to answer 30 questions.

Assessment

The results of these tests, while not provided to you, are provided to the employer in the form of a 'percentile'. This is how well you have performed against the average candidate. They do not get the actual percentage of right/wrong answers.

OPQ Personality Questionnaire

This is a new type of personality test that SHL are trying to introduce to employers. It is a detailed review of a candidates key skills and personality traits. It is not commonly used in assessment centres.