What Numerical Reasoning Questions Look Like
Numerical reasoning tests assess your ability to extract data, perform calculations, and draw conclusions under time pressure. A typical question presents information (a table, chart, or graph) and asks you to make a comparison, calculate a percentage, or project a trend. Most questions follow a consistent format: data source, clear question, and four to five multiple-choice answers. Calculators are permitted, the test measures reasoning, not mental arithmetic. Most assessments allow 60 to 90 seconds per question, making speed and accuracy equally important.
Numerical reasoning appears in tests from major publishers including SHL (now Psytech), CEB/Saville Wave, Cubiks (now Talogy), and Kenexa. The reasoning patterns are similar across platforms, though the specific data types and complexity vary. Understanding the underlying structure, identify what data you have, what the question asks, what unit the answer requires, is more important than memorizing formulas.
Data Table Questions (Type 1)
Tables with financial or operational data are the most common numerical reasoning format. You extract numbers from specific rows and columns, apply a calculation, and select the best answer. The key is careful reading: one misplaced decimal or wrong row choice changes the result entirely.
Example 1: Revenue Growth Calculation
Below is a simplified revenue table for a fictional software company's four divisions over one year:
| Division | Q1 (£k) | Q2 (£k) | Q3 (£k) | Q4 (£k) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | 240 | 268 | 295 | 318 |
| Services | 180 | 192 | 210 | 228 |
| Support | 95 | 98 | 101 | 105 |
| Professional | 110 | 125 | 138 | 155 |
Question: Which division achieved the highest percentage growth from Q1 to Q4?
Answer walkthrough: First, calculate the growth for each division. Growth % = (Final – Initial) / Initial × 100.
- Platform: (318 – 240) / 240 × 100 = 78 / 240 × 100 = 32.5%
- Services: (228 – 180) / 180 × 100 = 48 / 180 × 100 = 26.7%
- Support: (105 – 95) / 95 × 100 = 10 / 95 × 100 = 10.5%
- Professional: (155 – 110) / 110 × 100 = 45 / 110 × 100 = 40.9%
Answer: Professional had the highest growth at 40.9%.
Example 2: Total and Average Calculation
Question: What was the average Q2 revenue across all four divisions (in £k)?
Answer walkthrough: Sum Q2 values and divide by the number of divisions. Q2 totals: 268 + 192 + 98 + 125 = 683 £k. Average = 683 / 4 = 170.75 £k.
Answer: 170.75 £k.
Percentage and Ratio Questions (Type 2)
These questions require you to work backwards from a percentage increase or decrease, or to calculate one quantity as a percentage of another. They often appear without a table, just a problem statement. The challenge is setting up the equation correctly before calculating.
Example 1: Reverse Percentage Calculation
Question: Sales revenue increased by 22% to reach £180,000. What was the revenue before the increase?
Answer walkthrough: If revenue increased by 22%, the final amount is 122% of the original. So, Original × 1.22 = 180,000. Original = 180,000 / 1.22 = 147,541 (to the nearest £).
Answer: £147,541.
Example 2: Percentage of a Total
Question: A company's operating expenses total £600,000. Salary costs represent 35% of operating expenses. What are the total salary costs?
Answer walkthrough: Salary costs = 35% × £600,000 = 0.35 × 600,000 = £210,000.
Answer: £210,000.
Chart and Graph Questions (Type 3)
Charts (line, bar, or pie) present data visually. Questions ask you to compare values, identify trends, or calculate changes based on the visual representation. The key is reading the axis labels carefully, mixing up the scale or misidentifying which bar corresponds to which category is an easy error.
Example 1: Line Graph Trend Extraction
Scenario: A line graph shows monthly website traffic (in thousands of visitors) over 6 months: January 45, February 52, March 48, April 61, May 58, June 67.
Question: By how many thousand visitors did traffic increase from February to June?
Answer walkthrough: Find February value (52) and June value (67). Increase = 67 – 52 = 15 thousand visitors.
Answer: 15,000 visitors.
Example 2: Bar Chart Comparison
Scenario: A grouped bar chart shows sales (in £ millions) by product across three quarters: Product A (Q1: 12, Q2: 15, Q3: 18), Product B (Q1: 8, Q2: 11, Q3: 14), Product C (Q1: 10, Q2: 12, Q3: 13).
Question: In Q3, what is the combined sales figure for all three products?
Answer walkthrough: Q3 sales: Product A = 18, Product B = 14, Product C = 13. Total = 18 + 14 + 13 = 45 £ million.
Answer: £45 million.
Trend Extrapolation and Forecasting (Type 4)
These questions ask you to identify a pattern in historical data and project it forward, or to spot anomalies that break an otherwise consistent trend. They demand both numerical calculation and critical thinking about whether the pattern is likely to continue.
Example: Trend Projection
Scenario: Monthly customer acquisition for a SaaS company over five months: January 120, February 150, March 180, April 210, May 240.
Question: If the trend continues, how many new customers would you expect in June?
Answer walkthrough: Calculate the month-on-month increase. January to February: +30. February to March: +30. March to April: +30. April to May: +30. The pattern is consistent: +30 customers per month. Therefore, June = 240 + 30 = 270 customers.
Answer: 270 customers.
How to Approach Each Question Type
1. Identify the data unit first. Tables often mix currencies (£, $, €), scales (thousands, millions), and time periods (monthly, quarterly). Before you calculate, mark exactly what you're working with. A mistake here compounds every number downstream.
2. Write the calculation in words before computing. Instead of diving straight into numbers, narrate what you need to find: "I need the percentage growth, which is the change divided by the starting value, times 100." This forces logical clarity and catches setup errors before you press the calculator.
3. Watch for unit conversions. If a table shows values in £k (thousands) and the question asks for an answer in £m (millions), divide by 1,000. If one column is in percentages and another in absolute numbers, ensure you're not mixing them. These conversions are simple but are often where candidates lose marks.
4. Double-check your numbers against the source. Before submitting an answer, visually trace back from the table or chart to the numbers you used. Did you read the right row? The right column? Did you use Q2 when the question said Q3? A two-second re-check prevents careless errors.
5. Estimate the magnitude of your answer. If you calculated that a division's revenue grew by 500%, glance back at the raw numbers, does that make intuitive sense? If the question asks about average salary and your answer is 10 times larger than the maximum value you saw, something is wrong.
6. Manage your time. With 60–90 seconds per question, you have no margin for lengthy calculations. Use a calculator for anything beyond mental arithmetic. If you find yourself stuck on a calculation, move on and return if time permits, a blank answer scores zero, but a skipped question is at least a 25% chance if you return and rush through.
Numerical reasoning mastery comes from understanding the logic beneath each question type, not from memorizing specific formulas. Practice with real test examples from SHL, Saville, Cubiks, and Kenexa, each publisher has slightly different data presentation styles, and exposure to all formats strengthens your adaptability under pressure.
Ready to test your numerical skills? Visit our numerical reasoning test to practice with questions modeled after real assessments.