SHL Practice Test

SHL tests are one of the most widely used psychometric tests in the world. Many companies use these test to fulfil their hiring requirements.

What is SHL?

SHL, a globally recognized publisher of psychometric tests, operates in over 150 countries and has been translated into more than 40 languages. The company was founded in 1977 by British psychologists Peter Francis Saville and Roger Holdsworth, and has since become one of the largest providers of psychometric tests worldwide. In 2012, SHL was acquired by CEB, which was later acquired by Gartner in 2017, making it the world’s largest provider of psychometric tests.

SHL Practice Test

Practicing with SHL sample questions and tests can help candidates become more comfortable with the test format and question types.

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What Are SHL Tests?

SHL Tests are psychometric tests designed to analyse the test taker over specific key competencies that companies & other clients wants to look for. SHL makes various tests that caters most industries & also makes special test variations for selective clients. 

Here are some of the most popular SHL tests:

General Ability Test

General ability tests are all-encompassing evaluations comprising questions that encompass various cognitive concepts.

Verify G+ Test

This is an upgraded version of the general ability test that measures three abilities: Numerical, Deductive, and Inductive Reasonig.

OPQ

SHL’s OPQ is a psychometric tool used to evaluate personality traits and suitability for work roles. 

Situational Judgment Test

The aim of these assessments is to evaluate your ability to handle job-specific situations that you may encounter.

Numerical Reasoning Test

These tests evaluate a candidate’s capacity to interpret and analyze numerical data presented in tables or graphs, assessing their mathematical abilities and problem-solving skills.

Verbal Reasoning Test

These tests assess a candidate’s aptitude to quickly and accurately comprehend and interpret written information, evaluating their critical thinking abilities and understanding of written language.

Inductive Reasoning Test

These tests evaluate a candidate’s proficiency in drawing logical conclusions from a given set of facts and data, assessing their capability for critical thinking and logical deduction.

Deductive Reasoning Test

These tests evaluate an individual’s capacity to draw logical conclusions from given statements and facts, necessitating the use of their knowledge and logical skills to arrive at quick and accurate answers.

Calculation Test

Calculation tests evaluate your comprehension of mathematical equations and problem-solving abilities.

Checking Test

Checking tests evaluate your capability to swiftly and accurately compare information, which is crucial in ensuring work quality.

Personality Tests

The Personality Test evaluates competencies, which are crucial behaviors that drive excellent job performance.

Behavioral Tests

This assessment measures the extent to which you engage in certain work behaviors. 

Reading Comprehension Test

This test assesses the capacity to extract pertinent information from written sources and make impartial judgments based on that information.

Mechanical Comprehension Test

Mechanical comprehension tests evaluate your comprehension of using, troubleshooting, and maintaining machinery.

Motivational Questionaire

These questionnaires are used to identify situations that may boost or diminish your motivation, ultimately aiding in job satisfaction. 

Process Monitoring Test

SHL’s Process Monitoring Test is a timed assessment that evaluates a candidate’s vigilance, working memory, and decision-making abilities.

Which companies uses the SHL Test?

Tests from SHL are used by around 50% of Fortune 500 Companies & some of its customers include Amazon, Microsoft, Danone, Heineken, BAE Systems, Bayer, Crédit Suisse, and others.

Here’s a complete list of Companies SHL works with

Legal

  • Allen & Overy
  • Clifford Chance
  • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
  • Linklaters
  • Hogan Lovells

Finance

  • Barclays
  • Capital One
  • Citibank
  • Credit Suisse
  • The London Stock Exchange
  • Allianz
  • Atkins
  • BDO
  • BCG
  • BNP Paribas
  • Capgemini
  • ING
  • Nordea Bank
  • Rothschild
  • RSM
  • Schroders
  • Wells Fargo
  • AXA
  • BlackRock
  • LEK Consulting
  • Financial Conduct Authority
  • Commonwealth Bank

IT

  • Microsoft
  • Nokia
  • Vodafone

Why is the SHL Test important?

The SHL tests are designed to filter out high percentage of people. With their reliable & historical data, they are able to do that on a granular level.

Companies use the SHL test because of the reliability of the test results as well as the past experiences. The addition into the Gartner Group has also brought the expertise to SHL.

What does it cover & how does it work?

All SHL tests have different approaches, but they all measures one or more of three things: cognitive ability, behavior & personality. Here is a brief explanation of each SHL test with all important info about it.

SHL Numerical Reasoning Test

The SHL numerical reasoning test evaluates a candidate’s capacity to interpret and analyze numerical data presented in tables or graphs, assessing their mathematical and problem-solving skills. It necessitates swift and precise data interpretation and conclusion-drawing, emphasizing the need to prepare before taking the exam.

Question Type

The Numerical Reasoning Test has a standard multiple choice format, but there’s also an interactive version of this test where you have to drag & drop the answers. 

Test Timing

25 Minutes for 18 questions for the standard MCQ test & 18 Minutes for 10 questions for the interactive test.

Results

SHL only counts the correct answers, so there’s no negative marking which gives you an opportunity for better scores. After the test, you get a raw score, which is then put into groups called norm groups. Then, it’ll get compared within that group & converted into a percentile score. Norm groups are explained below in detail for your understanding.

Difficulty Level

Adaptive – can be set up for different groups with various difficulty

Eligibility Requirements

As of now, there are no eligibility requirements for the numerical reasoning test.

SHL Verbal Reasoning Test

The SHL verbal reasoning test measures the capability of a candidate to quickly and accurately comprehend and interpret written information. It is designed to assess one’s critical thinking abilities and understanding of written language, highlighting the significance of being adequately prepared for this type of evaluation before taking the actual exam.

Question Type

The Numerical Reasoning Test has a standard multiple choice format.

Test Timing

19 Minutes for 30 questions for the Multiple Choice Question test.

Results

SHL only counts the correct answers, so there’s no negative marking which gives you an opportunity for better scores. After the test you get a raw score, which is then put into groups called as norm groups. Then, it’ll get compared within that group & converted into a percentile score. 

Difficulty Level

Adaptive – can be set up for different groups with various difficulty

Eligibility Requirements

As of now, there are no eligibility requirements for the numerical reasoning test.

SHL Inductive Reasoning Test

Inductive reasoning tests are an effective way of evaluating problem-solving abilities as they measure a candidate’s capacity to draw logical conclusions from facts and data. The assessment requires you to quickly and accurately interpret information to draw valid conclusions, making preparation crucial before the actual exam.

Question Type

The Inductive Reasoning Test has a standard multiple choice format, but there’s also an interactive version of this test where you have to drag & drop the answers. 

Test Timing

24 Minutes for 18 questions for the standard MCQ test & 18 Minutes for 15 questions for the interactive test.

Results

SHL only counts the correct answers, so there’s no negative marking which gives you an opportunity for better scores. 

After the test you get a raw score, which is then put into groups called as norm groups. Then, it’ll get compared within that group & converted into a percentile score. 

Difficulty Level

Adaptive – can be set up for different groups with various difficulty

Eligibility Requirements

As of now, there are no eligibility requirements for the Inductive reasoning test.

SHL Deductive Reasoning Test

The SHL Deductive Reasoning Test assesses the capacity for logical deduction, critical thinking, and information interpretation. It evaluates the ability to draw logical conclusions from a set of facts and data. This test helps identify candidates with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex data accurately and quickly.

Question Type

The Deductive Reasoning Test has a standard multiple choice format, but there’s also an interactive version of this test where you have to drag & drop the answers.

Test Timing

20 Minutes for 18 questions for the standard MCQ test & 18 Minutes for 12 questions for the interactive test.

Results

SHL only counts the correct answers, so there’s no negative marking which gives you an opportunity for better scores. 

 

After the test you get a raw score, which is then put into groups called as norm groups. Then, it’ll get compared within that group & converted into a percentile score.

Difficulty Level

Adaptive – can be set up for different groups with various difficulty

Eligibility Requirements

As of now, there are no eligibility requirements for the Deductive reasoning test.

What is an SHL Norm Group?

The SHL norm groups are like a benchmark for job candidates to measure their abilities against other individuals who have taken the same test. By comparing a candidate’s scores to the norm group, hiring managers can gain insight into the candidate’s potential job performance. It’s like entering a race and knowing the times of all the previous winners – it gives you an idea of where you stand and what you need to do to improve your performance and come out on top

These groups are defined based on two important factors: industry and job level. This means that each industry and job level has a unique set of benchmarks against which candidates are evaluated.

Here are a few examples of industries that SHL offers to employers:

IT

Accountancy & Financial

Public Service

Telecom & Media

Consulting

Retail

Industry & Manufacturing

Law & Legal

Pharma, Science & Healthcare

The job level groupings available to employers are:

Managerial & Professional

Junior Management

Junior Customer Contact

Graduates

Senior Customer Contact

Administrator

Skilled Technology

Skilled Technical

Semi-Skilled Technical

Do you need to prepare for it?

Yes, it is recommended to prepare for the SHL test in order to increase your chances of success. The SHL tests can cover a wide range of topics and skill areas, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions that you may encounter. Additionally, preparing for the test can help reduce test anxiety and increase confidence.

Companies use a combination of different shl tests to define their specific hiring needs, this develops more complexity for self study.

What makes it challenging?

SHL makes various test variation & a combination of these tests can be very tricky to understand & master.

How to Prepare for SHL Tests?

Here are some ways in which you can prepare for your SHL Assessment:

Insights into the exam

Practice tests

Prep tips

Sample Questions

FAQs

Is the SHL test hard?

The tests made by SHL are adaptive & can be configured for any difficulty level. 

What is a good SHL test score?

Any score above the 75% percentile is considered good. Although the selection score is decided by the company that’s conducting the test.

Can you use a calculator on SHL?

Candidates sitting on the SHL calculation test are not allowed to use a calculator during the test. This may vary from test to test.

Does SHL test record audio?

Once they begin their assessment, a recording signal will display on the candidate screen and the selected parameters will be monitored and captured.