SHL Test: Full Practice Guide & Examples for All Assessments
Avia Author

Avia, SHL Test specialist at JobTestPrep.

Have a question? Contact me at: ask_the_team@jobtestprep.co.uk

 

What Is an SHL Test?

The SHL test is a tool employers use to gauge the proficiency of prospective candidates for a job. This aptitude test evaluates the candidate's capabilities in numerical reasoning, situational judgment, and deductive reasoning, among other relevant skills.

The most common SHL tests are the Cognitive SHL Verify Interactive, the Verify General Ability (G+), the SHL Numerical Reasoning Test, and the SHL Inductive Reasoning test.

Other less common psychometric tests from SHL include the SHL Verbal, SHL Deductive, SHL Checking, SHL Calculation, SHL Personality Questionnaire (OPQ), SHL SJT (Situational Judgement Test), and SHL Mechanical Comprehension Test.

The company also offers its SHL video interview platform.

Watch the following video to receive a brief introduction to the SHL Assessment Tests, including practice questions and solving tips from our SHL expert: 

Usually, you’d be asked to take the test on TalentCentral, which is an online SHL assessment delivery platform.

Below, you’ll find a list of the most common SHL tests. Choose your test and find free SHL practice tests that are designed specifically to enhance the skills needed to pass SHL Tests.

Though we recommend practising for the specific test it will be taking, you can also take our general-purpose free SHL sample test, which is full of SHL-style questions.

If you are unsure which test you need to practice for, you can follow the SHL Practice Finder Flowchart [PDF], or use this online SHL test guide.

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SHL General Ability (Verify G+)

The SHL General Ability Test (also known as Verify G+) combines 3 different SHL tests: the SHL numerical, inductive, and deductive (see below).

The SHL General Ability test may come in two versions:

Learn more about the SHL General Ability Test

SHL Numerical Reasoning

Each question on the SHL Numerical test contains a variety of mathematical questions, mostly based on a graph or a table. You will be required to extract the relevant data, calculate, and answer.

The SHL Numerical Reasoning test may come in two versions:

  • Interactive - 10 questions in 18 minutes
  • Non-Interactive - 16 questions in 20 minutes

Here is a practice question for the non-interactive SHL numerical test:

What proportion of both sites' April and May traffic was for Cuisine.net?

SHL numerical sample question
29.7%
31.3%
34.2%
35.7%
38.1%
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is (E) - 38.1%

To calculate this, we add up the total page views of cuisine.net for April and May and divide this amount by the total hits of both sites for the same period.

Therefore, the calculation would be:

(35+45)/(35+45+70+60), which is 80/210 -> 38.1%

Learn more about the SHL Numerical Reasoning Test

SHL Verbal Reasoning

The SHL Verbal test is another SHL aptitude test that contains questions dealing with the analysis and interpretation of texts.

The test has only a non-interactive version, with 30 questions in 19 minutes.

Here is a practice question for the SHL verbal test:

Read the text below and answer the question below:

In the past few years, the government has turned to shock tactics to fight the battle against smoking and the burden smokers pose to the country's economy—manifested in sick days and health issues. The latest anti-smoking campaign showed tumours growing from a cigarette. Needless to say, this advert was contentious. On the one hand, the advert has become a viral sensation since its launch and has attracted plenty of attention to the subject. The government estimates that approximately 300,000 people will attempt to quit smoking because of the campaign. On the other hand, some argue that using a hard-hitting approach is not the best way because people become very afraid. If someone thinks they might have cancer or a symptom of cancer, they're likely to push it out of their mind. Health experts claim the new campaign is not effective in targeting all smokers and recommend using it alongside other measures.

The advertisement is not effective because it scares people.

True
False
Cannot Say
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The answer is Cannot Say.

The passage presents two opposite approaches of pros and cons to the anti-smoking campaign. The opinions presented are not addressed as absolute truths; therefore, it cannot be determined whether the advertisement is effective. The passage states: ‘Some argue that using a hard-hitting approach is not the best way because people become very afraid'. The opinion of 'some' cannot be used as a generalisation. Thus, you Cannot Say whether the argument is True or False.

Learn more about the SHL Verbal Reasoning Test

SHL Inductive Reasoning

The SHL Inductive Test requires you to recognize patterns and rules in a series of abstract shapes.

The Inductive Reasoning test may come in two versions:

  • Interactive - 15 questions in 18 minutes
  • Non-Interactive - 18 questions in 24 minutes

Here is a practice question for the non-interactive version of the SHL Inductive test:

 

Which diagram would appear next in series?

SHL inductive sample question
A
B
C
D
E
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is (A).

The inner shape in one frame becomes the middle shape in the next frame; the middle shape becomes the outer shape in the next frame; and the outer shape becomes the inner shape two frames later.

Thus, the outer shape in the missing frame should be a square (just like the middle shape in the 5th frame), the middle shape should be a triangle (like the inner shape in the 5th frame), and the inner shape should be a diamond (like the outer shape in the 4th frame).

Learn more about the SHL Inductive Reasoning Test

SHL Deductive Reasoning Test

The SHL Deductive Test assesses your ability to come to the correct logical conclusions from texts and tables.

The test may come in two versions:

  • Interactive - 12 questions in 18 minutes
  • Non-Interactive - 18 questions in 20 minutes

Here is a practice question for the non-interactive version of the SHL deductive test:

 

Read the following section and arrive at the right conclusion:

In a restaurant's pantry, there are seven kinds of fruits - Figs, Guavas, Honeydews, Kiwis, Mangos, Nectarines, and Papayas. The restaurant's chef has to pick exactly four different kinds of fruits out of the seven to make a fruit salad. The selected fruits must meet the following conditions:

  • Papaya can be selected only if Kiwi is selected.
  • Fig can be selected only if Nectarine is selected.
  • Either Mango or Nectarine must be selected but not both.
  • Either Papaya or Honeydew must be selected but not both.

Which one of the following could be a complete and accurate list of the fruits from which the salad is made up?

Kiwi, Papaya, Fig, Mango
Kiwi, Nectarine, Honeydew, Guava
Mango, Nectarine, Fig, Papaya
Papaya, Mango, Guava, Honeydew
Guava, Papaya, Kiwi, Fig
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The Correct answer is (B) - Kiwi, Nectarine, Honeydew, Guava.

In questions asking for a possible complete arrangement according to the rules, go over the answer options and eliminate every response that violates any of the rules presented.

The correct answer is the one that does not violate any of the rules.

Answer (A) - According to the derivatives, Fig can only be selected if Nectarine is selected (~N → ~F). In addition, Mango and Nectarine cannot both be used (M or N). So, a salad containing Mango and Fig is impossible (M → ~F).

Answer (B) - This setting does not violate any of the rules, and therefore this is the correct answer.

Answer (C) - According to the rules, Mango and Nectarine cannot both be selected (M or N).

Answer (D) - According to the rules, Papaya and Honeydew cannot both be selected (P or H).

Answer (E) - According to the rules, Fig can only be selected if Nectarine is selected, so a salad containing Fig but not Nectarine is impossible (~N → ~F).

In the preparation pack found on this page, you'll get practice tests for both the interactive and non-interactive versions of the SHL deductive reasoning test with a guide to help you answer these types of questions in the right fashion, as well as all other SHL tests. Practise with hundreds of SHL-style questions!

Learn more about the SHL Deductive Reasoning Test

SHL OPQ32

The SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire is one of the most commonly used personality tests and one of the SHL tests. Many cognitive-based SHL tests are accompanied by it in the hiring process.

Unlike the other SHL tests, like the numerical and verbal reasoning test, there are no wrong answers strictly speaking. However, your scores are pooled together to form a personality profile. It is important to know how to answer these questions correctly.

The test requires choosing between behavioural statements that best (or least) describe you. The common version has 104 questions.

Learn more about the SHL OPQ32 Test or about personality tests in general

Other SHL Tests / More Than One SHL Test / Unknown

If you have more than one SHL assessment coming up, or if you're not sure which one you have, use the SHL All-Inclusive Preparation to get yourself prepared for any SHL assessment you might go through, including all the tests mentioned here as well as the SHL Situational Judgment Test..

You can also find your test using our SHL test guide.

Still Don't Know Which SHL Test to Choose?

If you are still not sure of the exact test you will be taking - try the SHL All-Inclusive Preparation Pack offered on this page, or contact me personally. I usually respond within 24-48 hours, and would love to help you pass your SHL Test. Feel free to browse our website, which is full of practice SHL tests.

JobTestPrep is a leading test prep company that offers accurate practice simulations and preparation guides since 1992, including for SHL assessments. JobTestPrep is not affiliated or in business with SHL™ in any way.

 

SHL is one of the biggest assessment companies. However, there are many other assessment companies providing psychometric tests, including Korn Ferry, Watson Glaser, cut-e, Thomas, Cubiks, Pymetrics, Saville, aon, Matrigma, McQuaig, and many more. These are used by hundreds of companies for their recruitment process.

More Free Practice

We at JobTestPrep find the assessment tests world highly diverse and fascinating. If you are looking to deepen your knowledge in the aptitude tests world, or you want some extra practice before your test, we've got you covered!

Check out these fantastic free practice tests (all are completely free):

Free Aptitude Test | Free Psychometric Test | Free Numerical Reasoning Test | Free Verbal Reasoning Test | Free Cognitive Test | Free Critical Thinking Test | Free Abstract Reasoning Test | Free Spatial Reasoning Tets | Free Personality Test | Free Inductive Test | Free Mechanical Reasoning Test  

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