A numerical test mixes a data source with a question style. Knowing the combinations ahead of time makes the first minute of each item much calmer.
Numerical reasoning items present data in a table, chart or graph and ask for a calculation or a judgement about a statement. Providers differ in layout, time limits, calculator rules and scoring, so read your own instructions, but the underlying skills of reading data and computing percentages, ratios and changes are the same.
| Data source | What to watch | Typical trap |
|---|---|---|
| Table | Units, column headings and totals rows | Mixing thousands and millions, or using the wrong year |
| Bar or column chart | The axis start point and the legend | Reading a stacked bar as if each segment started at zero |
| Line graph | Scale on each axis and any dual axes | Judging change by slope rather than by actual values |
| Pie chart | Whether labels are shares or amounts | Treating percentages from different totals as comparable |
| Mixed (table plus text) | Footnotes and definitions | Ignoring a note that changes the currency or the period |
The question side is equally varied. Multiple-choice items ask for a figure. True / false / cannot say items give a statement about the data and ask whether the figures support it. Some tests also show the data once and ask a series of questions about it.
In multiple choice, you can usually estimate and remove two options by magnitude before doing exact arithmetic. In true / false / cannot say, the discipline is the same as in verbal reasoning: only the data counts. A statement about a reason, a forecast or a cause is nearly always Cannot say, because tables report what happened, not why.
See the guide on true, false and cannot say for the logic behind that third answer.
Some tests present a fixed list of questions against one overall clock. Others set a time per question, and some adjust difficulty depending on your answers, which is called adaptive testing. In an adaptive test, the next question depends on how you did on earlier ones, so spending a long time on a single item may be a worse trade than in a fixed test. Calculator rules also differ: some tests supply an on-screen calculator, some allow your own, and some do not mention it. The invitation or instructions screen is the place to confirm this. This guide does not state any particular time or number of questions, because they vary.
A fictional bicycle maker reports units sold, in thousands, by quarter:
| Product line | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road bikes | 420 | 465 | 510 | 480 |
| Mountain bikes | 380 | 350 | 395 | 440 |
| E-bikes | 150 | 210 | 260 | 330 |
| Total | 950 | 1025 | 1165 | 1250 |
For numerical reasoning, screenshot a practice table or chart, upload it, and use "Tutor Explanation" to see which figures were chosen and how the calculation proceeds. If you got it wrong, look for whether the slip was in reading the data or in the arithmetic, since the fixes differ.
The free numerical reasoning practice test gives ten original timed items with explanations. A free account has 3 trials, and the 14-Day Pass costs 49 € for unlimited use for 14 days.
ReasonEra is designed for practice and learning, but the rules of a graded test come from the employer, not from us, so treat it as practice and not as a way around the test.
Most use tables, charts or graphs and ask for percentages, ratios, totals or changes, either as multiple choice or as true, false and cannot say statements. The exact mix depends on the publisher.
Some are, and some use a fixed set of questions. The instructions for your test should say which type you have.
It depends on the test, as some provide an on-screen calculator and others set different rules. Check the instructions before you start.
Mostly percentages, percentage change, ratios, averages and unit conversions, which are usually school-level. The challenge is doing them quickly while reading data correctly.
Work timed sets from tables and charts, then review whether each error came from misreading data or from arithmetic. The free numerical practice test and ReasonEra's explanations support this.
Use your free trials to see how ReasonEra handles the puzzles you are practising. Ready for more? Get a 14-Day Pass for 49 € to access unlimited puzzle explanations and solutions.
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Notes. The guide summarises widely published practice, so your own invitation takes priority. We fix mistakes quickly when they are sent to info@reasonera.com.