Use our numerical comprehension test to assess a candidate's ability to handle and interpret numerical data. As maths is an essential part of so many roles, and numerical skills of some kind are necessary in just about every workplace, aptitude tests in this area are paramount. Numeracy tests make it possible to single out candidates with numerical aptitude and an ability to analyse and interpret data.
This numeracy test, the numerical comprehension test, is designed to assess an individual’s aptitude for working with numbers; that is, their ability to extract key numerical information and data trends from charts and tables with the aid of a calculator.
During this skills test, candidates are presented with a variety of question styles— including true or false statements and multiple choice – which they must answer in an effort to display their numeracy skills to current and potential employers. At all levels, data interpretation skills are required - candidates will need to review data, make predictions and perform mathematical calculations from the data presented. At the Core and Professional levels, the complexity of the data is increased from that which can be expected from Fundamental, and attention to detail will become much more critical to calculations.
General arithmetic, percentages, averages and fractions are all common elements of a numeracy skills test, but the main focus of this numerical comprehension test in particular is realistic problem solving and statistical data. Questions give applicants hypothetical situations to answer, for example asking them to evaluate the productivity of two different branches of a company based on a graph, with the help of a calculator. This kind of question measures how successfully a candidate can apply numerical comprehension in a realistic context. In short, our numerical comprehension tests go beyond a simple assessment of numeracy, but aim to assess a candidate's overall business aptitude, maths practice and workplace competence.
Candidates are presented with 15 numeracy questions to complete in 15 minutes. The candidate’s answers are automatically marked and a point is awarded for each correctly completed question. Skipped questions, practice questions or those that are not taken will result in no point being awarded.
The Numerical Comprehension test is not aimed at a specific job role or function. Instead, this aptitude test is aimed at any employee whose role will involve carrying out numerical reasoning or comprehension of any type. In other words, if the role you are recruiting for involves working with numbers in any format, both your organisation and your candidates can benefit from conducting a Numerical Comprehension test.
Three different levels of the Numerical Comprehension Test are available and are used to test various levels of ability, and there are also practice tests available to candidates. These assessment levels are Fundamental, Core and Professional. The higher levels will assess new skills and cover new material, but they will also expand on topics covered by previous levels, calling on more advanced numerical comprehension.
Candidates taking the Fundamental Numerical Comprehension Test are required to interpret a chart or table and perform a simple calculation based on data which can be directly referenced.
A candidate taking the Fundamental level of a test is expected to have maths knowledge that is aligned with a foundation level GCSE graduate.
In this numerical test, candidates are required to review and interpret charts or tables and perform a multiple stage calculation or short term forecast on data spread across these.
A candidate taking the Core level of this Numerical Comprehension Test is expected to be reasonably well practiced, and have numerical comprehension abilities that are aligned to that of a higher level GCSE graduate, and to give answers that show a strong understanding of the basics of mathematics.
In this numerical test, candidates are required to interpret data gathered from multiple charts or tables and combine this information to perform a multiple stage calculation or long term forecast on these data sets. This test builds on Core by increasing the quantity of numerical data for interpretation and the complexity of the numerical data presented.
A candidate taking the Professional level of a test is expected to be highly practiced, and to have numerical comprehension aligned to that of an A-Level graduate.
Numeracy Tests are designed to test applicants in order to help your organisation make better hiring decisions, ensuring that only the candidates who are the most practiced, most prepared and best suited to their roles will make it to the final stages.
If your organisation is hiring, and particularly if the job requires working with numbers and numerical data, numeracy tests such as the Numerical Comprehension Test can predict which candidates are likely to perform well in a role. In a competitive market, it is essential that employers narrow down their pool of candidates in a bias-free way.
Aptitude tests of all kinds, including numerical comprehension tests, are useful for reducing the size of large candidate pools, and as a means of filtering out applicants who are not suited to the requirements of the position for which they are applying.
Verbal skills are often easier to spot in the recruitment process, which is why non-verbal assessments are crucial. Our numeracy tests measure more than basic numeracy, which is necessary in every position. That is why the questions in our numerical comprehension tests differ from the kind of standard maths questions found in regular exams. Instead, our numerical comprehension tests are designed to evaluate a candidate's ability to problem solve, often imitating the type of dilemmas that arise in a workplace.