SHL Assessment Practice

SHL Assessment Practice

Practice package for the SHL assessment

SHL is one of the largest test publishers in the world, and you will meet its tests in two forms. Sometimes you are sent separate tests — a numerical test, a verbal test — and sometimes the General Ability Test from the Verify family: one test that combines numerical, verbal and logical reasoning. That difference matters for your preparation, because in the general test the question types are usually mixed rather than served in neat blocks, and you have a little over a minute per question on average. Both forms are listed below, with an explanation for every question.

Practise switching, not blocks

Most candidates practise twenty number series in a row and call it a day. For a test in which the question type can change with every question, that trains the wrong skill: the hard part is not the individual item but switching — moving your head from tables to text to figures without losing time. So practise the sections separately first to learn the question formats, then do the full simulations in which everything comes mixed.

The sections

Practical

A wrong answer does not cost you penalty points in these tests, so never leave a question blank when time is almost up. Also bear in mind that your result is compared with a norm group at your level: it is not about getting everything right, but about how you score relative to comparable candidates. Our practice tests mimic the question format and the time pressure; they are not copies of the real items.

Take the free SHL practice assessment to gain insight into your stronger and weaker parts and to divide your time optimally across the topics.
Clock
Time: 10:00
Number of questions: 12
Parts: SHL On Demand Logical or Abstract Reasoning: figure series, SHL On Demand Verbal Reasoning: text analysis, SHL On Demand Numerical Reasoning: working with tables, SHL General Ability Test, Logical Ability: matrices, SHL General Ability Test, Logical Ability: figure series, SHL General Ability Test, Numerical Ability: numeracy, SHL General Ability Test, Numerical Ability: word problems, SHL General Ability Test, Verbal Ability: analogies, SHL General Ability Test, Verbal Ability: syllogisms, SHL General Ability Test, Verbal Ability: text analysis, SHL Situational Judgement Test
Start SHL Free Practice Test
After the orientation test you can go through the explanation of all parts of the SHL practice package and do several practice assessments for each part.

SHL preparation package

checkmark
Extensive explanations with example questions for each part
checkmark
10+ timed practice assessments per part
checkmark
3 full 45-minute SHL assessment simulations with an extensive results report
checkmark
Practice at your level with easy and difficult SHL questions
checkmark
You pay a one-time € 39.95 (no subscription) for a year

What's in the SHL preparation package?

There are different types of patterns that are often used for inductive reasoning. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognize the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

First, do a free practice assessment for Inductive Reasoning. After the test you get access to the detailed answers and you can see how you scored compared to the other people who completed this test.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Inductive Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time constraints. At the end of each exercise set, we tell you how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Inductive Reasoning set 2
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 3
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 4
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 5
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 6
10
9:00
Inductive Reasoning set 7
10
9:00
Inductive Reasoning set 8
10
10:00
Inductive Reasoning set 9
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 10
10
9:00
Show more assessments

Eveluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

In the Verbal Reasoning (also called deductive reasoning) section of your ability test, it is tested how proficient you are in reading, analyzing and interpreting text. The question always consists of a text fragment and one (or more) statement(s). You must judge the statements on the basis of the text, not on the basis of general knowledge or an interpretation of the text. You have three possible answers for each question:

  1. True: You can determine with certainty that the statement must be true based on the text.
  2. False: On the basis of the text you can determine with certainty that the statement cannot be true.
  3. Cannot say: Based on the text it is possible that the statement is true, but it is also possible that the statement is not true.

In general terms, almost every question focuses on one of the capacities below. Via the links you can read how to best solve these types of questions, study three detailed example questions and complete three practice problems.

Verbal Reasoning 1: Text comprehension
Verbal Reasoning 2: Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning 3: Logic

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions occur and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Verbal Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Verbal Reasoning set 2
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 3
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 4
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 5
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 6
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 7
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 8
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 9
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 10
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 11
10
5:00
Show more assessments

Review the results of the assessments you have completed to determine whether you are optimally prepared for the grade series component. By clicking on an assessment, you will see more detailed results with personalized advice based on your results compared to the reference group.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for numerical reasoning. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognise the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

First, do a free numerical reasoning practice assessment to get a general idea of your level. After the test you get access to the detailed answers and you can see how you scored compared to the other people who completed this test.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Numerical Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Numerical Reasoning set 2
10
12:00
Numerical Reasoning set 3
10
11:00
Numerical Reasoning set 4
10
13:00
Numerical Reasoning set 5
10
15:00
Numerical Reasoning set 6
10
15:00
Numerical Reasoning set 7
10
13:00
Numerical Reasoning set 8
10
13:00
Numerical Reasoning set 9
10
11:00
Numerical Reasoning set 10
10
12:00
Show more assessments

Evaluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for abstract matrices. By studying the explanations with example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognise the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

Abstract Matrix explanation 1 - Movement of the figures
Abstract Matrix explanation 2 - Change of angle of figures
Abstract Matrix explanation 3 - Increase or decrease number of figures
Abstract Matrix explanation 4 - Static patterns

Take a free practice assessment for abstract matrices. After the test you get access to the detailed answers and you can see how you scored compared to the other people who completed this test.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Logical Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Logical Reasoning set 2
10
7:00
Logical Reasoning set 3
10
7:00
Logical Reasoning set 4
10
7:00
Logical Reasoning set 5
10
9:00
Logical Reasoning set 6
10
6:00
Logical Reasoning set 7
10
7:00
Logical Reasoning set 8
10
8:00
Logical Reasoning set 9
10
8:00
Logical Reasoning set 10
10
7:00
Show more assessments

Evaluate the results of your practice assessments to determine if you are optimally prepared for your assessment.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for inductive reasoning. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognize the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

First, do a free practice assessment for Inductive Reasoning. After the test you get access to the detailed answers and you can see how you scored compared to the other people who completed this test.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Inductive Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time constraints. At the end of each exercise set, we tell you how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Inductive Reasoning set 2
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 3
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 4
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 5
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 6
10
9:00
Inductive Reasoning set 7
10
9:00
Inductive Reasoning set 8
10
10:00
Inductive Reasoning set 9
10
8:00
Inductive Reasoning set 10
10
9:00
Show more assessments

Eveluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for basic arithmetic. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognise the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions occur and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Basic Arithmetic set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Basic Arithmetic set 2
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 3
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 4
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 5
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 6
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 7
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 8
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 9
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 10
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 11
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 12
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 13
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 14
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 15
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 16
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 17
10
4:00
Basic Arithmetic set 18
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 19
10
3:00
Basic Arithmetic set 20
10
4:00
Show more assessments

Evaluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for word problems. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognise the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions occur and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Word Problems set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time constraints. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Word Problems set 2
10
9:00
Word Problems set 3
10
11:00
Word Problems set 4
10
9:00
Word Problems set 5
10
11:00
Word Problems set 6
10
8:00
Word Problems set 7
10
10:00
Word Problems set 8
10
10:00
Word Problems set 9
10
10:00
Word Problems set 10
10
13:00
Word Problems set 11
10
13:00
Word Problems set 12
10
13:00
Word Problems set 13
10
13:00
Word Problems set 14
10
13:00
Word Problems set 15
10
13:00
Word Problems set 16
10
13:00
Word Problems set 17
10
13:00
Word Problems set 18
10
13:00
Word Problems set 19
10
13:00
Word Problems set 20
10
13:00
Show more assessments

Evaluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for word analogies. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognise the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

Analogies explanation 1: Synonyms / Antonyms
Analogies explanation 2: Increase / Decrease
Analogies explanation 3: Part / Whole
Analogies explanation 4: Causal relationships
Analogies explanation 5: Properties / functions
Analogies explanation 6: Exceptions

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions are most common and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Word Analogies set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time constraints. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Word Analogies set 2
10
5:00
Word Analogies set 3
10
4:00
Word Analogies set 4
10
4:00
Word Analogies set 5
10
5:00
Word Analogies set 6
10
5:00
Word Analogies set 7
10
4:00
Word Analogies set 8
10
4:00
Word Analogies set 9
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 10
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 11
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 12
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 13
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 14
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 15
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 16
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 17
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 18
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 19
10
3:00
Word Analogies set 20
10
3:00
Show more assessments

Evaluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

There are different types of patterns that are often used for syllogisms. By studying the explanations and example exercises of the different patterns, you will recognise the patterns more easily, work faster and make fewer mistakes.

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions occur and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Deductive Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Deductive Reasoning set 2
10
9:00
Deductive Reasoning set 3
10
8:00
Deductive Reasoning set 4
10
8:00
Deductive Reasoning set 5
10
8:00
Deductive Reasoning set 6
10
7:00
Deductive Reasoning set 7
10
7:00
Deductive Reasoning set 8
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 9
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 10
10
7:00
Deductive Reasoning set 11
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 12
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 13
10
5:00
Deductive Reasoning set 14
10
5:00
Deductive Reasoning set 15
10
5:00
Deductive Reasoning set 16
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 17
10
5:00
Deductive Reasoning set 18
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 19
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 20
10
6:00
Deductive Reasoning set 21
10
7:00
Show more assessments

Evaluate your results to see if you are optimally prepared for your assessment. By clicking the individual results, you will get a more detailed report of your results with personal advice.

In the Verbal Reasoning (also called deductive reasoning) section of your ability test, it is tested how proficient you are in reading, analyzing and interpreting text. The question always consists of a text fragment and one (or more) statement(s). You must judge the statements on the basis of the text, not on the basis of general knowledge or an interpretation of the text. You have three possible answers for each question:

  1. True: You can determine with certainty that the statement must be true based on the text.
  2. False: On the basis of the text you can determine with certainty that the statement cannot be true.
  3. Cannot say: Based on the text it is possible that the statement is true, but it is also possible that the statement is not true.

In general terms, almost every question focuses on one of the capacities below. Via the links you can read how to best solve these types of questions, study three detailed example questions and complete three practice problems.

Verbal Reasoning 1: Text comprehension
Verbal Reasoning 2: Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning 3: Logic

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions occur and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Verbal Reasoning set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Verbal Reasoning set 2
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 3
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 4
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 5
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 6
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 7
10
6:00
Verbal Reasoning set 8
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 9
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 10
10
5:00
Verbal Reasoning set 11
10
5:00
Show more assessments

Review the results of the assessments you have completed to determine whether you are optimally prepared for the grade series component. By clicking on an assessment, you will see more detailed results with personalized advice based on your results compared to the reference group.

A Situational Judgment Test evaluates how you will respond to situations that you may encounter in a professional environment. A question will always have the format of a situation sketch and a number of possible responses. The situations can vary from an angry customer to an impolite colleague during a presentation.

You are expected to indicate the most effective response in the given situation. This generally involves 4 types of assignments:

  • Most and least effective response - you must indicate what you see as the best and / or worst response in the given situation.
  • Response ranking - you must rank the possible responses from best to worst response
  • Assessing responses - you must indicate with a number from 1 to 5 how effective you think the responses are (this is very similar to ranking the responses)
  • "How would you react?" - This form is very similar to the first variant, with the subtle difference that more is directed towards how you personally would respond than is directed towards an objectively best response.

The situations may differ per employer, but the form will almost always be the same. It is helpful to make a number of practice sets so that you know what to expect. However, it is not a subject where it pays to practice for hours.

We recommend that you first take a free practice test to see what kinds of questions occur and how to solve them.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Situational Judgement Tests set 1
10
-

We recommend doing at least 3 exercise sets with time constraints. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more accurately to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Name
Nr of questions
Time
Situational Judgement Tests set 2
5
4:00
Situational Judgement Tests set 3
5
4:00
Situational Judgement Tests set 4
5
6:00

Review the results of the assessments you have completed to determine if you are optimally prepared for the Situational Judgment Test. By clicking on an assessment, you will see more detailed results with personal advice based on your results compared to the reference group.

Once you have prepared all parts well, you can take the full assessment simulations, in which you take an assessment exactly as administered by SHL. That way you won't face any surprises during your assessment!
Name
Nr of questions
Time
SHL full simulation test 1
44
43:00
SHL full simulation test 2
44
45:00
SHL full simulation test 3
49
45:00
SHL Easy Questions
69
45:00
SHL Difficult Questions
38
42:00

SHL preparation package

checkmark
Extensive explanations with example questions for each part
checkmark
10+ timed practice assessments per part
checkmark
3 full 45-minute SHL assessment simulations with an extensive results report
checkmark
Practice at your level with easy and difficult SHL questions
checkmark
You pay a one-time € 39.95 (no subscription) for a year