Explained per part › Numerical reasoning
Numerical reasoning
You get tables and charts with figures and answer questions about percentages, ratios, growth and totals. The sums themselves are not hard; the challenge is finding the right figures quickly and avoiding thinking errors under time pressure.
In almost every ability test: SHL, Cappfinity (typed answers), Aon/cut-e, Korn Ferry (adaptive), Harver and the Dutch capacity test. Usually a calculator is allowed; in some Dutch tests and at Harver it is not. Your invitation says which.
How to solve it
Revenue per quarter: Q1 €240,000, Q2 €276,000. By what percentage did revenue grow from Q1 to Q2?
- Find the two figures you need: 240,000 (old) and 276,000 (new).
- Calculate the difference: 276,000 − 240,000 = 36,000.
- Divide by the OLD value: 36,000 ÷ 240,000 = 0.15.
- Turn it into a percentage: 15%.
Answer: 15%. The trap is dividing by the new value (36,000 ÷ 276,000 = 13%). That wrong answer is almost always among the options.
Try it yourself
1. After a 20% discount a product costs €80. What was the original price?
- € 96
- € 100
- € 64
- € 104
Show the answer
B. €80 is 80% of the old price, so 80 ÷ 0.8 = €100. €96 is what you get by adding 20% to €80: the classic mistake.
2. Plant A makes 1,200 tonnes with 15 staff, plant B 1,500 tonnes with 20 staff. Which plant makes more per employee, and how much more?
- A, 5 tonnes more
- B, 5 tonnes more
- A, 300 tonnes more
- They are equal
Show the answer
A. A: 1,200 ÷ 15 = 80 tonnes. B: 1,500 ÷ 20 = 75 tonnes. A makes 5 tonnes more per employee, even though B makes more in total.
3. Costs rise from €50,000 to €62,000 and then fall by 10%. What are the costs now?
- € 55.800
- € 57.000
- € 52.000
- € 56.800
Show the answer
A. The 10% fall applies to the new amount: 62,000 × 0.9 = €55,800. €57,000 is what you get by subtracting 10% of the old 50,000.
Tips
- Read the question first, then the table. Then you know which figures you need.
- Estimate first. Two options often drop out straight away.
- Watch the units: thousands, millions, percentages and percentage points.
- For every percentage ask yourself: a percentage of what?
- Stuck for more than a minute and a half? Guess and move on. A blank answer counts as wrong too.
Practise with new questions: Numerical reasoning
Numbered practice tests with an explanation for every answer, plus interview and assessment day practice. No account needed.
Practise for free →This page was created with the help of AI based on public sources and may contain errors. Always check dates and requirements with the company. Updated: 8 October 2026.