Numerical Reasoning

Find the right talent with a numerical reasoning test. Assess the cognitive ability of your candidates to identify top performers.

What is a Numerical Reasoning test?

A Numerical Reasoning test is one of the nine tests available in the FinxS Reasoning Assessment Suite and predictive of an applicants ability to interpret large data sets and statistics. The test is great way to identify candidates with strong numerical skills and strengths in data interpretation. The report also measures an applicants ability to identify trends in numbers. Such skills are in high demand and required for accounting jobs, data analyst roles and market research analysts.

We've been supporting New Zealand businesses for over 21 years to boost their recruitment practices. Our advanced aptitude testing platform, FinxS, only available through the HR Profiling Network, empowers recruitment managers to make more reliable hiring decisions, predict job performance, and understand the working style of candidates. 

Organisations with successful hiring processes place emphasis on recruiting applicants with the most suitable ability and behavioural traits for a role. These organisations understand that robust psychometric tests help select top talent, increase employee retention and avoid high turnover.

When administered correctly, reasoning tests can significantly boost the probability of selecting the right candidate for a job.

    Common uses of numerical reasoning test

    The Numerical Reasoning test is most commonly used by recruiters during the pre-employment process to predict the job performance of candidates and quickly narrow down the talent pool. Skills such as logic, numerical reasoning or written comprehension are directly related to the high performance of specific tasks or functions in an organisation. Hiring personnel with strong intellectual abilities guarantees better performance from the individual.

    Make Secure Hiring Decisions

    Robust reasoning tests help select top talent, increase employee retention and reduce turnover.

    Benefits of numerical reasoning test

    Assess Speed vs Quality

    The speed-accuracy balance is a measure of performance and provides additional insight into a candidate's abilities and thinking style. The Numerical Reasoning test analyses if the candidate prioritises speed over accuracy and what this may mean concerning their job performance.

    36 Language Options

    FinxS Reasoning Assessments are used globally and available in 36 different languages. Ensure your applicants understand the questions and complete the test to the best of their ability. The resulting report is also available in different languages that can be ordered for no extra cost.

    Easy to Administer Online

    Simply send candidates a link and an access code to complete the required tests. Once the candidate completes the reasoning test, the cloud-based system generates a report and sends it straight to your nominated inbox within minutes of the candidate completing the test. 

    Predict job performance with numerical reasoning test

    Are you looking for an applicant with exceptional analytical skills who is comfortable processing large amounts of data? Recruiters who use cognitive ability assessments during the employment process are 24% more likely to have a high percentage of employees who exceed performance expectations.

    Candidates with a strong affinity for numerical reasoning are great at seeing connections between numbers. They can quickly identify the relationships between numbers and understand how a particular number is produced. They are good at analysing and detecting errors in numbers and can analyse trends involving numbers with ease and accuracy.

    The candidate's score alone does not provide in-depth insight. Create a benchmark to add a valuable comparison tool when hiring. Quantify the attributes of your top performers and create a baseline for confident hiring decisions. Compare results at an organisational, country, and global level to provide additional meaning to the results. Identify whether the applicant will perform better than top talent or below the requirements. 

    What does a numerical reasoning test measure?

    The FinxS Numerical Reasoning test provides insight into a candidates' working speed and accuracy, their understanding of numerical relationships, and their ability to identify trends in data effectively. The assessment focuses on a person's ability to solve problems involving numerical justification.

    Someone who demonstrates strong numerical reasoning might ask questions such as "How does this number relate to another number?" or "Are the numbers increasing, decreasing or remaining constant?"

    Numerical reasoning assessments provide reliable insights into a candidate's abilities, including:

    • Aligning results of statistical analysis with business goals and objectives
    • Efficient and insightful identification of data trends or issues including changes in market trends, performance figures, and financial returns
    • Level of speed versus accuracy in making analyses

    These abilities are critical for roles in Accounting, Surveying and Production & Logistics.

    What to expect during a numerical reasoning test?

    The Numerical Reasoning section of the test consists of 42 questions. Candidates see 42 series of 6 numbers. Their task is to determine the next two numbers in the series.

    Candidates are presented with a practice question at the beginning of the test so they know what to expect during the numerical reasoning tests. Candidates who can accurately determine the missing numbers in the data set in the given time-frame will receive a high score. 

    How to prepare for a numerical reasoning test?

    Practising sample questions is the most valuable thing a candidate can do to prepare for a numerical reasoning test. The more questions the candidate practises, the quicker they will become in determining a series of numbers.

    Candidates often struggle under the time pressure of the test. Practising questions under a specific time frame will help candidates become comfortable working under significant time limits. Remember, the tests are designed to obtain data about an applicants speed versus accuracy in answering questions. Working quickly, but without sacrificing accuracy is essential to get a high score.

    Predict job performance with 
    Numerical Reasoning Tests

    Numerical reasoning test questions

    Candidates complete the numerical reasoning test under timed conditions. They have only nine minutes to complete up to 42 numerical questions. Candidates are provided with a series of numbers and asked to determine the next two numbers in the sequence. For example, '1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, _, _.' Candidates should expect to spend approximately 10-12 seconds per question. The questions will become more difficult as the test progresses.

    Numerical reasoning test answers

    You will receive a report automatically from our cloud-based platform within minutes of the candidate completing the questionnaire. The report details the candidate's answers and provides an analysis of the implication of the score on the candidate's job performance. The report contains an overall rating, the number of all correct answers, the number of questions the candidate completed and the time spent answering. The breakdown of scores allows for analysis of the candidate's speed and accuracy. Recruiters can also compare the score to a benchmark population to examine the candidate's ability to others within the organisation.

    Next steps 

    Cognitive ability is an influential contributor to organisational success. A candidate's cognitive ability impacts their capacity to learn and apply new information to solve problems and overcome challenges. All of these aspects of cognitive ability affects job performance. Interviews, resumes and reference checks are often ineffective predictors of cognitive ability as recruiters judge candidates based on subjective, rather than job-related, competencies and skills. Reasoning tests help hiring managers to draw more objective conclusions about an applicants working style. A cognitive ability test will tell you whether a candidate will take their time to ensure accuracy or will work quickly to complete tasks under time pressure. 

    Assess your new employees and existing workforce to discover candidates with strong cognitive skills and who are likely to be successful beyond their current roles. Employees with exceptional reasoning skills tend to adjust better to new tasks with their ability to learn and apply new information.

     

    Discover our Range of Reasoning Assessments

    Abstract Logical
    Reasoning

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    Understanding Logical Processes

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    Mathematical Logical Reasoning

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    Understanding
    Social Context

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    Visual 
    Memory

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    Verbal
    Reasoning

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    Word
    Association

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    Spatial
    Reasoning

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    Start assessing your candidates today