Inductive, Verbal and Numerical Reasoning Tests

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Sam91

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#231945 21-Mar-2018 16:59

Hey guys,

I'm in my final year of uni and I'm currently applying for graduate programmes. I have top grades (A average) and I believe I will do well in interviews, however, I worry these tests will not knock me out of the running. I have never done them before and I don't have much time to practice, especially since I'm studying at the moment.

It's the inductive reasoning part I'm struggling with, as it's not a subject where I can draw on existing knowledge. The time allowance for the numerical test makes it a tricky one as well.

SHL is the first one I have to do. You can try practice tests here.

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

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#1981136 21-Mar-2018 17:46

I've completed plenty of these tests before.

Inductive reasoning is all about being able to identify patterns and from that inferring what the next step in the pattern will be. Look though the images they present you from left to right and determine what is changing between them and select the image from the answers that represents the next evolution of the pattern. Often there will be more than one component of the pattern (eg. an arrow alternating between pointing up and down and a dot moving clockwise around a shape). Be careful to select the image that confirms both patterns.

A simple example below:

A. *---

B. ---*

C. *---

D. ---*

E. *---

The answer will be ---* as the only change in the asterisk switching between ends of the 3 dashes.

Senecio

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#1981139 21-Mar-2018 17:50

Hit post too early.

In the first example question from the link you provided, the pattern comprises an arrow that alternates between point up and pointing down and also a dot inside the circle which alternates between being present and missing. The last image in the sequence has the arrow pointing up and dot is present so the answer must be arrow pointing down and not dot inside the circle. Therefore the answer must be E.

Sam91

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#1981140 21-Mar-2018 17:58

Thanks Senecio. Yep I'm fine with the basic ones like your example. Also, the few example questions on their website are quite straightforward. Have a look at the full length practice test here, they are more difficult.

Geektastic

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#1981156 21-Mar-2018 18:05

I did some of these sorts of things set up by a US software tester that employs Asperger types due to our unusual brains.

I forget exactly which the other tests (there were three for different skill sets) were, but I got 100% in the perception test, which was increasingly complex pattern recognition.

Interestingly I failed the other two tests completely, which shows clearly how my brain is wired I guess.

Senecio

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#1981191 21-Mar-2018 18:30

Just completed 100%.

Honestly, you just have to practice them. There's no getting around it. They don't come naturally and you can't call on any previous education or experience to help you. They are designed to identify people that have the ability to think abstractly and conceptually rather than analytically. They are designed to put you in an unfamiliar situation and to see how you react.

hio77

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#1981234 21-Mar-2018 21:00

Funny thing about these tests, much like mentioned above for them being used to test Aspergers... Dyslexia and dyspaxia.

Throughout schooling, torturing etc, I've learnt far too many ways around the question etc. End's up producing the result of invalid until a full in-depth testing process is gone through..

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Mark

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#1981237 21-Mar-2018 21:22

What sort of roles are you going for ? In 20 odd years of IT employment I've never once been tested with anything looking like that :-)

Sam91

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#1981242 21-Mar-2018 21:38

@Mark

I'm studying finance and economics. This one is for a bank's graduate programme.

Mark

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#1981244 21-Mar-2018 21:57

Sam91:

@Mark

I'm studying finance and economics. This one is for a bank's graduate programme.

What a horribly disheartening experience to put candidates through!

ANglEAUT

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#1981285 21-Mar-2018 23:14

Mark:
Sam91: Mark
I'm studying finance and economics. This one is for a bank's graduate programme.
What a horribly disheartening experience to put candidates through!

Well, how much do you want this bank job? Like al things in life, the more you practice, the better you get.

If you're not to worried, simply take the test and see what the end result is.
If you really want this job, take as many as possible of these test exams (incl. alternative sites) before having to sit for the test.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

SepticSceptic

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#1981405 22-Mar-2018 11:55

hio77:

Funny thing about these tests, much like mentioned above for them being used to test Aspergers... Dyslexia and dyspaxia.

Throughout schooling, torturing etc, I've learnt far too many ways around the question etc. End's up producing the result of invalid until a full in-depth testing process is gone through..

LOL ...

I was thinking of a quick quip, but brain fade ..

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Fred99

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#1981423 22-Mar-2018 12:07

Mark:

Sam91:

@Mark

I'm studying finance and economics. This one is for a bank's graduate programme.

What a horribly disheartening experience to put candidates through!

Think on the bright side. With all that collated psychometric data to work with, easing your future workload with AI should be a doddle and a dead cert, so look forward to early retirement or a second career as a bell-hop or burger flipper, something where "the human touch" is needed.

tardtasticx

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#1981434 22-Mar-2018 12:30

Don’t stress or work yourself up about it. The hardest bit is finding a quiet and comfortable space to complete it! The more you work up about how they’re not great or realistic, the more likely you’ll be to have an untrue answer about yourself I think.

I’ve done plenty of these for various roles, I’ve been successful with each thats required one. So long as you don’t lie or try to guess what the “best” answer (more so for the reasoning / personality trait tests) youll get a realistic outcome of who you are. Most of the ones I’ve done have given me a report as well that sets our skills or traits in likely to have and in most cases colleagues and friends found them to be correct or at least close.

hio77

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#1981436 22-Mar-2018 12:32

SepticSceptic:

hio77:

Funny thing about these tests, much like mentioned above for them being used to test Aspergers... Dyslexia and dyspaxia.

Throughout schooling, torturing etc, I've learnt far too many ways around the question etc. End's up producing the result of invalid until a full in-depth testing process is gone through..

LOL ...

I was thinking of a quick quip, but brain fade ..

this is why i shouldn't view geekzone while crashing for the night ;)

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Fred99

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#1981708 22-Mar-2018 19:56

tardtasticx: So long as you don’t lie or try to guess what the “best” answer (more so for the reasoning / personality trait tests) youll get a realistic outcome of who you are.

I disagree. If it's on paper, then read the test first from front to back before commencing, it makes identifying the "check" questions much easier. Although I guess that if you have the ability to do that effectively to suit the end, it proves something.

The concept that a psychometric test realistically identifies "who you are" is laughably stupid. Modern phrenology kind of stupid.

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