Liam Healy - More How to Win at Aptitude Tests

c) 13

d) 15

e) none of these

172 y × 2 y =

a) y

b) 2 y

c) 2 y 2

d) 4 y 2

e) none of these

18Which of the following is exactly divisible by 6.2?

a) 26.2

b) 43.4

c) 60.2

d) 160.2

e) none of these

191 = 1⁄ 9+ 16⁄ ?

a) 9

b) 16

c) 18

d) 32

e) none of these

208 = 20% of:

a) 20

b) 40

c) 16

d) 160

e) none of these

21Which number comes next in this series?

0 1 2 5 20 25

a) 50

b) 75

c) 125

d) 150

e) none of these

22If x = z and z = 3 then:

x⁄ z+ X =

a) 2

b) 3

c) 4

d) 6

e) none of these

232.1 × 2.1 − 0.75 =

a) 1.21

b) 2.42

c) 3.66

d) 3.25

e) none of these

24¼ + ½ × 3⁄ 4=

a) 3⁄ 8

b) 9⁄ 16

c) 12⁄ 6

d) ¼

e) none of these

2510% of 40% of 200 =

a) 8

b) 20

c) 40

d) 80

e) none of these

26Which number comes next in this series?

1 1 0 −1 −1 −2

a) −3

b) −4

c) −5

d) 2

e) none of these

276 p + 4 q = 2 q + 2 p is the same as:

a) 2 qp + 2 = 4

b) 4 p + 2 q = 0

c) 2 qp + 2 p = 4 q

d) 4 q + 2 p = 0

e) none of these

28Which number replaces t in this equation?

1.2⁄ t= 1.2 + 3.64 − 4.84

a) 0.21

b) 0

c) 2.2

d) 2

e) none of these

29 3⁄ 5of 3⁄ 8is:

a) 3⁄ 15

b) 6⁄ 15

c) 9⁄ 8

d) 9⁄ 40

e) none of these

3060% of 340 is greater than:

a) 190

b) 220

c) 240

d) 260

e) none of these

So far we have seen examples of numerical tests that have tended to focus on mathematical ability, with a small amount of problem solving involved. Now we turn our attention to some more difficult numerical ability tests that expressly address problem solving – how well you can identify which mathematical calculations you need to perform in order to reach the correct answer.

It is less important in this type of test to be able to carry out straightforward mathematical calculations – the emphasis is on how you get to that point. Note again that as in Test 6 the actual mathematical calculations involved are sometimes quite simple once you know what they are.

Type of test:Speed/Power

Typical length:15–25 questions

Typical time allowed:20–30 minutes

Used for:Intermediate/higher level

Frequency of use:Not that common in this ‘pure’ form but items of this type crop up from time to time.

This test contains a set of number series, arranged in pairs with two numbers in each square. In this test your task is to look at the number in the top left diagonal of the square and work out how it relates to the number in the bottom right diagonal of the same square. There are five squares in each set and they all share the same rule for relating the top number to the bottom number. Occasionally you may come across a version of this test that asks you to identify the odd one out, rather than the next in the sequence. With this type of test, the principle and method of solving the question are identical.

When you have worked out what the rule is, you should be able to work out the missing number. Give yourself 25 minutes.

1

a) 6

b) 7

c) 8

d) 9

2

a) 9

b) 10

c) 12

d) 14

3

a) 5

b) 6

c) 4

d) 3

4

a) 4

b) 5

c) 6

d) 8

5

b) 16

b) 18

c) 19

d) 20

6

a) 24

b) 19

c) 21

d) 25

7

a) 18

b) 20

c) 24

d) 26

8

a) 14

b) 16

c) 17

d) 18

9

a) 10

b) 15

c) 25

d) 50

10

a) 7

b) 8

c) 9

d) 12

11

a) 27

b) 29

c) 33

d) 35

12

a) 19

b) 21

c) 22

d) 25

13

a) 15

b) 11

c) 9

d) 7

14

a) 50

b) 55

c) 65

d) 75

15

a) 250

b) 400

c) 450

d) 1240

16

a) 15

b) 18

c) 24

d) 30

17

a) −2

b) 0

c) 5

d) 40

18

a) 3

b) 5

c) 4

d) 6

19

a) 6

b) 8

c) 10

d) 12

20

a) 0

b) 1

c) 81

d) 90

These types of test are very commonly used in graduate and managerial selection, not least because they ask the test taker to apply their skills to deal with realistic problems in contexts that are expressly designed to approximate what actually happens in the workplace.

This test is almost a work sample. Pay particular attention to the fact that it requires no specialist financial or related knowledge. It samples the activities typically carried out by someone working with numerical information at a higher level, but does not need any more than a basic understanding of mathematical principles to complete. This is not at all like what one might expect from a marketing or accountancy qualifying exam – although it may look like one at first.