Numerical Ability test

The frst type of numerical ability test covers basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction
multiplication and division), number sequences and simple mathematics
(percentages, powers, fractions, etc). This type of test can be categoried as a
speed test and is used to determine your basic numeracy. !bviously you will not be
allowed to use a calculator.
Numerical Ability Tests
Arithmetic "uestions
#. #$% & '$( )
A) $*' +) $*, -) $*. /) ,$*
'. #$% 0 '$( )
A) 0.% +) %. -) %1 /) 0%.
$. ( 2 #. )
A) 13 +) 1. -) 11 /) *1
,. ,( 4 % )
A) ,.( +) , -) ( /) .
(. #(5 of $33 )
A)'3 +) ,( -) ,3 /) $(
.. 6 & 7 2 $4, )
A)$41 +) #$41 -) %4#. /) $4,

Answers
#. +
'. /
$. A
,. -
(. +
.. -
These questions are directly applicable to many administrative and clerical 8obs but
can also appear as a component of graduate and managerial tests. The speed at
which you can answer these questions is the critical measure, as most people could
achieve a very high score given unlimited time in which to answer. 9ou can
therefore e2pect '(0$( questions in '30$3 minutes.
Number :equences
These questions require you to fnd the missing number in a sequence of numbers.
This missing number may be at the beginning or middle but is usually at the end.
*. ;ind the ne2t number in the series
, 1 #. $' 000
A) ,1 +) ., -) ,3 /) ,.

1. ;ind the ne2t number in the series
, 1 #' '3 000
A) $' +) $, -) $. /) $1

%. ;ind the missing number in the series
(, ,% 000 $% $,
A) ,* +) ,, -) ,( /) ,.

#3. ;ind the frst number in the series
000 #% '$ '% $#
A) #' +) #( -) #. /) #*

These number sequences can be quite simple li<e the e2amples above. =owever,
you will often see more comple2 questions where it is the interval between the
numbers that is the <ey to the sequence

##. ;ind the ne2t number in the series
$ . ## #1 000
A) $3 +) '' -) '* /) '%

#'. ;ind the ne2t number in the series
,1 ,. ,' $1 000
A) $' +) $3 -) $$ /) $,

These number sequences usually consist of four visible numbers plus one missing
number. This is because the test designer needs to produce a sequence into which
only one number will ft. The need to avoid any ambiguity means that if the number
sequence relies on a more comple2 pattern then there will need to be more visible
numbers. ;or e2ample>
#$. ;ind the missing number in the series.
, $ ( % #' #* 000
A) $' +) $3 -) ', /) '.

#,. ;ind the missing numbers in the series
( . * 1 #3 ## #, 000 0000
A) #% +) #* -) #( /) #.

#(. ;ind the missing numbers in the series
# 00 , * * 1 #3 % 0000
A) . +) $ -) ## /) #$

Answers
*. + ? The numbers double each time
1. A ? @ach number is the sum of the previous two numbers
%. + ? The numbers decrease by ( each time
#3. / ? The numbers are primes (divisible only by # and themselves)
##. - ? The interval, beginning with $, increases by ' each time
#'. + ? The interval, beginning with ', increases by ' and is subtracted each time
#$. / ? @ach number is the sum of the previous and the number $ places to the left
#,. - A ? There are ' simple interleaved sequences (,*,#3,#,,#% and .,1,##,#(
#(. A / ? There are ' simple interleaved sequences #,,,*,#3,#$ and .,*,1,%
To solve these number sequence questions eAciently, you should frst chec< the
relationship between the numbers themselves loo<ing for some simple arithmetic
relationship. Then loo< at the intervals between the numbers and see if there is a
relationship there. Bf not, and particularly if there are more than , numbers visible,
then there may be two number sequences interleaved.
9ou will occasionally fnd multiplication, division, or powers used in these
sequences, but test designers tend to avoid them as these operations soon lead to
large numbers which are diAcult to wor< out without a calculator.
Cetter of the Alphabet as Numbers
Another type of sequence question which appears in these tests involves the
substitution of letters of the alphabet for numbers. ;or e2ample A)#, +)' etc. Bt
may seem strange to consider these as numerical reasoning questions but they
actually wor< in the same way once you have changed them bac< into numbers.
#.. ;ind the ne2t letter in the series
+ @ = D 000
i) C ii) E iii) N iv) !

#*. ;ind the ne2t letter in the series
A F + 9 000
i) - ii) G iii) / iv) 9

#1. ;ind the ne2t letter in the series
T H G F 000
i) 9 ii) + iii) A iv) I

Answers
#.. iii ? There are two letters missing between each one, so N is ne2t
#*. i ? There are ' interleaved sequences A,+,- and F,9, so - is ne2t
#1. ii ? Eiss a letter each time and JloopK bac<, so + is ne2t
+ecause arithmetic operations cannot be performed on letters there is less room for
ambiguity in these questions. This means that interleaved sequences can be used
with fewer visible letters than in questions that use numbers. "uestion #* for
e2ample can use ' interleaved sequences even though only four letters are visible.
This would be very diAcult to achieve with numbers.
Bt is implicit in these Jalphabetic sequenceK questions that the sequence JloopsK bac<
around and starts again. :ee question #1. Bt is important to recognie this as it is
not usually stated e2plicitly ? you are 8ust e2pected to <now it.
Bf you see more than one of these questions in a test then it is almost certainly
worth ta<ing the time to write out the letters of the alphabet with their ordinal
numbers underneath. 9ou can then treat these questions in a similar way to number
sequence questions. This can save a lot of time overall and avoid simple mista<es.
Alphabetical :equence "uestion Dey
/ata Bnterpretation
Bnformation is provided that requires you to interpret it and then apply the
appropriate logic to answer the questions. :ometimes the questions are designed to
appro2imate the type of reasoning required in the wor<place. These data
interpretation questions will often use very specifc illustrations, for e2ample the
question may present fnancial data
or use information technology 8argon. =owever, an understanding of these areas is
not required to answer the question.
#%. +elow are the sales fgures for $ diLerent types of networ< server over $
months.
:ample data interpretation question
#%a. Bn which month was the sales value highestM
A) Nanuary +) ;ebruary -) Earch

#%b. Ihat is the unit cost of server type FG-($M
A) #' +) #$ -) #,

#%c. =ow many FG-,$ units could be e2pected to sell in AprilM
A) (. +) (1 -) .3

#%d. Ihich server had its unit price changed in EarchM
A) FG-,$ +) FG-($ -) FG-.$

'3. +elow are some fgures for agricultural imports. Answer the following questions
using the data provided. 9ou may use a calculator for this question.
Numerical Ability Test "uestion '3
'3a. Ihich month showed the largest total decrease in imports over the previous
monthM
A) Earch +) April -) Eay

'3b. Ihat percentage of rice was imported in AprilM
A) #*5 +) #%5 -) '#5

'3c. Ihat was the total cost of wheat imports in the ( month periodM
A) '*,(33 +) '(,333 -) '',333

Answers
#%a. -
#%b. +
#%c. A
#%d. -
'3a. + ? April, #' tons
'3b. - 0 '#5, $3 tons out of a total of #,#
'3c. A 0 O'*,,(. made up of #*. tons at an average of O#(.4ton
:ummary
Numerical ability tests can be divided into tests of simple numeracy, where you are
told which arithmetic operations to apply, and numerical reasoning tests where you
are presented with some data and questions but the methods required to answer
the questions are not specifed. Bn all cases you need to prepare by practicing your
mental arithmetic until you are both quic< and confdent. 9our score in the simple
speed tests will be very much inPuenced by your ability to add, subtract, multiply
and divide quic<ly and accurately.
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