SHL Online Test
Discussion
Have you been told what assessments you'll be doing yet (verbal reasoning, situational judgement etc.)?
SHL have some practice tests on their website (http://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests), although they won't always be too similar to the ones you'll actually be taking.
If your contact from HR has given you a link to take the assessments, then you will usually get the opportunity to take a few short practice questions before actually choosing to complete the real assessments. I think the practice is separate from the real assessments too - so you won't have to immediately do the real assessments after the practice, you can return to do them later.
SHL have some practice tests on their website (http://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests), although they won't always be too similar to the ones you'll actually be taking.
If your contact from HR has given you a link to take the assessments, then you will usually get the opportunity to take a few short practice questions before actually choosing to complete the real assessments. I think the practice is separate from the real assessments too - so you won't have to immediately do the real assessments after the practice, you can return to do them later.
Thanks for the reply its good news you can have a few dry runs.
I think I have a verbal reasoning, technical engineering, maths and a another from memory although I haven't had the email through yet with the link in
I was just quite shocked I got the call it caught me unaware and its the first time I've ever had to do anything like this, plus its for a job I really want which I didn't see and apply for until after the closing date had passed by nearly two weeks.
I think I have a verbal reasoning, technical engineering, maths and a another from memory although I haven't had the email through yet with the link in
I was just quite shocked I got the call it caught me unaware and its the first time I've ever had to do anything like this, plus its for a job I really want which I didn't see and apply for until after the closing date had passed by nearly two weeks.
There are lots and lots of practice tests dotted all over the web.
I found the verbal reasoning quite hard as my brain doesn't work in that way, but I passed easily by just spending all afternoon taking practice tests and then did the actual one.
Always practice as much as possible first. As the time pressure can get to you.
I found the verbal reasoning quite hard as my brain doesn't work in that way, but I passed easily by just spending all afternoon taking practice tests and then did the actual one.
Always practice as much as possible first. As the time pressure can get to you.
https://www.wikijob.co.uk/ is a useful site for information about these sort of tests and indeed other parts of the recruitment process you'll likely encounter next. There's an affiliated company selling packs of practice questions as well.
The trick with verbal reasoning is to not read between the lines, make assumptions or use other knowledge you might have. You're supposed to answer solely based on the short passage and quite often the answer will simply be "Can't Say".
Numerical reasoning is generally fairly basic maths with an emphasis on interpreting information. Usually the time limit is extremely tight and you're not expected to answer every question. Either guess the remainder (if no negative marking applies) or focus on answering a reduced number of questions correctly. The absolute pass mark can be as low as 50% as they usually assess you against other people taking the test.
Incidentally, some employers do random retests when you attend later on for an assessment centre/interview.
The trick with verbal reasoning is to not read between the lines, make assumptions or use other knowledge you might have. You're supposed to answer solely based on the short passage and quite often the answer will simply be "Can't Say".
Numerical reasoning is generally fairly basic maths with an emphasis on interpreting information. Usually the time limit is extremely tight and you're not expected to answer every question. Either guess the remainder (if no negative marking applies) or focus on answering a reduced number of questions correctly. The absolute pass mark can be as low as 50% as they usually assess you against other people taking the test.
Incidentally, some employers do random retests when you attend later on for an assessment centre/interview.
Whilst some might say that you can't influence the result through practising I'm a strong believer that you can certainly make the process much slicker. From experience my first set of tests was a disaster as I had no idea what to expect. Following that I went through the online examples plus bought a couple of great books from Amazon with hundreds of examples, in order to sharpen the mind. Getting over the anxiety helps massively in giving you a clear head.
S 8 GRN said:
Whilst some might say that you can't influence the result through practising I'm a strong believer that you can certainly make the process much slicker. From experience my first set of tests was a disaster as I had no idea what to expect. Following that I went through the online examples plus bought a couple of great books from Amazon with hundreds of examples, in order to sharpen the mind. Getting over the anxiety helps massively in giving you a clear head.
This.As a practitioner qualified to administer both ability and personality assessments, then doing things to reduce anxiety will certainly help your true levels of ability.
As others have said, a random retesting at interview often happens as it is the only way to check that it was actually you doing the test!
If you are asked to do a personality assessment, such as 16PF5 or OPQ, then DON'T try to fool the system by answering in a way that you think a potential employer wants. Most tools assess consistency and impression management as part of the process and the resulting report will flag up any concerns with this to the assessor.
That fact that you have got this far after applying very late is a good sign.... Good luck!
boy said: well I've done the tests and passed with flying colours where apparently every other applicant failed. It wasn't a walk in the park, the questions aren't that difficult, its the pressure to do them in the time allowed that makes it awkward and makes you feel under pressure.
Yup - these are called capacity tests and are designed to find out just how much you can do in the allotted time.I've done the SHL tests twice, each before for my last two jobs.
If you have to do numerical reasoning, be warned that the practice tests could be nothing like the actual test. Use the practice tests to get used to carrying out calculations under time constraints but remember they are looking for accuracy, not necessarily quantity.
The practice tests were very much based on a single question with some data and multiple choice answers. The real tests I took presented a whole load of tabulated data with a question that required you to look through the table, pick out the relelvant data and then perform the required calulation. One table would supply maybe 3 different questions before moving on to another table of data and set of questions.
It could be that the HR department are able to choose what types of questions are asked, but seeing as I had the same type of questions from two different engineering companies, it seems to me it's how it is.
One company based the results on historical results, so my results put me in a certain percentile and this was the deciding factor by the HR department (not the hiring manager). I had to hit the target percentile to pass, which I did. All I will say is it was an F1 team that had this policy.
With the other company my results were given to the hiring manager who made the call.
If you have to do numerical reasoning, be warned that the practice tests could be nothing like the actual test. Use the practice tests to get used to carrying out calculations under time constraints but remember they are looking for accuracy, not necessarily quantity.
The practice tests were very much based on a single question with some data and multiple choice answers. The real tests I took presented a whole load of tabulated data with a question that required you to look through the table, pick out the relelvant data and then perform the required calulation. One table would supply maybe 3 different questions before moving on to another table of data and set of questions.
It could be that the HR department are able to choose what types of questions are asked, but seeing as I had the same type of questions from two different engineering companies, it seems to me it's how it is.
One company based the results on historical results, so my results put me in a certain percentile and this was the deciding factor by the HR department (not the hiring manager). I had to hit the target percentile to pass, which I did. All I will say is it was an F1 team that had this policy.
With the other company my results were given to the hiring manager who made the call.
Bit of a bump for this topic but i have to do an SHL verbal reasoning and numerical test in a day or so. Not too much time to prepare! I've done the practice verbal reasoning test on the SHL site, and get between 19/30 and 23/30 but no more.... trouble is i can't work out which ones i'm getting wrong nor is there any explanation of the true answers and why?
Obviously there's a difference in my logic and what the practice questions are looking for, so short of doing the practice one a hundred times and just changing one answer each time, i'm not sure on how best to understand where i'm going wrong.
Anyone got any other websites or advice on the verbal reasoning ones?
Obviously there's a difference in my logic and what the practice questions are looking for, so short of doing the practice one a hundred times and just changing one answer each time, i'm not sure on how best to understand where i'm going wrong.
Anyone got any other websites or advice on the verbal reasoning ones?
I've done a few SHL ones and tend to be in top 1% (not said for bragging purposes but to reinforce my point)- you should answer based only on the information provided and do not read between the lines or make assumptions. Read quickly but not so quickly you skim and make those assumptions.
Realise it's easier said than done, but thems the techniques.
Realise it's easier said than done, but thems the techniques.
janesmith1950 said:
I've done a few SHL ones and tend to be in top 1% (not said for bragging purposes but to reinforce my point)- you should answer based only on the information provided and do not read between the lines or make assumptions. Read quickly but not so quickly you skim and make those assumptions.
Realise it's easier said than done, but thems the techniques.
Mine must have been different - there were no right/wrong answers, they (supposedly) just showed what your personality was and the Consultants (Penna in my case) told the recruitment panel how well-matched my personality was to their ideal profile.Realise it's easier said than done, but thems the techniques.
As well as the online tests the Consultants spent about an hour during the Asseessment centre going through the questions and answers (I assume just to make sure they were genuine). I have to say I found it pretty tough - some of the questions were along the lines of "Choose one of the folloiwng -
(a) You enjoy developing and leading high performing teams OR
(b) You set high standards and expect others to be similar
It was never
(a) You ensure all deadlines are met promptly OR
(b) You spend 65% of you time on the Internet and guess what the cashflow requirement is for the next 6 months
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