Beat the NHS Tests: Numeracy, Literacy, SJT & More

NHS Graduate Scheme PrepPack™ – consists Talent Q / Korn Ferry tests.

NHS Scientist Training Programme PrepPack™ – consists of Talent Q / Korn Ferry style tests.

NHS Healthcare Assistants Test Practice PrepPack™ – consists of internal numeracy and literacy tests.

Faculty of Public Health PrepPack™ – consists of Pearson, specifically the Watson Glaser and RANRA tests.

For other positions, see our special SHL All-Inclusive and Cubiks All-Inclusive PrepPacks™.

Preparing in advance for the National Health Service (NHS) recruitment processes can greatly increase your chance of advancement to the next level. The different preparation packages on this page are designed to offer you an in-depth understanding of the tests you may take.

NHS offers a wide range of job opportunities, many of which require taking aptitude tests as part of the selection process. 

There are a few NHS job types that require taking a numerical test. However, the nature of the test and its difficulty level can vary greatly, so please follow the list below to make sure you pick the right preparation method:

• NHS Healthcare assistants - Numeracy test that involves drug calculations with the use of a calculator 
• NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) - Talent Q numerical test 
• NHS Graduate scheme- Capp (also known as Cappfinity)  numerical reasoning test

The Thomas International Personality Profile-Style Assessment (PPA) tests are used to expose your deeper, hidden layers - those that cannot be seen during a job interview. The purpose of personality tests is to help employers understand whether your own personal profile matches that of the position they are looking to fill.

There are different kinds of questions found on personality assessment tests. When given a statement with extreme statements such as "always" and "never," you should answer them with less extreme answers such as "agree" and "not strongly agree."

However, there are times during a personality test in which you should choose "strongly agree" or "strongly disagree.

The Watson Glaser test is divided into five sections – Inference, recognising assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. Each section has its own question type that assesses a particular critical thinking ability.

The test is verbal and requires a deep and concise understanding of when and to what extent of certainty can one draw conclusions based on given data; the ability to determine whether certain assumptions have been made in a text, be they true or not; and objectively assessing the validity of arguments, regardless of prejudice or personal experience.

The short version, which is commonly used today, includes 40 questions and takes between 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Practicing these types of questions before taking the test is critical, because the differences between some of the sections are minute, and because the rules of deduction of the Watson Glaser test are different from other known deduction tests.

See the Watson Glaser Tailored PrepPack™ that includes 500+ practice questions, expert tips & study guides >> 

Situational Judgement Tests (SJT) are psychological assessments where you are presented with hypothetical, yet realistic, scenarios related to the job in which you are applying.

SJTs have become a popular tool used by assessment companies, employers, and organizations to evaluate the behavioural and cognitive abilities of candidates when introduced with daily work-related situations.

See the SJT all-inclusive PrepPack™ that includes practice tests, study guides and video tutorials >>

The Talent Q numerical reasoning test, also known as the Elements numerical, is a graph and table interpretation test, examining the same skills like most other numerical reasoning tests you will come across.

The content of the tests is similar to many other numerical reasoning tests found in the assessment market today, however, there are some differences.

See the Talent Q Elements Tailored Full PrepPack™ that includes 9 Talent Q-style Verbal, Numerical and Logical practice Tests & 22 additional practice tests & video tutorials and study guides>>

If you manage to successfully pass the online tests, you will be invited to an NHS interview. This interview usually lasts about 45 minutes.

Interviews can be the most nerve-wracking part of the process, but preparation is key to helping you stay calm and focused. With the help of our Interview PrepPack™, you can ensure a stellar performance during your interview.

The NHS assessment day is either a half-day or full-day event, depending on the role you have applied for. Your invitation to the assessment centre will list the types of activities you will have to complete as part of the day.

These can be presentations, role-plays, interviews, case studies, and aptitude tests. Besides the actual assessment, you will also have the chance to meet employees of the company and assess the company culture. You can learn about what you can expect as an employee and the values of the company.

Practice analysing data. The case study exercise is not usually a long task, it is one A4 paper with data on performance figures. In this case, you should then write a report on your observations and recommendations.

The case study is often a group exercise which means you should participate in a group discussion which should lead to the group's report.   

Simply taking practice tests and gaining exposure to the types of questions you will experience on the real NHS verbal test can relax you, improve your confidence, and increase your speed and accuracy.

However, understanding the underpinning principles of the tests and what you are doing right and wrong will contribute even more to your success.

- The speed at which you answer
- Accuracy in answering questions

You will then be asked to choose a preferred method of action out of a number of possible options.

The conflict/scenario may involve supervisor-subordinate relationships, stress and disagreement among work colleagues, etc.

The situations described may vary according to the role one is applying for. Managers, police officers, sales representatives, etc. are all likely to receive different questionnaires, as they are being evaluated for specific traits and aptitudes.

You are encouraged to choose your responses spontaneously, based on intuition; however, analyzing the scenarios and choosing responses that highlight your skills will allow you to better present yourself on the test.

NHS hiring processes follow similar patterns for each type of recruitment, but the exercises you will encounter depend on the level you are applying to.

There are also some differences at each level between technical recruitment and business roles.

You can be requested to attend interviews, to complete aptitude tests, and to attend an assessment centre.

Many applicants have a genuine difficulty showing an adequate level of involvement in the group exercise in the assessment centre and demonstrating their skills in an optimal manner.

Some tend to be overly dominant and loud fearing that otherwise they may not be heard and valued.

Others are introverted and quiet, fearing that their contribution may not be significant enough in comparison to others.

You have to find a balance that not only suits your character but also that of the employers. For further tips see our PrepPack™.