SHL General Ability Test – Complete Overview, Sample Questions, and Practice
The SHL General Ability Test, also called Verify G+, is one of the most popular pre-employment cognitive ability assessments. The test has two versions – interactive and non-interactive.
Both versions are considered very difficult as you are required to demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities in numerical and logical reasoning and the ability to interpret data quickly under tight time limits.
With our SHL General Ability Test preparation pack, you will learn all about the test, its structure, distinctive characteristics, and main challenges so you will ace the test. It includes:
- Full SHL Verify (G+) Simulations of both the interactive and non-interactive versions of the test with SHL-style questions and the same difficulty level that will prepare you for the real test.
- Focused practice of all the Verify G+ types of questions: numerical reasoning, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning, so you can sharpen each ability on its own and enhance your skills before proceeding to the next simulation.
- Interactive Study Guides & Video Tutorials with tips and solving techniques to maximize your score.
JobTestPrep provides up-to-date and precise SHL practice and study guides. We offer the only complete preparation for the SHL General Ability Test, interactive & non-interactive.
Keep reading to learn all you need to know about the SHL General Ability Test
SHL General Ability Test
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What Is the SHL General Ability Test?
The SHL General Ability Test (Verify G+) is SHL’s most popular cognitive test – a test that assesses your thinking and problem-solving abilities.
If you see that name in your test invitation, rest assured – you’ve come to the right place. Note that the name of the test can sometimes change.
The test contains three topics:
| Numerical Reasoning | 8-10 questions |
| Inductive Reasoning | 8-10 questions |
| Deductive Reasoning | 8-10 questions |
| Total | 24-30 questions |
Note: The SHL General Ability Test has two versions – interactive and multiple choice. Don’t waste time preparing for the wrong version. If not sure, follow the hints on your test invitation using the SHL Test Finding Guide to know EXACTLY what’s ahead.
The Two General Ability Test Versions
As mentioned before, the SHL comes in two versions – Mobile-Enabled Interactive and Standard Multiple-Choice.
Although the subject matter of both versions is similar, they are very different from one another!
The following table summarizes the main differences:
| Version | Interactive | Multiple-Choice |
| No. of Questions | 24 | Varies (approx. 30) |
| Time Limit | 36 minutes | 36 minutes |
| Interactive* | Yes | No |
| Adaptive** | Yes | No |
| Question Types | Numerical - Tables and Graphs, Numerical Calculation, Number Ranges Inductive - Next in Series, Rules Combination, Alphanumeric Sequences Deductive - Scheduling (Schedule, Calendar), Ranking | Numerical - Tables and Graphs Inductive - Next in Series Deductive - Seating Arrangements |
* Interactive – you will be able to interact with the test (drag-and-drop, connect the dots, etc.)
** Adaptive - questions become harder when you answer right and easier when you answer wrong.
Ace the SHL General Ability Test
The ONLY SHL General Ability Prep Course prepares you for BOTH the interactive and the multiple-choice versions.
Available for only £59, you can ensure the high score you deserve and unlock your potential.
SHL General Ability Topics and Sample Questions
The SHL General Ability Test (Verify G+) contains three topics – numerical, inductive, and deductive. Let’s go over each of these topics, including a sample question from each.
Numerical Reasoning
This part of the assessment focuses on your ability to extract, calculate, and come to conclusions based on numerical data.
What proportion of both sites' April and May traffic was for Cuisine.net?
In the interactive version, you will usually be required to draw a linear graph or adjust a bar chart according to the textual and numerical data.
You might also encounter 2 other question types:
- Numerical calculation
- Numbers range
The Complete SHL General Ability Prep Course provides preparation for these question types as well.
Inductive Reasoning
SHL Inductive questions revolve around finding the logical rules represented in shapes’ colour, position, etc.
Which diagram would appear next in series?
Interactive version inductive questions will require you to experiment with the rules and patterns represented in the shapes. (E.g., create the missing shape by clicking the white areas, determining their colours).
You might also encounter 2 other types of questions:
- Alphanumeric series
- Rules combination
The Complete SHL General Ability Prep Course provides preparation for these question types as well.
Deductive Reasoning
The SHL Deductive questions examine your ability to draw logical conclusions out of given information. This will usually be measured by scheduling tasks or ranking items based on constraints.
SHL Deductive Sample Question
In a restaurant's pantry there are seven kinds of fruits - Figs, Guavas, Honeydews, Kiwis, Mangos, Nectarines and Papayas. The restaurant's chef has to pick exactly four different kinds of fruits out of the seven to make a fruit salad. The selected fruits must meet the following conditions:
- Papaya can be selected only if Kiwi is selected.
- Fig can be selected only if Nectarine is selected.
- Either Mango or Nectarine must be selected but not both.
- Either Papaya or Honeydew must be selected but not both.
Which one of the following could be a complete and accurate list of the fruits from which the salad is made up?
In the interactive version of the SHL General Ability test, you will be required to manually create the desired schedule or ranking by clicking or dragging the appropriate elements in the correct order.
SHL Deductive questions fall under one of 5 categories:
- Scheduling
- Team schedule
- Office schedule
- Team calendar
- Task calendar
- Ranking
The Complete SHL General Ability Prep Course provides preparation for these 5 types.
SHL General Ability Scoring
Here are some frequent questions about the SHL General Ability Test score:
What Is a Good Score on the SHL General Ability Test?
As a general rule, you need to score at least at the 80th percentile (a score higher than at least 80% of the comparison group) to pass the assessment.
What is a comparison group?
Your comparison group is a group of candidates previously tested by SHL, whose profile is similar to the job you applied to.
SHL’s 4 most common comparison groups are:
- Operational
- Graduates
- Supervisors
- Managers
So eventually, a passing score on the SHL General Ability Test depends on the position you apply to.
Will I Be Able to View My Score After the Test?
Not always.
Sometimes you will receive a detailed score report, showing you your exact percentile score in each section, as this detailed SHL score report.
Yet, sometimes you will only get your performance grade relative to your comparison group:
In any case, you will not be able to see how well you have answered individual questions.
For How Long Is My SHL Score Valid?
This depends on the hiring company, yet according to their score reports, SHL saves your scores for 12-18 months.
I Want to Learn More About SHL Test Scores
Practising the SHL General Ability Test
You will usually have no more than 1 week to prepare for the SHL General Ability Test. Therefore, to be best prepared, your practice must be focused and accurate.
Follow these 4 crucial guidelines:
#1 – Prepare for the Right Test
As I’ve mentioned (more than once…), the SHL General Ability Test has two versions. If you practise the wrong one, your score will be less than optimal.
Do your best to find out exactly which version you’re taking (you can follow the SHL Test Finding Guide for that purpose).
#2 – Practise In-Depth and In Breadth
What does that mean, anyway?
- Practise In-Depth – Solve many questions of the same type consecutively. This will highly increase your skill and solving speed in the specific style of SHL questions.
- Practise In Breadth – Solve simulations of the actual General Ability test, where questions are mixed. This will improve your flexibility and adaptability for different question types.
#3 – Practise What Matters
Don’t waste your time on question types that won’t appear on the actual assessment.
Research shows that to significantly improve your score on cognitive tests, you should solve questions as close as possible to those on the actual test, in terms of both content AND structure.
It is true that practising questions that are only related to the ones on the real test may be helpful as well – but their effect on your score is FAR lower.
Focus first and foremost on SHL-type questions, and if you have some time left, practise additional types.
#4 – Learn from Your Mistakes
That’s a very simple truth.
If you want to improve, you must know where you were wrong.
That is primarily why I don’t recommend you to rely on SHL’s official practice tests. Yes, they will give you a good understanding of how the test looks like, but they have no answers and no explanations, so your ability to learn and improve is very little.
In addition, remember that the SHL General Ability Test combines three different topics (numerical, inductive, and deductive). Therefore, it is essential that you know in which of these areas you are weakest, so your final score is as high as it can be.
The SHL Prep Course
Our experts have researched and perfected an online practice pack designed to mock the challenges you'll face in the SHL Assessment.
Authentic Simulations
Solve similar-to-life questions of both test versions.
Expert Guidance to Perfect Answers
Get feedback with guidance written by assessment center experts.
In-Depth Practice
Identify weak areas to focus your practice for the best score.
Available for only £59, you can ensure the high score you deserve and unlock your potential.
Backed By Over 25k+ Candidates
The Test Provider – SHL
SHL is one of the world’s largest test providers.
Namely – tests are their business. They develop and distribute a wide variety of tests, then used by employers to screen candidates. The company currently offers over 70 different tests for thousands of employers worldwide.
SHL TalentCentral
TalentCentral (or Talent Central) is SHL’s testing platform – the website in which you will take your SHL assessment.
Since all of SHL’s tests are conducted on the TalentCentral platform, that name alone will unfortunately not help you to determine which SHL test you take. To find out what CAN, check out the SHL Test Finding Guide.
FAQs
The SHL General Ability Test is a popular pre-employment cognitive assessment that evaluates your numerical, deductive, and inductive reasoning. It contains 24 questions to answer in 36 minutes.
To pass the SHL general ability test, you need to receive at least 80% of the comparison group (candidates with similar profiles who have previously taken SHL assessments). Learn more about the SHL General Ability Scoring.
The SHL General Ability Test has 24 questions to answer in 39 minutes.
The best way to prepare is by doing as much SHL general ability test practice as possible, JobTestPrep’s Prepack includes full SHL General Ability Test as well as focused practice that mimics the real SHL General Ability Test questions and answers.
Check out our free SHL Practice Test!