Defence Assessment Tests 2026. Practice Guide.

1. Introduction

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for the defence assessment tests? Research shows 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. Research has shown that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

In a nutshell:

How to prepare for the defence assessment process and get the job?

1. Complete Your Online Job Application
   • Fill in your online job application for the defence role.
   • Align your application with standard defence skills and competencies.
   • Attach your CV and ensure it relates to the job description.
2. Practice for Defence Assessment Tests

Companies in the Defence industry use different assessment tests to measure your cognitive abilities and behaviours during the defence hiring process. These tests may include the following:

• Numerical Reasoning Tests
• Verbal Reasoning Tests
• Logical Reasoning Tests
• Situational Judgement Tests
• Personality Tests

These tests sift out 50-80% of candidates at this stage during the defence application process. Some defence companies may send a report on your performance and areas where you need to improve.

3. Record Mock Video Interviews of Yourself

Prepare for the defence interviews by running mock interviews and answering typical company interview questions. For defence interview practice, use the following:

• A smartphone to record yourself
• Zoom or
• Our reliable video interview platform

Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times. Review your responses and enhance your interview skills.

4. Prepare for the Defence Assessment Centre Exercises

Organisations in the defence industry typically use an assessment centre to measure your potential and compatibility with the company and the role. These exercises may include:

• Presentation Exercises
• Group Exercises
• In-tray Exercises
• Final Interviews

Before we break down the various defence job tests, let’s find out more about the Defence industry!

What is the Defence Industry?

The defence industry, also called the arms industry or defence sector, is the sector of a nation’s economy that designs, manufactures, and supplies equipment, technology, and services for national security and military purposes.

The defence industry covers weapons and ammunition, military vehicles, defence technology, protective equipment, NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection, and support services such as training, logistics, maintenance, and security consultancy.

What companies can you apply to in the defence industry?

The defence industry receives thousands of applications yearly from several applicants to organisations such as:

Mi5	Airbus	RTX Corporation
Arup	STFC	Boeing
Thales	Leonardo	BAE Systems

What skills do these defence companies look for during the application process? Keep reading to find out below!

2. What Does the Defence Industry Look For?

The defence industry looks for different abilities to find the best candidates. Depending on the role, companies within the defence industry will typically look for some of the following skills:

Companies in the defence industry use assessment tests from well-known test providers to assess you for these various competencies. 

Read on as we cover the top defence aptitude test providers below.

What Test Providers are Used in the Defence Industry?

Defence companies around the world use some well-known test providers to hire during the application process. These top test providers include the following:

SHL	AON/Cut-e	Cubiks/Talogy
Test Partnership	Korn Ferry Talent Q	Criteria Corp
Cambridge Assessment	Tata Consultancy	Saville Assessments

Now, let’s go ahead and cover the defence online assessment tests that these test providers create for defence companies to use below.

3. Defence Assessment Tests

What are defence assessment tests?

Defence assessment tests are recruitment tools used by defence organisations, contractors, and related security firms to evaluate whether you have the skills, knowledge, and aptitudes needed for sensitive, highly regulated, and often technical roles.

What assessment tests are typically used in the defence industry?

The defence assessment tests you can likely expect to take for various roles in the defence industry include the following:

1. Numerical Reasoning Test
2. Verbal Reasoning Test
3. Logical Reasoning Test
4. Situational Judgement Test
5. Personality Test

Practice with our assessments ahead of your defence aptitude tests today!

Let’s break down each of the defence tests and find out how you can pass them, starting with the defence numerical reasoning test.

Defence Numerical Reasoning Test

What is a defence numerical reasoning test?

A defence numerical reasoning test is an assessment that assesses your ability to work with numbers, interpret data, and perform calculations using questions that involve charts, graphs, and mechanical or engineering specifications.

What does a defence numerical reasoning test measure?

A typical defence numerical reasoning test aims to measure your ability to interpret technical data, budgets, and specifications, based on what your defence role entails.

Watch our short video below to understand more about this type of defence online assessment!

Let’s check out our simple, actionable tips to help you pass this defence aptitude test below!

How to Pass a Defence Numerical Reasoning Test

1. Revise basic mathematical concepts like graphs, ratios, and percentages. Revising basic maths will prepare you well for the defence numerical reasoning test.
2. Practice numerical reasoning test questions. Practising example questions will help you grow familiar with the format of this type of defence aptitude test. 
3. Improve areas where necessary. After completing practice numerical test questions, note down questions or topics that weren’t easy for you and practice to develop these areas further.
4. Remember basic mechanical and engineering concepts. This will help you easily solve most questions during the defence numerical test, as you can expect the questions to relate to them.
5. Take the test at a good time and in a good space. Attempt your defence assessment when your mind is clear and in a quiet environment that allows you to focus.
6. Read instructions carefully. Read all instructions carefully for proper guidance and don’t rush through the questions without understanding what you need to do.
7. Stay calm under time pressure and double-check your calculations. This helps you avoid making simple errors that can cost you time and accuracy.

Defence Numerical Reasoning Test Example

Did you get the correct answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.

Apply each of our tips above while practising our example numerical test question to see how they help you during this commonly used type of defence test.

Looking for more practice questions to prepare you for your defence assessment? Get access to more with us!

Another defence aptitude test you may be required to complete for a defence role is the defence verbal reasoning test.

Defence Verbal Reasoning Test

What is a defence verbal reasoning test?

A defence verbal reasoning test involves reading a series of short paragraphs and answering follow-up questions using the information provided in the paragraphs. This defence test may also include basic grammatical and verbal questions.

What does a defence verbal reasoning test measure?

A defence verbal reasoning test aims to measure your ability to read, understand, and interpret written reports, policies, or briefings. This defence online assessment may also assess your command of the English language.

Our short video below explains more about this defence online assessment test.

Read on for helpful tips we have curated to help you pass your defence verbal reasoning test.

How to Pass a Defence Verbal Reasoning Test

1. Practice verbal reasoning test questions. Familiarise yourself with the format and the types of questions used in this defence test by practising similar tests.
2. Practice grammar, word usage, text interpretation, synonyms, and antonyms to strengthen your English skills for these defence psychometric test questions.
3. Be aware of defence policies, as some of the questions or passages in this test may reference them and require your knowledge of them to get the right answer.
4. Practice speed reading techniques to help you read faster while retaining key information. This will help you manage your time during this defence online test.
5. Read defence reports to improve comprehension of defence terminologies, as some of the questions may include defence and security references.
6. Read carefully. Rushing through the questions in this defence psychometric test may lead you to miss vital points mentioned within the instructions or paragraphs.
7. Identify key details and words in the passages and questions. This will help you quickly grab important details that can help you arrive at your answers faster.

Defence Verbal Reasoning Test Example

Did you get the right answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.

Ensure to try and apply each of the tips we gave above while practising our example verbal test question to see how they help you during this defence test.

Looking to further develop your verbal reasoning skills? Practice more verbal reasoning questions with us!

Another defence aptitude test you may be required to complete for a defence role is a defence logical reasoning test.

Defence Logical Reasoning Test

What is a defence logical reasoning test?

A defence logical reasoning test is an assessment that involves analysing shapes or symbols in a sequence to identify patterns and determine what comes next in the sequence. This defence psychometric test may also come in a numerical format.

What does a defence logical reasoning test measure?

A defence logical reasoning test aims to measure your ability to identify patterns, solve technical puzzles, and think logically or differently than others do.

Check out our short video below for key details on this defence aptitude test.

Let’s go ahead and cover tips that will help you pass this defence job test.

Top 7 Tips to Pass a Defence Logical Reasoning Test

1. Practice with tests similar to this defence online test. This helps you get familiar with the format, and regular practice can help develop your performance.
2. Practice identifying patterns before you take this defence online assessment test. Look for changes in the shapes in terms of size, position, and rotation.
3. Learn common logical rules such as symmetry, repetition, and mirroring. This can help you determine the sequence easily and quickly while taking this defence online test.
4. Take this defence online assessment test in a distraction-free area, as it helps you focus on solving each problem step-by-step and maintain your focus.
5. Read each question carefully. Carefully assess the questions presented to you in this defence psychometric test by studying them properly to get the right answer.
6. Pay close attention to all the changes between the shapes or patterns, as they will often hold the key to the correct answer in this defence online assessment test.
7. Use the elimination technique by removing incorrect answers first. This reduces the available options, allowing you to reach the correct answer more quickly.

Defence Logical Reasoning Test Example

Did you get the correct answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.

Try and apply each of the tips we gave above while practising our example logical test question to see how they help you during this defence test.

Practice more logical reasoning test questions with us to improve your logical skills before you take this defence job test.

Another defence online test you may be required to take for many defence jobs is the defence situational judgement test.

Defence Situational Judgement Test

What is a defence situational judgement test?

A defence situational judgement test is an assessment that involves you choosing the best and worst responses or actions to potential workplace scenarios, typically related to the defence role you applied for.

What does a defence situational judgement test measure?

A defence situational judgement test measures your decision-making skills in operational, ethical, or security-sensitive situations. This defence test also assesses whether you align with the work approach of the defence company you applied to.

Watch our short video below to understand more about a defence situational judgement test:

Read on for our helpful tips to help you pass the defence situational judgement test.

How to Pass a Defence Situational Judgement Test

1. Understand the defence role. Read the job description thoroughly and focus on the listed requirements to identify the key competencies needed for the role.
2. Understand the core values of the company you are applying to. Consider which options best reflect these values for the situation at hand.
3. Practice situational judgement tests to become familiar with the format and questions of this defence online test. This helps reduce your anxiety about the test.
4. Read all instructions carefully to ensure you understand what this defence job test requires from you and how to properly approach it.
5. Prioritise customer satisfaction and ethical decisions. Defence situational judgement tests often try to evaluate how you would interact with customers.
6. Be authentic and self-reflective. Answer the questions honestly by considering how you align with the defence industry’s standards and acceptable practices.

Practice for this defence online assessment using our practice situational judgement test questions!

Organisations in the defence industry may also look to assess your personality using a defence personality test.

Defence Personality Test

What is a defence personality test?

A defence personality test is an online questionnaire featuring statement-based ratings and forced-choice questions. This defence test typically consists of a series of simplified questions, ranging from 50 to 200.

What does a defence personality test measure?

A defence personality test aims to measure several traits such as discipline, resilience, teamwork, and a security mindset. It also evaluates how you align with the company, its values, and its approach.

Watch our short video below to further understand what the defence personality test measures.

So, how do you pass a defence personality test? Find out with our top tips below!

How to Pass a Defence Personality Test

1. Read the job description carefully. Pay attention to the requirements of the defence role, as this will help you determine the desired attributes for the role.
2. Research the company and the role you are applying for. This will help you determine what workplace behaviours the company would prefer for the role and the employee.
3. Understand the company’s values and desired competencies. This further helps you know what ethics and behaviours the company wants in its workforce and aligns with them.
4. Practice personality tests. Practice with personality questionnaires to familiarise yourself with the test format before taking this defence test.
5. Be honest with your responses. Your answers should reflect who you truly are. If you’re not sure, go with your gut feeling on the answer that closely reflects you.
6. Consider your previous experiences and how your working style and personality apply to the defence role you applied for.

Prepare for your defence personality test by understanding your workplace preferences with our personality test.

After the online assessment stage, for most companies, you will be invited to complete some defence interviews.

4. Defence Interviews

What are defence interviews?

Defence interviews are typically conducted to get to know you better in terms of your experience, skills and abilities and to assess your technical knowledge and cultural fit with the company.

What are the types of defence interviews?

Defence interviews can come in different types. You can expect defence companies to use one or a few of the following types of interviews:

Prepare for your defence interviews by practising some typical defence interview questions with our video interview tool!

Below are our important tips to help you pass your defence interviews.

Top 7 Tips to Pass Defence Interviews

1. Know the company. Research the company to understand its core values, strategic goals, and recent industry trends to tailor your responses effectively.
2. Practice mock interviews. Rehearse technical questions with friends or practice interview tools. Time yourself to ensure concise, well-structured responses.
3. Practice with common interview questions used in the defence industry. This will prepare you to answer any common questions that may come up in the interview.
4. Practice technical skills. Review technical concepts or knowledge that is required for the role to help you handle technical questions with confidence.
5. Structure your answers. Apply the STAR+R method for competency questions to ensure clarity and a good logical structure that highlights your skills well.
6. Showcase strong communication skills. Speak clearly, confidently, and concisely. Ensure your answers flow and are easy to follow and understand.
7. Demonstrate professionalism and confidence. Maintain good body language, clear communication, and a composed demeanor. Show enthusiasm for the role and industry.

Let’s use the tips above to practice some common defence interview questions.

Defence Interview Questions and Answers

Some common defence interview questions you can typically expect include:

• Tell me about a time you worked as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Describe a situation where you had to solve a complex technical problem under pressure.
• If you discovered a colleague mishandling classified information, what would you do?
• How would you respond if you were asked to work on a project that conflicts with your personal views?
• What would you do if a system you were responsible for failed during a critical operation?
• Why do you want to work in the defence industry?
• What do you know about our company’s main defence projects?
• How do your skills and experience align with our mission?

Read on as we give example answers to some of the defence interview questions.

Question 1: Why do you want to work in the defence industry?

Good Answer:

I’m motivated by the opportunity to contribute to projects that directly support national security and protect lives. My background in systems engineering has equipped me to work on complex, high-stakes technology, and I’m drawn to the challenge of ensuring reliability in critical defence applications.

I also value the sector’s emphasis on innovation, from advanced aerospace to cybersecurity, and I’m eager to apply my technical skills to solutions that have real-world impact for both our armed forces and allied nations.

Question 2: Tell me about a time you worked as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Good Answer:

Discover even more defence interview questions to practice with for your next defence interview using our Question Identifier Tool!

After the interview stage, many defence companies may invite you to a defence assessment centre.

5.  Defence Assessment Centre

What is a defence assessment centre?

A defence assessment centre is typically used by most companies as the last stage of their recruitment process. The defence assessment centre involves participating in some exercises to measure your potential and skills.

What to expect in a defence assessment centre?

A typical defence assessment centre will require you to complete some exercises. The defence assessment centre may include one or several of the following exercises:

1. Presentation Exercise
2. Group Exercise
3. In-tray Exercise
4. Final Interview

Let’s go ahead and learn more about these exercises, starting with the defence presentation exercise.

Defence Presentation Exercise

What is a defence presentation exercise?

A defence presentation exercise typically involves you creating and delivering a presentation based on a given topic that will be assigned to you ahead of the assessment day or at the beginning of the exercise.

What does a defence presentation exercise measure?

A defence presentation exercise measures your ability to analyse information, structure key points, and communicate effectively under time constraints.

Below are 7 top tips to help you ace a defence presentation exercise.

7 Top Tips to Pass a Defence Presentation Exercise

1. Remember the company’s values. Endeavour to reflect these behaviours throughout your presentation, as you will be assessed against them. 
2. Read the presentation brief carefully so that you do not miss out on the important information provided in the brief and to ensure your presentation is accurate and informative.
3. Understand the topic. Prioritise the most relevant points under the topic and make them the cogent points of your presentation.
4. Structure your presentation. Begin with a clear introduction, divide the content into connected sections that flow seamlessly, and conclude with a good summary and recommendations.
5. Use visual aids in your slides if allowed. In your defence presentations, make sure to use stats, data, and credible references for your presentation.
6. Practice your presentation. After structuring, you need to practice your presentation several times to improve your delivery. 
7. Practice with time constraints. Time yourself while you practice your presentation to ensure you are delivering within the time limit and adjust any aspect that may be time-consuming. 

The next activity you may face during the defence assessment centre is the defence group exercise.

Defence Group Exercise

What is a defence group exercise?

A defence group exercise involves you getting paired with other candidates to analyse a given security issue or work scenario. This defence assessment centre exercise puts you in a team and evaluates how the analysis is carried out.

What does a defence group exercise measure?

A defence group exercise measures your ability to collaborate, communicate, and work effectively in a team setting.

Watch our video below for a proper breakdown of what the defence group exercise is about: 

Let’s check out our top tips that can help you pass your next defence group exercise.

7 Top Tips to Pass a Defence Group Exercise

1. Understand the company’s values and embody them during this exercise. This would help show that you would be a good fit for the defence and the role. 
2. Contribute actively to the discussion, as it is key that you show your communication skills during the exercise.
3. Maintain relaxed body language while speaking to your fellow team members. Speak clearly and in a calm tone to demonstrate your confidence and engagement.
4. Check the time to ensure the team completes the task within the given time limit. Take ownership of this and provide regular updates during the discussion.
5. Ask questions and request clarification from the recruiters in case something is not clear. This could also help gain further relevant information that your team can use.
6. Involve others and allow all inputs from candidates to be considered. Involve the quieter members of the group by asking about their thoughts.
7. Avoid speaking over others. Present your point politely by building on top of your team’s points and persuading others about your ideas. 

The next defence assessment centre exercise you can anticipate is the defence in-tray exercise.

Defence In-tray Exercise

What is a defence in-tray exercise?

A defence in-tray exercise involves a work scenario and a list of tasks that you must complete within a time frame. These tasks could include replying to complaints, writing reports, evaluating and analysing policies or designs.

What does a defence in-tray exercise measure?

A defence in-tray exercise measures your ability to manage workload, prioritise tasks, articulate and make decisions under pressure.

Below are our top tips for you to consider to help you pass the defence in-tray exercise.

5 Top Tips to Pass a Defence In-tray Exercise 

1. Familiarise yourself with the company’s values. Understanding this will help you showcase how you align with the company’s core values.
2. Practice decision-making skills, especially those taken under pressure. Go through mock scenarios and brush up on your decision-making. 
3. Brush up on your written communication skills. For example, writing emails, reports, and memos will require strong written communication skills.
4. Keep calm. The defence in-tray exercises often require deep focus. Taking deep breaths may help you keep your composure and concentration.
5. Make informed decisions by relying effectively on the support materials provided by your recruiters.

Practice the defence assessment centre exercises with us to improve your skills and performance.

After the exercises, many companies conclude the assessment centre with a final interview.

Defence Final Interviews

What is a defence final interview?

Defence final interviews are the last stage where you meet with department heads, executives, HR heads, etc. This defence interview will typically look to understand more about your skills, experience, and motivations.

What does a defence final interview measure?

A defence final interview will typically measure your technical skills, industry knowledge, potential, and cultural fit with the company before making a hiring decision.

Read on for important tips to use for your defence interview questions and answers to help pass your defence final interview.

6 Top Tips to Pass the Defence Interviews

1. Familiarise yourself with the company. Take your time to research and understand the company’s culture and desired competencies in employees.
2. Remember the company’s values. Tailor your answers to the defence interview questions to reflect how you embody the company’s values.
3. Practice beforehand. Always practice your answers to some example defence interview questions. This will help ensure you are properly prepared.
4. Leverage your experience when giving your answers to the defence interview questions. Use the STAR+R model to properly structure your answers.
5. Demonstrate good body language. Your attitude and responsiveness are also being taken into consideration during this defence interview.
6. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer(s) about the role. This final interview is also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have.

What questions can I ask in the defence final interview?

For your defence final interview, below are some questions you may ask:

1. What are some of the role’s challenges?
2. How do you measure success, and what are your expectations for the first 6-12 months?
3. What do you enjoy about your job?
4. Are there opportunities for professional development?
5. Is there anything about my resume that concerns you?

Prepare for your defence interview questions with our industry-standard interview question and answer practice sets to improve your technique!

And with this, we have covered all you need to know about defence assessment tests and the defence recruitment process of many global defence companies.

But wait, before you go!

Keep reading below for common FAQs about defence assessment tests.

6. Defence Assessment Tests FAQs