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Are you a recruiter or hiring manager looking for candidate pre-employment assessment tests and tools? We invite you to visit our Assess Candidates website.
What is an aptitude test? What are the types of aptitude tests? How to pass aptitude tests? Find out in our complete guide to 2025/26 aptitude tests below.
The text below provides a full guide for aptitude tests used by many employers in 2026 during their recruitment, assessment and selection process.
Our website provides practice aptitude tests used by employers to prepare for recruitment assessment tests. Start your online assessment preparation with GF today!
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Not sure if you should practice online aptitude tests? Research has revealed that 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results and the best way to pass this stage is through practice.
According to a recent study that analysed the Top 100 global employers, it was discovered that 54% – 84% candidates who do not practice assessments are more likely to fail at the first stage of psychometric assessments. (Bradley et al., 2019).
Continue reading to get answers to these critical questions:
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Without further delay, let’s find out everything about the aptitude tests below!
An aptitude test is a standardised assessment to assess the cognitive skills and competences of candidates. Employers use aptitude tests to make hiring decisions based on candidates’ performance in the assessments.
Good to Know: Aptitude tests are similar to ability tests. Aptitude tests assess the potential to perform in a role while ability tests assess specific skill in a work context. For example, a numerical reasoning test for an Accountancy job.
An aptitude test can be in different formats which is conducted either online or offline based on employer or the test organizers’ preference. Candidates will have to complete variety of questions which could come in any of the following formats:
Good to Know: Based on your test performance, if you are successful in scoring above the cut-off mark set by the employer, you will be likely to move onto the next stage which is typically an interview (virtual or face-to-face).
Now that you know what aptitude tests are, Find below the main types of aptitude tests used by employers.
Here are the main types of aptitude tests used by employers to assess candidates’ ability, personality and future commitment to the role.
Good to know: Personality tests assess your aptitude to fit with the behaviours required for a job, whereas situational tests focus on the nature of behaviours themselves, as well as the level of competence required.
So what do these aptitude tests usually look like? Keep reading as we cover some top aptitude test examples!
Below are the details about these tests and the sample aptitude test developed by our GF experts to give an idea of what you can expect in general aptitude tests, including a numerical, verbal and logical reasoning test.
Let’s first check out an example numerical aptitude test question:
In this sample numerical aptitude test, you need to calculate and select the correct answer within the test time limit.
The complexity of numerical aptitude tests do not lie in the knowledge tested but instead the time pressure and stress involved. Some tests may require you to complete 20 questions in just 15 minutes!
Got the answer to this question? Check it out at the bottom of the page.
Let’s check out an example verbal reasoning aptitude test question below!
To complete this test. You need to read the passage carefully and determine whether this statement is “True”, “False” or whether you “Cannot Say” based only on the information provided in this passage.
See if you got the answer to this question at the bottom of the page!
While they do not test your language skills, verbal reasoning tests could be more difficult for people who are not native English speakers. Combat this by practicing verbal reasoning questions to help understand the language used and the layouts of these verbal aptitude questions.
And finally, let’s check out what an example logical reasoning aptitude test question looks like below!
For this example logical reasoning test question, you will be required to observe the diagrams in the sequence carefully to identify the pattern to know which of the options would be the next diagram in the sequence.
You may only have just 45 seconds to notice that:
Got the answer to this example? Check it out at the bottom of the page.
Sign up with GF and get FREE aptitude tests practice including numerical, verbal and logical reasoning questions developed by former SHL experts and gain personalised tips based on your performance.
Now that you know all about the main types of aptitude tests, let’s talk about some of the employers that use these tests.
Here is a list of some top employers that use aptitude tests in their hiring process.
Check out our step-by-step employer guides for detailed employer guides to 100+ of the world’s largest companies and discover tips that will put you ahead of your competitors.
These employers and many others use aptitude tests to find candidates for their various companies and roles.
Find out why employers use aptitude tests below.
Employers use aptitude tests to assess your cognitive ability, problem solving skills, and decision making skills as suitable for a role. Here are other key reasons why employers use aptitude tests in their recruitment process:
Objective assessment
Aptitude tests provide a standardized and unbiased way to evaluate candidates’ abilities. These tests offer quantifiable data.
Predict job performance
These tests are designed to measure skills relevant to job performance. High test scores often correlate with future job success.
Efficient screening tool
Aptitude tests help employers to identify the most promising candidates early in the hiring process.
Compare candidates fairly
Aptitude tests make it easier for employers to assess candidates from diverse backgrounds on a consistent benchmark.
Reduce hiring risks
Employers can reduce risk of bad hire and wasting of resources by assessing cognitive and skill-based abilities of candidates upfront.
Identify development needs
Aptitude tests are also used to identify training needs for existing employees or support internal promotions.
Good to Know: According to study, an aptitude test is used to assess a candidate’s ability through speed and accuracy of their answers, afterwards, the employers use these scores to make a more informed hiring decision (Sartori and Pasini, 2007).
Now that we know why employers use aptitude tests, let’s learn why and how to practice aptitude tests in the next section.
When you practice aptitude tests, you will learn how they work, the format, time limits and the aptitude test questions to expect. This knowledge will help you keep calm and be focused as you answer aptitude tests questions.
Did you know that 54-84% of candidates get rejected at the aptitude test stage? The proven way to get to the next stage of the recruitment process is practice.
Find below some of the reasons why you need to practice aptitude tests:
Good to Know: With practice, you can discover what questions you can expect, how you can answer them and the key areas that employers are looking for.
Now that you are aware of the importance of practising aptitude tests for a recruitment process, let’s shed light on how to pass an aptitude test!
To pass an aptitude test, you need to prepare effectively because the hiring process for top companies is always competitive. To pass your next aptitude tests, below are some important tips to ace aptitude tests in the recruitment process.
Here are 5 top tips you can use to prepare and pass aptitude assessments:
Get the practice assessment essentials to prepare for your aptitude assessments with GF!
Looking for even more tips to pass general aptitude tests?
Watch our short video below to learn how to increase your speed while taking an aptitude test!
Do you wonder why aptitude tests are needed in the hiring process? Continue reading to discover the science behind aptitude tests.
Aptitude tests are among graduate recruitment tests used by employers to ease the process of selection and hiring. They became a necessity after many years of employers experiencing challenges of finding the best fit for roles.
Good to Know: According to Forbes, roughly only 1 out of 5 candidates will be selected for an interview. Additionally, on average, 118 individuals apply for a single job position.
Aptitude tests is a result of a seminal research by Schmidt & Hunter on the ‘Validity Ladder’ in 1998. Many studies revealed that cognitive aptitude or General Mental Ability (GMA) tests have a strong prediction accuracy of on-the-job performance.
Did you know? Classical Test Theory (CTT) is used in aptitude tests to measure the reliability and validity of the tests. CTT aims to improve test quality to assist recruiters in making informed decisions to recruitment processes and select the best candidate.
Did you also know that employers often use one of many top test providers for their aptitude tests?
Continue to the next section to find out more about these aptitude test providers.
Aptitude test providers are companies that design, develop, and supply standardized assessments used by employers to evaluate candidates’ cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, and potential to succeed in specific roles or tasks.
Find below a list of the top aptitude tests providers used by top employers around the world:
These test providers typically offer a range of general aptitude tests which include numerical, verbal, logical reasoning tests, and personality assessments that employers use to make informed decisions about hiring, promotion, and development.
Good to Know: SHL is renowned as a leading test provider to thousands of organisations globally. At GF, our practice assessments are designed by former SHL developers to help you practice and prepare for your assessment tests.
With this, we have been able to cover all you need to know about aptitude tests you need to complete to be employed by top organisations across the world.
Wait, before you go!
Before you start your aptitude tests, explore our FAQ section below for more answers about successfully completing aptitude tests.
Most aptitude tests do not have negative marking or a failing grade, However, getting a low percentile score on your assessment will likely reduce your chance of moving ahead in the recruitment process.
It depends on the employer’s policy. Some may reject your application immediately, while others consider test scores alongside interviews and other factors. Some companies allow retests after a waiting period.
The timing of an aptitude test can vary depending on the test type, publisher and the job requirements of the employer. It can last between 15 – 30 minutes or more.
The minimum mark required to pass an aptitude test depends upon the cut-off percentile set by the employer. This is often between the 30th and 50th percentile. It is best to score higher than the 70th percentile.
Aptitude tests and IQ tests measure your cognitive abilities but while IQ tests assess general intelligence, aptitude tests focus on specific cognitive skills such as logical reasoning skills, behavioural skills, numerical and verbal reasoning skills.
Do you want to pass your psychometric aptitude tests, first time? Practice for your aptitude tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests. Correct answers to example questions: Numerical Reasoning Test: C Verbal Reasoning Test: B Logical Reasoning Test: C
Do you want to pass your psychometric aptitude tests, first time? Practice for your aptitude tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Correct answers to example questions: Numerical Reasoning Test: C Verbal Reasoning Test: B Logical Reasoning Test: C
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