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Summary

Are you a recruiter or hiring manager looking for candidate pre-employment assessment tests and tools including aptitude tests?

We invite you to visit our Assess Candidates website.

Which employers use Saville assessments? How do Saville assessments work? How to prepare for Saville assessments? If these are questions on your mind, then this is the guide for you.

In this article, we will highlight Saville Assessment Tests, uncovering what assessments employees use, why companies use these and how you can nail these assessments for your job application.

We at GF provide professional practice for your assessments similar to those developed by Saville Assessments to prepare for your job tests. Book a live demo with one of our experts and discover the best way to practice.

Wondering whether you should practice for your Saville Assessment Test? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

A recent study found that candidates who do not practise assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the top 100 global employers.

(Bradley et al, 2019)
In a nutshell:
  1. To Prepare for Saville Assessments

Understand the Saville assessment. Learn what each test measures, what you need to do, and how much time each test takes. Ensure you use the recommended browser and hardware device. 

To develop your understanding and technique for Saville assessment tests:

  • Find a good time to complete the assessment packages
  • Research the key strengths that each Saville test measures
  • Read the instructions and information carefully before you start
  • Ensure you stay focused throughout the tests

The practice assessments on our platform emulate the experience of the assessments you will face when facing Saville assessment tests.

Practice Assessments Similar to Saville Start Practising
Game AssessmentsStart Practicing
Verbal Reasoning TestsStart Practising
Numerical Reasoning TestsStart Practising
Diagrammatic Reasoning TestsStart Practicing
Checking TestsStart Practicing
Personality QuestionnaireStart Practising
Situational Judgement TestsStart Practising

Before we dive in, let’s check what we’ll cover in this guide.

Contents

  1. Who are Saville Assessment?
  2. Which Employers use Saville Assessments?
  3. Saville Consulting Assessment Tests
  4. How to Prepare for Saville Assessments
  5. How do Saville Assessments Work?
  6. Saville Assessment FAQs

Who are Saville Assessments?

Saville Assessments is a cognitive assessments organisation used by employers to assess a candidate’s abilities and suitability for a given role. The Saville psychometric tests assist recruiters in making the best hiring decision for the company and for the candidate.

Saville Assessments – Key Facts

  • Professor Peter Saville, a co-founder of SHL, founded Saville Assessments.
  • Initially known as Saville Consulting, the company was later acquired by Towers Watson (or Willis Towers Watson) in 2015 and is now often referred to as Saville Assessments.
  • Saville tests are built on over 15 years of first-hand research.
  • Saville provides assessments in over 35 languages and 80 countries.
  • Saville assessments include:
    • Saville Aptitude Tests
    • Saville Wave Personality Questionnaire
    • Saville Situational Judgement Test
  • Although some of these assessments are used as stand-alone tests, they are typically blended in the combined Saville Swift series of tests.

Read on to learn which employers use Saville assessment tests to help screen and select job applicants and why.

Which Employers use Saville Assessments?

Saville Assessment offers assessments such as aptitude tests, personality tests, and feedback surveys to top employers across the globe. These employers come from various industries such as banking, consultancy, engineering, manufacturing etc. 

Below are some of the top companies that use the Saville assessment:

AmazonPwCJP Morgan
DeloitteUnileverJaguar Land Rover
MicrosoftNestleMercedes Benz
SiemensNHSErnst & Young (EY)

Interested in learning about the assessment processes and tools used by 150+ of the biggest recruiters? Then don’t miss our step-by-step employer guides to discover our top professional tips to help you prepare for your job application and get ahead.

Keep reading to discover why these top employers use Saville assessment tests. 

Why Do Employers Use Saville Assessments to Hire?

The 6 key reasons why employers use the Saville assessment include:

  1. Tried and Tested Assessment: Saville has 15 years of experience in developing and building virtual assessments. 
  1. Reduce Bias: Through standardized and validated assessments, fair and non-discriminatory language, and multiple assessment methods that provide an in-depth evaluation of a candidate’s suitability.
  1. Reliability: The Wave Personality Questionnaire has the most up-to-date norms for better benchmarking. It has also received 27 out of 30 possible stars from the British Psychological Society independent review. 
  1. Candidate Insight: Saville assessment not only helps with entry-level screening but also the identification of potentials within your organisation. 
  1. Reduction in Decision-Making Time: Jaguar Land Rover stated the Saville assessment reduced decision-making times from 3 weeks to 48 hours. 
  1. Easy-Integration: Saville assessment can be integrated with all major ATS platforms such as workday and SAP success factors. 

Saville Consulting Assessment Tests

Saville has developed several assessment tool packages which are customizable for recruiters and each specific job role. These assessment tools ensure recruiters select the best fit for the job. 

These Saville assessment test packages include:

  1. Saville Aptitude Tests
  2. Saville Wave Personality Questionnaire
  3. Saville Situational Judgement Test

Keep reading as we cover each of these assessments in detail.

Saville Aptitude Tests

The Saville aptitude assessments consist of several psychometric ability tests such as numerical, verbal, and diagrammatic tests. These tests take between 6-24 minutes to complete.

The Saville aptitude tests are usually provided as:

Swift Aptitude Tests

The swift aptitude tests are a range of combined assessments which evaluates your cognitive abilities and varies depending on the entry-level and specialist focus of the role. 

Below are the main types of Swift Aptitude tests that Saville currently provides to employers:

  1. Swift Executive Aptitude Test
    • This test aims to measure your cognitive abilities relevant to executive-level roles, including numerical, verbal, and abstract reasoning. It may also include elements of critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving. The duration of the Swift Executive test is typically around 12-15 minutes.
  1. Swift Technical Aptitude Test
    • This test assesses your cognitive abilities relevant to technical roles, such as engineering, IT, or other technical fields. It includes diagrammatic, mechanical and spatial reasoning questions. The duration of the Swift Technical test is usually around 10 minutes.
  1. Swift Comprehension Aptitude Test
    • This test assesses your ability to quickly understand and interpret information from written passages. It measures reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, and deduction skills. It also involves an error checking test. The duration of the Swift Comprehension test is usually around 16 minutes.
  1. Swift Analysis Aptitude Test
    • This test focuses on measuring your analytical and critical thinking abilities. It includes verbal, numerical, diagrammatic, and abstract reasoning. The duration of the Swift Analysis test is typically around 18-24 minutes. The test is used for roles such as data analysis, market research, and fields requiring the use of analytical skills. 
  1. Swift Apprentice Aptitude Test
    • This test is effective in the evaluation of candidates for entry-level positions and apprenticeships. It includes: verbal, numerical, diagrammatic, error checking, mechanical and spatial sections lasting a total of 20 minutes.  
  1. Swift Global Aptitude Test
    • This test measures your cognitive ability using more interactive tests. It is a 12-minute test that measures your capacity for rapid abstract thinking. It covers the following test areas:
      • Memory Recall: the capacity for accurately memorizing numbers and their placement in a grid.
      • Numerical Comprehension: the ability to spot patterns in a collection of numbers.
      • Abstract Reasoning: the ability to recognize patterns among a variety of shapes and symbols.
Saville memory recall game
Saville Memory Recall Game
Source: Saville Assessment

Test and develop your short term memory with our Cognition-M practice memory game assessment, designed by our experts to assess your memory and focus ahead of your Saville Memory Recall test. 

GF Cognition M-Game-based Assessment

Swift Global Aptitude Test Example

So what are the Saville single tests?

Single Aptitude Tests

The Saville single aptitude tests are single-focused tests, unlike the blended swift aptitude tests. Each of the single aptitude tests take more than 30 minutes each to complete. These tests include:

  1. Verbal Analysis Tests
  2. Numerical Analysis Tests
  3. Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests
  4. Spatial Reasoning Tests
  5. Mechanical Reasoning Tests
  6. Error-Checking Tests

Let’s check out each of these Saville Aptitude Tests in detail. 

Saville Verbal Analysis Aptitude Test

The Saville verbal analysis test or verbal reasoning test assesses your ability to analyse written information to reach a conclusion. This test aims to evaluate your logical thinking as well as your ability to comprehend written information and communication skills. 

During the Saville verbal test, you will be required to:

  • Read multiple passages of long-form text
  • Decide whether a statement regarding the passage is “True”, “False” or whether you “Cannot Say” 
  • Match responses to the best of 2 messages based on the style of communication

Saville Verbal Analysis Tip: Ensure you read the information provided carefully before you answer a question. Avoid using your knowledge to answer the question; instead, only use the information provided in the text. 

Sign up with GF and take your FREE practice verbal test developed by former SHL experts who developed the tests for 8,000+ companies to prepare for your Saville assessment. 

Try out your verbal reasoning skills with this example verbal reasoning question we’ve developed below similar to Saville verbal assessments:

Saville-Style Verbal Reasoning Test Example

Verbal reasoning question example

Think you got it? Check the bottom of the page for the answer!

Top 5 Tips to Ace your Saville Verbal Assessment

  • Understand the Possible Answers: ‘True’ means the answer is correct based on the information provided. ‘False’ implies the statement contradicts the text. ‘Cannot say’ implies there is not enough information provided to decide if it is true or false. 
  • Focus on the Provided Text: Only use the information provided in your decisions. Do not consider any external information or knowledge you may have for these tests.
  • Practice Reading New Texts: Expand your vocabulary every day by reading new texts. 
  • Do word puzzles: Spend time completing crosswords and word puzzles. Read broadsheet newspapers and scientific articles too.
  • Be well rested: Ensure to get plenty of rest the night before and use a place where you won’t be disturbed to ensure you can concentrate. You won’t have much time to complete these tasks.

Check out this short video for even more tips on how you can succeed in your Saville verbal assessment:

Verbal Reasoning Tests | How to succeed during the test #shorts

If you are looking for practice verbal reasoning tests with answers, worked solutions, and professional score reports including personalized tips based on your performance – then GF has you covered. We have you covered in all Saville assessment practise. 

Now that we’ve covered the Saville verbal reasoning tests, let’s check out what we’ll need to know ahead of the Saville numerical reasoning tests.

Numerical Analysis Aptitude Test

The Saville numerical reasoning test assesses your ability to analyse and interpret graphical and statistical numerical data. This Saville test measures your ability to reason with data quickly and accurately and make numerical calculations under time pressure. 

The Saville numerical reasoning test includes:

  • Multiple Choice questions
  • Ranking order

Have a go at our example numerical reasoning question below we’ve made to emulate the experience of a Saville numerical aptitude test. 

Saville-Style Numerical Reasoning Test Example

Numerical Reasoning Question Example

Got it cracked? Check the bottom of the page for the answer!

Numerical Reasoning Tip: Do not worry if Maths is not your strong suit! Just make sure to do a quick recap of basic mathematics such as general arithmetic, percentages, ratios and currency conversion.

For the numerical reasoning test, you will be required to interpret data from tables, charts, and graphics in order to solve mathematical calculations and answer questions. 

Here are tips to help you pass your Saville Numerical reasoning test 

  • Practice numerical tests to get yourself familiar with the question type. 
  • Use worked solutions to learn and develop your key improvement areas
  • Find a balance between speed and accuracy. Avoid rushing your answers as it may have an impact on your accuracy. 
  • Take the Saville numerical test at a time when your brain works at its best
  • Ensure you have a pen, paper, and calculator with you to make notes.

Check out the short video below to discover 3 mistakes to avoid in your Saville numerical analysis test:

3 Things to Avoid in Numerical Reasoning Tests #shorts

For even more Saville practise numerical reasoning tests with answers, worked solutions, and professional score reports including personalized tips based on your performance – then we at GF have you covered.

What other Saville tests do employers often use? Let’s keep reading to uncover another key test type: the Saville diagrammatic tests.

Saville Diagrammatic Aptitude Test

The Saville diagrammatic reasoning test contains 32 questions to be answered within 24 minutes. You will be provided with diagrams and will be required to find the option that best fits the sequence. This test aims to measure your ability to interpret sequences and patterns. 

You will need to uncover a set of rules that govern the sequence. You may also be required to use these rules to determine which set a diagram belongs to. 

Test your diagrammatic reasoning skills with our example question below:

Saville-Style Diagrammatic Reasoning Test Example

Diagrammatic Reasoning Question Example

Think you got it cracked? Don’t forget to check the bottom of the page for the answer!

Did you know? The Saville diagrammatic test is often combined with a spatial, abstract or mechanical reasoning test as part of the Swift assessment series. But what’s the difference between these tests?

  • Abstract reasoning tests or aptitude tests are used to measure your ability to observe shared rules between shapes, images, patterns or numbers. They are often used to assess your strategic thinking.
  • The Saville spatial aptitude test assesses your ability to apply reason with a 2D or 3D image from various angles. During this test, you will be required to spot irregularities in the objects. This test is effective in science and engineering roles. 
  • The Mechanical reasoning aptitude test assesses your mechanical reasoning ability through the use of multiple choice questions around basic mechanical and physics principles and is effective in assessing the best fit for engineering roles.

Take a break from reading and check out this short video below to discover 3 top tips you can use for your Saville diagrammatic reasoning test:

Top 3 Diagrammatic Reasoning Test Tips #shorts

Error Checking Aptitude Test

The Saville Error Checking Aptitude Test is an assessment tool used to measure an individual’s ability to identify errors and mistakes in written or visual information. It is designed to evaluate a candidate’s attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to spot errors in various types of content.

The typical errors that you will be required to check will include: 

  • spelling mistakes
  • grammatical errors
  • incorrect data
  • Inconsistencies and
  • Similarities

And other types of errors that may be commonly encountered in workplace documents or materials.

Get the practice Essentials for your Saville checking test preparation and practice a variety of number checking tests, word checking tests and spelling & grammar tests similar to Saville’s assessments.

Now that we’ve covered the Saville aptitude tests, let’s discover more about another key Saville assessment test: the Wave Personality Questionnaire.

Saville Wave Personality Questionnaire

What is the Saville Wave Personality Questionnaire?

The Saville Wave Personality Questionnaire assesses your workplace personality traits to help employers determine whether you are the right fit for the role. This test analyses your strengths and weaknesses when related to the company’s culture and expectations for the ideal candidate for the job.

What types of Saville Wave Personality Questionnaire are there?

The Wave Personality Questionnaire has 4 main versions for recruitment, depending on the entry-level and role. These include:

Saville Wave Personality TestQuestionnaire Focus and duration
Professional StyleMid-Professional to Senior Professional roles and Leadership roles – 35 minutes to complete
Focus StyleMid-Professional to Senior Professional roles – 13 minutes to complete
Work StrengthsEntry Level roles – 20 minutes
Match 6.5Entry Level roles – 6 minutes and 30 seconds

What does the Saville Wave Personality Test measure?

The Saville wave personality test evaluates your behavioural tendencies, working styles, and preferences. In each assessment, you will be required to determine how much you agree with a statement around traits using a scale of up to 9

Depending on the type of assessment, you may then be presented with these statements and will be required to determine which statement is ‘most’ or ‘least’ like you.

How to prepare and pass my Saville personality test?

  1. Practise: Use our personality assessment tool for your Saville wave personality practise. Practise they say makes perfect. 
  1. Research the Role: consider the role you are applying for, and research the needed personality for such a role. 
  1. Answer Honestly: Answer honestly to avoid being placed in a role you are uncomfortable with. 
  1. Make your Answers Consistent: Do not waver in your answers. Inconsistencies may result in further questions and suspicion of trying to distort the system. 
  1. Discover the Best Job: Using the WPQ, discover the best jobs that suit your personality. 

Check out these 5 simple tips and read along with our short video below:

How to Pass Personality Questionnaires (5 Personality Test Tips) #shorts

Our WPQ personality questionnaire has been developed by previous SHL consultants with years of experience developing psychometric assessments. Gain a greater understanding of your work preferences using the WPQ individualised expert reports. 

Let’s move on to another tailored Saville online assessment that employers often use: the Saville Situational Judgement Test.

Saville Situational Judgement Test

What is the Saville Situational Judgement Test?

The Saville situational judgement test (SJTs) consists of hypothetical scenarios around workplace actions. You will be required to rate the provided response options to take for various workplace situations, from what you would ‘least likely to do’ to ‘most likely to do’, or how effective each action would be.

Did you know? The various scenarios provided in the Saville SJTs will be relevant to situations that you are likely to face in the role. 

Discover our top 5 SJT tips that you can use to prepare for your Saville job simulation assessments with this quick video below:

Ace the SJT! | 5 Situational Judgement Test Tips #shorts

Practice for your Saville Situational Judgement Test with our practice Situational Judgement Tests and practice against the clock with challenging business situations to develop your real assessment experience. 

How to Prepare for Saville Assessments

Below are FOUR key tips we’ve developed for you can follow to ensure you refine your cognitive and behavioural skills to prepare for your Saville assessments:

  1. Practice Aptitude Tests Similar to Saville Assessments

Many Saville assessment tests still measure competencies the same way as other employer standardized aptitude tests, so you can practice your abilities for these in a similar way. For each assessment, consider what you will be assessed on to focus your practice.

You can use our practise assessment tests developed by our experts to help you prepare for your Saville tests.

Practice Tests Similar to Saville AssessmentsPractise with GF Now
Cognition-M™Start Practicing
Verbal Reasoning TestStart Practising
Numerical Aptitude TestStart Practising
Diagrammatic Reasoning TestsStart Practicing
Checking TestsStart Practicing
Personality TestStart Practising
Situational Judgement TestStart Practising

For fully worked solutions, feedback tips and progress tracking on your performance, Get the Premium practice to gain lifetime access to assessments and practice tools developed by industry experts and grow your skills with GF today.

  1. Research What The Company Is Looking For

Finding out about the company’s values before applying is a good place to start. Keep an eye out for the key competencies that are required for the role and the common personality traits that they praise in their current employees. 

When researching the company, don’t forget to check the:

  • Company Website
  • Company Social Media
  • Company YouTube videos
  • Common forums online. Remember that these are frequently just opinions, and always make sure the source is current and relevant (posts within 1-2 years)
  • You may also research the company’s core principles, such as the Jaguar Land Rover Creators’ Codes.
  1. Find The Right Place and Time to Take the Test

Use a dependable internet connection and take your Saville assessment test in a quiet location. Start the tests at the time of day when your brain is working at its peak performance, and make sure you get enough sleep the night before. 

Use the recommended computer device that makes you feel the most comfortable and that avoids stress caused by limits to the hardware or interactivity. Please keep in mind that these tests may not be mobile-friendly.

  1. Read The Instructions Carefully

Stay focused as you may not be able to repeat the assessment, and you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by not fully comprehending the instructions.

Before starting your Saville tests, make sure you thoroughly read each question and know what is expected of you. 

Did you know? Many employers will not let you re-apply to positions within the company for 6-12 months following a failed assessment. Ensure to read each question carefully to understand what is required from you before you begin!

Check out our quick tips video below to discover how you can identify the wrong answers fast in your Saville Assessment tests:

Identify and eliminate wrong answers fast in Online Assessment Tests | Secret Insights #tips #shorts

How do Saville Assessments Work?

Saville assessment aims at ensuring recruiters and employers discover the right talent for any role. Employers use these assessments to:

  • Identify the Best Talent to Hire: The personalized Swift series of tests for recruiters offer a better prediction of your performance on the job as they are tailored to the skill requirements of the role.
  • Reduce Bias: By evaluating a wide range of cognitive abilities and by measuring your personality traits and preferences in the workplace, recruitment bias can be reduced as you compete on a level playing field.
  • Identify Your Full Potential: the flexible mix and match portfolio of assessment tools and personality questionnaires help you to understand your key strengths using the feedback reports.

And with that, we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about your upcoming Saville assessment tests and how you can best prepare and ace them.

But wait, there’s more!

Don’t miss our summary below of answers to some of the top questions people commonly ask about the Saville assessments in our quick FAQs.

Saville Assessment FAQs

How do I pass the Saville assessment test?

Here are 5 tips to ace your Saville assessment:

  1. Research the company and see what they are looking for.
  2. Practice assessments similar to Saville tests
  3. Find the best time and place for your Saville assessment test
  4. Check your equipment before starting
  5. Ensure you stay focused and read the instructions carefully.

Ace your Saville Assessment tests by practicing with GF today!

What is the Saville Consulting Group?

The Saville Consulting Group is a global consulting firm that provides psychometric assessments, talent management solutions, and consulting services to help organizations identify and develop their employees.

What is a Saville Test?

Saville Assessment offers a selection of psychometric tests that are used by employers in hiring processes and employee development. To identify a candidate’s probable appropriateness for a certain job, the Saville tests are made to fit an employer’s needs to assess talents, personality traits, and cognitive abilities.

How long is the Saville assessment test?

The Saville Psychometric Tests are timed tests, which vary depending on the assessment and entry level. The Swift assessments range from 10-20 minutes and the single aptitude tests have a time limit of between 24-30 minutes. The wave personality tests are not timed.

Are Saville assessments hard?

The Saville assessment difficulty level depends on the job’s skill and entry level, as Saville provides different assessments depending on the role through the Swift assessment series. The difficulty will also adapt in response to the candidate’s answers.

Practice and Register with GF to ace your Saville Assessments first time

Do you want to pass your Saville assessments, first time? Sign up for tools offered by GF, the only aptitude practice test experts that provide tests to over 100 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.

Go to GF now and select from the range of products we offer at no risk. We offer a comprehensive premium package with a full set of assessment tools for job candidates (numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, situational judgement tests, assessment centre exercises, and more). Buy 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 – D
Verbal Reasoning Test – B
Diagrammatic Reasoning – B

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