How the tests work and how they are taken. Written by Adrian, who takes them, updated regularly.
Less maths, more reading under time pressure – three habits for more points.
6 min · Oct 13, 2026Online assessmentStructure, time limits and the typical traps of the scales tests.
5 min · Oct 8, 2026Online assessmentWhat’s measured when you pump up balloons – and how to stay calm.
7 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testFrom spelling to memory tasks: what to expect, and how we take it.
8 min · Sep 29, 2026Aptitude testChecking under time pressure – with a system instead of panic.
4 min · Sep 22, 2026Online assessmentRows, columns, diagonals – a fixed order for finding the rule faster.
5 min · Sep 15, 2026Aptitude testAptitude tests often ban the calculator. The tricks that keep mental arithmetic fast and exact: rounding, splitting, units and the order of operations.
2 min · Oct 27, 2026Aptitude testNumber series look random and are not. The handful of rules behind every series, and the fixed order that finds the rule before the clock does.
2 min · Oct 27, 2026Online assessmentPsychometric test guide: every online assessment type, the vendors, real 2026 batteries from eligo, cyquest, Aon and more, scoring and a 2-week plan.
23 min · Oct 1, 2026PersonalityThe SHL OPQ is not right or wrong. It asks you to rank statements about yourself. How forced choice works and how to answer consistently.
2 min · Oct 27, 2026Online assessmentSHL verbal items ask whether a passage proves a statement. How the true, false and cannot-say answer set works, and how to answer it under time.
2 min · Oct 27, 2026Aptitude testCritical thinking test guide 2026: Watson-Glaser style inferences, assumptions, deductions and arguments, SHL argument items, original practice questions.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testDeductive reasoning test with answers: syllogisms, must-be-true and cannot-be-true statements, SHL's interactive logic tasks, traps and a 7-day plan.
12 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testEmotion recognition test guide: the seven-label face format (Arctic Shores, pymetrics), cues that separate fear, surprise, disgust and anger, and practice.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testAttention to detail test guide: how error checking and multitasking tests work (address comparison, invoice checks, message routing), with original drills.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testGame-based assessment guide: how pymetrics games, Arctic Shores, Aon smartPredict, Cappfinity and McKinsey Solve work, how they are scored, how to prepare.
11 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testAbstract reasoning tests explained: pick-two grids, 3×3 and 4×4 matrices, sequences and build-the-frame puzzles from real 2026 tests, with practice items.
14 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testJob simulation assessment guide: how day-in-the-life tests mix SJT, inbox, numerical and video tasks, plus an original mini simulation.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testNumber sequence test guide: the rule types employers use, a six-step method to find any pattern, and 15 original number series with worked solutions.
12 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testNumerical reasoning test 2026: every format seen at SHL, TestGorilla, Cappfinity and Applied, number-format traps, speed tips and 12 practice questions.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026PersonalityHow a personality test for the workplace works: OPQ forced-choice triads, sliders and Likert scales, how they are scored, and how to prepare honestly.
12 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testSituational judgement test guide: most/least and rank-order formats from 2026 SJTs, how SJTs are scored, how to prepare, and original example questions.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testWorking memory test practice: symbol-to-number coding, larger/smaller comparisons, mental arithmetic under time – with 30 original drills.
14 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testVerbal reasoning test guide: the true/false/cannot say decision rule, the multi-tab layout, common traps and 16 original practice questions with answers.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentAlva Labs logic test explained: 20 adaptive matrix puzzles, 2 minutes each, a 1–10 score, plus the Big Five personality test and original practice puzzles.
9 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentAon test guide 2026: how cut-e scales clx inductive grids and the six-tab verbal test work, timings, traps and original practice questions with answers.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentBeapplied skill tests explained: Applied's anonymised hiring, the 18-question, 30-minute numerical test, hover charts and original practice questions.
11 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentArctic Shores assessment guide: every known game (Order, Predict, Expressions, Balance, Security), how behaviour-based scoring works and how to prepare.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentBCG online case (Casey) explained: 8–10 chatbot questions in 35 minutes plus a 1-minute video, the SHL-built CCA and an original practice case.
14 min · Oct 1, 2026PersonalityHow the Bryq assessment works: timed cognitive questions in four areas, an untimed 16PF-based personality section, skills tests and original practice.
9 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentCappfinity assessment 2026: strengths-based ranking, work-style sliders and a time-recorded numerical test, with original practice questions and tips.
12 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentClevry tests explained: verbal, numerical, abstract, checking and mechanical ability tests, timers per level, personality questionnaire, SJTs and practice.
9 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentCCAT explained: 50 questions in 15 minutes, raw score and percentile, what Criteria's score ranges mean, plus CBST, UCAT, EPP and original practice.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmenteligo test guide (PERLS DUO): four modules, time per item, logic, charts, 4×4 matrices and the symbol speed task, with original practice questions.
12 min · Oct 1, 2026PersonalityHogan assessment guide: what the HPI, HDS, MVPI and HBRI measure, item counts and timing, how employers use results, and how to prepare honestly.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentKenexa Prove It test explained: what happened to Kenexa, where the tests live, numerical, verbal and logical formats, Excel tasks and original practice.
9 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentKorn Ferry assessment guide: Talent Q Elements ability tests, Dimensions, and the most/least-effective culture-match SJT, with original practice questions.
11 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentMatrigma test explained: Assessio's 12-minute adaptive matrix test, 1 minute per item, the 0–10 C-score, Classic Matrigma and original practice puzzles.
8 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentMcKinsey Solve 2026: the current games (Red Rock Study, Sea Wolf, Sustainable Futures Lab), timing, reported scoring and original practice items.
14 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentMettl test guide: Mercer | Mettl aptitude, coding and personality tests, the test screen, proctoring as Mettl describes it and original aptitude questions.
14 min · Oct 1, 2026PersonalityPlum assessment explained: the untimed 25-minute Discovery Survey, its five sections, puzzle and social questions, retakes, and honest notes on 'answers'.
9 min · Oct 1, 2026PersonalityPredictive Index explained: the untimed PI Behavioral Assessment adjective checklist, the 50-item, 12-minute PI Cognitive Assessment and original practice.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentPymetrics games explained: all 12 Harver games (Balloon, Digits, Cards, Tower, Faces), what each measures, how matching works and original practice.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentRevelian test explained: the 51-question cognitive ability test, Cognify and Emotify games, Revelian's move to Criteria, plus original practice questions.
8 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentSaville assessment guide: Swift Analysis and Swift Comprehension structure and timings, Wave personality format, original practice questions with answers.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentWhat the SHL test looks like in 2026: General Ability (Verify G+), the interactive version and the OPQ, with original practice questions and a prep plan.
18 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentSova assessment guide: numerical, verbal, logical, SJT and personality on one platform, how timing and scoring work, plus original practice and answers.
12 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentTalogy assessment guide: Cubiks Logiks Intermediate and Advanced timings, PAPI personality formats, SJTs, typical layouts and original practice questions.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentHow a TestGorilla assessment works: critical thinking, numerical and data tests, timers, practice items, monitoring and original practice questions.
13 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentThe Thomas GIA test explained: five timed tasks, practice rounds, percentiles and wrong-answer deductions, plus the PPA, HPTI and original practice items.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentWatson Glaser test guide 2026: the five sections and their answer labels, 40 items in 30 minutes, use by UK law firms, and original practice questions.
14 min · Oct 1, 2026Online assessmentWonderlic test explained: 50 questions in 12 minutes, Wonderlic Select's three parts, what scores employers look for, and 16 original practice questions.
15 min · Oct 1, 2026Aptitude testVerbal reasoning asks one thing only: does the passage prove the statement? How to handle true, false and cannot-say items without overreading.
2 min · Oct 27, 2026