Challenging
I enjoyed the test though it was challenging, it helped me know that my non-verbal reasoning needs a lot of work.
Diagrammatic, abstract, inductive and spatial questions: the tests that work with shapes and figures rather than words. Every question below comes with a worked solution.
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A non-verbal reasoning test measures how well you reason with shapes, diagrams and images rather than words. Employers use it as a fair measure of reasoning across language backgrounds before interview. You are shown visual patterns and asked to work out the rule and pick the option that fits, whether by completing a sequence or finding the odd one out. It rewards clear visual logic and careful observation.
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| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 9 to 10 | Comfortably above the bar for most graduate schemes |
| 7 to 8 | Around the typical pass mark. Worth practising for speed |
| 5 to 6 | Below most employer thresholds. Focus on method before speed |
| 4 or fewer | Work through the worked solutions above before retrying |
Employers set their own thresholds and many sift on the top percentage of applicants rather than a fixed mark, so treat these as a guide.
One test tells you the style. A pack gives you the pace: batches under time pressure, marked, with the working shown.
Non-verbal reasoning is an umbrella: the logic-based formats ask what comes next, the spatial format asks you to manipulate shapes. Each has its own free test and guide.
Find the rule connecting a set of shapes: the classic logic-based format.
Practise abstract reasoningSequences, odd-one-out and set questions built from pattern rules.
Practise inductive reasoningOperators and processes: deduce what each symbol does and apply it.
Practise diagrammatic reasoningRotate, fold and count shapes in your head rather than finding rules.
Practise spatial reasoningA non-verbal reasoning test is an assessment that measures how well you interpret visual information and solve problems with shapes and figures rather than words. It might ask you to find the relationship between patterns, work out what comes next in a sequence, or picture how a shape changes when it moves or rotates.
Crucially, the tests do not assess language, and no prior knowledge is needed. That is the point: by stripping out vocabulary and learned facts, they get closer to raw problem-solving ability, which is why they are so widely used to screen candidates from mixed educational and cultural backgrounds on equal terms.
“Non-verbal reasoning” is a family name rather than a single test. The rest of this guide explains the types you might be set and how to approach each.
Employers use non-verbal reasoning tests because they are a strong, fair measure of general problem-solving ability. Problem solving matters in almost every role, and a test that predicts it without depending on language or background is unusually useful at the sift stage.
Three reasons they are favoured:
Most employers score you against other candidates, not against a fixed pass mark: your raw score becomes a percentile. Competitive graduate schemes commonly sift at around the 70th to 80th percentile. Attempting questions matters, because most tests are built so few candidates finish, and guessing usually pays: negative marking is rare, but check the instructions.
Non-verbal reasoning tests appear across graduate and professional recruitment, and are especially common where a role rewards analytical or technical ability. They are widely used in graduate schemes, both to measure reasoning and to assess leadership potential.
Most employers license their tests from a small number of publishers, and the timing and question style vary between them, so find out which publisher your employer uses before you prepare seriously. It is usually named in the invitation email. Our test publisher guides cover each format, and the employer guides cover specific companies’ processes.
The methods behind the questions above, from our team
Rated 4.8 out of 5 across 154 reviews. A selection:
I enjoyed the test though it was challenging, it helped me know that my non-verbal reasoning needs a lot of work.
I liked about that the question is testing what my grade is but one thing I disliked about this test is the question was kind of getting harder every time but till it was ok for me.
Everything becomes easy once you decompartmentalize and identify the patterns. The tips and articles on the website are spot on.
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