SHL DIRECT SAMPLE QUESTIONS

NUMERICAL REASONING

ANS : 28
ANS : 5
Question 1

What percentage of women leaving

university went into finance and
administration?
10%
11%
14%
20%
21%
21% of women leaving university went
into finance and administration.
You answered "10%" which is incorrect.
Question 2

How many thousand tonnes of

liquids were lifted in 1989?
1.3

1.5

1.9

2.0

None of these

1.3 thousand tonnes of liquids

were lifted in 1989.
You answered "1.5" which is
incorrect.

Question
Question 3

How much more per pupil do London

authorities spend on staff in secondary
schools than in primary schools?
£209
£219
£232
£291
£314
London authorities spend £314 more
per pupil on staff in secodary schools
than in primary schools.
You answered "£232" which is incorrect.
Question
Question 4

Which one area of employment is least

popular among female university
leavers?
Cannot say
Computing
Library Work
Marketing
Research
Cannot say which one area of
employment is least popular among
female university leavers.
You answered "Computing" which is
incorrect.

Question 5

How much more coal was lifted

in 1992 than in 1987?
0.1 thousand tonnes
0.2 thousand tonnes
0.3 thousand tonnes
1.3 thousand tonnes
2.0 thousand tonnes
0.3 thousand tonnes more coal
was lifted in 1992 than in 1987.
You answered this correctly.
Question 6

How much more than "other"

authorities do London authorities
spend per secondary pupil on
premises?
£39
£47
£184
£137
£291
"Other" authorities spend £47
more per secondary pupil on
premises.
You answered this correctly.

Question 7

Which was the most popular area of

work chosen by women leaving
university?
Administration
Finance
Health
Sales
Teaching
Health was the most popular area of
work chosen by women leaving
university.
You answered "Finance" which is
incorrect.
Question 8

How many thousand tonnes of

merchandise and liquids were lifted
in 1991?
1.9
2.2
2.8
2.9
3.0
2.8 thousand tonnes of merchandise
and liquids were lifted in 1991.
You answered "1.9" which is
incorrect.

Question 9

What is the total cost to London

authorities per secondary school
pupil?
£688
£948
£985
£1,357
£1,427
£1357 is the total cost to London
authorities per secodary school
pupil.
You answered "£985" which is
incorrect.
Question
Question 10

Into which two areas of employment did

a combined 19% of female university
leavers go?
Admin & Computing
Health & Research
Marketing & Admin
Teaching & Computing
Teaching & Library
Teaching and computing were the two
areas of employment chosen by a
combined 19% of female university
leavers.
You answered "Health & Research"
which is incorrect.

Question 11

In which year was most merchandise

carried?
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1992 was the year in which most the
merchandise was carried.
You answered "1989" which is
incorrect.
Question 12

On what do "other" authorities spend

13.8% of their total outlay per primary
school pupil?
Books & Equipment
Premises
Staff
Other
Cannot say
"Other" authorities spend 13.8% of
their total outlay per primary school
pupil on premises.
You answered this correctly.

Question 13

How many women went into teaching

when they left university?
140
650
870
910
None of these
910 women went into teaching when
they left university.
You answered "870" which is
incorrect.
Question 14

In 1988 how much more

merchandise than liquids was
lifted?
0.2 thousand tonnes
0.9 thousand tonnes
1.0 thousand tonnes
1.1 thousand tonnes
2.2 thousand tonnes
In 1988 0.9 thousand tonnes more
merchandise than liquids was
lifted.
You answered "1.1 thousand
tonnes" which is incorrect.

Question 15

What is the total expenditure for

a primary school in London with
320 pupils?
£300,360
£303,360
£330,306
£330,360
£360,303
The total expenditure for a
primary school in London with
320 pupils is £303,360.
You answered "£300,360"
which is incorrect.
Question 16

How many more women went into

computing than into research?
120
135
195
325
None of these
130 more women went into computing
than into research.
You answered "195" which is incorrect.

Question 17

How much more liquid was carried in

1989 than in 1992?
0.5 thousand tonnes
0.8 thousand tonnes
1.3 thousand tonnes
1.5 thousand tonnes
1.8 thousand tonnes
0.5 thousand tonnes more liquid was
carried in 1989 than in 1992
You answered this correctly.
Question
Question 18

What is the difference in total cost to

London authorities between one
secondary pupil and one primary pupil?
£260
£314
£409
£948
None of these
The difference in cost to London
autorities between one secondary pupil
and one primary pupil is £409.
You answered "£948" which is incorrect.

Question 19

How many women went into computing

and administration?
940
1040
1100
1140
None of these
1040 women went into computing and
administration.
You answered this correctly.
Question 20

In which year was an equal tonnage of

merchandise and coal carried?
1987
1988
1990
1991
1992
In 1990 an equal tonnage of
merchandise and coal was carried.
You answered "1991" which is incorrect.

Question 21

Approximately what proportion of the

total amount spent per primary pupil by
"other" authorities is on books and
equipment?
1%
3%
10%
12%
17%
3% of the total amount spent per
primary pupil by "other" authorities is on
books and equipment.
You answered "17%" which is incorrect.
Question 22

24% of female university leavers go into

Finance, Research & Admin
Finance, Teaching & Research
Health, Computing & Research
Marketing, Finance &
Computing
Teaching, Research & Admin
24% of university leavers go into
Finance, Research and Administration.
You answered "Teaching, Research &
Admin" which is incorrect.

VERBAL REASONING
 ANSWERS

Question 1

The course lasted twelve

weeks.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; The course lasted
twelve weeks.
You answered this correctly.

Question 2

A lesson time of two hours was

considered to be the best length.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; A time of one hour was
considered the best length.
You answered "True" which is
incorrect.
Question 3

A target of ninety hours was

set for the course.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; A target of sixty hours
was set for the course.
You answered this correctly.

Question 4

These courses are

beneficial to the entire
population.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say if these
courses are beneficial for
the entire population.
You answered this
correctly.
Question 5

This memo should be

distributed to all staff.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; This memo should be
distributed to all staff.
You answered "False" which is
incorrect.

Question 6

Statistics show that, on

average, a secretary
spends a third of working
time filing.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; Statistics say that, on
average, a secretary
spends a fifth of working
time on filing.
You answered "True" which
is incorrect.
Question 7

Ms Espey should be
contacted with further
enquiries.
True
False
Cannot Say
True, Ms Espey should be
contacted for further
enquiries.
You answered this
correctly.

Question 8

All firms should employ a

full time filing clerk.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say whether all
firms should employ a full
time clerk.
You answered this correctly.
Question 9

According to the survey,

executives in the north
make around thirty-nine
business calls a day.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; according to the
survey, executives in the
north make around thirty-
one business calls a day.
You answered "Cannot
Say" which is incorrect.

Question 10

The telephone will

always be the
executive's most used
tool.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say whether
the telephone will be
the executives most
used tool.
You answered this
correctly.
Question 11

Over half of the

executives in the
survey said that they
waste a lot of time on
the telephone.
True
False

Cannot Say

True, Over half of the

executives in the
survey said they waste
a lot of time on the
telephone.
You answered "False"
which is incorrect.

Question 12

Telephones are
often misused.
True
False
Cannot
Say
Cannot say
whether
telephones are
often misused.
You answered
"True" which is
incorrect.
Question 13

Visitors sometimes get

out of their car to look
more closely at the
animals.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; Visitors
sometimes get out of
their cars to look more
closely at the animals.
You answered this
correctly.

Question 14

Accidents have occurred

when visitors wind down
their windows to take
photographs.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; Accidents have
occurred when visitors wind
down their windows to take
photographs.
You answered "Cannot
Say" which is incorrect.
Question
Question 15

"Danger" signs are

placed every fifty
yards around the
park.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; Danger signs
are placed every five
hundred yards
around the park.
You answered
"Cannot Say" which
is incorrect.

Question 16

The general public

should be banned from
safari parks.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say whether
the general public
should be banned from
safari parks.
You answered "False"
which is incorrect.
Question 17

In the past, complaints

about tobacco smoke
pollution would have
been treated seriously.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; In the past,
complaints about
tobacco smoke pollution
would not have been
treated seriously.
You answered this
correctly.

Question 18

"Secondary inhalation" is
breathing in another's
smoke.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; "Secondary
inhalation" is breathing in
another's smoke.
You answered "False"
which is incorrect.
Question 19

Medical journals have

proposed that smoking
should be banned from
offices.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say whether
medical journals have
proposed that smoking
should be banned from
offices.
You answered "True"
which is incorrect.

Question 20

Smokers have an
increased risk of heart
disease.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say if smokers
have an increased risk of
heart disease.
You answered "True"
which is incorrect.
Question 21

Wise parents should

praise their child's
drawings.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; Wise parents should
praise their child's
drawings.
You answered "Cannot
Say" which is incorrect.

Question 22

Teachers and parents

should avoid talking to
each other.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; Teachers and
parents should not
avoid talking ro each
other.
You answered "True"
which is incorrect.
Question 23

All children watch

television.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say whether all
children watch television.
You answered this
correctly.

Question 24

All children should

go to play school.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say whether
all children should go
to play school
You answered
"False" which is
incorrect.
Question 25

Sixty per cent of Britain's

married women have
their own careers.
True
False
Cannot Say
True; Sixty per cent of
Britain's married women
have their own careers.
You answered this
correctly.

Question 26

Television writers
never refer to wives as
"her indoors".
True
False
Cannot Say
False; writers still
sometimes refer to
wives as "her indoors".
You answered this
correctly.
Question 27

Women hold all the top

posts in the television
industry.
True
False
Cannot Say
False; Women do not
hold all the top posts in
the television industry.
You answered this
correctly.

Question 28

The National Statistics

show that most couples
have 2.3 children.
True
False
Cannot Say
Cannot say if the National
Statistics show that most
couples have 2.3 children.
You answered this
correctly.
 VERBAL EXAMPLES
Verbal Example Questions

In this test you are given two passages, each of which is followed by several statements. Your task
is to evaluate the statements in the light of the information or opinions contained in the passage
and to select your answer according to these rules.

If you think the statement is If the statement is patently

If you cannot say whether the
patently true or follows untrue or the opposite follows
statement is true or untrue or
logically given the logically, given the
follows logically without
information or opinions information or opinions
further information
contained in the passage contained in the passage
click on A click on B click on C

1. The main difference between nuclear and fossil-fuelled power stations

is an economic one.

2. The price of coal is not relevant to discussions about the efficiency of

nuclear reactors.

3. If nuclear reactors were cheaper to build and decommission than fossil

fuelled power stations, they would definitely have the economic
advantage.
4. Physical stimuli usually win in the competition for our attention.

5. The capacity of the human brain is sufficient to interpret nearly all the stimuli the senses
can register under optimum conditions.

6. Eyes are able to cope with greater input of information than ears.

Verbal Example Questions

1. It is possible that permanent staff who are on holiday can have their work carried out by
students.
2. Students in summer employment are given the same paid holiday benefit as permanent
staff.

3. Students are subject to the organisation's standard disciplinary and grievance

procedures.

4. Some companies have more work to do in summer when students are available for
vacation work.

5. "No smoking" policies have mainly been introduced in response to customer demand.

6. All banks and building societies now have a "no smoking" policy.

7. There is no conflict of interest between a "no smoking" policy and personal freedom of
choice for all.

8. A no-smoking policy is in line with most customers' expectations in banks and building
societies.

ANSWERS:
TEST 1
1: C 2: B 3: A 4: C 5: B 6: C

TEST 2
1: A 2: B 3: C 4: A 5: C 6: B 7: B 8: A

NUMERICAL EXAMPLES

Numerical Example Questions TEST 1

1. Which country had the highest number of people aged 60 or over at the start of 1985?

UK France Italy Germany Spain

2. How many live births occurred in 1985 in Spain and Italy together (to the nearest 1,000)?

104,000 840,000 1,044,000 8,400,000 10,440,000

3. What was the net effect on the UK population of the live birth and death rates in 1985?

Increase Increase Increase

Decrease Cannot
of of of
of 66,700 say
84,900 85,270 752,780
4. What percentage of the total 15mm button production was classed as sub-standard in
September?

10.5% 13% 15% 17.5% 20%

23.5% 25% 27.5% 28% 30.5%

5. By how much did the total sales value of November's button production vary from
October's?

£28.50 £142.50 £285.00 £427.50 No

(Decrease) (Decrease) (Increase) (Decrease) change
6. What was the loss in potential sales revenue attributable to the production of sub-
standard (as opposed to standard) buttons over the 6 month period?

£213.75 £427.50 £2,137.50 £2,280.00 £4,275.00

Numerical Example Questions Test 2

1. Which newspaper was read by a higher percentage of females than males in 1990?
 The The Daily Daily The Daily
Tribune Herald News Echo Chronicle
2. What was the combined readership of the Daily Chronicle, Echo and Tribune in 1981?

10.6 8.4 9.5 12.2 7.8

3. Which newspaper showed the largest change in female readership between 1981 and
1990?

Daily The The The Daily Cannot

Echo Tribune Herald Chronicle say

4. In 1989, how much more than Italy did Germany spend on computer imports?

650 700 750 800 850

million million million million million
5. If the amount spent on computer imports into the U.K. in 1991 was 20% lower than in
1990, what was spent in 1991?

1080 1120 1160 1220 1300

6. Which countries experienced a drop in the value of computers imported from one year to
the next?

France
France Holland U.K. & Italy &
&
& Italy & Italy Holland U.K.
Holland
ANSWERS:

TEST 1
1: D 2: C 3: B 4: F 5: E 6: C

TEST 2
1: D 2: C 3: E 4: B 5: B 6: A

Diagrammatic Example Questions

The diagrammatic questions which follow are multiple choice. For each question, you are
given several possible answers. When you have selected your answer, click in the
appropriate circle.

Each problem in this test consists of a series of diagrams, on the left of the page, which
follow a logical sequence. You are to choose the next diagram in the series from the five
options on the right. Then indicate your answer by clicking the appropriate answer.

Time Guidelines: See how many questions you can answer in 5 minutes, remembering
you should work accurately as well as quickly.

Diagrammatic Series

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

ANSWERS

1: E 2: B 3: D 4: D 5: C 6: B 7: B 8: E

REAL EXAMS
ANSWERS:

1: B 2: C 3: E 4: C 5: C

MAIN EXAM
VERBAL MAIN EXAM
EXAMPLE
ANSWERS

1: T 4: T
MAIN