How to practice for numerical reasoning
To succeed at numerical reasoning tests you need to stick to some certain strategies to make most of your practice. Below, we provide you some suggestions as how you may want to go about your practice when you need to pass graduate numerical reasoning tests.
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Numerical Reasoning Practice Tip #1
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Pay attention to question wording - When you practice for numerical reasoning tests pay particular attention to wording of the questions. Focus on the structure, the instruction words and the content and try to spot subtle differences that may give the question slightly different meaning each time. If you are new to numerical reasoning tests and you find it difficult to understand the test question then you may read it slowly first. At official numerical reasoning tests the familiarity with question wording will help you to comprehend test question more quickly. |
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Numerical Reasoning Practice Tip #2
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Find the most efficient calculation techniques that work for you - To do well at numerical reasoning tests, read through suggested explanations and try to work out questions in number of different ways to see which technique suites you the most or which methods of calculation you feel most comfortable with. For example, consider the graph and question below.
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Question:
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In 1992 compared to 1991, both revenues and costs rose by 10% each. Approximately, what were the profits in 1991? |
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The above question requires you to calculate reverse percentages. See that there are a few ways of solving them. The costs for 1991 may be calculated in the following ways: |
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- Firstly, you may solve it in the way that you mentally add 10% to 1 which would give you 1.1 and then you will quickly divide 40 by 1.1. This technique may be the most efficient way to deal with reverse percentages at numerical reasoning tests.
- Secondly, you may input into calculator the following formula 40 / (1 + 0.10) = 36.36. This approach still works fine but the disadvantage of this method is that those couple of extra strokes to your calculator may take you valuable seconds. If you add mentally 1 + 0.10 and input it into your calculator as 1.1 may save you time.
- Thirdly, some people may solve the bellow example in this way; (40 * 100) / 100 + 10 = 36.36. This may be a bit lengthy technique to adopt as far as numerical reasoning tests are concerned where you have to work under time pressure.
- Additionally, some people would prefer to solve the reverse percentage imputing the formula: X * (1 + 0.10) = 40 into their calculators. This may also be a bit lengthy technique to use in numerical reasoning tests.
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However, choose whichever technique you feel is the fastest and works most efficiently for you.
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Numerical Reasoning Practice Tip #3
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Practice under time constraints - It is important that you practice against time constraints. If you tend to work slowly try to speed up because in your official numerical reasoning test you must give yourself a reasonable chance to attempt as many test questions as possible in short time. You may not finish all of them, however, the more you can answer correctly the better. Nevertheless, if you are new to numerical reasoning tests and you find the test questions difficult try to practice without time constraints and go through questions at your own pace. Make sure that you understand the test questions and try to get the feel how to approach them to get the right answer. Give yourself sufficient time to understand the arithmetic operations of percentages, ratios or proportions that often form the bases of numerical reasoning tests. Once you will be more familiar with these, start to practice against time constraint. |
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Numerical Reasoning Practice Tip #4
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Review explanations - Make sure that you check your answers each time you attempt to do the test. Go over the questions and explanations and try to work out where you went wrong. Also, try to work out test questions that you did not answer. Make sure that you understand each of the questions in the test before undertaking another one. Working through the test and analysing your responses will help you to focus your training needs to improve your skills in your weak areas. |
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Numerical Reasoning Practice Tip # 5
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Be persistent - Check your progress regularly. If you practice for numerical reasoning test steadily you can significantly improve your test score. The more you practice the better your skills become. Be persistent. Set aside significant amount of time to practice similar questions that you are likely to be administered during selection exercise. Go literally through thousands of practice test papers and questions and treat each of them as a real test. With time you will become more confident and eventually you will approach numerical reasoning tests in a positive and confident frame of mind and will succeed. |
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