How your numerical score is interpreted

The numerical test score is interpreted in a similar way to that of other aptitude tests (verbal and abstract).  A benchmark, based on scores achieved by employees at a similar organisational level and in a similar job role to the one you are applying for, is used to assess your score. So for example, if you apply for a role in HR and are given a numerical reasoning test to complete, your raw score (or the number of correct responses) is then compared with a large number of scores of people who either work in HR roles or who have applied for roles in HR. This enables employers to compare your numerical reasoning skills with those of others working in the area you applied for.

This means that there is no 'passing' score in the numerical reasoning test. Your numerical test result is calculated relative to that of other people in similar roles. Even if you have correctly answered most of the questions in the numerical reasoning test, your result could still be lower than that of other people in similar roles.

How is this possible? When taking the numerical reasoning test you correctly answer 24 of 30 questions. You see this as a ‘good result’. However, other people in similar roles to that you applied for also have very strong numerical reasoning skills and on average correctly answered 26 of 30 questions. This means that your ‘good result’ is actually a ‘bad result’ because it is lower than the average result of people who work in a similar role to that you applied for.