SHL General Ability Test (Verify G+): Format, Sample Questions and How to Prepare

"SHL general ability test" almost always refers to SHL Verify G+, the cognitive assessment that combines numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning into a single sitting. Instead of scheduling three separate tests, an employer sends one link. You answer one mixed, adaptive set of questions, and the result is an overall estimate of your general reasoning ability, usually reported alongside the individual skill areas.

The idea behind a general ability measure is long-established in occupational psychology: people who reason well with numbers also tend to reason well with patterns and with logical arguments, and that general reasoning ability is one of the better predictors of how quickly someone learns a new job. A single combined test is a time-efficient way for an employer to capture it. For candidates, it means one test day to prepare for rather than three, but it also means you cannot hide a weak area behind a strong one by choosing which test to prepare for.

Because the test is meant for unsupervised use, many employers follow it with a shorter supervised check later in the process. We cover that in the test-day section and in our guide to SHL cheating and verification.

The exact number of questions and the time limit are set in your invitation and can vary by employer and by SHL release, so treat any published figure, including ours, as approximate. Public descriptions generally portray a session of roughly half an hour with a few dozen questions across the three skill areas. Your instruction screen is the final word.

What "adaptive" means

Verify tests draw on a large bank of questions, and the system picks what you see next based on how you have answered so far. Answer correctly and later questions tend to be harder. Miss one and difficulty can ease. In practice that has several consequences:

• Nobody sees exactly the same test. Shared "answer lists" are useless, and comparing questions with friends tells you little.
• It should feel hard. A well-functioning adaptive test pushes everyone toward questions they find challenging, so struggling is normal and not a sign of failure.
• Early accuracy matters. The first answers place you in a difficulty band, so careless errors at the start are costly.
• You generally cannot go back. Answer, commit, move on.

If your employer has also used a more specialized interactive test, such as the SHL calculation test, note that it is a separate, entry-level product with its own format. G+ is aimed at reasoning rather than raw arithmetic speed.

Most candidates have heard of SHL's separate numerical, verbal and inductive tests. G+ does not replace those across the board; it is simply another way an employer can package cognitive assessment. Understanding the difference helps you decide how to practice.

The practical difference is context-switching. In a standalone numerical test you settle into one mode of thinking for the whole session. In G+ you may move from a table of figures to an abstract pattern to a logic puzzle in quick succession, and the mental reset costs a few seconds each time. Practicing mixed sets, not only blocks of one type, trains that switch.

A general ability test can also differ from the sample questions you find online in tone. Practice material is often organized by topic. The real thing mixes topics and adapts, so it is worth finishing your preparation with mixed, timed sets and not only topic drills.

Finally, remember that an employer using G+ is typically after a general read on reasoning, not a specialist skill. If your role is heavily quantitative, they may add a separate numerical test on top. Always check the full assessment list in your application portal so nothing in the process surprises you.

Numerical items ask you to work from data presented in tables, charts or short passages. You are expected to select the relevant figures, apply a calculation such as a percentage change, ratio or average, and choose the correct result from a set of options. The math is school level; the challenge is reading the data accurately and doing the work quickly.

Worked sample

Original practice item, not a real SHL question. A store's online sales were $240,000 in Q1 and $294,000 in Q2. What was the percentage increase? The increase is 294,000 − 240,000 = 54,000. As a share of the original, 54,000 ÷ 240,000 = 0.225, which is a 22.5% increase. A quick sense-check: 10% of 240,000 is 24,000, so 54,000 is a little over two lots of 24,000, which fits.

For a full treatment of this question type, with timing and formula advice, see how to pass the SHL numerical test and our numerical reasoning guide.

Inductive reasoning, sometimes called abstract reasoning, tests your ability to spot a rule in a set of shapes or symbols and apply it. You might see a sequence of figures with one missing, or a grid where you must decide which option completes the pattern. There is no language and no numbers to calculate, which is why many candidates find it the most unfamiliar section.

Unlike a numerical item, an inductive item rarely has a clear starting point. You scan for change: what moves, what rotates, what is added, what disappears, and what alternates. Strong candidates run through the same short checklist every time rather than staring and hoping for insight.

The most reliable way to improve is to learn the recurring rule types and drill them until recognition is quick. Our article on inductive reasoning pattern rules sets out the families above in more detail with examples, and the inductive reasoning guide covers the test format.

A useful time rule: if you have not found the pattern within about 45 seconds, eliminate options that clearly break an observed rule, choose from what remains and move on. In an adaptive test, one lost question costs less than the time you would burn trying to rescue it.

Deductive reasoning questions give you a set of statements and ask what must follow. The important word is must. You are not asked what is likely or sensible, only what is guaranteed by the information given. Typical formats include syllogism-style statements about groups, conditional "if... then" rules, and short scenarios with constraints, such as ordering or scheduling puzzles.

Worked sample

Original practice item, not a real SHL question. All analysts in the team have completed the compliance course. Some people who completed the course are based in Chicago. Which conclusion must be true? (a) Some analysts are based in Chicago. (b) All Chicago staff are analysts. (c) Anyone who has not completed the course is not an analyst. (d) No analyst is based in Chicago.

The answer is (c). If every analyst has completed the course, then a person who has not completed it cannot be an analyst. Option (a) is tempting but unsupported, because the Chicago group who completed the course might contain no analysts at all. Options (b) and (d) are not guaranteed either.

For more worked examples and the rules behind each question type, read our SHL deductive reasoning test guide and the deductive reasoning page.

SHL reports ability results by comparing your performance with a norm group, a reference population such as graduates or managers, rather than as a simple count of correct answers. In an adaptive test the score also reflects the difficulty of the questions you answered, so two candidates with the same number of correct answers can end up with different results. Reports are commonly expressed as a percentile or a standardized score relative to the chosen group.

Employers decide which norm group to use, what the threshold is, and whether the result is a hard cut-off or one factor among several. Those thresholds are rarely published, and we do not quote any specific pass mark because none is confirmed publicly for G+. What you can control is giving your best performance on the day.

Because the combined result averages over three skills, a very uneven profile can matter. A strong numerical performance helps, but weak inductive and deductive sections still pull the overall estimate down. Balanced preparation is the safer strategy than perfecting one area.

If things do not go to plan, retake rules are set by the employer and by SHL's own processes. Our SHL retake policy guide explains what is typical and how to approach a future attempt.

Three skills means three areas to cover, so a structured plan beats ad hoc practice. The schedule below assumes three weeks and about 30 to 45 minutes a day. Compress or extend it to suit your deadline.

On the day

• Set up properly. Use a laptop or desktop with a stable connection, close other tabs and silence notifications.
• Gather materials. Pen and scratch paper, and a calculator if the instructions permit one.
• Read every instruction screen. Rules and timing are specific to your invitation.
• Start steady. Early answers shape the difficulty you receive, so prioritize accuracy over speed at the beginning.
• Move on. Do not sink a minute and a half into one question; make your best choice and continue.

Nerves can undo good preparation. If the timer makes you tense, practice with a visible clock and read our SHL test anxiety guide. Then rehearse with timed sets in our practice library to get comfortable switching between question types.