Aptitude tests
Deductive reasoning test practice
Start from the rules you are given, and work out what must be true.
Sample question
Setup
Five analysts (Amara, Imani, Dev, Grace, Chloe) each present their findings to a committee on a different day from Monday to Friday, one presentation a day.
Clues
- Amara presents earlier in the week than Imani.
- Imani presents the day immediately before Grace.
- Dev presents earlier in the week than Amara.
- Grace presents the day immediately before Chloe.
On which day does Dev present?
Working: Applying every clue gives the full order: Monday Dev, Tuesday Amara, Wednesday Imani, Thursday Grace, Friday Chloe. So Dev is at Monday.
A common slip is to overlook a clue. Leave out "Dev presents earlier in the week than Amara." and Friday looks possible for Dev. Use every clue.
Up to 12 logic puzzles in 18 minutes. Work out the order or the schedule from the clues, then place the items.
Practise this format
Need extra time or a different format? Every timed practice has 1.25x and 1.5x options. See reasonable adjustments.
About this test
Deductive reasoning tests give you a set of rules or statements and ask what must follow. Typical items involve ordering people or events, matching attributes, or working out which conclusion is certain. Nothing outside the information given should be used.
Our puzzle generator is checked by a solver that confirms each puzzle has exactly one correct answer, so there is no judgement call to argue about. Use learn mode to see the chain of reasoning, or the timed mode to practise the published time limits. Source badges below show what is published.
What we know about this format
Each point carries a badge showing where it comes from. Where only candidates have reported something, the badge says so.
What do the confidence badges mean?
- Vendor-published Stated in the test publisher's own document or practice site.
- Academic From peer-reviewed research.
- Official employer Stated on the employer's own page.
- Near-official Near-official: an employer-run practice portal, or a vendor or employer-quoted press release naming the employer.
- Candidate-reported Reported by candidates. Treat as likely but unconfirmed.
- Third-party From prep sites, press or forums. Not confirmed by the employer or publisher.
- Vendor-published
Interactive deductive test in the format we call SHL-style: up to 12 items in 18 minutes, evaluating arguments and completing scenarios.
Source · Publisher fact sheet, 2018.
- Vendor-published
The general-ability combined test is 30 items in 36 minutes (10 numerical, 10 deductive, 10 inductive), or 24 items in 36 minutes in the interactive version.
Source · Publisher fact sheets.
- Academic
Retake studies find an average gain of about a quarter of a standard deviation on cognitive tests, levelling off after a few sittings.
Interactive deductive reasoning (SHL-style)
- Vendor-published
Up to 12 questions in 18 minutes; evaluate arguments and complete scenarios
Source · Kvanta builds scheduling and ordering puzzles with exactly one solution each.
- Vendor-published
The test is adaptive
Source · Kvanta uses a simple difficulty staircase over five levels.
- Vendor-published
Interactive versions use partial scoring
- Vendor-published
Results are reported as a percentile against a named comparison group; Kvanta shows an estimated band against Kvanta players instead
Source · Kvanta never shows an SHL percentile or grade. Its band is a rough guide against our own users and appears only once enough people have taken the test.
Questions people ask
What is deductive reasoning?
It is reasoning from given rules to a conclusion that must be true. If the rules are accepted, only one answer can follow.
How is it different from inductive reasoning?
Inductive tests ask you to infer a rule from examples. Deductive tests hand you the rules and ask what follows. Inductive is pattern-finding, deductive is logic.
Is there a best way to attack ordering puzzles?
Write the rules as short notes, draw a simple table or line, and fill in the certain facts first. Then test the remaining options against each rule. Learn mode shows one worked route for every puzzle.
How long does a deductive test take?
A published adaptive example is up to 12 items in 18 minutes. Your invitation states your own limit.
Do I need any maths?
Rarely beyond simple counting. The difficulty is keeping several rules in mind, not calculating.
Will I see the same puzzle twice?
No. Puzzles are generated from a random seed each time, so you can drill as much as you like.
Are these real test puzzles?
No. They are original, generated by our own rules and verified by a solver.
Where this appears in firm processes
- PwC UK Official employer
- Standard Chartered Official employer
- Schroders Official employer
See all firm pages. Check your own invitation, because processes change each cycle.
Independent practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by SHL.
Practice builds familiarity. Reasoning scores improve with practice, though the gains level off after a few sittings, and nothing here predicts a real score. Our results are shown against Kvanta users only, never as an official score.
Use Kvanta to practise and learn. In a live assessment, do not use AI tools, notes or another person unless the employer says you may. Read our approach to integrity.