Test formats by publisher
Saville-style practice
Verbal, numerical and diagrammatic sections, each timed on its own.
Sample question: Saville-style verbal
Passage
Under the Wexley Graduate Repayment Scheme, graduates repay 9 per cent of their earnings above a threshold of 27,000 pounds a year. Repayments are collected through the payroll by the employer. Any balance still owed after 30 years is written off. Interest is charged at a rate set each September, and a graduate whose earnings are below the threshold pays no repayment that year but still has interest added. The government has announced that the threshold will be increased to 29,000 pounds from April, which it says will reduce repayments for all graduates who earn above that level. The scheme was introduced for graduates who started their courses after 2012 and is administered by a public body. Graduates are told their repayment position in an annual statement.
Statement
A graduate earning 30,000 pounds a year currently repays 270 pounds a year.
Is the statement true, false, or can it not be said from the passage?
Why: 9 per cent of the 3,000 pounds above the threshold is 270 pounds.
A common slip is to take 9 per cent of the whole salary (2,700 pounds) instead of only the part above the threshold.
Two timed sections of 8 questions and 6 minutes each. Shows how fast you were as well as how many you got right.
Practise this format
Choose a format
- Swift-style aptitude: verbal, numerical, diagrammatic (Saville-style)Three timed sections of 8 questions and 6 minutes each: 24 questions in 18 minutes. Shows your ability and your pace.
- Numerical and diagrammatic sections (Saville-style)Two timed sections of 8 questions and 6 minutes each. Shows how fast you were as well as how many you got right.
- Verbal section (Saville-style)Eight verbal questions in 6 minutes, with a short passage shared by each pair. Shows how fast you were as well as how many you got right.
Need extra time or a different format? Every timed practice has 1.25x and 1.5x options. See reasonable adjustments.
About this test
This format is three short sections, verbal, numerical and diagrammatic, each timed separately, with groups of questions sharing a stimulus. The publisher's report shows an ability sten and a separate pace score that compares your time on completed items with the average time on the same items.
We should be plain: we found no UK bank or Big 4 firm naming this publisher on its own pages. We include it because the diagrammatic generator is cheap to reuse and the format is a useful change of pace. It is lowest priority for finance applications.
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
Swift Analysis Aptitude: 24 items in 18 minutes. Verbal, numerical and diagrammatic sections of 8 items and 6 minutes each. Swift Verbal and Numerical: 32 items in 24 minutes.
Source · Publisher practice page. The technical summary PDF is offline, so counts come from a search excerpt.
- Vendor-published
The report shows ability as a 1 to 10 sten against a comparison group, plus a pace score comparing your time on completed items with the average time on the same items.
Source · Sample report.
- Vendor-published
Swift practice is desktop-only, and phones are mostly not allowed.
- Third-party
No UK finance employer was found naming this publisher on an official page.
Source · Absence of evidence, not proof.
Swift-style aptitude: verbal, numerical, diagrammatic (Saville-style)
- Vendor-published
24 questions in 18 minutes: verbal, numerical and diagrammatic sections of 8 questions and 6 minutes each
- Vendor-published
Separately timed sections built from large item banks
Source · Document is no longer online; read through a search excerpt.
- Candidate-reported
Groups of questions share one stimulus
Source · Candidate-reported. Not confirmed in the provider's published documents.
- Vendor-published
Reports show an ability score (sten, 1 to 10, against a comparison group) and a pace score (your time on completed items against the average time on the same items)
Source · Kvanta's sten is against Kvanta players and its pace line uses our own reference times.
- Third-party
Calculator hint shown on the numerical section
Source · Calculator policy is not officially documented. Check your invitation.
Verbal section (Saville-style)
- Vendor-published
The full test is 24 items in 18 minutes: verbal, numerical and diagrammatic sections of 8 items and 6 minutes each
Source · Kvanta's combined preset runs all three sections. This preset is the verbal section on its own.
- Candidate-reported
Groups of questions share one passage
Source · Candidate-reported. Not confirmed in the provider's published documents.
- Vendor-published
Reports show an ability score and a pace score (your time on completed items against the average time on the same items)
Source · Kvanta's pace line compares your time with an even split of the section clock, not with the provider's averages.
Questions people ask
What is the pace score?
It compares your time on the items you completed with the average time on the same items. A fast pace with low accuracy and a slow pace with high accuracy look different on the report.
Why are the questions grouped?
Questions in a section share one stimulus, such as a passage or a chart. You read it once and answer several questions.
Does a UK finance employer use it?
We have found none naming it on an official page. Check your own invitation.
How long is it?
The published figure is 24 items in 18 minutes for the aptitude test. Longer verbal and numerical versions run 32 items in 24 minutes.
Can I use my phone?
The publisher's practice is desktop only and says phones are mostly not allowed.
Is this the real thing?
No. It is independent practice with original questions.
Independent practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Saville.
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.