Saville Assessment's Swift aptitude tests combine short verbal, numerical and diagrammatic or abstract sections in one sitting, and its Wave questionnaires measure work style. Graduate schemes and professional roles use them, especially in the UK. This page covers what the Saville assessment is, its format and timings, how it is scored, the rules to know before you start, how to prepare and a practice plan.
What the Saville assessment is
Saville is a UK test publisher. WTW owned it until it sold the business to the private-equity firm Tenzing in 2023, so older pages may still call it a WTW company; the tests are the same. Saville launched a new platform, Wave Connect, in January 2025. Jaguar Land Rover and Fujitsu are among employers named in Saville's own case studies.
Saville's ownership changed in 2023, which is why your invitation's branding may differ from older guides.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Analysis Aptitude | Two or three of verbal, numerical, diagrammatic and abstract reasoning | About 18 to 24 minutes depending on the combination |
| Swift Executive Aptitude | Numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning for senior roles | About 18 minutes |
| Swift Global Aptitude and other combinations | Shorter mixes for different levels | About 12 to 24 minutes |
| Wave Focus Styles | Work-style questionnaire | About 13 minutes |
| Wave Professional Styles | Longer work-style questionnaire | About 35 minutes |
Total: usually 12 to 24 minutes for a Swift test, plus 13 or 35 minutes if a Wave questionnaire is included.
How it is scored
- Everyone gets the same number of items at the same difficulty, drawn from a randomized bank; the test is not adaptive.
- The employer compares your scores with a norm group and sets any cut-off.
- Wave questionnaires have no right answers; they describe your preferences and motives.
Rules to know before you start
- You log in through the personal link in your invitation; there is no general login page.
- Several practice tests are desktop-only, and many tests cannot be taken on a phone; use a computer with at least a 1366 by 768 screen.
- Retakes are decided by the employer.
- Calculator rules are not stated on the official pages checked; follow the instructions on screen.
How to prepare
- Open your personal link early, check the technical requirements and how long each part takes.
- Do the practice questions Saville matches to your assessments.
- Practice switching quickly between question types, because Swift sections are short.
- On Wave, answer consistently and honestly about how you actually work.
A practice plan
- Day 1: read the employer's invitation for which tests you will take, then do the publisher's official practice questions untimed.
- Days 2 and 3: timed practice on your weakest test type, reviewing every mistake.
- Days 4 and 5: full timed runs in the same browser and device you will use.
- Day 6: rest, check your setup, and plan a quiet time slot.
- Day 7: take the test in one sitting, early in the deadline window.
Related guides: UK assessment centres, the SHL assessment, what an online assessment is.
On the day, and the mistakes to avoid
- Open the invitation early and note the deadline, the tests included and the time each takes.
- Use a laptop or desktop with a current browser, on a stable connection, with notifications silenced.
- Have paper, a pen and, if the instructions allow it, a calculator ready before you start.
- Read every instruction and example screen; formats differ more than people expect.
- Take the tests in a quiet room in one sitting, at a time of day when you are sharp.
- If something breaks, take a screenshot, note the time and contact the employer straight away.
Mistakes that cost candidates:
- Treating untimed or 'as many as you can' tests casually: speed and accuracy are usually both recorded.
- Bringing outside knowledge into reasoning items that must be judged only on the information given.
- Answering personality questions as the 'ideal' candidate instead of honestly, which shows up as inconsistency.
- Starting on a phone when the publisher recommends a computer.
- Leaving the test until the deadline, when any technical problem becomes fatal.
What happens after the Saville assessment
Results usually go to the employer, who compares them with the profile for the role. Shortlisted candidates move on to a video interview, an assessment centre or a first interview, so start preparing for those while you wait. For the next stage, see our guide to online assessments.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
Online assessments are tests you take on your own: outside help is not allowed, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or a second voice. Practice beforehand instead. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview prepares you for the interviews that follow the assessment, with questions built from your résumé and the job description and each spoken answer scored out of ten. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Read the invitation carefully and follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Saville Swift test?
Most combinations take about 12 to 24 minutes. Swift Analysis Aptitude, common for graduates, takes about 18 to 24 minutes depending on which sections the employer chose.
Is Saville still part of WTW?
No. WTW sold Saville to Tenzing in 2023 and remains a partner. Some pages are out of date.
Can I take a Saville test on my phone?
Many Saville tests and practice tests are desktop-only. Use a computer to be safe.
What is Saville Wave?
A work-style questionnaire. Focus Styles takes about 13 minutes and Professional Styles about 35; there are no right answers.
Can I use AI tools during the Saville assessment?
No, unless the instructions explicitly allow it. Assessments are meant to be taken on your own, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or pasted code. Use AI tools to practice beforehand, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview