An SHL assessment is a set of online pre-employment tests from SHL, most often reasoning tests from its Verify range (numerical, verbal, inductive and deductive) plus a personality questionnaire called the OPQ, sometimes with a situational judgement test or a job simulation. Which tests you get depends on the employer and role, so read your invitation first, then practice the matching test on SHL's own practice tests page, which as of October 2026 covers every major SHL test type.
The details below come from SHL's product pages, candidate advice pages and practice tests page, checked in October 2026, plus one older SHL fact sheet that we date where we use it. The preparation advice is ours.
What is in an SHL assessment?
SHL sells a large catalog, but most candidates see some combination of the tests below. The descriptions in the middle column are SHL's own, summarized.
| Test | What SHL says it measures | Format notes |
|---|---|---|
| Verify numerical reasoning | Working with numbers and using appropriate mathematics in different situations | Questions built on tables, charts and word problems; interactive and standard multiple-choice versions exist |
| Verbal reasoning | Understanding written information and evaluating arguments about it | Written information followed by questions about what it supports |
| Verify inductive reasoning | Finding patterns and predicting outcomes | Shapes and figures rather than words; interactive and standard versions exist |
| Verify deductive reasoning | Drawing logical conclusions and completing scenarios from the information provided | Interactive and standard versions exist |
| Verify G+ | General mental ability, combining numerical, deductive and inductive questions | SHL's 2018 fact sheet lists up to 30 adaptive questions in 36 minutes |
| OPQ (Occupational Personality Questionnaire) | Your working preferences, mapped to strengths and areas for development | About 20 minutes, available in 37 languages, designed mobile-first |
| Situational judgement test | Choosing the best response to workplace scenarios | Scenarios shown as text or animation |
SHL's practice page also lists tests some employers add for specific roles: checking information, calculation, mechanical comprehension, reading comprehension, a contact center simulation, an email writing test, Excel and Office simulations, a coding simulation and a video interview.
Which SHL test will you get?
Your invitation is the most reliable clue. Look for the test names, the number of tests and the estimated time, then match them to your practice.
- "Verify" or "reasoning" in the name: a timed ability test. Practice the exact type named: numerical, verbal, inductive or deductive.
- "Interactive": SHL's interactive tests use drag-and-drop and game-like interactions instead of plain button clicks. Practice the interactive version, because the controls take getting used to.
- "OPQ", "personality" or "work styles": a questionnaire with no right answers.
- "Situational judgement": workplace scenarios where you rank or pick responses.
- A general or combined ability test: expect a mix of numerical, deductive and inductive questions, as in Verify G+.
As of October 2026, SHL says its cognitive assessments are automated, remotely proctored and ask fewer questions thanks to a partial-scoring method, according to its cognitive assessments page. Expect fewer, denser questions than older paper-style tests.
How to prepare for an SHL assessment
SHL's own advice is to take a full-length practice test and get familiar with the question types and timing so you're more at ease on the day. Its practice tests page offers numerical, verbal, inductive and deductive reasoning practice, several in both interactive and standard multiple-choice versions, plus situational judgement, personality and others. SHL notes that practice difficulty may not exactly match the real test. This test-by-test plan is ours:
| Test type | How to practice | Time to budget |
|---|---|---|
| Numerical | Percentage change, ratios, currency conversion and reading values off tables and charts. Write the formula before you calculate. | 3–4 sessions of 30 minutes |
| Verbal | Read short business passages and decide what they actually state, not what seems likely. Underline the claim each question tests. | 2–3 sessions of 20 minutes |
| Inductive | Shape sequences and grids. Check one rule at a time: rotation, count, position, shading. | 2–3 sessions of 20 minutes |
| Deductive | Logic statements where only one conclusion must be true. Rule out anything that needs an assumption. | 2 sessions of 20 minutes |
| OPQ | No drilling. Read the instructions and answer as you actually work. | One read of SHL's example questions |
| Situational judgement | Read the employer's values page and think about how the role handles customers, deadlines and conflicts. | One 30-minute session |
Examples we wrote
Numerical: A product's price fell 20% to $64. What was the original price? The new price is 80% of the original, so 64 ÷ 0.8 = $80. Working backward from a percentage is one of the most common numerical traps.
Deductive: All analysts on the team use SQL. Priya uses SQL. Must Priya be an analyst? No. The statements don't say that only analysts use SQL. In deductive tests, the correct answer is the one that must be true, not the one that sounds plausible.
What is the SHL OPQ, and how should you answer it?
The OPQ is SHL's personality questionnaire. According to SHL's OPQ page, it takes about 20 minutes, is available in 37 languages and asks about your working preferences to identify strengths and areas for development. It isn't timed like a reasoning test and has no right answers.
SHL's candidate advice is direct: "It is best to be yourself, and respond honestly." Trying to guess the ideal profile is a gamble, because you don't know what the employer is looking for in the role, and an answer pattern that isn't yours is hard to back up in an interview.
On test day
- Use the device the invitation recommends, fully charged, on a stable connection.
- Read every instruction screen and complete the example questions before the timer starts.
- Keep scratch paper ready for numerical tests, and check your invitation for whether a calculator is permitted.
- If one test goes badly, keep going. SHL says your performance across all the exercises is considered.
- If you have a disability or need adjustments, tell the employer as early as possible so they can discuss options with you.
Take the assessment yourself and follow the employer's rules — use CoPilot Interview to practice beforehand. CoPilot Interview doesn't include SHL reasoning questions. Use SHL's practice tests for the assessment itself, and CoPilot Interview for the interview stages that follow.
After the SHL assessment: interviews and assessment centers
SHL's own candidate pages list interviews and assessment center exercises as the stages that often follow online tests, with interview questions based on your experience and the job's competencies. That's where spoken practice matters. The free AI mock interview runs in your browser with nothing to install. The CoPilot Interview desktop app builds a mock interview from your résumé and the job description, reads each question aloud and scores your spoken answer out of 10 with what worked, what to fix and a model answer. Draft your examples with the STAR story builder and see our guide to the STAR method.
If your employer also uses other tests, compare the format with our guides to the CCAT test and online assessments in general. SHL also says many organizations offer feedback after assessments, and that you can ask for it if it isn't offered.
Common SHL assessment mistakes
- Practicing the wrong test. Inductive and deductive reasoning are different skills; check the name in your invitation.
- Using outside knowledge on verbal questions. Answer only from the passage.
- Skipping the example questions. They show you the controls, which matters most in interactive tests.
- Gaming the OPQ. SHL tells candidates to respond honestly, and interviews tend to expose a profile that isn't yours.
- Starting tired or rushed. Block a quiet hour, even if the tests take less.
Get ready for the interview after SHL
Practice real interview questions out loud and get each answer scored out of 10, free in your browser.
Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
What tests are in an SHL assessment?
Usually one or more Verify reasoning tests (numerical, verbal, inductive or deductive) and the OPQ personality questionnaire, sometimes with a situational judgement test or a job simulation. The employer chooses the mix.
How long does an SHL assessment take?
It depends on the tests. SHL says the OPQ takes about 20 minutes, and its 2018 Verify G+ fact sheet lists 36 minutes for up to 30 questions. Your invitation shows the estimate for your set.
Where can I practice SHL tests?
SHL publishes practice tests on its candidate site, including numerical, verbal, inductive and deductive reasoning, situational judgement and personality. Several come in interactive and standard versions.
Can you fail the SHL OPQ?
There are no right or wrong answers on the OPQ. Employers compare your working preferences with the role, so SHL advises being yourself and responding honestly.
Are SHL tests proctored?
As of October 2026, SHL describes its cognitive assessments as automated and remotely proctored. Check your invitation for the exact rules your employer uses.
Can I get feedback on my SHL results?
SHL says many organizations offer feedback regardless of the outcome, and if feedback isn't offered, you can ask the employer whether it can be made available.
Does CoPilot Interview help with SHL tests?
Not with the tests themselves. Take the SHL assessment yourself and practice on SHL's own practice tests, then use CoPilot Interview to rehearse the interviews that follow.