What is numerical reasoning?

Numerical reasoning is critical thinking to do with numbers. In particular, numerical reasoning tests your knowledge about patterns to do with numbers in their:

• Representative form, and in,
• Individual characters.

There are many ways in which numerical reasoning can be tested. Such ways are:

• Number series patterns
• Numbers that are group in images
• Numbers that are shown in matrices
• Worded questions
• Worded questions with multiple options and analyzing across the options
• Worded questions where you find 1 unknown variable
• Worded questions where there are multiple variables
• Find unknown number when you are provided with figures at a future time period.

Quite simply, numerical reasoning is problem solving to do with numbers and these tests examine how well you understand numbers and how they can relate to one another.

How to ACE your numerical reasoning test

You may sit a numerical reasoning with other tests as part of a larger exam or sit the test as an individual stand-alone one. Whichever way, there are some things you'll need to do to ACE it.

1. Pattern detection - this is the basis of the course to help you find the pattern. Remember, the pattern is there. It's your job to find it.
2. Number knowledge. Understand that numbers represent a quantity but have types e.g. prime, odd, even and can be broken down into individual characters.

For every reasoning question there are 2 overarching steps you need to take:

1. Trying to uncover the underlying pattern.
2. Applying that pattern to find the answer.

This is a process I encourage you to take:

• Prepare before the exam.
• Read the question and identify the type of question and decide whether you can do it within your set time or skip.
• Find crucial information to answer the question.
• Work out the pattern / question using the answer options as hints and eliminate options to help you.
• Select the answer.

The key thing to remember with numerical reasoning is that it is logic and there is a definite right answer that will:

• Evidently hold true and
• Can be applied to other instances.

This is what I mean (check out the video for workings)

Example 1

• Instance 1 - 2, 4, 8
• Instance 2 - 3, 6, 12
• Instance 3 - 5, 10, 20

Example 2

• Instance 1 - 2, 4, 8
• Instance 2 - 4, 6, 12
• Instance 3 - 6, 8, 16
  

The time limit

In many exams, you'll need to race through and answer question after question. Many people worry about this but the key thing to remember is not how many you complete. It's how many you get right.

Here's your time strategy:

1. Read the question quickly and decide whether it is a question you can complete quickly.
2. If yes, then complete. If no, then move on and come back to it later.
3. For any remaining questions at the end (30 seconds left), complete it if you can, or guess - Option B or C is often the most likely correct answer because there could be a chance that you could select the correct option by chance.

Note: Some students have been advised that they should leave the question blank rather than guessing. Unless you lose marks for incorrect answers, our advice is to guess.

It's important to note that you should not spend more than your planned time per question. Every second that you spend on figuring out that question could have been spent getting another 2-4 correct.

Common mistakes

What are the pitfalls when it comes to numerical reasoning exams with a time limit?

• Taking too long to answer a question.
• Reading the question incorrectly.
• Not having a strategy or an approach.

The key thing to remember with numerical reasoning is that it is logic and there is a definite right answer. For all questions, you should have the 'Ah-Ha' moment when you've found the correct answer because there is a logical link back.

What you'll learn in this course

In this course, we help you establish the logical links for each type of numerical reasoning question and understand number patterns better so that you can answer questions more confidently in the exam.

There are different approaches to take for each type of numerical reasoning question. Why? Because each one has unique requirements and having a customized approach for each one means you can move more quickly through the exam.

This course will go through the ways in which you can detect number patterns to make answering numerical reasoning questions easier. You’ll learn to solve problems better.

In particular, we’ll explore the following areas in more detail:

• Numerical Reasoning Pattern Detection - Up
• Numerical Reasoning Pattern Detection - Down
• Numerical Reasoning Pattern Detection - Combinations
• Harder Numerical Reasoning Patterns 1 - Gaps
• Harder Numerical Reasoning Patterns 2 – Stand-in
• Harder Numerical Reasoning Patterns 3 - Jumps
• Number Patterns – Grouped in Images
• Number Patterns – Matrices
• Pattern Detection within Groups
• Coding and Solving Worded Problems – Working with Information
• Coding and Solving Worded Problems – Finding the Unknown with 1 Variable
• Coding and Solving Worded Problems – Finding the Unknown with Multiple Variables
• Twice as Much, “n” Times as Much and Similar Questions
• Missing Numbers using Algebra

This may seem like a lot but we'll work through these slowly and you can always go back to different areas and review checkpoints as many times as you want.

Practice time!

Now, it's your turn to practice.

The questions in this checkpoint are provided to give you an introduction to possible questions you may see in your exam. Don't worry too much as you'll continue to build your skills throughout the course.

Click on the button below and start your practice questions. We recommend doing untimed mode first, and then, when you're ready, do timed mode.

Every question has two solutions videos after you complete the question. The first is a quick 60 second video that shows you how our expert answers the question quickly. The second video is a more in-depth 5-steps or less explainer video that shows you the steps to take to answer the question. It's really important that you review the second video because that's where you'll learn additional tips and tricks.

Once you're done with the practice questions, move on to the next checkpoint.

Now, let’s get started on your practice questions.

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