What is an SHL General Ability Test?

General ability tests are customized evaluations that help to show a test-taker’s skills as they relate to a specific job. SHL (Saville & Holdsworth Ltd.) is a company that creates many of the most commonly used pre-employment assessments in North America.

The SHL General Ability Test is an advanced assessment used to take a look at a large number of skills considered important for workers in a large number of fields.

While most general ability tests are considered to be one of the simpler pre-employment assessments, SHL has created a complex exam that requires proper preparation and knowledge of a multitude of advanced skills.

If you are facing the SHL General Ability Test, read on for tips and details that can help you succeed.

What Subjects are on the SHL General Ability Test?

The SHL General Ability Test asks a mix of questions covering inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, and mechanical reasoning. The questions are in no particular order, so it is important to have a thorough understanding of all three subjects.

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning involves reading data and using it to recognize patterns and rules that can help you logically solve related problems. The problems covering this topic are usually depicted through the use of illustrated patterns, but may also be presented as word problems.

Deductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning is the counter to inductive reasoning. Using deductive reasoning involves recognizing established patterns and rules and using them consistently to solve problems. These questions take less inference and are more focused on your ability to pay attention to details.

Mechanical Reasoning

Mechanical reasoning focuses on physics, mechanical logic, and electronic understanding. The questions are often depicted as graphics and you will be required to answer questions based on your knowledge of how pulley systems, electronic flow, and other standard mechanical functions behave.

The Two Types of SHL General Ability Test – Standard and Verify +

The SHL General Ability Test has been around for many years, and over time they have updated the standard testing model to create a more adaptive version. This new model is called the General Ability Mobile-Enabled Interactive Test (Verify +).

This version of the test differs from the standard exam in delivery method and in scoring structure.

How is the Standard SHL General Ability Test Scored?

The Standard SHL is scored on a comparative model where all wrong and unanswered questions hold equal weight. This means two things:

1. Your missed questions are counted wrong, so you should never leave a question blank.
2. Your final score and performance are not pass/fail, but compared as a whole to a standard testing group’s scores.

The relative scoring of your exam can be beneficial in situations where you are unsure of the subject matter, but not more so than others in your field. However, you won’t know how the standard test group scored or how well you performed compared to them.

When the test is complete, your report is sent directly to the hiring party.

How is the Verify + SHL General Ability Test Scored?

The Verify + version of the SHL General Ability Test is very different from the standard, and not in a way that is necessarily beneficial to your score.

The first difference is that the questions have interactive menus with drop down selections to help keep testers focused on the exam.

The other change is in the scoring. The scoring on the Verify + exam is adaptive and adjusts based on your performance on previous questions.

This takes away the likelihood of you taking a test with lots of questions you happen to be very knowledgeable in.

For instance, if you are breezing through inductive reasoning questions, the test will automatically start including more deductive reasoning or mechanical reasoning questions to reduce the time it takes to get a full view of your skill set.

Your final score is still compared to a standard group of testers, but the methodology means you need to be thoroughly studied up on all topics the exam covers.

Prep Materials for the SHL General Ability Test (Standard and Verify +)

You may not know which version of the SHL General Ability Test you are taking until the day of your exam, so you need prep materials that ensure you can pass either version!

At JobAssessmentHelp, we are focused on providing you with expertly-crafted study materials for all the major pre-employment tests. Whether you are taking a Verify + SHL test or a full battery of advanced assessments, we have the prep pack for you.

Ready to prep? Check out our SHL study packs, today!