Numerical Reasoning Example Questions

We run through some numerical reasoning example questions so you're clear on what to look for when tackling these types of tests.

Numerical reasoning example question one and walkthrough

Question

The table below sets out the revenue, costs and profit for GoToSpace, a company offering commercial flights to space.

The company hired new marketing executives in 2019 and projected a 10% increase in revenue as a result. The salaries agreed for these new hires is equivalent to a $5m increase in variable costs. Assuming fixed costs are the same, what is the projected profit for 2019?

1. $488.4m
2. $484.3m
3. $393.0m
4. $483.4m
5. None of the above

Walkthrough

The first thing to understand with the table is what it's showing and how the columns relate to each other. The profit in this instance is equal to Revenue - (Fixed costs + Variable costs).

Working with the information given to us, a 10% increase in revenue is equal to 2018's revenue figure of 904m x 1.1 to get 994.4m

We know that the fixed costs stay the same, but variable costs increase by 5m from the previous year. This means our costs will be equal to 361m + (145m + 5m) = 511

Finally 994.4m - 511m = 483.4

You'll find that as well as relying on your mathematical knowledge, such as addition, subtraction and percentages, numerical reasoning tests rely on your ability to read the table you've been given, so make sure you understand what you're looking at and how the information relates.

Example question two

Question

Walkthrough

The table below summarises the working hours and performance of four employees at PaperSells Limited in 2018.

Employees work 5 days a week and 48 weeks per year.

Bonuses are allocated annually and are dependent on performance. “Average” performers earn 50% of their maximum bonus percentage, “Good” performers receive 75% and “Excellent” performers achieve their maximum bonus percentage. How much does Anisha make in 2018, including her bonus?

We understand that for this question all we want to look at is Anisha's stats. First let's work out her baseline salary, excluding bonus. Here we have her hourly rate (£17.5) multiplied by the number of hours she works (30), multiplied by the number of work weeks per year (48). 

This gives us £25,200. We then need to work out her bonus. Because she's an 'Excellent' on her performance review, this means she's entitled to the full 20% of her bonus, so we take 20% of £25,200 (5040) and add that to her baseline to give £30,240.

Example question three

Question

Walkthrough

Here you're repeating the steps you used for Anisha, but with all employees. Check below to see how we calculate the variable rate for the differing performance review scores. 

Earnings including bonus:

Jacob = 48 x 35 x 20 x (1 + 75% x 25%) = 39,900
Anisha = 48 x 30 x 17.5 x (1 + 100% x 20%) = 30,240
Sandy = 48 x 32.5 x 15 x (1 + 50% x 15%) = 25,155
Graham = 48 x 15 x 45 x (1 + 50% x 30%) = 37,260

Therefore Sandy earns the least.