Logical reasoning tests ask you to find the rule behind a set of shapes or symbols and apply it against the clock. For most candidates they are the hardest part of the online test stage to prepare for alone. Here you can practise with timed questions and a detailed explanation for every answer.
Try a free inductive reasoning test
The free test uses the inductive format. Each question shows a series of shapes that changes according to one or more hidden rules, and you pick the figure that belongs next in the series. It is modelled on the SHL inductive (logical) reasoning test, but the question style is shared by most logical tests you are likely to meet.
When you finish, every figure is explained step by step, so you see the rule you missed rather than just the right letter. You also get an indication of how your result would compare in a real recruitment test.
Inductive, deductive and diagrammatic: what the terms mean
Employers and test publishers use several names for the same family of questions. Inductive reasoning means working out a rule from examples, usually a series of shapes, and predicting what comes next. Abstract reasoning is another common label for the same thing.
Diagrammatic reasoning shows a flowchart in which symbols change as they pass through a set of operators, and you work out what each operator does. Deductive reasoning runs the other way: you are given premises and decide whether a conclusion follows from them.
Where you will meet logical tests in the UK
Logical reasoning appears in most graduate scheme applications, often in the same sitting as numerical and verbal tests. Banks, consulting and accountancy firms use it to screen large volumes of applicants, and engineering, technology and energy employers value it because it shows how quickly you get to grips with unfamiliar systems.
You will also meet inductive questions in some public sector, armed forces and police selection processes, and as one section of general ability tests such as SHL Verify G+ and Thomas GIA.
Test systems with logical reasoning sections
Logic questions are also at the heart of classic IQ tests. To join Mensa, for instance, you sit a supervised test, and an IQ above 130 qualifies you for membership.
Where the test sits in the recruitment process
In a typical UK process you apply online and then receive an invitation to complete one or more ability tests within a few days. Logical reasoning is often one of them.
If your score clears the employer’s cut-off, the next step is usually a video or telephone interview, followed by an assessment centre and then an offer. Some employers ask you to sit a shorter, supervised test at the assessment centre to confirm your online result, so it pays to build real skill rather than rely on a lucky first attempt.
How to get better at logical questions
Logical tests reward familiarity more than any other test type. Most questions are built from a small set of rules: rotation, movement along a path, elements being added or removed, alternating colours and counting sides or corners.
Once you can name the rules, you check them one at a time instead of staring at the whole sequence. Practise under a real time limit, read every explanation (including for the questions you got right) and repeat the tests where you were slowest.
The full logical reasoning practice pack
- 47 practice test sets
- Plenty of logical reasoning tests among them
- Every set written in English
- A training guide for logical questions
- Detailed feedback on each result
- 90 days of access to every test
- Repeat any test until the patterns feel familiar
Logical reasoning tests: frequently asked questions
What is a logical reasoning test?
A short, timed test of how well you spot patterns and rules in unfamiliar information. Most use shapes or symbols rather than words or numbers, so you need no prior knowledge. Employers treat the result as a measure of problem-solving ability.
Is inductive reasoning the same as logical reasoning?
Inductive reasoning is the most common kind of logical reasoning test. Employers often use logical, inductive and abstract reasoning for the same shape-sequence format, while diagrammatic and deductive tests are related formats with their own question styles.
How can I practise for a logical reasoning test?
Start with the free inductive test on this page to see where you stand. Then work through timed practice tests and read every explanation. The full pack gives you 47 test sets, many of them logical, a training guide and 90 days of access, so you can repeat the tests you find hardest.
Can you fail a logical reasoning test?
There is no fixed pass mark. Your score is compared with a group of other candidates and each employer sets its own cut-off. Falling below it usually ends that application, which is why practice before the real test matters.
Do I need to be good at maths for a logical reasoning test?
No. Logical reasoning questions use shapes, symbols and patterns, and any counting involved is simple. The skill being measured is how quickly you spot and apply rules, not calculation.