SHL Practice Test
Matrix Reasoning Practice for the SHL Inductive Reasoning Test
Practise with a 10-question free matrix reasoning test in the same 3×3 grid format used by SHL Inductive Reasoning, with full explanations after every answer and pattern guides matched to the rule families SHL uses.
SHL Inductive Reasoning uses the same 3×3 matrix format you practise here, so this is directly relevant practice — similar format, good preparation. We don't use real SHL questions. Build the skill with the free untimed test, then add time pressure with the Matrigma-style timed mock.
About the real SHL assessment
What the real SHL test looks like
The format details below describe the actual SHL assessment as published by SHL. Our practice test above is independent and uses our own question bank.
SHL is the most widely used aptitude-test publisher in graduate and senior-hire recruitment. Their matrix reasoning module is called Inductive Reasoning (sometimes marketed as Verify Interactive — Inductive Reasoning by employers). The test uses 3×3 visual matrix grids of the same format used on this site, with rotation, symmetry, and progression rules across cells.
Test name
Inductive Reasoning, sometimes called Verify Interactive — Inductive Reasoning by employers.
Question style
3×3 matrix grids where one cell is missing and you select from four options. Identical visual format to the questions on this site.
Timing
Approximately 25 minutes for 24 questions — around 60 seconds per question. Time pressure, not difficulty per individual question, is the dominant constraint.
Adaptive scoring
Modern SHL versions are adaptive: answer the first questions correctly and the difficulty rises, raising your potential score ceiling. Early errors lower it.
Employer usage
Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Goldman Sachs, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and most Fortune 500 companies use SHL for graduate and senior-hire screening. McKinsey often uses SHL in parallel with Solve.
Skills being tested
What this practice trains
- Visual pattern recognition
- Abstract reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Logical sequencing
- Speed under time pressure
Common mistakes
The four most common ways candidates underperform
- 1
Spending too long on early questions
SHL gives you ~60 seconds per question. Spending two minutes on a hard early question means you'll run out of time before reaching easier later ones. Most candidates score below their actual ability for this reason alone.
- 2
Looking for a single rule
SHL favours multi-rule questions where two transformations stack — rotation plus reflection, or scale plus position. Looking for a single rule and confirming with one extra cell loses time on the hardest 20% of questions.
- 3
Missing reset vs. continuous patterns
Whether the rule continues across row boundaries or resets per row is one of SHL's favourite misdirections. Always confirm the row-2 first cell before extrapolating from row 1 alone.
- 4
Ignoring practice fatigue
Most candidates' accuracy drops 10–15% after question 18. Train endurance, not just speed — practise three short sessions a day rather than one long one.
How to improve
The most efficient preparation path
The pattern families used by SHL (rotation, symmetry, shape progression, positional movement, and combined multi-rule transformations) are exactly the families covered on this site. Take the free practice test to set a baseline, study the patterns you missed using the pattern library, then retake to confirm improvement before the real test.
Frequently asked
SHL test FAQ
- What is the SHL matrix reasoning test?
- The SHL matrix reasoning test is the Inductive Reasoning assessment used by SHL — a 3×3 visual-pattern test where you identify the missing piece of a matrix from four options. It measures abstract pattern recognition independent of language and prior knowledge, which is why employers use it to predict job performance across roles.
- How many questions are on the SHL Inductive Reasoning test?
- The standard version has 24 questions to be completed in 25 minutes. Shorter versions exist for screening (8 questions) and senior-hire (18 questions) contexts. Always confirm the specific format with the invitation email from the employer.
- Is the SHL test timed?
- Yes. The standard SHL Inductive Reasoning test is strictly timed at 25 minutes for 24 questions, giving you around 62 seconds per question. Unanswered questions count as incorrect — many candidates lose marks to time pressure rather than to question difficulty.
- What is a good SHL Inductive Reasoning score?
- SHL reports scores as percentiles relative to a normed comparison group. The 70th percentile is typically considered the minimum bar for graduate consulting and finance roles. The 90th percentile or higher is generally required for top-tier consulting (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) and front-office investment banking positions.
- Is the SHL test adaptive?
- The modern SHL Inductive Reasoning test is adaptive — the difficulty of each question adjusts based on whether you answered the previous one correctly. Confident, accurate answers in the first few questions raise your potential score ceiling significantly, while early errors lower it.
- Can you practise for SHL Inductive Reasoning?
- Yes, and practice makes a measurable difference. SHL uses a finite set of pattern families: rotation, symmetry, shape progression, positional movement, and combined multi-rule transformations. Five hours of focused, deliberate practice typically moves candidates from the 50th to the 75th percentile.
- What companies use SHL aptitude tests?
- SHL is used by Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Goldman Sachs, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Mars, Mondelēz, Schlumberger, and most of the Fortune 500 for graduate and senior-hire screening. McKinsey often uses SHL alongside its own Solve assessment.
- How is SHL different from the McKinsey Solve test?
- SHL Inductive Reasoning is a standardised 3×3 matrix reasoning test of about 25 minutes. McKinsey Solve is a multi-game branching assessment of about 70 minutes — Solve includes some matrix-style sub-puzzles but is not primarily a matrix reasoning test. Many McKinsey applicants face both: SHL at the graduate-screening stage and Solve at the McKinsey-specific stage.
Also preparing for
Related provider prep
McKinsey
McKinsey's Solve assessment isn't a traditional matrix reasoning test, but the pattern-recognition skill it scores is the same.
Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry's aptitude assessments include matrix-based Inductive Reasoning.
Aon
Practice for Aon's cut-e inductive reasoning assessment with a free 12-question, 15-minute provider-style mock test.
Matrigma
Practice for the Matrigma test (Hogan Assessments) with a free 12-question, 15-minute provider-style mock.
Get notified
Advanced timed practice is coming
Harder-pattern packs and adaptive timed practice are in production. For a timed run today, take the Matrigma-style mock. Email signup will open here when the advanced packs launch.
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Practise the skill, then add time pressure
Start with the free untimed test to learn at your own pace. Then take the Matrigma-style timed mock to practise the same matrix format under pressure.