Numerical skills test: what is it and how does it work?

The Numerical Skills Test is a general test that helps you to spot numerical computation, estimation, and reasoning skills. This test can be used for analytical roles in different industries. 

The testing environment was built from the ground up to find great talent and encourage diversity. 

In the following sections you will learn the following:

• Main benefits of using the Numerical Skills Test (NST)
• The skills you’ll test with the NST
• The way the Numerical Skills Test (NST) works
• How to request access to the NST
• Differences between NST and Mapped

NST's main benefits

	Manage high-volume roles efficiently: As soon as candidates complete the test,  Applied calculates the scores for you so you can focus on shortlisting them.
	Spot numerical skills: Questions have been designed by employment psychologists and psychometric testing experts, to make sure you can spot the best talent for the skills you are looking for.
	Encourage diversity strategy: the test environment embeds behavioural design principles, making the test-taking journey more enjoyable and addressing issues like stereotype threat or aversion to competitive environments. Learn more
	Provide a great candidate experience: Candidates love to understand what the job they apply to entails.  They also appreciate the reciprocity of receiving feedback and scores.

Skills you'll test with NST

	Numerical computation: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, ratios, fractions, and decimals.
	Numerical estimation: quickly and accurately making estimates of the answers to straightforward numerical questions.
	Numerical reasoning: working out how to get an answer rather than simply being told what calculations to apply.
	Data interpretation: looking at pie charts, line graphs, scatter plots, and tables to interpret answers to questions.

How does the NST work?

Candidates take the test, and the actions you can take as a job admin

Before they submit their application, candidates are asked to answer 20 multiple choice questions in 30 minutes. For tbe beta version of the NST, there are no variations of the test. All candidates answer the same set of 20 questions.

If a candidate requires reasonable adjustments, you can give them 25% or 40% extra time. This gives candidates the chance to perform at their best.

You can also reset candidates' test timer if something didn't work ok.

You can perform these actions on a candidate's summary page. 

What happens after candidates take the test

You’ll see NST scores on your candidate hub as soon as candidates complete the test,  so you can easily decide who to shortlist.

As a candidate experience booster, candidates can also see their total test score on the personalised feedback link that you can share with them. 

How to request access to the NST?

• First, check with your customer success manager if the NST is part of your subscription and the number of credits you have available.
• Go to the role for which you want to add the NST, then go to the assessment options section under the role builder, and request access to the NST. 
• Once you request the NST, someone in our support team will enable it and confirm this action with you. You can also verify that the NST has been added to your role by going back to the assessments section. There will be an ‘added’ icon.
• That’s all, you’re ready to launch your role with the NST.

What are the differences between NST and Mapped?

Both Mapped and the Numerical Skills Test (NST) are ready-to-use tests that Applied has designed so you can spot top talent and manage high-volume roles easily. The table below contrasts both tests so you can better decide which one to go for. 

	Mapped	Numerical Skills Test
Who can find this test valuable?	Mainly professional services firms. For example, management consulting and financial services. ‘Top tier’ candidates (higher level of difficulty)	Broader market/customers that hire analytical roles Less difficult than Mapped.
Skills	Basic mathematical skills, interpreting data, analytical thinking and problem solving, error spotting, and attention to detail.	Numerical computation, numerical estimation, numerical reasoning, data interpretation.
Questions and time	18 multiple choice questions with multiple variations each assigned randomly to candidates when they start the application	20 multiple-choice questions, with no variations
Time	30 minutes (for reasonable adjustments, admins can increase 25% and 40% of the test time)
Test environment for candidates	Both tests are set up in an environment that is designed to mitigate competitiveness and risk aversion and stereotype threat, which are known to unconsciously distort people’s performance and negatively affect diversity. Mapped has some extra videos specific to consulting/finance that appeal to the value of showing a diverse group of people working in the industry.
Test scores on candidate management	They’re both displayed as a column in the candidate management hub. The only difference is that Mapped scores are colour coded (green, yellow, red). The Numerical Skills Test doesn’t have this colour coding yet.
Candidate feedback link	Candidates can see test score on their feedback link in a similar way: a total score x/y.