You get an email saying your application was shortlisted, and the next step is an online assessment due in 48 hours. No interview yet, just a timer and a screen of number puzzles. This is how many large employers, including banks, oil and gas firms and multinationals, cut a long applicant list down. The good news is that aptitude tests are a skill you can practise, and you can do most of that practice for free.
This guide explains what these tests measure, how they usually work, and gives a four-week plan you can follow with a phone or an old laptop. Format and scoring differ by employer, so treat the details below as general patterns and check your invitation email for the specifics.
What aptitude tests actually measure
Employers use them because CVs look similar and degree classes don't tell them how you handle pressure. The test checks how quickly and accurately you work with information, not how much you remember from school.
- Numerical reasoning: reading tables and charts, percentages, ratios, averages, currency conversion, and simple growth or change calculations.
- Verbal reasoning: reading a short passage and deciding whether statements are true, false, or "cannot say" based only on the text.
- Abstract or logical reasoning: spotting patterns in shapes or sequences.
- Situational judgement: choosing the best response to a workplace scenario.
Not every employer uses all four. Graduate programmes tend to use the first three. Read the invitation carefully, because it often names the test types and the time limit.
Know the usual format before you practise
Most tests are multiple choice, timed tightly, and taken online. You often have around a minute or less per question, and you may not be able to go back. Some allow a calculator; some don't. Some are taken at home with a webcam, others at a centre.
Check these five things the moment you get the invitation:
- Which test types are included.
- Total time and number of questions.
- Whether a calculator and rough paper are allowed.
- Whether it must be done in one sitting.
- The deadline, and what to do if your connection drops.
Numerical reasoning: what to revise
The maths is mostly secondary school level. What catches people is speed and misreading the data. Revise these until they feel automatic:
- Percentages and percentage change: (new minus old) divided by old.
- Ratios and proportions.
- Averages and simple weighted averages.
- Fractions to decimals to percentages.
- Reading axes, units and footnotes on charts and tables.
A worked example (hypothetical)
A table shows a company's monthly sales: January ₦4.0 million, February ₦4.6 million. The question asks for the percentage increase.
Difference: 4.6 minus 4.0 is 0.6. Divide by the starting figure: 0.6 divided by 4.0 is 0.15. So the increase is 15%. The common mistake is dividing by 4.6, which gives about 13%, a wrong answer that will usually be among the options on purpose.
Also watch units. If the table says "₦ thousands" and the question asks for naira millions, you have to convert. Many wrong answers come from this, not from the arithmetic.
Verbal reasoning: the one rule that matters
You judge statements only on the passage in front of you, never on what you know or believe. The three answers are usually True, False and Cannot Say.
A worked example (hypothetical)
Passage: "The bank opened three new branches in Kano last year. Customer numbers in the north grew, though management has not published exact figures."
- "The bank opened branches in Kano." True, stated directly.
- "Customer numbers in the north grew by over 10%." Cannot say, because the passage gives no figure.
- "The bank opened branches in Lagos last year." Cannot say, because Lagos isn't mentioned. It isn't false either; the passage is silent.
"False" needs the passage to contradict the statement. If you can't point to a sentence that proves it, pick Cannot Say. Strong readers lose marks by bringing outside knowledge, so train yourself to underline the exact line that supports your answer.
Where to practise for free
Several well-known test publishers and graduate career sites offer free sample tests, and many employers' own careers pages link to practice versions of the test they use. Search for the test provider's name from your invitation plus "practice test", and stick to the official or clearly free pages. Never pay someone who promises the real questions or "leaked" answers; that is a scam at best and cheating at worst, and employers can disqualify you.
Free material you already have also works:
- Old WAEC, NECO and JAMB maths and English past questions for percentages, ratios and comprehension.
- Newspaper business pages for reading charts and tables quickly.
- Free mental maths and flashcard apps for speed with arithmetic.
- Comprehension passages from any reading material, writing your own True/False/Cannot Say statements.
A four-week practice plan
| Week | Focus | Daily time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basics: percentages, ratios, averages, no time limit. Read passages and justify each answer. | 30 minutes |
| 2 | Chart and table reading. Add a loose time limit. | 30-40 minutes |
| 3 | Full timed sections. Review every wrong answer and note why it was wrong. | 40 minutes |
| 4 | Full mock tests under real conditions, same time of day as your test if you know it. | 45-60 minutes |
If your invitation gives you only a few days, compress this: spend day one on percentages and the verbal rule above, then do timed sets for the rest.
Handling the test day in Nigerian conditions
Power and data problems cause more failures than difficulty does. Prepare for them:
- Charge your laptop and phone fully, and keep a power bank. If you can, take the test on the device the platform recommends.
- Use a stable connection and keep mobile data as backup. Close other apps and downloads.
- Have pen, paper and a calculator ready if allowed.
- Choose a quiet time, such as early morning, if the deadline allows.
- If the platform crashes, take a screenshot and email the recruiter straight away, politely and with the time it happened.
Common mistakes
- Spending too long on one question. Make a best guess and move on. Aim for your average time per question, not perfection.
- Skipping the instructions. Some tests penalise wrong answers; others don't. That changes whether you should guess.
- Starting practice the night before. Speed builds over days, not hours.
- Not reviewing errors. A wrong answer you understand is worth more than ten correct ones you didn't check.
- Asking someone else to take it for you. Many employers re-test finalists in person, and getting caught can end your application for good.
After the test
You usually won't get your score. Move on to the next step by preparing for the interview; our guide on answering "Tell me about yourself" is a good place to start. If you're applying to a structured programme, see how graduate trainee programmes work, since tests are usually one stage among several. And once an offer comes, read up on negotiating your first salary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be good at maths to pass?
You need to be comfortable with secondary school arithmetic and fast at it. Most people improve noticeably after two to three weeks of timed practice.
Can I use a calculator?
Only if the instructions say so. Practise both ways, and do simple calculations mentally to save time.
Should I guess if I don't know?
If there's no negative marking, yes. If wrong answers cost marks, guess only when you can eliminate some options. The instructions will tell you which applies.
Is it fine to pay for a practice pack?
You don't need to. Free samples and past questions are enough for most tests. Be wary of anyone claiming to sell actual test questions or guaranteed passes.
Your next step
Tonight, do one set of ten percentage-change questions and ten True/False/Cannot Say statements, timing yourself. Note which type took longer and start your practice plan from that weak spot.
Always apply through the employer's official website or verified channels. Genuine employers never ask applicants to pay for a job, training, or an interview.