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Help with Civil Service Numerical Test practice questions, worked answers and calculation tips.
The Civil Service Numerical Test usually gives you a table, graph or short set of numerical information, followed by a question with several possible answers. To score well, you need to pick out the right figures, choose the right calculation and avoid being pulled toward a tempting wrong option.
Most mistakes come from doing the right calculation with the wrong number, using the wrong base figure for percentages, or answering what you expected the question to ask instead of what it actually asks.
Practise with 100 numerical test questions
Use the Civil Service Numerical Test Question Bank to work through 100 realistic questions using tables, charts, percentages, ratios and workplace data. Every question includes a free answer, with the full calculation and explanation available to members.
How to approach Civil Service Numerical Test questions
Read the question before studying the data.
This stops you wasting time on figures that are irrelevant. The question tells you what to look for.
Then identify what type of calculation is needed. Is it asking for a percentage, a percentage change, an average, a difference, a rate, or a total?
Once you know that, pull out only the figures you need. Write them down if it helps.
Do the calculation carefully, then compare your result with the answer options. If your answer is slightly different, check whether the options have been rounded.
The calculations you need for the Civil Service Numerical Test
Percentage of a total
Use this when the question asks what percentage one figure is of another.
Formula:
Part ÷ total × 100
Example:
40 cases out of 200 cases = 40 ÷ 200 × 100 = 20%
Percentage increase and decrease
Use this when the question asks how much something has gone up or down by as a percentage.
Formula:
Change ÷ starting figure × 100
The starting figure is the important part. If cases rise from 200 to 250, the change is 50 and the starting figure is 200.
50 ÷ 200 × 100 = 25%
Averages
Use this when the question asks for the mean or average.
Formula:
Total ÷ number of figures
Example:
120, 140 and 160 cases = 420 total
420 ÷ 3 = 140 average
Ratios and rates
Ratios split a total into parts.
Rates compare one number against another, such as cases per person, cost per item, or appointments per hour.
Example:
600 cases shared by 12 staff = 600 ÷ 12 = 50 cases per member of staff.
Table and chart questions
Check the row, column, period and unit before calculating.
A table may show figures in thousands, percentages, minutes, hours, cases, or pounds. Using the wrong unit can change the answer.
How to choose the right calculation
If the question says “what percentage of”, divide the part by the total.
If it says “by what percentage did it increase”, find the change, then divide by the starting figure.
If it says “what is the average”, add the figures and divide by how many figures there are.
If it says “how many per person”, divide the total by the number of people.
If it says “how much is left”, subtract the amount spent from the original amount.
If it says “how much more”, subtract the smaller figure from the larger figure.
The wording of the question usually tells you the calculation. Do not start pressing buttons until you know what the question is asking.
Common Civil Service Numerical Test mistakes
Using the wrong base number
This is the biggest percentage-change mistake.
If cases rise from 800 to 1,000, the increase is 200.
The percentage increase is 200 ÷ 800 × 100 = 25%.
Do not divide by the final figure unless the question specifically asks for something based on the final figure.
Mixing up percentage of and percentage change
Percentage of a total asks for a share.
Percentage change asks how much something moved from the starting figure.
Example:
80 out of 400 is 20% of the total.
If 400 rises to 480, the increase is also 20%, but that is a different calculation.
Reading the wrong row or column
A lot of wrong answers come from using the right method with the wrong figure.
Check the department, month, location, year or staff group before calculating.
Ignoring units
A question may use hours in the table and minutes in the answer.
It may show money in thousands.
It may ask for cost per item when the table gives total cost.
Check the unit before choosing the answer.
Choosing too quickly
Some answer options are built around common mistakes.
One option may show the difference rather than the percentage change.
Another may use the final figure instead of the starting figure.
Another may use one row from the table instead of the total.
If an option looks obvious, still check the working.
Example Question 1: Percentage of a total
Data
A department received applications from four regions in one month.
| Region | Applications received |
|---|---|
| North | 120 |
| South | 80 |
| East | 150 |
| West | 50 |
| Total | 400 |
Question
What percentage of applications came from the East region?
Answer options
A. 30%
B. 35%
C. 37.5%
D. 40%
Correct answer
C. 37.5%
Worked answer
The East region received 150 applications.
The total number of applications was 400.
Use:
Part ÷ total × 100
150 ÷ 400 × 100 = 37.5%
The correct answer is 37.5%.
Common mistake
A common mistake is to compare East only with another region, or to divide 150 by one of the other regional figures.
The question asks for East as a percentage of the total, so the denominator must be 400.
Example Question 2: Percentage change
Data
A service team completed the following number of cases.
| Month | Cases completed |
|---|---|
| January | 240 |
| February | 276 |
Question
By what percentage did the number of completed cases increase from January to February?
Answer options
A. 12%
B. 13%
C. 15%
D. 36%
Correct answer
C. 15%
Worked answer
January cases = 240
February cases = 276
First find the change:
276 − 240 = 36
Then divide the change by the starting figure:
36 ÷ 240 × 100 = 15%
The correct answer is 15%.
Common mistake
A common mistake is to pick 36 because that is the increase in cases.
The question asks for the percentage increase, so you need to divide the increase by the starting figure.
More Civil Service Numerical Test example questions and answers
The examples below continue the same format.
Each question includes the data, answer options, correct answer, step-by-step working and the common trap to watch for.
Want to carry on with the examples? Members can unlock 12 more Civil Service Numerical Test example questions and answers, including worked percentage questions, table-reading questions, ratio questions, multi-step examples, and the best way to choose the right calculation for each question.
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