Cognitive Test numerical: the seven question shapes that recur

The numerical section of the Cognitive Test rewards two things: arithmetic comfort and pattern recognition. Most candidates over-invest in arithmetic and under-invest in recognising the same seven question shapes that recur.

The seven shapes

1. Percentage of a percentage. "If sales grew 12% and prices rose 4%, by how much did units grow?" Quick: 1.12 / 1.04 ≈ 1.077, so 7.7%.

2. Ratio chains. A:B = 3:5, B:C = 2:7 → A:C = 6:35. Practice the cross-multiply reflex.

3. Weighted average from a table. Segment shares and per-segment metric. Multiply each share by its value, sum. Drill on messy decimal inputs.

4. Conversion / funnel. Visitors → clicks → conversions → revenue. Multiply along the chain; track zeros.

5. Inverse percentage. "After a 15% discount, price is €68. What was original?" 68 / 0.85 = 80. Train the reflex of dividing, not subtracting back.

6. Compound growth over multiple years. "10% per year for 3 years" → 1.10³ ≈ 1.331. Memorise 1.05ⁿ, 1.08ⁿ, 1.10ⁿ for n = 2 to 5.

7. Break-even shifts. Fixed costs change, contribution per unit changes — recompute break-even fast. Practice with both signs (cost rose / margin shrunk).

The routine for each question

• Read once.
• Identify which of the seven shapes it is.
• Estimate the answer to one significant figure.
• Compute precisely only if the answer choices require it.

Skipping the estimation step is what makes candidates run out of time.

Common arithmetic patterns to memorise

• 1/8 = 12.5%, 1/7 ≈ 14.3%, 1/6 ≈ 16.7%, 3/8 = 37.5%, 5/8 = 62.5%.
• Squares of 11–25.
• 7 × 8 × 9, 12 × 12, 15 × 4 (common subtotals in case math).

A pre-loaded mental table cuts compute time by half.

What to practise

Do 100 numerical items in 100 minutes. Tag each by which of the seven shapes it was. After 100, the slowest two shapes are your targeted drill — do 20 more of each, timed.