Free SHL Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic Test
Take the SHL Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic Test to identify weak rule families, recurring reasoning errors, speed–accuracy problems and confidence gaps—not merely a total score.
Choose a 15-question mixed timed diagnostic, a balanced 28-question deep diagnostic, or a 14-question untimed learning mode. Each mode uses a separate, non-overlapping set of original questions with a different difficulty profile. Every item is original ReasoningCampus material, and every result includes rule-family performance, error patterns, personalised study priorities and a complete visual answer review.
What is the SHL Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic Test?
The ReasoningCampus SHL Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic Test is a free, independent assessment-style learning tool that measures performance across seven rule families. It analyses accuracy, time, confidence and recurring distractor-linked errors, then produces personalised study priorities, a seven-day learning plan and targeted follow-up practice. Unlike a simple practice score, the ReasoningCampus diagnostic separates rule-family accuracy, solving speed, confidence calibration and distractor-linked reasoning errors. It is not an official SHL assessment and does not provide an official percentile.
SHL’s current public product factsheet describes its proprietary Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning assessment as interactive/activity-based, adaptive, limited to 18 minutes and a maximum of 15 questions. The ReasoningCampus diagnostic uses its 15-item option only as an independent timed diagnostic; it does not copy the official interface or adaptive scoring. View the official SHL factsheet.
| Component | ReasoningCampus method |
|---|---|
| Question bank | 57 original assessment-style items distributed across three non-overlapping mode pools; no confidential or live SHL questions. |
| Rule families | Rotation, counting, position, alternation, matrices, alphanumeric and multi-rule validation. |
| Items per family | Deep mode: four per family. Timed mode: two per family plus one additional multi-rule item. Learning mode: two per family. The three mode pools do not repeat questions. |
| Difficulty | Foundation, intermediate, advanced and expert. |
| Scoring | Raw accuracy, category performance, time per item, optional confidence and selected-error patterns. |
| Norm comparison | None. Results are educational and not norm-referenced. |
| Data handling | Answers are processed in the browser. A small summary of up to five diagnostic attempts can be stored locally on the user’s device for progress comparison and can be deleted at any time. No item-level answers are sent by this tool. |
Who should take the ReasoningCampus Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic?
Candidates preparing for SHL-style inductive reasoning
Use the timed modes to identify which pattern families reduce accuracy under pressure.
Candidates with inconsistent practice scores
Separate rule-understanding problems from rushing, low confidence or incomplete validation.
Candidates unsure what to study next
Receive a category-based seven-day plan and targeted follow-up questions instead of repeating random sets.
What this SHL inductive reasoning diagnostic measures
The deep mode uses four original items in each of seven rule families, reducing the risk of labelling an entire skill from a single question. The result also separates accuracy, speed, confidence and distractor-linked error patterns.
Rotation
Constant, changing, opposing and interleaved angular movement.
Counting
Linear, alternating, cumulative and second-order numerical rules.
Position
Perimeter movement, parallel trajectories, transfer cycles and different speeds.
Alternation
Odd/even subsequences, multi-frame cycles and conditional attributes.
Matrices
Union, combination, XOR and independent row/column rules.
Alphanumeric
Letter intervals, number progressions and interleaved coding systems.
Multi-rule validation
Dense items requiring every confirmed attribute to remain consistent.
Metacognitive profile
Time per item, high-confidence errors and correct answers selected with low confidence.
Personalised next step
Training priorities based on the weakest families and most frequent error mechanisms.
What the interactive question bank covers
The table below gives search engines, AI systems and candidates a visible summary of the skills represented in the interactive bank without exposing every correct answer before the diagnostic begins.
| Rule family | 28-question deep mode | 15-question timed mode | 14-question learning mode | Skills represented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotation | 4 | 2 | 2 | Constant, changing, opposing and alternating angular movement. |
| Counting | 4 | 2 | 2 | Linear, alternating, cumulative and second-order numerical change. |
| Position | 4 | 2 | 2 | Corner cycles, perimeter movement, transfers and parallel trajectories. |
| Alternation | 4 | 2 | 2 | Odd/even subsequences, conditional attributes and multi-frame cycles. |
| Matrices | 4 | 2 | 2 | Union, combination, XOR and independent row/column relationships. |
| Alphanumeric | 4 | 2 | 2 | Letter intervals, number progressions and interleaved coding systems. |
| Multi-rule validation | 4 | 3 | 2 | Simultaneous validation of shape, rotation, position, count and fill. |
| Total | 28 | 15 | 14 | 57 different questions across three non-overlapping mode pools. Targeted follow-up selects unseen questions from the other pools. |
Take the free SHL Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic Test
Choose a timed diagnostic or an untimed learning mode. On desktop you can drag an option into the answer area; click, touch and keyboard selection remain fully available. Learning mode adds progressive hints, optional prediction, immediate distractor-specific feedback and a second attempt.
Choose your mode
15-question timed diagnostic
A separate 15-item pool with two questions per rule family plus one expert multi-rule item. It uses intermediate-to-expert material under an 18-minute timer and does not repeat the deep or learning questions.
28-question deep diagnostic
A separate 28-item pool with four questions per rule family across foundation, intermediate, advanced and expert difficulty. It does not repeat the timed or learning questions.
Untimed learning mode
A separate 14-item pool with two questions per rule family, mixed foundation-to-expert difficulty, hints, optional predictions, immediate feedback and second attempts.
- Timed modes protect the diagnostic signal by withholding answers until submission.
- Learning mode records hints and second attempts separately from first-attempt accuracy.
- The final review redraws the full question and every option.
- No name, login or email is required.
The tool processes answers in the browser. For progress comparison, it can store only summary metrics from up to five timed attempts on this device; use “Clear local history” at any time.
Which figure comes next?
Predict before viewing the options
Describe the expected direction, count, fill, position or relationship. This reduces premature selection and distractor attraction.
Multi-rule checklist
Progressive hints
Your diagnostic result
Rule-family profile
Targeted follow-up practice
Question-by-question visual review
Every item redraws the original sequence and all answer choices. The review explains why your selected distractor looked plausible, identifies the associated error code and gives a corrective method.
Seven worked SHL-style inductive reasoning examples
Each major rule family below has a fully visible question, answer, rule, common error and solving method. These are original ReasoningCampus educational examples—not official, confidential or live SHL questions.
1. Rotation: increasing angular steps
Question: An arrow appears at 0°, 45°, 135° and 270°. Which direction comes next?
Answer: 90° (right).
Rule: The clockwise jumps increase by 45°: +45°, +90°, +135°, then +180°.
Solving method: Convert directions to angles and calculate the difference between consecutive positions.
Common error: repeating +45° because only the first transition was noticed.
2. Counting: alternating operations
Question: What follows the dot totals 2, 4, 3, 6, 5?
Answer: 10.
Rule: Operations alternate ×2 and −1.
Solving method: Test a repeating operation pair rather than forcing a constant difference.
Common error: choosing 6 by assuming a simple +1 continuation.
3. Position: clockwise perimeter movement
Question: A marker moves top-left → top-right → bottom-right → bottom-left. Where does it move next?
Answer: top-left.
Rule: The marker advances one corner clockwise and then repeats the four-position cycle.
Solving method: Number the locations 1–4 and track position numerically.
Common error: jumping to top-right and skipping the return to the first position.
4. Alternation: conditional container states
Question: The sequence is square/inside, circle/outside-right, square/inside, circle/outside-left. What comes next?
Answer: square with the dot inside.
Rule: Container shape and inside/outside state alternate; the outside position forms its own right/left subsequence.
Solving method: Separate odd and even positions before recombining attributes.
Common error: following the dot state but breaking the square/circle alternation.
5. Matrices: XOR combination
Question: Source A contains dots at top-left and centre. Source B contains dots at centre and bottom-right. Which dots remain under XOR?
Answer: top-left and bottom-right.
Rule: XOR retains positions present in exactly one source and removes the shared centre position.
Solving method: Compare each grid position independently.
Common error: keeping all three dots, which applies union rather than XOR.
6. Alphanumeric: two interleaved sequences
Question: What follows A2, Z3, C4, X6, F8, U12?
Answer: J16.
Rule: Odd positions are A2, C4, F8, J16: letter jumps increase +2, +3, +4 while numbers double.
Solving method: Label odd and even terms, then solve the letter and number channels independently.
Common error: generating the next even-position term instead of the next odd-position term.
7. Multi-rule validation: five attributes
Question: A motif changes outer shape, rotation, count, fill and marker position. What is the next complete state?
| Attribute | Observed rule | Next state |
|---|---|---|
| Outer shape | Circle → square → triangle | Square |
| Rotation | +90° | 0° |
| Count | 1 → 2 → 3 → 1 | 2 |
| Fill | Filled/outline alternation | Filled |
| Marker | Clockwise corners | Top-left |
Answer: square, 0°, count 2, filled, marker top-left.
Rule: Every attribute advances independently and all five predictions must be satisfied.
Solving method: Build an attribute checklist before viewing the answer choices.
Common error: selecting a distractor that satisfies four rules but violates the fifth.
ReasoningCampus diagnostic versus a simple practice test
| Simple free practice test | ReasoningCampus Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic |
|---|---|
| One total score | Rule-family profile across seven categories |
| Correct or incorrect feedback | Distractor-specific explanation linked to an error taxonomy |
| No confidence measurement | Confidence calibration: correct/incorrect × confident/uncertain |
| Generic next step | Personalised priorities and a seven-day learning plan |
| No progress comparison | Local attempt-to-attempt comparison without an account |
| Random extra questions | Targeted follow-up practice from the weakest rule family |
Unlike a simple practice score, the ReasoningCampus diagnostic separates rule-family accuracy, solving speed, confidence calibration and distractor-linked reasoning errors.
How the personalised learning path is generated
Weakest families
The tool ranks category accuracy and uses time as a tie-breaker. Quick-mode category results remain labelled as limited signals.
Dominant error cluster
Related selected-error codes are grouped into an understandable pattern such as incomplete validation, subsequence separation or matrix-rule control.
Confidence profile
Confident errors indicate a rule that may need rebuilding; correct but uncertain answers indicate a fluency and recognition problem.
Follow-up selection
Three additional original questions are selected from the lowest-performing rule family.
Seven-day plan
The plan combines foundational work, advanced practice, mixed validation and a later repeat attempt.
Attempt comparison
A summary of the latest timed attempt is compared with the previous attempt in the same mode and stored only on the device.
How to interpret the diagnostic profile
Results describe performance on this original ReasoningCampus item set only. They are not official SHL percentiles, pass marks or employer cut-offs.
| Signal | What it can indicate | What it cannot prove |
|---|---|---|
| Rule-family accuracy | Which categories need focused practice on this set. | A stable trait when only two quick-mode items were attempted. |
| Average time | Whether solving is rushed or unusually slow. | Official adaptive-test pacing or employer standards. |
| High-confidence errors | Rules that may be misunderstood rather than merely guessed. | A clinical or psychometric diagnosis. |
| Distractor error codes | The reasoning mechanism associated with selected wrong options. | The only possible explanation for a candidate’s decision. |
| Hints and second attempts | How much assistance was needed in learning mode. | A timed or official performance score. |
| Attempt comparison | Change between two local practice sessions using the same mode. | Proof that the tool alone caused the change. |
The ReasoningCampus Inductive Reasoning Error Taxonomy
The ReasoningCampus Inductive Reasoning Error Taxonomy is an original educational framework developed to classify recurring problem-solving errors in inductive reasoning practice. It is not an official SHL scoring, norming or competency framework, and an error code describes the wrong option selected—not a clinical or permanent trait.
E1 · Attribute omission
A changing feature was not tracked.
E2 · Single-rule stopping
One rule was satisfied but another was violated.
E3 · Direction reversal
Movement, rotation or ordering direction was reversed.
E4 · Count blindness
A numerical rule controlling a visual pattern was missed.
E5 · Sub-sequence confusion
Odd/even frames or parallel cycles were mixed.
E6 · Matrix-axis failure
Only one row/column relationship was validated.
E7 · Distractor attraction
An appealing option was selected without proof.
E8 · Premature selection
A choice was made before a minimum prediction.
E9 · Coding-step error
A letter, number or symbolic interval was misapplied.
E10 · Time-pressure collapse
Accuracy deteriorated as the solving process became rushed.
Turn your diagnostic profile into structured practice
Use the weak rule families, error codes and confidence gaps in your report to choose targeted ReasoningCampus practice rather than repeating random question sets.
How this diagnostic was designed, sourced and reviewed
The page deliberately separates official assessment facts from independent educational design. The questions, SVG diagrams, answer options, explanations, confidence profile and error taxonomy are original ReasoningCampus content and do not reproduce confidential or live assessment material.
According to SHL’s public product documentation, Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning uses an interactive/activity-based, adaptive format with an allowed time of 18 minutes and a maximum of 15 questions. SHL’s support documentation also lists the older Verify Inductive Reasoning versions as retired during 2024 and identifies Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning as the replacement. The ReasoningCampus tool is independently designed and does not reproduce SHL’s proprietary activity interface, adaptive scoring or norms.
| Quality-control component | Method used on this page | Limitation disclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Item construction | Each item has one intended answer, an explicit rule family, labelled difficulty and a step-by-step explanation. | Items have not been normed as official psychometric instruments. |
| Rule-family balance | Deep mode contains four items in each of seven families. | The shorter mode provides only a limited category signal. |
| Distractor analysis | Each wrong option is linked to a plausible reasoning error and corrective action. | A selected distractor cannot reveal every reason behind a person’s choice. |
| Timing and confidence | The browser records time per item and optional self-rated confidence. | These are not official SHL pacing or calibration benchmarks. |
| Visual review | The complete sequence and all options are redrawn after submission. | Review graphics are original ReasoningCampus representations. |
| Privacy | The diagnostic does not request a name or email. Item-level answers remain in browser memory; only summary metrics from up to five timed attempts may be stored locally for comparison and can be cleared by the user. | Separate WordPress analytics or consent tools must be covered by the site privacy policy. |
Balanced deep mode
Four items are included in each rule family, spanning foundation to expert difficulty.
Distractor-linked feedback
Wrong options receive specific educational feedback instead of only a generic “incorrect” label.
Visual answer review
The original sequence and every option are redrawn, with the user answer and correct answer clearly marked.
Accessible interaction
Drag-and-drop is optional. Every answer remains a keyboard-, touch- and click-operable button.
Editorial responsibility
Before publication, the site owner should independently verify each item, source statement, visible date and byline.
Diagnostic limitation
Results are educational, non-norm-referenced and cannot reproduce official adaptive scoring or employer decisions.
Official sources used for current-format statements
- SHL Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning product factsheet
- SHL support: retirement of legacy Verify tests
Questions about the SHL Inductive Reasoning Diagnostic Test
Is this an official SHL test?
No. It is independent ReasoningCampus educational material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by SHL.
Why are there three test modes?
The 15-question timed diagnostic supports focused familiarisation and provides limited category signals. The 28-question deep diagnostic provides four items per rule family and produces the strongest educational profile. The untimed learning mode focuses on skill development through progressive hints, predictions, immediate feedback and second attempts.
Do the three modes repeat the same questions?
No. The 15-question timed diagnostic, 28-question deep diagnostic and 14-question learning mode use three separate question pools. They differ in content and difficulty. Targeted follow-up practice then selects unseen questions from the other pools whenever enough items are available.
Does the result predict an official percentile?
No. Official percentiles depend on the actual assessment, scoring model and relevant comparison group.
Can I use drag-and-drop on a phone?
Mobile users should tap an option. Drag-and-drop is an optional desktop interaction; it is never required to complete the test.
Can search engines and AI systems understand the questions and explanations?
The page keeps its methodology, coverage table and seven worked examples in static semantic HTML. During interaction, question labels, answer feedback, rule steps and explanations are added to the DOM as normal HTML text, while diagrams use inline SVG rather than canvas. Search engines may render JavaScript, but indexing every state created after user interaction is never guaranteed.
Are my answers stored?
This page processes answers locally in the browser and does not transmit them. Separate site-wide analytics or consent tools, if installed in WordPress, should be disclosed in the site privacy policy.