ReasoningCampus · SHL Workplace Assessments
SHL checking test practice rewards a consistent comparison method. Work through codes and records one fixed field at a time. Establish whether a task asks for different characters, different fields or different records before counting errors. ReasoningCampus teaches candidates to compare record fields accurately and distinguish character errors from errors in an entire record.
Independent learning resource · English · Content revised 16 October 2026
View full preparationSHL checking test practice: compare fixed chunks
The ReasoningCampus checking method is field, position, meaning. Compare the same field in both records, inspect characters in a stable order and apply the task’s exact matching rules. Do not silently correct a value because you think you know what it should say.
Compare record fields in the same order
| Field | Source record | Entered record | Match? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference | AB-70419 | AB-74019 | No: digits 0 and 4 change order |
| Date | 15/04/2026 | 15/04/2026 | Yes |
| Amount | 1,280.50 | 1,208.50 | No: digit positions differ |
| Code | LX8Q | LX8Q | Yes |
There are two mismatching fields. Count fields if that is what the task asks for; do not count changed characters instead. A reference transposition may involve two positions but still represent one mismatching field.
Check codes with a consistent chunking method
You can compare AB, then 704, then 19, while preserving the original character sequence. Chunking helps you keep your place; it is not permission to remove meaningful punctuation or spaces. If the instructions say exact matching, follow that. If they explicitly allow a formatting difference, apply that stated rule consistently.
Contact-centre example: verify before updating
A caller asks to change a delivery address. In an original practice scenario, the procedure says identity must be verified before account changes. The correct sequence is to follow that verification procedure before making the change. Do not treat a familiar name or a confident caller as a substitute. The details of real verification procedures depend on the organisation; this example supplies its own rule.
When comparing an address, separate house number, street, locality and postal code. A correct street name does not make a wrong house number harmless. Read back information only through an appropriate, authorised process.
Review accuracy and pace separately
After a checking drill, record missed mismatches and false alarms. A false alarm means you marked a matching field as different. Both error types matter. If accuracy collapses when you speed up, return to a stable comparison order before reducing time. Do not infer an official score from a small homemade checking exercise.
Character errors, field errors and record errors: what to count
| Field | Reference | Entered value |
|---|---|---|
| Customer code | AB-1042 | AB-1402 |
| Quantity | 18 | 18 |
| Postal code | 07316 | 07316 |
There is one incorrect field: customer code. If the question instead asks how many character positions differ within that code, the answer is two: the 0 and 4 occupy reversed positions. If it asks how many records contain an error, this one record counts once.
Preserve leading zeros when the value is an identifier. A postal code is not a quantity to simplify arithmetically.
Check your understanding: original practice
Compare matching fields in a fixed order. Count exactly what the question asks for: a field difference is not always a single-character difference.
Looking for a structured course alongside these free questions? View full preparation.
Questions about SHL checking test practice
Should I read the whole record as a sentence?
For exact comparison, field-by-field checking is often clearer. Natural reading can smooth over transposed characters or familiar-looking names.
Are spaces and punctuation always meaningful?
Use the matching rules stated in the task. Exact matching and normalised matching are different instructions.
Can this predict a contact-centre assessment score?
No. These are original accuracy and procedure examples, not a validated simulation of a particular employer’s assessment.
Sources and scope
- SHL Verify Checking factsheet (2018): historical description of comparison tasks
- SHL: 2024 Verify Gen 1 retirement notice and replacement options
The 2018 checking factsheet supports the general comparison skill, not a current timing promise. The separate retirement notice names Checking (2022) as an alternative to a legacy product; confirm your assigned version.
Where to go next
Apply checking to work samples and numerical tables. A consistent scratch layout can keep the reference and copied data from being mixed up.
