Received an SHL assessment invitation? Start here.
An SHL assessment invitation is the point where preparation should become specific. Before opening random practice tests, identify the exact assessment name, check the format and version, then practise the skill that matches your invitation.
What should you check in an SHL invitation email?
Do not begin with the question bank. Begin with the invitation. A few details can change what you should practise and how you should approach the assessment.
1. Exact assessment name
Write down the full wording, including terms such as Interactive, Verify, G+, Numerical Calculation or OPQ. Similar names can refer to different assessment generations or formats.
2. Access link and platform
SHL Candidate Support tells candidates to use the link in the invitation and follow the on-screen instructions. If the assessment is not visible after login, SHL advises checking the original invitation and contacting the recruiter or inviting organisation when necessary.
3. Deadline and sitting rules
Check the deadline, expected completion arrangements and whether the test should be completed in one sitting. SHL notes that some assessments limit re-entry, so do not assume you can repeatedly open and leave the assessment.
4. Language, equipment and instructions
Read the tutorial before starting. Calculator rules, navigation, time limits and answer controls can depend on the specific assessment. The live instructions are more reliable than a generic third-party summary.
How to identify which SHL assessment you have
This is the simplest decision path. It also prevents the most common preparation mistake: practising the wrong assessment just because every page uses the words “SHL test”.
For a deeper version-by-version check, use the ReasoningCampus SHL Assessment Database. It separates current product information, legacy names and SHL-published replacements instead of treating every old assessment name as current.
SHL assessment types: what should you practise?
| Invitation wording | What the task is mainly about | ReasoningCampus route |
|---|---|---|
| Numerical Reasoning | Reading charts and tables, percentages, ratios, rates and numerical decisions. | SHL Numerical Reasoning guide |
| Verbal Reasoning | Judging statements against written evidence without adding assumptions. | SHL Verbal Reasoning guide |
| Inductive Reasoning | Finding rules in unfamiliar visual or alphanumeric information. | SHL Inductive Reasoning guide |
| Deductive Reasoning | Applying stated rules and constraints to reach conclusions that must follow. | SHL Deductive Reasoning guide |
| G+ / General Ability | Mixed reasoning. The exact product name matters because “G+” should not be treated as one universal format. | SHL candidate hub |
| OPQ / OPQ32 | Work-related preferences and behavioural style rather than a right-or-wrong reasoning test. | SHL OPQ32 guide |
| Unclear or unfamiliar product name | Do not guess the version from a broad label. | Check the assessment database |
Why the exact SHL assessment name matters in 2026
SHL continues to update its products and publishes 2026 release notes. It has also formally retired a group of older Verify Gen 1 assessments and published replacement options. This is why an old article that simply says “the SHL numerical test has X questions” may describe a different generation from the assessment in your invitation.
Legacy Verify names can mislead
SHL’s retirement notice lists older Verify Numerical, Inductive, Deductive and other products alongside replacement options such as newer Interactive assessments. Use the full product wording rather than only the broad skill name.
Interactive can also mean adaptive
For example, SHL’s current public fact sheet for Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning describes an interactive, activity-based and adaptive assessment with an 18-minute allowance and a maximum of 15 questions. Those figures belong to that named product, not every inductive test.
Three SHL-style examples: numerical, inductive and verbal
These are independent ReasoningCampus teaching examples, not confidential live SHL questions. The goal is to show why different assessment families need different thinking methods.
Think in three money boxes: salary, commission and bonus
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Base salary | £2,100 per month |
| Commission | 2.4% of combined net sales |
| July returns | 3% of July sales removed before commission |
| Bonus | £500 if combined net sales exceed £700,000 |
Question: What were Tariq’s total earnings across June and July?
Show the simple step-by-step answer
- Fix July first. July sales are £372,000, but 3% comes back as returns. So only 97% counts: £372,000 × 0.97 = £360,840.
- Add the two net sales figures. June £355,000 + July £360,840 = £715,840.
- Find the commission. 2.4% of £715,840 = about £17,180.
- Add two months of salary. 2 × £2,100 = £4,200.
- Check the bonus rule. £715,840 is above £700,000, so Tariq earns another £500.
- Add the three boxes. £17,180 + £4,200 + £500 = £21,880.
Tiny rule to remember: when a question contains adjustments such as returns, discounts or tax, make the adjustment before calculating the percentage that depends on it.
Do not solve the whole picture at once
Image note: the original exercise uses Greek option labels Α / Β / Γ / Δ / Ε, which correspond to A / B / C / D / E.
Show the rule
- Arrow: follow its direction from frame to frame. In the missing frame it must point upward.
- Dot: track its position separately. It moves clockwise.
- Triangle: it follows an appear/disappear alternation.
- Now combine all three rules. Only option D keeps the required arrow, dot and triangle behaviour together.
Tiny rule to remember: a visual answer is correct only when it satisfies every confirmed rule, not just the most obvious one.
One word can decide the answer: “every”
Statement: “Average journey times improved on every corridor included in the pilot.”
Show the simple step-by-step answer
- The statement says all six improved.
- The passage says four improved.
- The other two did not show meaningful change.
- So the statement is directly contradicted. This is not “Cannot Say”; we know it is wrong.
Tiny rule to remember: words such as all, every, only, always, never, most can completely change a verbal reasoning answer.
For a full practice environment rather than three samples, use the 28-question free SHL practice guide. For the larger worked library, see 25 SHL practice questions with worked solutions.
What should you do after identifying your assessment?
- Read the official familiarisation material. Learn the controls, instructions and rules of the exact assessment.
- Practise the underlying skill. Use numerical practice for numerical reasoning, verbal evidence work for verbal reasoning, and so on.
- Study your mistakes. Record the first point where your reasoning went wrong. “I used the final value as the percentage base” is much more useful than “I am bad at maths”.
- Add time pressure only after the method is stable. Speeding up a weak method only makes the same error happen faster.
- Finish with assessment-matched simulation. Practise switching, pacing and checking in a format relevant to your actual test.
Questions candidates ask after receiving an SHL invitation
How do I access an SHL assessment from my invitation?
SHL Candidate Support instructs candidates to use the link in the invitation and follow the on-screen instructions. If you cannot see the assessment after login, return to the original invitation and contact the recruiter or inviting organisation if the problem remains.
What if the email only says “SHL assessment”?
Look for the full product name in the invitation, candidate portal or tutorial. If you still cannot identify it, ask the recruiter rather than assuming it is Numerical, G+ or another popular assessment.
Is an SHL assessment invitation the same as a practice test?
No. Official practice resources are for familiarisation. Your employer’s live assessment is accessed through the invitation supplied for that recruitment process.
Can I go back to a previous SHL question?
Not in every assessment. SHL Candidate Support specifically explains that in the adaptive flow it describes, candidates cannot return after submitting an answer because later question difficulty depends on earlier responses. Always follow the navigation rules shown in your own assessment.
How do I know whether an online SHL format description is current?
Match the complete assessment name and version wording. SHL has retired older Verify products and continues to publish release notes, so the broad label alone may not be enough. ReasoningCampus maintains a separate SHL Assessment Database for this purpose.
Turn the invitation into a preparation plan
Once you know the exact assessment, stop practising randomly. Use the matching reasoning guide, learn why your errors happen, then move into timed and simulation-style practice.
Official sources and ReasoningCampus review method
Last source check: 14 September 2026. Time-sensitive product claims are linked to primary SHL documentation where a suitable public source is available. ReasoningCampus examples and preparation recommendations are independent educational content.
Editorial review: ReasoningCampus separates official SHL product information from its own teaching methods. Numerical examples are recomputed from the stated data; verbal examples are checked against the passage evidence; inductive examples are reviewed against the complete visual rule.
- SHL Candidate Support — accessing an invited assessment.
- SHL Candidate Support — accessing a test from the invitation email.
- SHL Candidate Support — assessment not visible after login.
- SHL Candidate Support — returning to previous adaptive questions.
- SHL — Verify Gen 1 retirement and replacement options.
- SHL — 2026 Release Notes.
- SHL Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning fact sheet.
ReasoningCampus is an independent assessment-preparation provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by SHL. SHL, Verify and OPQ are trademarks of their respective owners. Preparation cannot guarantee a recruitment outcome.
