SHL Deductive reasoning practice

Original logic tasks using rules, schedules and calendars. Choose a focused drill or an 18-minute practice test.

Supplier presentation order

Aster comes immediately after Birch.

AsterBirchCedarDuneElm
FirstSecondThirdFourthFifth

Use every rule to complete the arrangement.

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Short practice drills

Supplier presentation order

Aster comes immediately after Birch.

AsterBirchCedarDuneElm
FirstSecondThirdFourthFifth

Use every rule to complete the arrangement.

Mixed practice drill

Practice a mix of question types with feedback after each answer.

5 tasks · UntimedSign in to check access
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Supplier presentation order

Aster comes immediately after Birch.

AsterBirchCedarDuneElm
FirstSecondThirdFourthFifth

Use every rule to complete the arrangement.

Ranking drill

Focus on ranking and review each worked solution.

4 tasks · UntimedSign in to check access
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Workshop rooms

Cara and Dev must be in the same group.

AvaBenCaraDevEmma
CedarMaple

Use every rule to complete the arrangement.

Grouping drill

Focus on grouping and review each worked solution.

4 tasks · UntimedSign in to check access
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Design handover

Every table column is one 30-minute block. A person is available throughout each unmarked block and unavailable throughout each blocked block.

Ava
Ben
Cara

Find a time when everyone is available.

Shared availability drill

Focus on shared availability and review each worked solution.

4 tasks · UntimedSign in to check access
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Studio recording day

Do every task exactly once. Only one task can run at a time. Each task runs continuously for its full duration, starts on a block boundary, and finishes within the displayed day.

Sound edit · 2 blocksLighting setup · 2 blocksEquipment check · 1 blocksVoice recording · 1 blocks
09:00–10:0010:00–11:0011:00–12:0012:00–13:0013:00–14:0014:00–15:00

Use every rule to complete the arrangement.

Task scheduling drill

Focus on task scheduling and review each worked solution.

4 tasks · UntimedSign in to check access
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Gallery inspection dates

This planning month has 30 days and begins on a Monday (day 1).

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

Apply the conditions to select the eligible dates.

Calendar dates drill

Focus on calendar dates and review each worked solution.

4 tasks · UntimedSign in to check access
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Full practice tests

Practice question types

Each task asks you to build or select a solution. Keep track of every condition: an arrangement can look plausible and still violate one small restriction.

Group people and assign rooms

Put people in the right groups while respecting capacity, shared requirements and who must stay apart.

Work out an order

Combine clues about positions, neighboring items and relative order to build a complete ranking.

Compare shared calendars

Find a continuous time block that fits everyone’s availability and the required meeting length.

Schedule connected tasks

Arrange tasks around durations and dependencies. Check what must finish before another task can start.

Select eligible dates

Apply weekday, date and availability restrictions together to select the day or set of days requested.

Worked example: ranking

Start with a simple example of combining rules. It does not use an attempt or require an account. The practice bank includes more demanding tasks.

A practical way to solve the task

  1. 1

    Start with the most restrictive clue

    Place a fixed appointment or a person with only one possible room. This reduces the choices left for the rest of the problem.

  2. 2

    Carry the consequences forward

    If one task must finish before another begins, use both its start time and its duration. A single placement can determine several others.

  3. 3

    Read the boundaries carefully

    “Immediately before,” “before” and “at least two days before” impose different conditions. Check whether the task asks for one valid date or all valid dates.

  4. 4

    Explain the missed rule

    Use the worked review to identify a specific error, such as a capacity limit or an overlooked overlap. Try a short learning drill before adding the timer again.

Which SHL assessment does this prepare for?

SHL Verify Interactive Deductive Reasoning is an activity-based assessment with an 18-minute limit and a maximum of 12 questions. SHL describes it as adaptive. Our fixed practice forms use original questions and editorial difficulty judgments; they do not reproduce SHL’s adaptive engine or standardized scoring. Read SHL’s published format.

The five task families here are also described in Lancaster University’s candidate guidance for its use of the interactive deductive assessment. Our own controls and question designs are preparation exercises, rather than an exact copy of the assessment interface.

Check the title in your invitation. A standalone deductive test, a multiple-choice test and a combined general-ability assessment may use different formats. This track covers deductive reasoning; SHL Numerical, Inductive and Verbal practice are available separately.

SHL deductive practice questions

What is SHL deductive reasoning?

Deductive reasoning means using the information and rules provided to reach a conclusion that follows logically. This practice focuses on SHL Verify Interactive Deductive Reasoning: arranging people, ordering items and solving calendar and scheduling problems with original interactive tasks.

How many questions are there, and what is the time limit?

SHL’s published Verify Interactive Deductive Reasoning fact sheet specifies an 18-minute time limit and a maximum of 12 questions. Our timed practice presents 12 original tasks under one continuous 18-minute clock. That averages 90 seconds per task, but there is no separate 90-second deadline. The mixed drill has five tasks without a timer; each focused drill has four.

Does this reproduce the official adaptive assessment?

No. SHL describes its assessment as adaptive. Our practice uses fixed forms and original questions with editorial difficulty judgments. It helps you practice the reasoning and interactions, but does not reproduce SHL’s interface, calibrated item bank or scoring model. Follow the instructions in your assessment invitation.

How is deductive reasoning different from inductive or verbal reasoning?

Deductive tasks give you rules to apply to a particular situation. Inductive tasks ask you to discover a rule from patterns or examples. Verbal tasks focus on understanding written passages. Our SHL tracks cover these skills separately, so choose the assessment named in your invitation.

Can I try the question style for free?

Yes. The worked example on this page is free without an account and does not use a practice attempt. Access to full practice is shown before you start. A dedicated SHL Deductive pass covers every drill, unlimited drill replays and full timed practice; other assessment categories have separate passes. Saved answers and explanations stay free to reopen after your pass ends.

Will my practice result tell me whether I will pass?

Your review shows your answers and worked reasoning for these original tasks. It does not predict an official SHL score, percentile or hiring outcome. Use mistakes to identify which rule you overlooked, then practice applying that rule and checking the complete solution.

SHL Deductive practice

Learn how the clues fit together, then practice the pace.

Choose your practice

Independent preparation from Game Assessment Prep. Not affiliated with or endorsed by SHL. All practice questions and explanations are original. Practice results are not official scores or employer pass predictions.