Numerical Ability Reviewer for the Civil Service Exam

Numerical Ability tests basic arithmetic and reasoning with numbers, with no advanced math required. Speed and accuracy come from knowing the common patterns and practicing them until they feel automatic.

17 parts342 questions80% passing markFree

This free Numerical Ability reviewer on Civil Service Exam Reviewer has 17 parts and about 342 practice questions. Every question shows the correct answer and, in most cases, an explanation. Your score is checked against the 80% passing mark, and you can retake any part as often as you like.

What the Numerical Ability section covers

  • Number seriesFinding the pattern in a sequence of numbers and choosing the next term.
  • Fractions, decimals and percentagesConverting between forms and computing percentages of numbers.
  • The four operationsOrder of operations, signed numbers and simplifying long expressions.
  • Ratio, proportion and averagesSharing quantities, comparing amounts and finding means.
  • Word problemsAge, work, distance and money problems that need a short equation.

How to prepare for Numerical Ability

  • Memorize common fraction and percent equivalents, such as 1/8 = 12.5% and 1/3 = 33 1/3%. They save a lot of time.
  • For number series, check the differences between terms first, then the ratios, then squares, cubes and alternating patterns.
  • Follow the order of operations (parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction) in every expression.
  • In word problems, write what the unknown is before you compute, and check that your answer fits the question.
  • Practice mental math. Calculators are not allowed in the exam.

Sample Numerical Ability questions

Try these sample questions from our reviewer, then check the explanation below each one.

Sample question 1

(2×1÷2), (4÷1×2), (6×1÷2), _____

  • 8
  • 16
  • 4
  • 32
Answer: 16
(2×1÷2), (4÷1×2), (6×1÷2), (8×1÷2)
Since (8÷1×2) is not found in the choices,
so we have to solve this. (8÷1×2) = 16

Sample question 2

Number Series: 100%, 2, 15/5, 4, ____?

  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Answer: 5
100%, 2, 15/5, 4, ____?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Sample question 3

Radicals: √0.000025

  • 0.5
  • 0.005
  • 0.0005
  • 0.00005
Answer: 0.005
Radicals: √0.000025 = √(25/1000000)
= 5/1000 = 0.005

Start practicing

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