Saville Swift Analysis Aptitude practice

What the real test usually looks like

Swift Analysis Aptitude is three short tests in one. Saville Assessment describes it as a combination test made of verbal (6 minutes), numerical (6 minutes) and diagrammatic (6 minutes) sub-tests, 18 minutes in all. It is aimed at directors, managers, professionals, graduates and management trainees, and employers can use it on its own or as a screening step in a longer process (Saville Assessment). Saville also lists it among the tests that cannot be taken on a mobile phone, and offers a free practice test for it, desktop only (Saville practice tests).

What each part usually looks like, as commonly reported by preparation sites:

• Verbal analysis. A short passage and a statement to judge as true, false or not possible to say on the basis of the passage (JobTestPrep).
• Numerical analysis. Questions on numerical data, such as a table, with several answer options to choose from.
• Diagrammatic analysis. Reasoning with diagrams rather than words or numbers.
• Length: each part is commonly reported as 8 questions in 6 minutes, and preparation sites suggest having a pen, paper and a calculator to hand (WikiJob).

What our mocks cover. Our full mocks are in the style of Swift Analysis Aptitude: 16 questions in 12 minutes, 8 verbal analysis questions (True, False, Cannot tell, always in that order) then 8 numerical analysis questions with five options each. You cannot go back to an earlier question, and a calculator is allowed. They leave out the diagrammatic part, because it is built from shapes and pictures; if your test includes it, use Saville's own free practice test for that part too.

Question types with worked examples

One worked example for each question type, with the trap most people fall into.

1. Verbal analysis: "Cannot tell" versus "False". Passage: "The library is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m." Statement: "The library is closed on Saturdays." The passage only gives weekday hours. It does not say the library is closed at weekends, so the answer is Cannot tell. Trap: choosing False or True from what usually happens. Judge only from the passage.

2. Verbal analysis: words that change the meaning. Passage: "Most of the team's projects finished on time last year." Statement: "All of the team's projects finished on time last year." "Most" means some did not, so the statement is False. Trap: skimming past "most", "some", "only" and "always". In a 6-minute part, reading speed matters, but these small words decide the answer.

3. Numerical analysis: percent change. Sales rose from 400 to 460. The change is 60, and 60 / 400 = 15%. Trap: dividing by the new figure (60 / 460 is about 13%). Wrong options are often built from exactly this mistake.

4. Numerical analysis: share of a total. Three regions earn $3 million, $5 million and $2 million. The second region's share is 5 / 10 = 50%. Trap: using a share of units when the question asks for a share of revenue. Check what is being counted.

5. Numerical analysis: repeating a growth rate. A figure grows from 200 to 240, a 20% rise. If it grows at the same rate again, it reaches 240 x 1.2 = 288, not 280. Trap: adding the same amount instead of the same percentage.

How to prepare

1. Check which version you are taking. Your invitation should say whether you will see all three parts or only some. Saville's own description of Swift Analysis Aptitude is verbal, numerical and diagrammatic, 6 minutes each (Saville Assessment).
2. Use a laptop or desktop. Saville lists Swift Analysis among the tests that cannot be taken on a mobile phone. Its practice page also suggests a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768 (Saville practice tests).
3. Take Saville's free practice test. It shows the real screens and instructions, which are worth seeing before the day.
4. Train the three verbal answers. For each statement, ask: does the passage say this (True), does it say the opposite (False), or does it say neither (Cannot tell)?
5. Rebuild quick number skills. Percent change, shares of a total, multiplying by a growth rate and reading units (thousands, millions) cover most numerical questions.
6. Keep moving. About 45 seconds a question leaves no time to get stuck. If a question is taking too long, make your best choice and go on.
7. Practice at the real pace. Take full timed mocks so 6-minute parts feel normal, not rushed.

How scoring usually works

Saville Assessment's report for Swift Analysis Aptitude contains an introduction, a profile with a total score and sub-scores for verbal, numerical and diagrammatic aptitude, and tips on improving. Saville also says that for high-stakes appointment decisions it strongly recommends retesting under supervised conditions (Saville Assessment). Preparation sites commonly report that each part is scored from 1 to 10 (WikiJob). The employer decides how to use the result.

Our practice score is the number of our own questions you answered correctly, with a breakdown by part (verbal analysis and numerical analysis), so you can see where to focus. It is a practice score: it is not a Saville score, sub-score or percentile, and it does not predict whether you will pass.

Common mistakes on Swift-style questions

• Using outside knowledge. In verbal analysis, only the passage counts, even when you know the topic well.
• Treating "Cannot tell" as a last resort. It is a correct answer as often as the others. Choose it whenever the passage neither confirms nor contradicts the statement.
• Reading a link that is not there. Two facts in the same passage do not mean one caused the other.
• Dividing by the wrong figure. Percent change is the change divided by the earlier value.
• Mixing units and revenue. A product that sells the most units is not always the one that earns the most.
• Spending too long on one question. With no going back and a short clock, a stuck minute costs more than one wrong answer.