What is the Royal Navy reasoning test?
As part of the Naval Service Recruitment Test (NSRT), you will be expected to complete four different aptitude tests in just 44 minutes at the Armed Forces Career Office (AFCO).
The first part of the NSRT is a reasoning test. The Royal Navy Reasoning test is about abstract reasoning. The test is made up of images and candidates need to look at the information provided to recognise patterns and relationships. The recruiters want candidates to be able to sift through information and understand what data is relevant and what is irrelevant.
The format of the Royal Navy reasoning test
In the Royal Navy reasoning assessment, you will have just 9 minutes to answer 30 questions - so speed is of the essence to be successful.
The questions begin with an image. You will have to identify either the next shape in the series, finish the pattern or spot the odd one out. You won't have much time to examine the images closely, but the answers are presented as multiple choice which makes it more straightforward.
How is the Royal Navy reasoning test scored?
As with the rest of the NSRT, the score is based on both speed and accuracy. There are no penalties for wrong answers, so answer as many questions as you can in the given amount of time.
The Royal Navy does not publish the scores needed for specific branch applications, but in most cases a score above 50% is sufficient. There will be roles that require a higher score, but you will get all the information you need from the AFCO before you begin the test.
You will receive your results on the same day from the Armed Forces Career Office so you can continue your application immediately. You can speak to a Career Officer at the time to discuss your next move - and even if you don't get the score you need for your chosen role, the aptitude tests might point you in a different direction.
Even if the test results aren't what you wanted, there is a chance that you might be able to retake the NSRT - just speak to the Careers Officer and they will signpost you to the next step needed.
How to pass the Royal Navy reasoning test
The Royal Navy reasoning test needs you to answer questions quickly, so practice will make perfect. There are practice questions available on the Royal Navy careers site, and these can give you experience of what the test will be like on the day.
As the score is based on accuracy and speed, the best thing you can do is to answer quickly, and leave any questions that you are unsure of to come back to later if you have time.
Practice answering the questions quickly, and take advantage of the resources available to you before you attend the test.
Check out our full Royal Navy psychometric tests page here that include free tests.
