What’s the hardest psychometric question?
We’ve been through thousands of verbal, logical and numerical reasoning tests to find the toughest questions within them.
Take a look at them below and see if you can join the few who answered them correctly.
Verbal reasoning: the toughest question
Passage
Derivatives and other structured financial products are generally used for positive, risk-reduction purposes. For example, to secure the price of a commodity which is to be “bought” at a future date, but at a price that is set today. However, some academics and economic commentators view these as dangerous and irresponsible innovations in the world of international banking and global financial services.
Traders in these structured financial products are able to make large bets on the change in price of commodities or currencies and only need pay a small up-front deposit. Such traders can accumulate huge exposure to losses which could be devastating to their employers.
Sceptics believe that one day such products could lead to financial ruin for a bank if one or more derivatives traders chase their losses over an extended period of time. In summary, complex, structured financial products are a necessary evil to meet the demands of modern-day capitalist societies.
Statement
According to the passage, society needs structured financial products.
A) True
B) False
C) Cannot Say
Solution
False – They are a necessary evil for ‘capitalist societies’, according to the passage.
Of 654 who took this question, 102 got it correct and 552 got it wrong. The success rate was only 16%.
Logical reasoning: the toughest question
Which is the next logical image in the sequence?
Solution
The correct answer is A. Each block in the series contains three rows of three circles, two of which never move – one in the centre and one in the bottom left of the box.
At each step in the series the black circle that starts in the top left spot moves along the top horizontal row, and then along the middle row – moving a single circle along each row at each step in the series. It also overlaps the existing circles.
Results
Of 3,379 who took this question, 577 got it correct and 2,802 got it wrong. The success rate was only 17%.
Numerical reasoning: the toughest question
If Capital Homes’ production decreased by 24% next month and then by a further 10% the following month (from the June level), how many houses would the company build in August?
A) 99
B) 102
C) 116
D) 112
Solution
The correct Answer is A.
150 × (1-0.24) = 114
150 × (1-0.1) = 135
114 - (150-135) = 99
Results
Of 1,251 who took this question, 261 got it correct and 990 got it wrong. The success rate was only 21%.
So there you go - those were some of the hardest psychometric questions ever written. If you didn’t answer them correctly, don’t panic, you’re not alone. But perhaps now is the time for some practicing…