About the SHL mechanical comprehension test
SHL (Saville and Holdsworth Limited) is a respected global publisher of psychometric tests, providing aptitude, personality, and behavioural tests. Many of the world’s largest employers use SHL to streamline their recruitment and ensure that top talent is chosen for internships, graduate schemes, and full-time job roles.
The SHL mechanical comprehension test is designed to assess your understanding of machinery – in terms of installation, operational use, and maintenance – as well as your knowledge of basic mechanical principles, and your ability to apply these within certain scenarios.
They are multiple-choice and present applied problems across four areas: gears (rotation and speed), wheels and belts (rotation and [cross] connections), pressure (relating to solids, liquids, and gases), and magnetism (including electric fields).
The test has a time limit of 10 minutes, so you’ll need to work quickly and accurately to achieve a high score.
It uses SHL’s Item Response Theory (IRT), which means that no two candidates experience the same test. It is not adaptive though, which means the difficulty of the questions presented is not determined by your performance.
The SHL mechanical comprehension test may be taken on its own or, more commonly, alongside other tests – such as numerical reasoning and situational judgement assessments – to give a more rounded picture of candidate suitability and potential.
The test is intended for remote completion, typically from your own home, via an online platform. Should you advance further in the selection process, a follow-up verification test may be required to validate the original test scores.
How to prepare for and pass an SHL mechanical test
The best way to prepare for your SHL mechanical comprehension test is to complete practice assessments. Sitting full practice mechanical tests allows you to become familiar with the format, style, and content of the questions.
Once you’ve completed a test, go back through and check your answers carefully. Pay attention to which topics emerge as your areas of strength, and which need extra practice. Use this insight to structure and prioritise your remaining preparation time.
When sitting the practice tests, have a timer on your desk. To achieve a high score and secure a place in the next round of the recruitment process, you’ll need to work at a steady pace.
For the SHL mechanical reasoning test you’ll have 10 minutes to complete 15 questions, so you’ll need to aim for a pace of 40 seconds per question.
It’s vital to keep track of your pace during the official test, so have your timer at the ready once again. If you’re stuck on a question, don’t panic. The SHL mechanical comprehension test isn’t negatively marked. Be prepared to take your best guess and move on to the next question, so as not to compromise your pace.
The more practice tests you complete, the more confident you’ll feel tackling your official mechanical comprehension test and the greater your chance of success.
