EPSO numerical reasoning tips
Numerical reasoning is not about advanced maths — it is about reading data accurately and calculating efficiently under time pressure. These tips will help you improve both speed and accuracy.
1. Read the table header before reading the values
The most common source of errors in numerical reasoning is misreading units. Before extracting any values from a table, always check:
- What unit is being measured? (€, $, %, thousands, millions)
- Are values in the table scaled? (e.g. "Revenue (€000)" means multiply by 1,000)
- What time period does each column represent?
- Are there footnotes that change the interpretation?
Spending 10 seconds reading the header correctly saves you from recalculating after discovering a unit error halfway through.
2. Master the percentage change formula
Percentage change is the single most tested calculation in EPSO numerical tests. You should be able to apply this formula automatically without thinking about it:
Common trap: A question may ask for percentage change from a later period back to an earlier one — always confirm which value is "old" and which is "new" before calculating.
3. Use estimation to eliminate wrong answers
Before calculating precisely, estimate the rough magnitude of your answer and compare it to the options. If your rough estimate is 25% and the options are 2.5%, 25%, 250% and 2,500%, you can confirm your answer without completing the exact calculation.
Estimation is also useful for sanity checking: if you calculate a 400% increase but the table shows values that barely doubled, you have made an error.
4. Write the formula before inserting values
Under time pressure, it is easy to confuse the numerator and denominator in a percentage calculation or to use the wrong base. Before inserting numbers, write out the structure of the calculation:
Step 2: Write the formula structure
Step 3: Find the relevant values in the table
Step 4: Insert values and calculate
Step 5: Check the magnitude of your answer
5. Know these key calculation types by heart
These are the calculation types that appear most frequently in EPSO numerical tests. Practise each until you can apply it automatically:
(New − Old) ÷ Old × 100Part ÷ Total × 100Total × (% ÷ 100)A ÷ B (simplify if needed)Sum of values ÷ Number of valuesValue × Exchange rate(Known value ÷ Known quantity) × Target quantity6. Manage time strictly — 2 minutes per question
With 10 questions in 20 minutes, you have exactly 2 minutes per question. If a question involves multiple steps and you are approaching the 90-second mark, make your best estimate and move on. Do not let one complex question cost you time on two or three easier questions later.
Flag difficult questions mentally and return to them at the end if time allows — but always complete the full test before going back.
7. Practise reading charts and graphs, not just tables
Some EPSO questions use bar charts, line graphs or pie charts instead of tables. Reading values from visual charts accurately — especially when the scale is not in round numbers — requires separate practice.
When reading from a bar chart, always check the y-axis scale first. Bars that look similar in height may represent very different values if the scale does not start at zero.
8. Review every wrong answer with the explanation
After each practice session, go through wrong answers and identify whether the error was a formula error, a reading error (wrong value from the table) or a calculation error. Each error type requires a different fix.
Formula errors → review the formula and practise applying it.
Reading errors → slow down during data extraction and double-check units.
Calculation errors → use estimation to sanity-check results before confirming.
Practice numerical reasoning now
Apply these tips with timed EPSO-style numerical reasoning tests. Get your score instantly and review all answers with full explanations.
Free · No account required · Instant results