The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is a three-stage pre-employment assessment that is typically used in the recruitment process for management and director-level jobs.
It is a short test that is usually completed online early in the process and is used across many different industries to find the best candidates for top-level roles.
In this article, we will look at the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test in more detail, including the format of the questions, what the recruitment team will be looking for in your Swift Executive Aptitude Test answers and the organisations that use the test.
There are some Swift Executive Aptitude practice test questions for each section in the assessment, as well as a selection of tips to help you get the best score when you are taking the test as part of your job application.
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Article Contents
What Is the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test?
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test was created by Saville Assessment, which has won multiple industry awards for creating pre-employment assessments.
The range of tests on offer from Saville Assessment includes situational judgement tests, aptitude tests (like the Swift Executive Aptitude Test) and personality questionnaires. Employers choose Saville Assessment to create their pre-employment assessments because the company provides excellent talent analytics with reports and data that can be used to select only the applicants who have the strongest chance of success in the role.
The Saville Assessment tests are based on 15 years of research into what predicts performance and potential.
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is designed to assess candidates for top-level and graduate roles. It is looking for candidates to demonstrate that they have the inherent skills and competencies that are essential for success in managerial or director roles.
Split into three six-minute sections, the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test has a time limit of just 18 minutes, and you will need to answer 24 questions in that short amount of time. The test covers:
You are likely to come across the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test if you are applying for roles at organisations like:
- BP
- Ernst & Young
- Exxon
- Nestle
- Fujitsu
- Barclays Bank
What Is the Format of the Swift Executive Aptitude Assessment?
Verbal Reasoning
In the verbal reasoning section of the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test, you will have questions that are based on passages of text.
To find the correct answer from the multiple-choice options provided, you will need to quickly read and understand the written data that you are provided with and use only this information to answer the question that follows.
You do not need any previous experience in the role or even the industry that you have applied for to answer the question, as the answer is provided in the text.
This section of the assessment evaluates your ability to glean essential knowledge from written information and use that to reach a reasoned decision.
Numerical Reasoning
Questions in the numerical reasoning section of the assessment are presented with numerical data in the form of tables or graphs, with multiple-choice options for possible answers.
You will be required to read and understand the data, and then perform some basic calculations to manipulate the numbers as required to get to the right answer.
This is a test of your ability to confidently work with and manipulate numbers to find a reasoned conclusion to a problem.
Although you will need to use maths operations it is not really a test of your mathematical knowledge – all you need to be able to do is based on knowledge from GCSE-level maths, such as addition, multiplication, division and subtraction.
You will also be required to have knowledge of working with percentages, fractions and ratios.
Abstract Reasoning
Sometimes known as diagrammatic reasoning, the abstract reasoning section of the assessment is often the least familiar for test takers. The questions are structured using a series of shapes or symbols.
The symbols are in sequence, with an item missing. To find the right shape or symbol to complete the sequence, you need to find the rule that governs the sequence and apply it to the multiple-choice options provided.
This test assesses your ability to work with unfamiliar information and spot patterns to be able to make reasoned and logical predictions. This is an aptitude that is needed for critical thinking, judgement and decision-making, and a recognized predictor for success in higher-level roles.
Free Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test Practice Questions
Swift Executive Aptitude Test Example Questions – Verbal Reasoning
Question 1:
There are many different reasons given for the bad performance of a basketball team. First, the coach doesn’t seem to have a vision and instead relies a lot on previous ideas that didn’t work.
The team board seems to have withdrawn much of the funding, and with that, the opportunities to sign new talent are dwindling. And finally, the fans appear to be losing confidence that the team will bounce back in the future.
Who is responsible for the funding of the team?
a) The players
b) The manager
c) The fans
d) The team board
The correct answer is: d)
Question 2:
The year-on-year profit growth at the Marketing Agency company has reached a high of 3%, which is exciting news for the board of directors and for the shareholders.
Marketing Agency has been working with a new way of hiring candidates, which has reduced the time to hire and the time spent interviewing and reading CVs. Marketing Agency has invested in assessment software that has allowed it to use quantifiable data about each applicant’s aptitude and looks at predictors for success, which has also resulted in less staff turnover and increased staff satisfaction.
What has resulted in increased staff satisfaction?
a) More time spent in interviews
b) Profit growth
c) The new assessment software
d) New staff starting
The correct answer is: c)
Swift Executive Aptitude Test Example Questions – Numerical Reasoning
The market stall for an artist has been recording the sales and expenses for each day at a week-long market in the below table.
| Day | Sales | Expenses |
| Monday | £123 | £111 |
| Tuesday | £76 | £100 |
| Wednesday | £147 | £100 |
| Thursday | £102 | £113 |
| Friday | £324 | £150 |
| Saturday | £332 | £165 |
| Sunday | £56 | £100 |
On what day was the market stall profit the highest?
a) Tuesday
b) Friday
c) Sunday
d) Saturday
The correct answer is: b)
Swift Executive Aptitude Test Example Questions – Abstract Reasoning
Question 1:
Find the missing item in the following sequence.
The correct answer is: a) – The arrows are changing direction in a clockwise manner.
Tips to Prepare for the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Assessment
Take Practice Tests Online
One of the most effective ways to improve your score in the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is to take practice tests.
You can find free Swift Executive Aptitude practice tests on the Saville Assessment candidate site, and there are also practice tests and PrepPacks available at JobTestPrep.
When you are taking practice tests, make sure that you are using exam conditions. Be somewhere that you won’t be disturbed and use a timer so that you can get used to answering the questions as quickly as you will need to in the test – remember you only have 18 minutes to complete all three sections.
Taking an initial practice test will highlight to you if there are any areas that you might need to improve or work on – if you struggle with some of the numerical reasoning, for example, you know you need to work on your basic maths skills. Practice tests are the perfect place for trial and error because you will have time to improve before you take the real assessment.
Prepare for Saville Swift Executive Test
Understand the Question Format and Types
Practice tests are also useful for familiarity, especially if you have not taken any form of pre-employment screening assessment before.
The practice tests are designed to mimic the real thing, both in terms of the types of questions asked and the format of the assessment itself.
Get familiar with the way the questions will be presented and how you need to answer them (for example, do you need to click a button or highlight the answer?).
As each section is formatted in a different way, giving you different types of information to work with, it can be confusing if you don’t know what to expect.
Read Different News and Business Material to Improve Comprehension
Reading comprehension is something that we take for granted, but as the content of the verbal reasoning section of the assessment is likely to be based on business-related content, it is important that you have a good working understanding of the language used.
This means you should read as much formal writing as you can; everything from broadsheet newspapers to financial journals, business magazines and blog pages, as well as websites that are focused on business.
By doing this, not only will you be expanding your vocabulary and your knowledge of formal grammar conventions, but you will also learn more about the world of business – and if you focus your reading on industry-relevant sources, you will probably increase your understanding of the company that you are applying for too.
Do Crosswords, Puzzles and Similar Tests
The abstract reasoning assessment is all about logic, and you can improve your logical skills using a variety of puzzles, crosswords and other brain training exercises.
A fun way to get your logical skills engaged is by completing all sorts of different games, like those found in ‘brain training’ mobile phone apps or even physical puzzles.
Brush Up on Your Maths and Grammar
Maths is often a sticking point for test takers, and although the knowledge you will need for the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test does not require a maths degree, when under exam pressure the simplest calculations can seem overwhelming.
Brush up on your maths skills, focusing on getting comfortable working with percentages and fractions. You should know how to multiply by a fraction, how to increase and decrease by a percentage and how to add both fractions and percentages.
Ratios are also a common question type in numerical reasoning assessments, so be sure you know how to work with them too.
Knowledge of grammar conventions can help avoid any misunderstandings, especially in a dense paragraph of ‘business-speak’. Refresh yourself on the rules of formal English grammar and check your vocabulary so that you are confident that you can understand the formal writing used.
Practice Taking a Test Under Timed Conditions
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is a very short test considering the number and type of questions that are being asked. Therefore, taking this test means being very efficient with your time.
The only way to get better at taking timed tests is to practice under timed conditions. With 24 questions to be answered in 18 minutes, you will only have approximately 45 seconds for each question – and that includes reading and understanding the information that is provided.
Get Enough Rest and Look After Yourself Before the Exam
Your brain works at its best when you are well rested, hydrated and have eaten properly. This means that if you want to perform at the top of your game in the assessment, you need to make sure that you have enough sleep the night before and on the test day you have a good, nutritious meal and drink plenty of fluids.
If you think of your brain as a machine, it needs the right fuel to work properly, so make sure that you are giving yourself the best chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is a pre-employment assessment that is used early in the recruitment process for high-level roles like managers and directors. The test is 18 minutes long and includes questions on verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and logical reasoning.
The content of the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is challenging, and the short time limit makes it even harder. It is designed to assess candidates on their suitability for top positions like directors, so it needs to be able to differentiate between those with the aptitudes to be successful and those who are not cut out for leadership roles. With practice, a candidate can improve their abilities.
The candidate zone on the Saville Assessment website is a great resource for Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test practice. For useful tips and tricks for the assessment, as well as both free and paid-for resources (including practice tests and revision guides), check out JobTestPrep.
There are 24 questions on the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test, separated into three sections – verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and abstract reasoning. You will have 18 minutes to answer all the questions.
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is taken online, and the recruitment team will send you a link to complete it. They will tell you how long you will have to complete the test; it can range from 48 hours to a week. The test itself takes just 18 minutes.
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is part of the recruitment process for several roles, including graduates, managers and directors. You will be invited to take the test if you apply for one of these roles and the organisation uses the test.
There are no restrictions on who can take the test other than needing to be invited by the company that is recruiting.
You can find lots of practice tests online for the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test. The Saville Assessment candidate page has an interactive practice test that you can try, with questions that are similar to the ones in the actual assessment.
JobTestPrep has practice tests available, as well as revision guides and other resources.
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is designed to assess a candidate for the skills and aptitudes recognised as predictors of success in a high-level role like manager or director. These predictors have come from more than 15 years of first-hand research completed by the Saville Assessment team.
The recruitment team that are managing the application process will receive your score straight after you have completed the test, and they will use this information to choose the strongest candidates to take further in the process. You will usually receive your results shortly after the test is completed.
The Saville Swift Executive Test is scored for each correct answer. The results are provided for each section as well as an overall total and displayed as a Sten score out of 10.
If you score 10, you have performed better than 99% of other test takers, and if your Sten score is 5 then you will have performed better than 40% of test takers.
The company that you have applied for will set the passing criteria depending on its needs.
The content at JobTestPrep is designed to help you prepare for the Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test, with both free and paid-for resources. You can take timed practice tests, get detailed revision guides, as well as find helpful tips and tricks to ensure that you can get those top marks.
If you fail the Saville Swift Executive Test (or do not reach the required score to pass), then you will probably not be taken further in the recruitment process for the job you have applied for. In some cases, you may be allowed to reapply for the role later, and if so, you will be able to retake the test then – but make sure you practice in between for a better chance at passing.
Final Thoughts
The Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test is a short and detailed assessment that is designed to find the best candidates for top-level roles in many industries.
The assessment is timed at just 18 minutes and covers verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and abstract reasoning questions, allowing candidates the opportunity to demonstrate that they have the right aptitudes that are recognised as predictors of future success.
To get the best results in your Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test, you should make sure that you practice under timed conditions, read widely and brush up on your maths skills.
