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Saville Assessment is a psychometric test publisher, not one exam. Employers can use Saville aptitude tests, Swift combination assessments, Wave personality questionnaires and other job-specific tools.

The first thing to do is read the exact name in your invitation. Wave Professional Styles and a Swift aptitude assessment require completely different preparation. One measures work-related personality and motives; the other measures cognitive ability with right and wrong answers.

Saville provides an official candidate area with preparation advice and practice tests. Use those resources before relying on a third-party description of the test.

The examples on this page are original educational questions. They are not official Saville Assessment items and do not reproduce proprietary Wave statements, Swift questions, norms or scoring.

Quick answer: which Saville assessment do you have?

Wave Professional Styles

Wave Professional Styles is a work-related personality questionnaire. Saville says it takes about 35 minutes and is designed to explore personality, motives and talents relevant to work.

There is no conventional correct-answer key. Prepare by understanding the format and reflecting honestly on how you normally behave at work.

Wave Focus Styles

Wave Focus Styles is a shorter Wave questionnaire. Saville currently describes it as taking about 13 minutes.

Like Professional Styles, it is a personality and work-style measure rather than an aptitude test.

Swift aptitude tests

Swift tests combine several aptitude areas into a shorter assessment. The exact abilities depend on the Swift product selected by the employer.

Do not assume every Swift assessment contains the same numerical, verbal or abstract modules. Use the range name in your invitation and Saville’s practice material for that product family.

Single aptitude tests

Saville also publishes individual aptitude tests. Its current candidate and product materials include abilities such as numerical, verbal, abstract, diagrammatic, spatial, mechanical and checking-related reasoning.

If your invitation names one of those abilities directly, practise that skill rather than a broad personality or SJT course.

Wave vs aptitude: the important difference

Aptitude tests ask whether you can solve a problem accurately under the test conditions. Wave questionnaires ask about your typical preferences and behavior.

That means preparation should also differ:

  • For aptitude, learn the question format, improve the underlying reasoning skill and practise with timing when appropriate.
  • For Wave, understand the instructions, answer honestly and avoid trying to manufacture an ideal profile.

Mixing these strategies is one of the easiest ways to prepare badly for Saville.

How Saville aptitude tests work

The exact test varies, but good general preparation has three stages.

Learn the format

Use Saville’s official practice tests to see how information is presented and how answers are selected.

Build accuracy first

Before adding time pressure, make sure you understand percentages, verbal logic, patterns or the other reasoning skill being tested.

Then practise at realistic pace

Timed aptitude tests reward efficient reasoning, but rushing before your method is stable usually creates more errors than improvement.

Do not assume a timer from another Saville product applies to yours. Follow the instructions in your invitation.

Numerical reasoning practice

Question 1

A team processed 480 orders in June and 600 in July. What was the percentage increase?

A. 20%

B. 25%

C. 30%

D. 40%

Answer: B.

Why: The increase is 120. Divide 120 by the original 480: 0.25, or 25%.

Question 2

A project budget is £72,000. Forty percent is allocated to staffing. How much is allocated to staffing?

A. £24,800

B. £27,600

C. £28,800

D. £32,400

Answer: C.

Why: 72,000 × 0.40 = 28,800.

Question 3

A warehouse handles 1,050 units in 3.5 hours at a constant rate. What is the hourly rate?

A. 250

B. 275

C. 300

D. 350

Answer: C.

Why: 1,050 ÷ 3.5 = 300 units per hour.

Verbal reasoning practice

Read the passage and answer only from the information provided.

“All final client reports require manager approval before they are sent externally. Draft reports may be shared inside the project team before approval.”

Question 4

Statement: “No report may be shared with anyone before manager approval.”

A. True

B. False

C. Cannot say

Answer: B.

Why: Draft reports may be shared internally before approval.

Question 5

Statement: “A final report sent to a client requires manager approval.”

A. True

B. False

C. Cannot say

Answer: A.

Why: The passage states this directly.

Abstract reasoning practice

Question 6

Sequence: ▲ ● ▲ ● ▲ ?

A. ▲

B. ●

C. ■

D. ◆

Answer: B.

Why: The two shapes alternate.

Question 7

Arrow sequence: ↑ → ↓ ← ↑ ?

A. ←

B. ↓

C. →

D. ↑

Answer: C.

Why: The arrow rotates 90 degrees clockwise each step.

Checking practice

Question 8

Reference: AB7-49K-203

Which option is identical?

A. AB7-49K-203

B. AB7-49K-230

C. AB7-4BK-203

D. A87-49K-203

Answer: A.

Why: Every character and position matches the reference exactly.

When practising checking, compare fields in a consistent order instead of scanning the whole string vaguely.

How to approach Wave questionnaires

Saville’s own preparation guidance for Wave Professional Styles suggests reflecting on your work style before completing the questionnaire.

That is very different from memorizing “best answers.”

Answer in a work context

Think about how you normally behave in professional or study situations, not an unusual one-off event.

Read distinctions carefully

Two statements can both sound positive but describe different preferences. For example, enjoying detailed analysis is not the same trait as enjoying persuasion or social interaction.

Stay consistent without forcing consistency

Answer honestly. Do not try to remember a formula such as “leaders always strongly agree with this kind of statement.” A forced profile can become less coherent than a truthful one.

Do not treat one style as universally best

Different jobs need different combinations of behavior. A role that rewards detailed checking may not have the same profile as a role centered on rapid persuasion or relationship building.

Wave-style reflection examples

These are not Saville items. They are prompts to help you think about your own work behavior before a questionnaire.

Reflection 1

When a project is ambiguous, do you naturally start by gathering more information, discussing possibilities with other people, or testing a quick solution?

There is no universal correct choice. Think about what you actually do most often and what changes when the situation is high risk.

Reflection 2

When you disagree with someone at work, do you usually challenge the idea directly, ask questions first, or avoid the disagreement unless it becomes necessary?

Again, the purpose is self-awareness, not finding the most impressive-sounding answer.

Reflection 3

Do you gain more satisfaction from completing detailed work accurately, influencing people, creating new ideas or organizing a team?

Most people have a mix. Wave-style questionnaires explore patterns rather than one isolated response.

What score do you need?

There is no universal Saville pass score across employers and products.

Aptitude results are interpreted against norms and the employer’s requirements. The employer decides what score or combination of evidence is sufficient for progression.

Wave personality questionnaires are not usually interpreted as a simple percentage-correct result because there is no single correct personality profile.

Do not trust a website that promises one global “Saville passing score” without identifying the exact employer and assessment.

Can you use a calculator?

It depends on the test and instructions. Follow the rule shown in your invitation or official practice material.

Do not assume that because one numerical practice test allows a calculator, every Saville numerical assessment does.

A simple preparation plan

Step 1: identify the exact product

Look for Wave, Swift or the name of a specific aptitude test in your invitation.

Step 2: use Saville’s official candidate practice

The publisher provides candidate preparation material in multiple languages. Use the practice closest to your assigned test.

Step 3: work on your weak area

For aptitude, review errors and the reasoning behind them. For Wave, reflect on your real work behavior rather than rehearsing responses.

Step 4: follow the live instructions

Timing, navigation, calculator rules and employer benchmarks can vary. The live assessment instructions control.

If you want additional third-party aptitude and Wave-style practice, JobTestPrep’s Saville assessment preparation is one commercial option. Compare its current coverage with the exact product in your invitation before buying.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Treating “Saville” as one test.
  • Preparing for Wave as if it had a correct personality key.
  • Applying the timer from one Swift product to another assessment.
  • Practising numerical questions when your invitation names a different aptitude.
  • Chasing speed before you understand the reasoning method.
  • Paying for broad preparation before using Saville’s official candidate practice.

Official Saville Assessment sources

Use Saville Assessment’s own candidate resources:

This page is an independent preparation guide and is not affiliated with Saville Assessment. Employers choose the products, norms and progression rules used in their hiring process.

Saville Assessment FAQ

Is Saville one test?

No. Saville publishes Wave personality questionnaires, Swift aptitude combinations and individual aptitude tests among other tools.

How long is Wave Professional Styles?

Saville currently describes Wave Professional Styles as taking about 35 minutes and Wave Focus Styles as about 13 minutes.

Does Wave have right and wrong answers?

It is a personality and work-style questionnaire rather than a conventional aptitude test, so it does not work like a percentage-correct exam.

What should I practise for a Swift test?

Use the exact Swift product or aptitude areas named in your invitation, then practise those abilities using Saville’s official candidate material.

Are these real Saville questions?

No. They are original educational examples and do not reproduce proprietary Saville content.