Numerical Reasoning
Test 12
Solutions Booklet
Instructions
This practice test contains 30 questions, and you will have 30 minutes to answer
them.
Each question will have four possible answers, one of which is correct.
Calculators are permitted for this test. It’s recommended to have some rough paper
for your calculations. You will have to work quickly and accurately to perform well in
this test. If you don’t know the answer to a question, leave it and come back to it if
you have time.
Try to find a time and place where you will not be interrupted during the test. When
you are ready, turn to the next page and begin.
Q1 What are the combined sales of quarters 1 and 4?
(A) £850,000
(B) £852,250
(C) £854,250
(D) £856,000
(E) £858,000
The information that I need is shown in the pie-chart.
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the total % for quarters 1 and 4
21% + 30% = 51%
Step 2: £1.675 million x 51% = £854,250
Thus the correct answer is (C) £854,250
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Q2 If the profit margin for online sales is 1/8th of the sales value,
what was the total profit for online sales in 2009?
(A) £460,850
(B) £11,175
(C) £100,875
(D) £80,750
(E) £81,500
The information you need is shown in the graph Online vs High Street sales
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate total online sales = 27.4 + 26.8 + 16.3 + 10.2 = 80.7 (£10,000s)
Profit to sales ratio = 1:8, so profit = 80.7/8 = 10.0875 (£10,000s)
Thus the correct answer is (C) £100,875
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Q3 What is the difference in sales between the best and worst
performing quarters?
(A) £335,000
(B) £83,750
(C) £418,750
(D) £150,750
(E) None of these
The most profitable and least profitable quarters are going to be those with the
highest and lowest % sales respectively.
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the difference in these %’s
30% - 21% = 9%
Step 2: Calculate the % of total sales
9% x £1.675 million = £150,750
Thus the correct answer is (D) £150,750
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Q4 What was the difference between Online and High Street sales
(in £10,000s)?
(A) 6.1
(B) 6.8
(C) 2.9
(D) 6.9
(E) 2.8
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the total sales for each
High Street sales = 29 + 28.9 + 16.1 + 12.8 = 86.8
Online sales = 27.4 + 26.8 + 16.3 + 10.2 = 80.7
Step 2: Calculate the difference
Difference = 86.8 – 80.7 = 6.1. Remember these numbers are in £10,000 as stated
in the graph.
Thus the correct answer is (A) 6.1
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Q5 In 2010 there is a High Street CD and DVDs sale that results in
an increase in the annual 2009 sales of each category by 11%
and 14.5% respectively. What are the combined High Street
DVD and CD sales for 2010?
(A) £480,500
(B) £514,118
(C) £652,840
(D) £0.56 million
(E) £65.4 million
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the % increases in each category
High Street CD (2010) = 2009 sales + 11% = 28.9 x 1.11 = 32.079
High Street DVD (2010) = 2009 sales + 14.5% = 29 x 1.145 = 33.205
Step 2: Calculate the total
32.079 + 33.205 = £65.284 (10,000)
Step 3 - £652,840
Thus the correct answer is (C) £652,840
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Q6 In which quarter did Sclics plc, Farlaz and Raik Ltd each
experience an increase in sales for the European Region?
(A) Quarter 1
(B) Quarter 2
(C) Quarter 3
(D) Quarter 4
(E) None of these
Answer:
Step 1: From looking at the graph, there is no quarter in which Sclics plc, Farlaz and
Raik Ltd each experience an increase. In quarter 3 Sclics plc and Raik Ltd
experience increases, but Farlaz does not.
Thus the correct answer is (E) ‘None of these’
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Q7 If the annual European sales for Raik Ltd represent 45% of
worldwide sales, what is the level of sales worldwide?
(A) £62.5 million
(B) £52.4 million
(C) £42.6 million
(D) £28.8 million
(E) £23.6 million
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the annual sales for Raik Ltd
5.3 + 5.8 + 6.2 + 6.3 = 23.6
Step 2: Calculate the worldwide sales
100 x 23.6 / 45 = £52.4 million
Thus the correct answer is (B) £52.4 million
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Q8 How much did Sclics plc’s European sales in quarters 1 and 2
differ from Farlaz’s European sales over the same period?
(A) £3.6 million more
(B) £3.6 million less
(C) £2.2 million less
(D) 2.2 million more
(E) None of these
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the Q1 and Q2 differences
Q1; 5 – 7.2 = 2.2 less
Q2; 4.4 – 5.8 = 1.4 less
Step 2: Calculate the total difference 2.2+ 1.4 = £3.6 million
Thus the correct answer is (B) £3.6 million less
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Q9 If the annual sales target for Raik Ltd was £29.5 million, by what
fraction of this target did the company underperform?
(A) 2/3
(B) 1/5
(C) 1/3
(D) 1/2
(E) 1/4
Answer:
Step 1: Refer to your own rough notes for the annual sales for Raik Ltd (from
question 7) = 23.6 (£millions)
Step 2: Calculate the difference compared to the annual sales target
29.5 – 23.6 = 5.9
Step 3 – Calculate the fraction
5.9 / 29.5 = 1/5
Thus the correct answer is (B) 1/5
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Q10 Next quarter’s total sales projection represents what increase
on Quarter 4’s total sales for the three companies shown (to the
nearest whole %)?
(A) 6.1%
(B) 7.2%
(C) 6.2%
(D) 10%
(E) 6%
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate Quarter 4’s total
3.5 + 6.4 + 6.3 = 16.2
Step 2: Calculate the Projected Quarter’s total
3.2 + 7.4 + 6.6 = 17.2
Step 3 – Calculate the % increase
17.2 / 16.2 = 106.17%. The question asks for this to be rounded to the nearest
percent.
Thus the correct answer is (E) 6%
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Q11 What was the average annual income across the four years
shown (to the nearest million)?
(A) £408 million
(B) £407 million
(C) £402 million
(D) £403 million
(E) £404 million
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the annual income for each year
Income 2009 2008 2007 2006
Net interest 325.2 309.5 319.7 313.8
Other income 64.2 51.8 52 51.7
Fair value
gains 18 39.9 29.7 31.1
TOTALS 407.4 401.2 401.4 396.6
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Step 2: Calculate the average by dividing the overall total for all 4 years by 4
(407.4 + 401.2 + 401.4 + 396.6)/4 = 401.65
Step 3 - To the nearest million = £402 million
Thus the correct answer is (C) £402 million
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Q12 Gills & Tines Ltd’s target has been to increase Profit Before Tax
by more than 2% each year. In which year, or years, has this
been achieved?
(A) 2008
(B) 2007, 2008
(C) 2007
(D) 2007, 2008, 2009
(E) None of the years shown
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the % change in Profit Before Tax as shown in bold below;
2009 2008 2007
114.6 112.4 109.4
100% x (114.6 – 100% x (112.4 – 100% x (109.4 –
112.4)/112.4 109.4)/109.4 107.2)/107.2
= 1.96% = 2.74% = 2.05%
Thus the correct answer is (B) 2007, 2008
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Q13 Admin costs are projected to increase by a quarter in 2010 and
Net Interest to increase by 2.5%, whilst all other costs and
incomes are projected to remain constant. What is the projected
Profit Before Tax for 2010 (in £million)?
(A) £53.28 million
(B) £69.45 million
(C) £113.2 million
(D) £144.6 million
(E) £118.9 million
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the increase in Admin costs
277.8 x .25 = 69.45
Step 2: Calculate the increase in Net Interest
325.2 x 2.5%/100 = 8.13
Step 3 – Calculate the new Profit Before Tax using the 2009 Profit Before Tax as the
starting point
114.6 - 69.45 + 8.13 = 53.28
Thus the correct answer is (A) £53.28 million
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Q14 In which year did the combined Admin Costs and Loan
Impairment Costs decrease in value?
(A) 2006
(B) 2007
(C) 2008
(D) 2009
(E) Cannot Say
Answer:
Step 1: The total Admin Costs and Loan Impairment Costs are as follows:
2009 2008 2007 2006
Admin costs 277.8 231 285.9 283.5
Loan impairment 15 57.8 6.1 5.9
costs
TOTALS 292.8 288.8 292 289.4
Thus the correct answer is (C) 2008
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Q15 If corporation tax of 21% was applied each year to the Profit
Before Tax, what was the average net profit across 2006-2009?
(A) £110.9 million
(B) £114.6 million
(C) £115.6 million
(D) £86.4 million
(E) £87.6 million
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the average Profit Before Tax across 2006-2009
(114.6 + 112.4 + 109.4 +107.2)/4 = 110.9
Step 2: Deduct the 21% tax
110.9 x 79%/100 = £87.6 million
Thus the correct answer is (E) £87.6 million
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Q16 What was the total number of days spent on Client work in
March using the formula 1 day = 7 working hours (to the
nearest whole day)?
(A) 300 days
(B) 290 days
(C) 280 days
(D) 270 days
(E) 260 days
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the total hours spent
402 + 370 + 419 + 434 + 404 = 2029
Step 2: Calculate the total days spent
2029 / 7 = 289.9 days
Thus the correct answer is (B) 290 days
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Q17 If there were 3 members within Team B, what was the average
number of hours spent on non-client work during March?
(A) 37hours
(B) 38 hours
(C) 39 hours
(D) 40 hours
(E) 41 hours
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the number of non-client hours
42 + 6 + 72 = 120
Step 2: Divide by the 3 team members
120 / 3 = 40 hours
Thus the correct answer is (D) 40 hours
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Q18 If Teams A-C bill clients at £75 per hour and less experienced
Teams D and E bill clients at £55 per hour, what is the total
client income for March (to the nearest £1,000)?
(A) £127,000
(B) £129,000
(C) £131,000
(D) £133,000
(E) £135,000
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the client bill for Teams A-C
£75 x (402 + 370 +419) = £89,325
Step 2: Calculate the client bill for Teams D and E
£55 x (434 + 404) = £46,090
Step 3 – Calculate the total client bill
£89,325 + £46,090 = £135,000 (to the nearest £1,000)
Thus the correct answer is (E) £135,000
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Q19 If the monthly summary shown is representative of the time
typically spent each month over the course of a year (1 year =
12 months) then how many days (1 day = 8 working hours) do
Teams A-E spend in meetings over the course of a year?
(A) 327 days
(B) 357 days
(C) 347 days
(D) 337 days
(E) 367 days
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the total time spent in meetings in March
40 + 72 + 32 + 18 + 56 = 218 hours
Step 2: Calculate the time per year
218 x 12 = 2616 hours
Step 3 – Put this figure into days
2616 / 8 = 327 days
Thus the correct answer is (A) 327 days
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Q20 Put the teams in increasing order of total hours worked in
March (starting with the lowest number of total hours worked).
(A) D, A, C, B, E
(B) C, B, A, E, D
(C) D, A, C, E, B
(D) A, D, E, C, B
(E) A, D, C, E, B
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the total hours worked;
Team A Team B Team C Team D Team E
478 490 479 475 486
Step 2: Put teams into order of increasing numbers of hours worked.
Thus the correct answer is (C) D, A, C, E, B
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Q21 How much did Deus Bank income from new institutional
investors differ from that of new private clients?
(A) $85,250
(B) $106,950
(C) $109,500
(D) $103,950
(E) $114,500
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the totals
114,500 – 10,550 = 103,950
Thus the correct answer is (D) $103,950
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Q22 What is the ratio of Fund P’s sales to new private clients
compared to new institutional investors?
(A) 1:4
(B) 1:5
(C) 1:6
(D) 1:7
(E) 1:8
Answer:
Step 1: Put the figures into a ratio
2,500 : 17,500 = 1:7
Thus the correct answer is (D) 1:7
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Q23 What are Deus Bank’s total new private client and institutional
investor Fund sales (in £s) at an exchange rate of $1.55 to the
£?
(A) £73,871
(B) £193,827
(C) £80,677
(D) £177,475
(E) £43,774
Tip: make sure you don't include sales from Bonds; the question asks for Fund sales
only.
Answer:
Step 1: Total the Fund sales for new institutional investors and private client
(17,500 + 21,000 + 23,000) + (2,500 + 2,250 + 1,600) = $67,850
Step 2: Apply the exchange rate of $1.55 to the £
$67,850 / 1.55 = £43,774.2
Thus the correct answer is (E) £43,774
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Q24 Deus Bank pays 6% and 8% commission on Bond U and Bond
S sales respectively over $15,000. How much commission is
paid for new Bond U and Bond S sales (across both private
clients and institutional investors)?
(A) $1,750
(B) $2,505
(C) $1,560
(D) $2,103
(E) $1,861
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the total Bond U and Bond S sales
Bond U = 30,750
Bond S = 26,450
Step 2: Deduct $15,000 from each
Bond U = 30,750 – 15,000 = $15,750
Bond S = 26,450 – 15,000 = $11,450
Step 3 – Calculate commissions
$15,750 x 6% =$945
$11,450 x 8% = $916
Total commission = $1,861
Thus the correct answer is (E) $1,861
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Q25 What % of total new private client and new institutional investor
sales do Bond U sales represent (to the nearest %)?
(A) 21%
(B) 22%
(C) 23%
(D) 24%
(E) 25%
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the % of Bond U sales compared to total sales for new institutional
investor sales and new private client sales, as shown below:
New
institutional Private
investor client
sales sales Total % of total (125050)
Fund P 17500 2500 20000 16%
Fund F 21000 2250 23250 19%
Fund G 23000 1600 24600 20%
Bond U 29000 1750 30750 25%
Bond S 24000 2450 26450 21%
Thus the correct answer is (E) 25%
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Q26 What was the approximate fraction of Fixed Assets to Loans
Made at the end of the financial year 2009?
(A) 1/40
(B) 1/45
(C) 1/20
(D) 1/60
(E) 1/48
Answer:
Step 1: The fraction is 614 ÷ 24,600 ≈ 1/40.
Tip - You should be able to recognise that your calculator answer of 0.02496 is
approximately ten times smaller than 0.25 and thus from the available answers
select 1/40.
Thus the correct answer is (A) 1/40
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Q27 Which asset or assets have changed in value by more than
12% from 2007 to 2009?
(A) Liquid Assets, Loans Made
(B) Loans Made, Fixed Assets
(C) Loans Made
(D) Fixed Assets
(E) Can’t tell from data
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the % change in asset values, as shown below. Work out the
figures for only the options given, to save time.
Assets at end of 2009 2007
financial year (£million) (£million) Difference % change
Liquid Assets 10214 10735 521 - 4.85
Loans Made 24600 21973.5 2626.5 11.95
Fixed Assets 614 541.5 72.5 13.39
Thus the correct answer is (D) Fixed Assets
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Q28 In 2010, Loans Made are projected to decrease by an eighth
and both Derivatives and Fixed Assets are projected to
increase by 5%. If other values stay the same what will be the
impact on the 2010 Total Assets value (in £million)?
(A) 3,075.70 increase
(B) 3,018.70 decrease
(C) 3,000.00 decrease
(D) 3,095.70 decrease
(E) Can’t tell from data
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the changes in 2009 figures for Loans Made; and both Derivatives
and Fixed Assets
Loans made; 24,600 / 8 = - 3,075
Derivatives; 512 x 5% = + 25.6
Fixed Assets; 614 x 5% = + 30.7
Step 2: Calculate the overall impact
-3075 (Loans Made) + 25.6 (Derivatives) + 30.7 (Fixed Assets) = - 3,018.7
Thus the correct answer is (B) 3,018.70 decrease
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Q29 Which liability or liabilities have experienced a 10% change in
value between 2008 and 2009?
(A) Reserve Liabilities
(B) Borrowings, Reserve Liabilities
(C) Borrowings
(D) Other Liabilities, Borrowings
(E) Other liabilities, Share liabilities
Answer:
Step 1: Calculate the % change in value between 2008-2009, as follows;
2009 2008 % change
Reserve Liabilities 111.6 124 -10%
Borrowings 1389.6 1544 -10%
Share Liabilities 1958 1628 20%
Other Liabilities 41.8 35 19%
Thus the correct answer is (B) Borrowings, Reserve Liabilities
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Q30 What is the ratio of Reserve Liabilities (2008); Reserve
Liabilities (2007)?
(A) 132:124
(B) 13:12
(C) 12:13
(D) 31:33
(E) 31:32
Answer:
Step 1: Put the figures into a ratio:
124:132 = 31:33
Thus the correct answer is (D) 31:33
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End of test
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