SHL: What It Is and How UK Students Use It for Jobs and Assessments

When you apply for a graduate job in the UK, you might run into SHL, a global assessment company that designs aptitude and personality tests used by employers to screen candidates. Also known as Cubiks**, it's not a university exam—it's a hiring tool that decides whether you get past the first round. If you're applying to big firms like PwC, Barclays, or NHS graduate schemes, you’re almost guaranteed to face an SHL test. These aren’t random quizzes. They’re timed, computer-based evaluations that measure how you think under pressure, not what you memorized.

SHL assessments come in different forms. The most common are numerical reasoning, tests that ask you to interpret charts, tables, and financial data quickly, and verbal reasoning, where you read dense passages and decide if statements are true, false, or impossible to say. Then there’s the personality questionnaire, a set of questions designed to match your traits with company culture. These aren’t pass/fail—they’re about fit. A company doesn’t want someone who scores high on logic if they need someone collaborative. That’s why students who treat these like exams often fail. You’re not being tested on knowledge. You’re being tested on behavior.

What makes SHL tricky for UK students is that most universities don’t teach how to take them. You won’t find SHL in your syllabus, but you’ll see it in job postings. And because these tests are automated, there’s no second chance. If you rush, you’ll get marked down. If you overthink, you’ll run out of time. The good news? Practice works. Real practice—not just guessing. There are free SHL-style practice tests online, and many student unions offer workshops. You don’t need to be a math genius. You just need to know the format.

SHL isn’t going away. It’s used by over 10,000 companies worldwide, and in the UK, it’s the default for graduate recruitment. But here’s the thing: students who understand what SHL is looking for don’t just pass—they stand out. They know that numerical reasoning isn’t about calculus. It’s about spotting trends. Verbal reasoning isn’t about vocabulary. It’s about reading precisely. Personality tests aren’t about being perfect. They’re about being consistent. And once you get that, the whole process stops feeling like a trap and starts feeling like a chance.

Below, you’ll find real guides from UK students who’ve been through SHL tests, cracked them, and landed jobs. No fluff. Just what worked: how to prep on a budget, what mistakes to avoid, and how to stay calm when the timer starts.