publicjobs Numerical Question Types Explained

You know the numerical reasoning test is coming and you want to know what will actually be on it. Not a vague list of skills, not a reassurance that “it’s only basic maths” - a real look at the question types with examples you can work through.

This post covers every question type that appears in the publicjobs.ie numerical assessment, with a worked Irish example for each. The maths itself is not the hard part. Recognising the question type quickly and knowing which operation to apply is.

What format do the questions take?

Every numerical reasoning question on the publicjobs.ie test is built around a data set. You are presented with a table, chart, or graph containing Irish-context figures, and you are asked to extract specific information and apply a calculation. You pick one correct answer from five options. No calculator - only scrap paper.

The test is delivered by cut-e (now AON). It is not an SHL test. If you have been practising with UK prep materials and wondering why the interface and question layout feel different, that is why.

The data sets use euro figures. This is worth noting because if you have been drilling pound-denominated practice questions the euro sign is one less moment of visual confusion when you are under time pressure.

There are three main question types you will meet.

Question type 1: Reading from a table

This is the most common format. A table presents figures across rows and columns - spending by department, staff headcount by grade, output by region. The question asks you to locate one or more figures and either read them directly or combine them.

Worked example

The table below shows quarterly expenditure (in euros) for three government departments.

Department	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Finance	€42,000	€38,500	€41,200	€44,100
Housing	€61,000	€63,400	€60,800	€65,200
Transport	€29,500	€31,000	€28,700	€30,400

Question: What was the total expenditure for the Finance department in Q2 and Q3 combined?

Working: €38,500 + €41,200 = €79,700.

Answer: €79,700.

Where candidates go wrong: reading the right column but the wrong row, or adding a third quarter by mistake because they are moving too fast. The moment you feel yourself rushing, slow down on the data location step. The arithmetic is the quick part. Finding the right cell is where errors happen.

Question type 2: Percentages and percentage change

Percentage questions come in two versions: finding what percentage one number is of another, or calculating the percentage increase or decrease between two figures.

Worked example - percentage of a total

Using the table above: Transport spent €29,500 in Q1. Total expenditure across all three departments in Q1 was €42,000 + €61,000 + €29,500 = €132,500.

Question: What percentage of Q1 total expenditure did Transport account for?

Working: (29,500 / 132,500) x 100 = 22.26%, which rounds to approximately 22%.

Worked example - percentage change

Housing spent €61,000 in Q1 and €65,200 in Q4.

Question: What was the percentage increase in Housing expenditure from Q1 to Q4?

Working: Change = €65,200 - €61,000 = €4,200. Percentage change = (4,200 / 61,000) x 100 = 6.89%, approximately 7%.

The formula to have ready on your scrap paper: (new - old) / old x 100.

Percentage questions look simple but are easy to invert under pressure - dividing by the new figure instead of the old, or forgetting to multiply by 100. Writing the formula out before you start saves that mistake.

Question type 3: Ratios and proportions

Ratio questions ask you to compare two quantities or to use a given ratio to work out a missing value. They appear less often than percentages but they do appear, particularly in EO-level tests where the range of question types is broader.

Worked example

A public sector office has 24 staff. The ratio of administrative staff to technical staff is 3:1.

Question: How many technical staff are there?

Working: Total parts = 3 + 1 = 4. One part = 24 / 4 = 6. Technical staff = 1 x 6 = 6.

Answer: 6.

A common variation: you are given the number in one category and asked to find the total, or given the total and asked to find one category. The approach is the same - total parts first, then the value of one part.

Question type 4: Reading from a chart or graph

Bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts all appear. The data is still Irish-context, euro-denominated figures. The question asks you to read a value off the chart and then apply a calculation - the chart reading and the arithmetic are separate steps and both need to be accurate.

Bar chart example

A bar chart shows monthly applications received by a public service office across six months. January shows approximately 1,200, February 980, March 1,450, April 1,100, May 1,300, June 870.

Question: What is the average number of monthly applications across the six months?

Working: Add all six: 1,200 + 980 + 1,450 + 1,100 + 1,300 + 870 = 6,900. Divide by 6 = 1,150.

Answer: 1,150.

Reading off chart values is where rushing hurts most. A bar that sits between two gridlines needs a moment of judgment. In practice, most chart questions are designed so the values land on clear gridlines or are given in a data key - but if you are not certain of a reading, eliminate the answer options that are clearly wrong and work from what you can confirm.

Pie chart example

A pie chart shows how a €500,000 community fund is allocated. One segment, labelled “Infrastructure”, represents 35% of the total.

Question: What amount in euros does the Infrastructure segment represent?

Working: 35% of €500,000 = 0.35 x 500,000 = €175,000.

Pie chart questions often give you the percentage and ask for the euro amount, or give you the euro amount and ask for the percentage. Both are straightforward once you have the total in front of you.

What does timing look like in practice?

For the Clerical Officer competition the test has 18 questions in 22 minutes - roughly 73 seconds per question. For Executive Officer it is 36 questions in 35 minutes, just under a minute per question. Check the specific competition booklet on publicjobs.ie before your test, because formats can change.

The time pressure is real. A lot of candidates do not finish all the questions, and this is intentional - the test is designed to differentiate on both accuracy and pace. The design is that most people will not reach the final questions. You are better off answering 14 questions accurately than rushing through 18 and introducing errors.

Having been through this process more than once myself, the thing that surprised me early on was how much time the data-reading step actually takes. The arithmetic on a percentage question might take ten seconds. Locating the right row, right column, right figure on an unfamiliar table can take thirty seconds if you are not practised at it. That is where timed practice makes a measurable difference - not drilling the maths in isolation, but drilling the full sequence: read the data set, locate the figure, calculate, check, move on.

For a full breakdown of the test format, timing by grade, and strategy for working under time pressure, the publicjobs numerical reasoning test guide covers that in detail. If the data-reading step is where you lose most time, the timing techniques that work on the Irish numerical test address that specifically.

How to practise these question types

Start with the free Self-Assessment System on publicjobs.ie. It offers timed practice at CO, EO, and AO levels with answer explanations and it is the closest publicly available approximation of the real interface. Use it first.

Once you have done those, you need volume. Practising the same few questions again and again once you know the answers does not build speed. You need new questions in the same format - euro figures, Irish data context, cut-e style presentation - under timed conditions.

PublicServicePathway is built specifically for this. The free taster requires no card and no commitment. Go to psp-taster.pages.dev and work through it under timed conditions to get a honest read on where your pace actually sits. If you want the full question bank, pricing starts at €39 a month with no lock-in.

FAQ

What type of maths comes up in the publicjobs numerical test?

The core skills are percentages, percentage change, ratios, averages, and basic arithmetic applied to data in tables and charts. The maths itself is not advanced - you are not doing algebra or geometry. The difficulty is applying those skills accurately under time pressure with no calculator and with data sets you are seeing for the first time.

Is there a pass mark for the numerical reasoning, or is it just ranking?

There is no publicly disclosed pass mark. publicjobs.ie ranks all candidates by score in an Order of Merit. Your rank determines how quickly you are offered a post as positions become available. A lower score does not automatically rule you out - it places you further down the panel. The goal is to score as highly as possible relative to other candidates.

Did anyone finish all the numerical questions in time?

Some candidates do finish, but many do not - and this is by design. The test is a speeded assessment intended to separate candidates on both accuracy and pace. Not finishing is not a failure. Making careless errors while rushing to finish is more damaging than leaving the last one or two questions unanswered.

What is the difference between the CO and EO numerical test?

The Clerical Officer (CO) test is reported to have 18 questions in 22 minutes. The Executive Officer (EO) test is reported to have 36 questions in 35 minutes. The EO test is longer and the per-question time is tighter, and it may include a broader spread of question types. Always check the competition-specific booklet from publicjobs.ie for the format that applies to the competition you are entering.

Numerical Reasoning Question Types on publicjobs, With Worked Examples