Civil Service Numerical Reasoning Test Graph and Chart Analysis — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A bar chart shows passport applications processed by HMPO across four quarters: Q1: 1.2 million, Q2: 1.8 million, Q3: 2.1 million, Q4: 1.5 million. What percentage of all applications were processed in Q3?
- 27.3%
- 31.8% (Correct answer)
- 29.5%
- 33.2%
Correct answer: 31.8%
Total applications = 1.2 + 1.8 + 2.1 + 1.5 = 6.6 million. Q3 percentage = (2.1 / 6.6) x 100 = 31.8% (to one decimal place).
Question 2: A line graph shows the unemployment rate falling steadily from 5.2% in January to 4.1% in June (6 months). What is the average monthly decrease in the unemployment rate?
- 0.18 percentage points
- 0.22 percentage points (Correct answer)
- 0.25 percentage points
- 0.15 percentage points
Correct answer: 0.22 percentage points
Total decrease = 5.2% minus 4.1% = 1.1 percentage points over 5 intervals (January to June = 5 month-to-month changes). Average monthly decrease = 1.1 / 5 = 0.22 percentage points.
Question 3: A pie chart shows a council's budget allocation: Education 38%, Social Care 22%, Transport 15%, Housing 12%, Other 13%. If the total budget is £84 million, how much is allocated to Social Care?
- £16.80m
- £18.48m (Correct answer)
- £19.32m
- £17.64m
Correct answer: £18.48m
Social Care = 22% of £84 million = 0.22 x £84,000,000 = £18,480,000 = £18.48m.
Question 4: A stacked bar chart shows male and female employees in a department over three years. In 2024, there were 340 males and 410 females. In 2022, there were 380 males and 320 females. What was the change in the proportion of female employees from 2022 to 2024?
- 9.0 percentage points increase (Correct answer)
- 7.5 percentage points increase
- 11.4 percentage points increase
- 8.2 percentage points increase
Correct answer: 9.0 percentage points increase
2022 female proportion: 320 / (380+320) = 320 / 700 = 45.7%. 2024 female proportion: 410 / (340+410) = 410 / 750 = 54.7%. Change = 54.7% minus 45.7% = 9.0 percentage points increase.
Question 5: A dual-axis chart shows website visits (left axis, thousands) and online form completions (right axis, hundreds) for a government service. In March, visits were 45,000 and completions were 6,300. What was the conversion rate?
- 12%
- 14% (Correct answer)
- 16%
- 18%
Correct answer: 14%
Conversion rate = (completions / visits) x 100 = (6,300 / 45,000) x 100 = 14%.
Question 6: A trend graph shows NHS waiting times (in weeks) at four points: Jan 18.2, Apr 16.5, Jul 15.1, Oct 17.8. Between which two consecutive data points was the largest change observed?
- Jul to Oct (Correct answer)
- Jan to Apr
- Apr to Jul
- All changes were equal
Correct answer: Jul to Oct
Changes: Jan to Apr = 1.7 weeks decrease; Apr to Jul = 1.4 weeks decrease; Jul to Oct = 2.7 weeks increase. The largest change (2.7 weeks) occurred between July and October.
Civil Service Numerical Reasoning Test Graph and Chart Analysis
A bar chart shows passport applications processed by HMPO across four quarters: Q1: 1.2 million, Q2: 1.8 million, Q3: 2.1 million, Q4: 1.5 million.
What percentage of all applications were processed in Q3?