Inductive Reasoning Test and Arctic Shores: What to Expect in 2027
An inductive reasoning test asks you to find the rule behind a set of shapes or patterns and pick what comes next. Arctic Shores is something else: a series of short interactive tasks that measure behaviour rather than right and wrong answers. Graduate employers sometimes use one, the other, or neither, so this guide separates the two and says what each vendor publishes. For the other common tests, see our list of which employers use which online tests.
A limit to know first: we could not find a quote from a named candidate about either assessment on a source we could check, so there is no quote on this page. Facts come from SHL and Arctic Shores themselves and are marked Official, which means the vendor’s own description, not an independent evaluation.
Inductive reasoning test and Arctic Shores at a glance
| Point | SHL inductive reasoning | Arctic Shores assessment | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Ability to draw inferences from, and understand relationships between, concepts; in practice, working out the pattern in a set of images and choosing the next one | Behaviours, measured through tasks the employer selects | Official |
| Format | Multiple choice. Computer adaptive. Designed for unsupervised use | A series of tasks, done one by one; finishing one unlocks the next | Official |
| Length | 24 minutes and a maximum of 18 questions in the 2014 fact sheet; other versions exist | Not published on the page we read; depends on the employer’s chosen tasks | Official |
| Practice | Not stated on the fact sheet | A practice task in the onboarding before you begin | Official |
| Adjustments | Not stated on the fact sheet; ask the employer named in your invitation | Must be declared before you start through the support email; cannot be added later | Official |
| Feedback | Not stated on the fact sheet | Feedback report emailed to you at the end; employer gets your result too | Official |
Sources: SHL’s Verify Inductive Reasoning (2014) fact sheet and Arctic Shores’ candidate help page.
Choose a test to read about
What SHL says. The test measures your ability to draw inferences from, and understand relationships between, concepts. It indicates how you will do on tasks that involve working out the pattern in a set of images and identifying the correct next image from the options.
Format. The 2014 fact sheet gives 24 minutes, a maximum of 18 questions, multiple choice, and unsupervised use. It is computer adaptive, which SHL says shortens testing time and gives a more precise score. SHL also lists other versions, so use the time in your invitation.
Practise by working through sequences of shapes and naming the rule before looking at the options. Our logical reasoning guide covers the wider family of reasoning tests.
How to prepare
- For an inductive test, practise spotting the rule in a sequence before you look at the answer options, and keep an eye on the clock because the time limit is fixed.
- For Arctic Shores, do the practice task and use a device and connection you trust, since each task unlocks the next.
- For both, read the invitation for the exact product name, time and support contact, because versions differ.
- Do not use a prep site that claims exact questions from a named employer unless it names its source.
Before you start the assessment
0 of 4 confirmed. Tick each point that applies to you.
Which employers use them?
We have not found a reliable public list of which graduate employers use SHL inductive reasoning or Arctic Shores today, and employers change vendors. Our Graduate Online Tests UK 2027 page records what we could verify employer by employer. As one dated example, Recruiter reported in November 2015 that Deloitte assessed apprenticeship applicants with an Arctic Shores game. We found nothing confirming it for Deloitte’s current graduate scheme. For Deloitte’s stages as reported, read the Deloitte assessment centre guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is an inductive reasoning test the same as a logical reasoning test?
The names are used loosely. SHL describes its inductive test as working out the pattern in a set of images and choosing the correct next image. Our logical reasoning guide covers the wider family. Your invitation names the exact product, so check it.
How long is the SHL inductive reasoning test?
The SHL fact sheet we read, for the 2014 Verify Inductive Reasoning test, gives 24 minutes and a maximum of 18 multiple-choice questions. SHL also sells other versions, and third-party sites disagree on which one employers use now, so rely on the time stated in your invitation.
Is the Arctic Shores assessment a test with right answers?
Arctic Shores says its assessment does not include traditional questions and that there is no right or wrong way to approach the tasks. Employers choose what to measure, so the tasks you see depend on the employer.
Can I ask for reasonable adjustments for Arctic Shores after I start?
No. Arctic Shores says you must declare adjustments through the support email in your invitation before you start. If you tick the box to proceed without adjustments, they cannot be added later.
Does Deloitte use Arctic Shores for graduates?
We found a 2015 report that Deloitte assessed apprenticeship applicants with an Arctic Shores game, and nothing from Deloitte confirming it for its current graduate scheme. Deloitte’s graduate process, as reported by targetjobs, uses an immersive assessment and a job simulation. See our Deloitte assessment centre guide for the stages.
Where do I get my Arctic Shores results?
Arctic Shores says you receive a feedback report by email when you finish, and the employer receives your result too. Check your junk folder for both the invitation and the report.
Sources
- SHL: Verify Inductive Reasoning (2014) test fact sheet (vendor, checked 31 October 2026)
- Arctic Shores help centre: What does the assessment involve? (vendor, checked 31 October 2026)
- Recruiter: Deloitte assesses apprenticeship applicants with Arctic Shores (trade press, November 2015)
