What is a good score on a reasoning test?
There is no universal good score. What counts depends on how the test is scored, who you are compared with and what the employer does with the result. This guide explains the three ways a score can be reported and how to read your own results.
The short answer
A good score is one that clears the pass mark, or ranks you high enough among the other candidates. A raw score such as 14 out of 20 means little until you know which of those two rules applies.
Three ways a score is reported
1. Raw score
The number of questions you answered correctly, for example 14 out of 20. It is the simplest measure and the one most practice tests show. On its own it cannot tell you whether the test was easy or hard.
2. Percentile (norm-referenced score)
Your raw score is compared with a norm group, a sample of people who took the same test, often graduates or applicants for similar roles. A percentile of 75 means you scored higher than about 75% of that group. Two things matter here: the norm group changes the meaning of the number, and a percentile is not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
3. Pass mark (criterion-referenced score)
The employer sets a minimum score. Reach it and you continue, miss it and you are out. Other candidates do not affect whether you pass.
Pass marks and rankings often work together
Many selection processes use both. A pass mark removes candidates below a minimum, then the remaining scores are ranked and only the top group moves on.
The 2026 EPSO AD5 competition is a clear example. You need 10 out of 20 in verbal reasoning and a combined 10 out of 20 in numerical and abstract reasoning. Verbal reasoning then carries on into the ranking, while numerical and abstract do not. We explain the numbers in EPSO reasoning tests: scoring and pass marks. Other employers set different rules, so always check the instructions for the test you are taking.
Why the same raw score can mean different things
- Difficulty: 14/20 on an easy test and 14/20 on a very hard one are not the same result.
- Time limit: on a tight timer, the questions you never reach count as zero.
- The comparison group: a percentile against graduates is harder to reach than one against the general population.
- Wrong-answer penalties: most tests do not penalise guessing, but some do. Read the rules first.
How to read your own practice score
Practice tests help most when you read them as a trend, not a verdict. Our practice tests are not standardised against a norm group of real candidates, so a score here shows how you are improving, not where you would rank.
- Find the real threshold first. If you know the pass mark of your target test, convert it to a percentage. 10 out of 20 is 50%.
- Add a margin. A rule of thumb of ours: practise a few points above the threshold, so a bad day does not decide the outcome.
- Track accuracy and unanswered questions separately. Low accuracy points to method. Many unanswered questions point to speed.
- Compare several sessions. One test is noise. Three or four timed sessions in a row show a real level.
- Review every mistake. Classify each error as a misread, a calculation slip, a wrong method or a timeout, and work on the most frequent one.
What to do next
Take one timed test in each category to see where you stand, then spend your time on the weakest one. If you are new to these tests, what is a cognitive ability test explains the formats, and the how to pass EPSO reasoning tests guide covers preparation in more depth.
Reasoning test scores: FAQ
What is a good score on a numerical reasoning test?
It depends on the test, the employer and the group you are compared with. A good score is one that clears the employer's cut-off, or places you high enough against the other candidates. There is no single number that works everywhere.
Is 70% a good score on a reasoning test?
As a raw percentage, 70% correct is usually solid, but it only means something compared with a pass mark or a norm group. On an easy test, 70% may be average. On a hard, timed test it can be well above average.
What is a percentile score?
A percentile shows the share of the comparison group you scored higher than. At the 80th percentile you did better than about 80% of that group. It is not the same as getting 80% of the questions right.
Do unanswered questions hurt my score?
On most timed tests, a question you do not reach scores zero, just like a wrong answer, unless the test states a penalty for wrong answers. Always check the instructions before you start.
Are practice test scores a reliable predictor of the real test?
Only roughly. Practice scores are useful for tracking your progress, but a practice test is not standardised against the real group of candidates, so it cannot tell you your rank.
See where you stand
Take a free, timed test with instant scoring and answer review, then track your progress over several sessions.
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