Commercial reasoning

About this practice suite

This suite prepares candidates for commercial reasoning selection in the sales, marketing, customer service, and contact centres sector with 5 skill areas: numerical reasoning, critical thinking, situational judgment, case analysis and data interpretation. Every question was written by Novus editors for this suite — none are taken from live or leaked exams — and the full bank holds 52 scored questions across three modes, plus 8 reserve questions used to vary repeat attempts. Answer keys never ship to the browser: your answers are scored server-side, and results stay on your device.

Skills this suite practises

• Numerical reasoning — Arithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratios, rates, estimation, word problems, and number relationships.
• Critical thinking — Evaluating evidence, assumptions, arguments, credibility, and alternative explanations.
• Situational judgment — Evaluating workplace responses against role-relevant principles.
• Case analysis — Synthesizing multiple documents and making a reasoned recommendation.
• Data interpretation — Tables, charts, graphs, dashboards, trends, comparisons, and evidence-based conclusions.

Sample questions from the guided bank

Two of the 10 guided-practice questions, shown exactly as they appear in a session. Answers and explanations are not printed here — keys stay on the server — so open guided practice to answer them and see how you did.

1. List price $100, unit cost $60. Contribution margin per unit at list?

   • A. $40
   • B. $60
   • C. $100
   • D. $160

2. Buyer wants 25% off a deal that already sits at 18% margin. Best educational move?

   • A. Approve silently to hit logo goals
   • B. Refuse any discount discussion forever
   • C. Show margin impact, propose smaller concession or value trade (term, volume, SKU), and escalate if needed
   • D. Hide cost data and invent a fake floor

Practice modes and timing

Guided practice is untimed-feeling and instructional; the mini-test is a short timed check; the full simulation mirrors a complete sitting. All three draw on separate question sets, so moving up a mode never repeats what you practised.

Study outline

Read the study outline for this suite’s skills, timings, and recommended lessons on one printable page, or download its standalone HTML file. The printable page can also be saved as a PDF from your browser.