Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning
What the section tests
Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning checks arithmetic fluency, proportional thinking, algebra, geometry, and the ability to solve short word problems under time pressure. Questions often use travel, pay, rations, and training schedules as contexts.
Core rules
- Follow BODMAS: brackets, orders, division and multiplication from left to right, then addition and subtraction.
- Convert units before calculating; speed = distance ÷ time, and time must be in hours for km/h.
- Percentage change = (change ÷ original) × 100.
- For ratios, find the total number of parts before sharing.
- Average = total ÷ number of items; do not average averages unless the groups are equal.
Worked example
A vehicle covers 180 km in 2 hours 15 minutes. Find the average speed. Convert 15 minutes to 0.25 hours, so time = 2.25 h. Speed = 180 ÷ 2.25 = 80 km/h. The reasoning step is the unit conversion; dividing 180 by 2.15 would be wrong because 15 minutes is not 0.15 of an hour.
Traps
Watch for mixed units (metres and kilometres, minutes and hours). In percentage problems, identify the original amount before a change. In ratio questions, do not assume the shares are equal. Check whether a question asks for the total, the remainder, or the difference. Round only at the end unless the question states otherwise.