GALWAY, IRELAND – 2026-01-15
Alison announced that over 200,000 Learners completed at least one Aptitude Test in 2025. These tests comprise Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning Assessments, highlighting a growing interest in accessible tools that help professionals understand their workplace strengths and prepare for assessment-led recruitment.
Why Employers Use Assessments As Skills Keep Evolving
Pre-employment assessments have become a standard part of modern hiring because employers need faster, more objective ways to identify job-ready talent. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 56% of employers use assessments to evaluate applicants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities, indicating that hiring is shifting away from relying solely on CVs and towards proof of capability. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum reports that employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change by 2030, indicating that the “right” skill set is continuously evolving. Together, these trends explain why employers use assessments to make informed hiring decisions. Assessments help employers validate real, current skills, while working professionals need ways to benchmark their standing, identify gaps, and maintain credibility as role requirements evolve.
What Verbal, Numerical, And Abstract Reasoning Tests Measure
Alison’s Aptitude Tests include three individual assessments, each focused on a distinct reasoning skillset:
The Verbal Reasoning Assessment helps Learners gauge their ability to understand and analyse language, draw conclusions, and make inferences. These are skills that support clear thinking and communication at work.
The Numerical Reasoning Assessment helps Learners assess their maths, data interpretation, and quantitative problem-solving skills, which are useful for roles involving figures, reports, and performance data.
The Abstract Reasoning Assessment helps Learners assess non-verbal reasoning, including problem-solving and critical thinking, often linked to adaptability and pattern recognition in unfamiliar scenarios.
15% of Learners Took All Three Tests; Verbal Reasoning Was the Most Popular
Based on Alison’s 2025 platform data, the Verbal Reasoning Assessment was the most popular Aptitude Test, accounting for over 50% of completed tests. This suggests that Learners most frequently prioritise the ability to interpret written information, follow arguments, and draw sound conclusions – skills that feature heavily in screening processes across a wide range of roles.
In addition, more than 15% of Learners took all three Aptitude Tests (Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract), signalling strong demand for a more complete picture of reasoning strengths. Rather than focusing on a single score, this behaviour points to Learners using the suite as a benchmarking tool to confirm overall readiness, identify gaps, and build confidence ahead of interviews, pre-employment assessments, and career transitions.
Top Countries Taking Alison’s Aptitude Tests In 2025
Learners’ engagement with Aptitude Tests was truly global. The United States, South Africa, India, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Canada, Pakistan, Ghana, and Zimbabwe were the top 10 countries where the Tests were taken.
This mix reflects both mature job markets (e.g., the US, UK, and Canada) where online assessments are already a standard part of hiring, and fast-growing talent markets (e.g., India, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa) where Learners are actively building credentials and preparing for competitive opportunities. The presence of multiple countries across North America, Europe, Africa, and South Asia suggests a broad relevance: the need to demonstrate reasoning skills extends beyond industry, role, and geography.
Overall, the global footprint indicates that Alison’s Aptitude Tests are being used as a practical, universally applicable preparation tool, supporting Learners who are job-seeking, upskilling, or exploring career moves. This also reinforces Alison’s reach as a platform that serves people’s ambition and employability goals worldwide.
How Alison Combines Free Tests With Courses And Career Tools
Alison’s Aptitude Tests sit alongside thousands of free courses and career-building tools designed to help Learners turn insight into action. Each assessment supports clearer next steps, whether that means improving a specific reasoning skill by taking relevant courses or preparing for recruitment processes by building on their identified strengths.
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Multimedia and resources
Everyone can explore Alison’s free Aptitude Tests (Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract) to benchmark their reasoning strengths and prepare for assessment-led hiring. Learners can build on their results with free career development courses designed to boost employability and in-demand workplace skills.
Media Contact
For further information, contact the media team at [email protected].
About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered Learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited Learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numeracy, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, Learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App.
In 2026, Alison will launch a Global Recruitment Service to directly connect skilled, motivated Learners with hiring employers. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings – reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
