100+ Free APS Graduate Exam Practice Questions
Pass your Australian Public Service (APS) Graduate Recruitment Online Cognitive Assessment exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Complete the analogy: Cautious is to reckless as frugal is to ____.
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Key Facts: APS Graduate Exam Exam
~51 questions
Common cognitive test length
Revelian/Criteria-style APS reasoning test
~20 min
Cognitive section time limit
Revelian/Criteria APS format
3 areas
Numerical, verbal, abstract reasoning
Australian Government Graduate Program
$0
Cost to candidates
Australian Public Service Commission
~45 min
Full online assessment time
AGGP candidate guidance
No fixed pass mark
Scoring approach
Benchmarked against graduate applicants
The APS Graduate online assessment is the aptitude stage of the Australian Government Graduate Program. It pairs a strictly timed cognitive test of numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning — commonly about 51 questions in roughly 20 minutes — with a behavioural work-style questionnaire. There is no cost and no fixed pass mark; results are benchmarked against other graduate applicants.
Sample APS Graduate Exam Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your APS Graduate Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A department's annual budget is $4,800,000. If 25% is allocated to staffing, how much is allocated to staffing?
2A report has 320 pages. An officer has read 240 pages. What percentage of the report remains unread?
3What is the next number in the series: 3, 6, 12, 24, ?
4A train travels 180 kilometres in 2 hours. At the same constant speed, how far will it travel in 5 hours?
5A table shows regional grant funding: North $120k, South $80k, East $150k, West $50k. What fraction of the total went to East?
6If 8 staff process 240 applications in a day, how many applications can 12 staff process in a day at the same rate?
7A budget rises from $250,000 to $300,000. What is the percentage increase?
8Find the missing number: 2, 5, 11, 23, ?
9A graph shows quarterly sales: Q1 40, Q2 55, Q3 50, Q4 75 (units in thousands). What is the average quarterly sales figure?
10An item costs $80 and is discounted by 15%, then GST of 10% is added to the discounted price. What is the final price?
About the APS Graduate Exam Exam
The Australian Public Service (APS) Graduate Recruitment Online Cognitive Assessment is the aptitude stage of the Australian Government Graduate Program (AGGP). After shortlisting from the written application, candidates complete an unsupervised online assessment that combines a strictly timed cognitive ability test — measuring numerical, verbal and abstract/logical reasoning — with a behavioural and work-style questionnaire. The cognitive component is multiple-choice; a widely used format gives candidates around 20 minutes for roughly 51 reasoning questions that increase in difficulty, and most candidates do not finish every item. There is no fee to candidates, and there is no fixed pass mark: performance is benchmarked against the wider graduate applicant pool.
Questions
51 scored questions
Time Limit
Cognitive section about 20 minutes; full online assessment around 45 minutes with the behavioural component
Passing Score
No fixed pass mark; candidates are benchmarked against other graduate applicants
Exam Fee
No cost to candidates (Australian Public Service Commission, coordinating the Australian Government Graduate Program for participating APS agencies)
APS Graduate Exam Exam Content Outline
Numerical Reasoning
Word problems, number series, number matrices, ratios, percentages, and table/graph interpretation under time, without a calculator
Verbal Reasoning
Word analogies, synonyms and antonyms, deductive reasoning, odd-word-out, and conclusions drawn from short passages
Abstract / Logical Reasoning
Pattern, sequence, rotation, reflection, and matrix items to find the missing or odd figure
Processing Speed & Problem Solving
Rapid comparison, error-checking, symbol substitution, rule application, information ordering, and applied problem solving
Work Style, Behavioural & Emotional Intelligence
Personality, situational-judgement, and emotional-intelligence items with no right or wrong answers
How to Pass the APS Graduate Exam Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No fixed pass mark; candidates are benchmarked against other graduate applicants
- Exam length: 51 questions
- Time limit: Cognitive section about 20 minutes; full online assessment around 45 minutes with the behavioural component
- Exam fee: No cost to candidates
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
APS Graduate Exam Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the APS Graduate online cognitive assessment?
It is the aptitude stage of the Australian Government Graduate Program. Shortlisted candidates complete an online assessment that combines a timed cognitive ability test (numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning) with a behavioural and work-style questionnaire.
Who administers the APS graduate assessment?
The Australian Public Service Commission coordinates the Australian Government Graduate Program for participating APS agencies. The cognitive components are delivered online through a psychometric provider, commonly in a Revelian/Criteria reasoning-test style.
How many questions and how long is the cognitive test?
A widely used format presents about 51 reasoning questions to be attempted in roughly 20 minutes, with difficulty increasing through the test. The full online assessment, including the behavioural questionnaire, typically takes around 45 minutes.
Is there a pass mark?
There is no fixed pass mark. Your cognitive performance is benchmarked against other graduate applicants, so relative speed and accuracy matter more than hitting a single score.
How much does it cost to sit the assessment?
There is no cost to candidates. The assessment is part of the free Australian Government Graduate Program recruitment process; only optional third-party practice materials carry a cost.
Can I use a calculator, and do wrong answers count against me?
Calculators are generally not permitted on the cognitive reasoning test. In the common Revelian/Criteria format there is no penalty for incorrect answers, so it is worth attempting every question you can.
Is the assessment taken online or in person?
It is completed online and unsupervised, usually within a set window after you are shortlisted. You should sit it in a quiet space with a reliable internet connection.
What comes after the online assessment?
Strong performers progress to later stages such as a video interview, emotional-intelligence and behavioural assessments, and a virtual assessment centre, before placement in a merit pool and matching to an agency role.