KPMG Numerical Understanding Examples
See how KPMG numerical understanding questions work, what to expect from tables and graphs, and how to manage your time in the test.
How numerical understanding appears in KPMG assessments
KPMG assessments may be delivered through LTP or Harver (NOA), depending on the invitation you receive. In the numerical understanding part, you work with tables, graphs, and short data sets, then use that information to answer one correct question at a time.
The best way to prepare is to study examples of the task format, not to memorize one fixed test. The timing matters as much as the calculation itself, so practice should help you read data quickly, check the figures carefully, and move on when a question starts taking too long.
Try a sample question right away
This gives you an immediate feel for the question style and the value of the practice environment.
Annual Festival Statistics in the Netherlands (2024)
| Statistics | New-Amsterdam | LowLands | SouthLands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (thousands) | 2835 | 1363 | 3723 |
| Visitors (thousands) | 420 | 155 | 390 |
| Artists: Regular visitors (%) | 45:55 | 28:72 | 60:40 |
| Revenue (in millions of euros) | 85 | 27,5 | 92 |
| Tickets sold (thousands) | 6210 | 1245 | 5980 |
| Festival grounds (km²) | 32,4 | 15,8 | 41,2 |
| Drinks sold (thousands) | 3900 | 1120 | 4200 |
| Number of stages | 145 | 55 | 178 |
(1) Average ticket price: €15.50. (2) Each visitor buys an average of 14.8 drinks. (3) There are an average of 3 stages per square kilometer of festival grounds.
What the examples teach you
The examples in this module are useful because they show the types of reasoning that recur: finding a value directly, comparing two figures, or combining numbers before answering. That makes the underlying skill clear, even when the exact data changes from one assessment to another.
For KPMG candidates, the goal is steady performance under time pressure. The examples help you build a rhythm: scan the source, decide whether a calculation is needed, then confirm the answer before you submit it.
This is especially relevant when your assessment invitation mentions an online test through LTP or Harver (NOA). Those invitations can include a mix of cognitive tests and additional measures, so it helps to focus your preparation on the numerical part that is most likely to appear.
A practical way to approach each example
Start by identifying what the question asks and where the answer is likely to be found. In many cases, the data is enough on its own; in others, you need a short calculation such as a difference, percentage, ratio, or total.
- Read the table or graph once before looking at the question.
- Mark the relevant row, column, bar, or point.
- Decide whether the answer is direct or requires a calculation.
- Use paper and a calculator so you do not lose time on mental arithmetic.
- Check the result against the labels and units before answering.
If an example feels slow, treat it as a time-management signal. The assessment is not only about finding the right number, but also about doing so efficiently enough to keep pace across the full set of questions.
Example situations that are worth practicing
The most useful examples are the ones that resemble the way KPMG numerical questions are usually built. You do not need obscure content; you need clear practice with data interpretation and short calculations.
- Comparing sales, costs, or headcount across periods in a table.
- Reading a graph to identify a trend, peak, or drop.
- Calculating a percentage change from two values shown in the data.
- Combining several figures to reach a total or difference.
- Working through a question where the correct answer is hidden behind units, labels, or scaling.
When you practice these situations, pay attention to pace. A strong routine is often more valuable than trying to solve each example in a single way, because the test may mix easier direct reads with more demanding calculations.
What a focused practice session looks like
A good session begins with a few short examples that can be answered quickly, followed by a small set that needs more careful calculation. This lets you see how your speed changes when the data becomes less direct.
If you notice that graph-based questions take longer than table-based ones, you can adjust your preparation accordingly. The point is to find where time is being lost, then practice the same task type until the steps feel more automatic.
For KPMG candidates, this approach is especially helpful when preparing alongside other assessment components. It keeps the numerical part focused and practical, without spreading your effort across unrelated material.
Keeping your preparation focused
Because KPMG invitations can differ by role and by assessment provider, your email remains the best guide to what you actually need to practice. That is why example-driven preparation works well: it builds familiarity with the question style while leaving room for variation in the actual test.
Use the examples to train accuracy first, then speed. In numerical understanding, that order matters, since small reading mistakes can cost more time than the calculation itself.