SW
GlobalFounded 2004

Saville Assessment (Willis Towers Watson)

Wave Personality & Swift Aptitude, used by KPMG, Unilever, NHS

2004
Founded
70+
Countries
36
Wave dimensions
4 min / 18 Qs
Swift speed

Saville Assessment (part of Willis Towers Watson) is best known for the Wave personality questionnaire and the Swift aptitude test series. Wave is considered the most predictive personality tool on the market, measuring 108 facets across 36 dimensions. Swift tests are used for volume hiring and are extremely fast-paced, 4 minutes for 18 questions.

Test Formats & Structure

Swift Analysis Aptitude

Hard
8 min
30 Q
Numerical, verbal, and abstract in one combined test

Swift Numerical Reasoning

Very Hard
4 min
18 Q
Data tables and charts, very fast-paced

Swift Verbal Reasoning

Hard
4 min
18 Q
Passage comprehension, True/False/Cannot Say

Swift Technical Reasoning

Hard
10 min
20 Q
Mechanical and electrical reasoning

Wave Professional Styles

N/A
25-35 min
216 Q
Forced-choice personality statements, 36 dimensions

Wave Focus Styles

N/A
13 min
78 Q
Shorter personality questionnaire, 12 dimensions

Sample Questions

Example questions in the style of this publisher's assessments.

Numerical Reasoning

Swift Numerical: A company's operating margin improved from 8.2% to 9.7% while revenue grew from £42m to £48m. What was the change in operating profit? (A) £0.7m (B) £1.2m (C) £1.7m (D) £2.3m

Old profit = 8.2% × 42 = £3.44m. New profit = 9.7% × 48 = £4.66m. Change = £1.21m ≈ £1.2m. Swift tests are extremely fast. Practice mental arithmetic.

Personality (Wave)

Wave: 'I enjoy taking charge of situations and directing others.' Rate 1-5 (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree)

Wave has no right or wrong answers. Answer honestly and consistently. Wave includes a consistency scale that detects random or extreme responding.

Companies Using Saville Assessment

KPMG
Unilever
NHS
Rolls-Royce
BT Group
Capita
Serco

Expert Preparation Tips

1

Swift tests are the fastest cognitive tests on the market. 4 minutes for 18 questions means under 14 seconds per question. Speed is critical.

2

Practice mental arithmetic: percentages, ratios, and basic algebra without a calculator.

3

Wave personality questionnaire has no right or wrong answers, but answer consistently, as Wave includes a consistency scale.

4

Wave measures 36 dimensions. Research the competencies required for your target role before completing it.

5

Saville's norm groups are typically graduate-level. Aim for the top quartile to be competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Saville Wave personality questionnaire?

Wave Professional Styles is a 216-item personality questionnaire measuring 108 facets across 36 dimensions, organised into 4 clusters: Thought, Influence, Adaptability, and Delivery. It is considered one of the most predictive personality tools available.

How fast are Saville Swift tests?

Swift tests are extremely fast. Swift Numerical and Verbal are 4 minutes each for 18 questions, approximately 13 seconds per question. Regular practice is essential to build the required speed.

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