Updated April 2026 · Unbiased breakdown of what each platform actually does
GraduatesFirst is a UK-based aptitude test preparation platform founded by former SHL and Kenexa psychometricians. It positions itself as a premium preparation service with tests written by the same people who design the real assessments. It offers employer-specific prep for 150+ UK graduate employers and provides practice tests to over 150 UK universities.
TestSolve is an AI-powered aptitude test solver. You take your real assessment, press F8 on any question, and receive the answer on your phone in a few seconds. TestSolve does not require you to study or practise beforehand — it solves questions in real time during your actual test.
GraduatesFirst is a practice test platform. You pay for access to a library of mock tests designed to help you improve your skills before test day. You study, practise, and hope that the practice transfers to your actual performance. GraduatesFirst has no role on the day of the actual test.
| Feature | TestSolve | GraduatesFirst |
|---|---|---|
| Works during your actual test | ✓ Yes — real-time answers | ✗ No — practice platform only |
| Written by real test psychometricians | AI trained on real assessment data | ✓ Former SHL/Kenexa experts |
| Employer-specific content (150+) | ✓ Covers 200+ companies | ✓ 150+ UK employers |
| University partnerships | ✗ N/A | ✓ 150+ UK university partners |
| Subscription model | $14.99 for 30 questions | £19.99–£29.99/month |
| SHL Verify coverage | ✓ Standard + Interactive | ✓ Standard + Interactive |
| Kenexa Infinity coverage | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Cappfinity coverage | ✓ EY, Deloitte, HSBC, Accenture | ✓ Multiple employers |
| Real-time test assistance | ✓ Real-time answers | ✗ Not offered |
| Video interview prep | Not offered | ✓ Extensive video interview guides |
| TestSolve | GraduatesFirst | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — free solve, no card required | Yes — free registration with some tests included |
| Paid plan | From $14.99 for 30 questions · no subscription | Monthly membership £19.99–£29.99 · Annual plans available |
| Per-test pricing | Per-question pricing · no subscription | Subscription model — access to full library |
Psychometrician-authored questions: GraduatesFirst's tests are written by former SHL and Kenexa test developers — the same people who designed the real assessments. This is genuine expertise, not AI-generated approximations, and results in higher fidelity practice questions.
University-validated: GraduatesFirst is integrated into career services at over 150 UK universities. The platform is widely trusted by careers advisors and students alike — it has institutional credibility that newer platforms lack.
Strong employer coverage for UK market: For UK-specific employers — Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, British Army, NHS, Civil Service — GraduatesFirst's employer-specific preparation is detailed and regularly updated.
Subscription value: Unlike JobTestPrep's per-pack model, GraduatesFirst's subscription gives full library access — useful for candidates applying to multiple employers simultaneously.
Premium price for a practice tool: At £19.99–£29.99 per month, GraduatesFirst is 2-3x the price of TestSolve for a tool that only works before the actual test. TestSolve works during the test itself from $14.99.
Practice-to-performance gap: Even psychometrician-authored practice questions cannot replicate the exact item bank of the real assessment. SHL Verify uses a randomly generated instance for every candidate — no practice question will ever appear in your actual test.
No test-day capability: GraduatesFirst's value proposition ends at the start of your real test. TestSolve's begins there.
GraduatesFirst is arguably the highest quality aptitude test preparation platform in the UK market, with genuinely expert-authored content and strong institutional backing. For candidates with 2–4 weeks to prepare and who want the most rigorous preparation available, GraduatesFirst is excellent. TestSolve solves the problem GraduatesFirst cannot: what happens during the actual test.
For candidates who want to improve their aptitude test skills over time — who have weeks to prepare and genuinely enjoy sharpening their quantitative reasoning — GraduatesFirst is a legitimate option. For candidates who have an assessment coming up in 24–72 hours, or who simply want to maximise their score on the day rather than rely on uncertain practice transfer, TestSolve is the more direct solution. Many candidates use both: practice with GraduatesFirst to build familiarity with question formats, and use TestSolve during the actual test to ensure correct answers.
GraduatesFirst gives you foundational practice with explanations. TestSolve provides real-time AI answers on test day. The two platforms are complementary rather than competing.
GraduatesFirst offers free practice tests with registration. TestSolve offers one free solve, then paid question packs.
Yes. Practise with GraduatesFirst to understand question formats, then use TestSolve during your actual assessment for AI-powered answers.
TestSolve supports 30+ test providers. GraduatesFirst focuses primarily on SHL-style numerical, verbal, and inductive reasoning.
TestSolve delivers AI-powered answers to your phone in a few seconds. Invisible to all test platforms. Try it free — no credit card required.
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