Can You Retake an SHL Test?

SHL is one of the best-known assessment providers used in recruitment, graduate hiring and internal selection processes. Candidates may encounter numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, inductive or deductive reasoning, general ability assessments, situational judgement questions, personality questionnaires or job-focused simulations depending on the employer. That variety is the main reason SHL questions on Google are so messy: two candidates can both say they have an “SHL test” and still face different formats, timings and scoring rules. The safest editorial approach is therefore to explain the common patterns, then remind the reader to check the invitation email and employer instructions.

Short answer

You should not assume you can retake an SHL test. Retake rules depend on the employer, the assessment setup, the reason for the retake request and whether the assessment has already been submitted. A retake after a technical issue may be handled differently from a retake because you feel you performed badly. SHL support and employer-side workflow documentation show that assessment completion and reset actions are controlled through platform and employer administration, not by a candidate simply choosing to start again.

Why retake policies vary

Employers use SHL assessments to support hiring decisions, so they need a controlled process. If every candidate could repeat the test until satisfied, the result would become less comparable. That is why retakes are usually restricted. But restricted does not mean impossible. A genuine technical problem, accessibility issue, wrong invitation, interrupted session or administrative error may justify contacting support or the employer.

The key distinction is cause. “My browser froze and I could not answer questions” is different from “I answered but now want another try.” The first is a technical or fairness issue. The second is usually a performance issue. Employers are much more likely to investigate the first category.

What to do if you had a technical problem

Act quickly and document what happened. Write down the time, browser, device, internet connection, error message, screenshots if available, and the section affected. Contact the support route given in your invitation. SHL’s candidate support pages point candidates toward technical support channels, and your employer may also have a recruitment contact.

Be factual and concise. Do not write an emotional complaint first. Explain that you experienced a technical interruption, state whether you were able to submit, and ask whether the assessment status can be reviewed. If the issue happened before submission, say so. If it happened after submission, say exactly what you saw on screen. The more concrete your report is, the easier it is for support or the employer to decide whether a reset is appropriate.

What if you simply think you did badly?

If you completed the test but think you performed poorly, a retake is less likely unless the employer’s policy allows it. Some employers run annual recruitment cycles and may not allow another attempt for the same role in the same cycle. Others may consider future applications after a waiting period. The exact rule should come from the employer, not a forum.

Your next move is to prepare for the rest of the process if you are still active, or prepare for future applications if you are rejected. Do not send a long message arguing that the test was unfair unless there was a concrete issue. A short, professional request for feedback or clarification is usually better.

Retake after accessibility or accommodation issues

If you needed an accommodation and did not receive it, or if the assessment conditions did not match an agreed adjustment, contact the employer or support route immediately. Accessibility issues should be handled carefully and formally. Keep the message factual: what accommodation was expected, what happened, how it affected your ability to complete the assessment, and what resolution you are requesting.

Do not wait weeks. Timing matters because platform logs, deadlines and hiring workflows move quickly. The sooner you raise the issue, the more likely it can be reviewed while the assessment stage is still active.

How TestSolve helps before a possible future SHL attempt

If you are allowed to retake, use the second attempt preparation period carefully. Do not just redo random questions. Identify the type of section that caused the problem: numerical, verbal, inductive, deductive, SJT or personality. Then practise that format under time pressure, review mistakes, and build a simple strategy for skipping or guessing when necessary.

If you are not allowed to retake, TestSolve can still help you prepare for future employer assessments. The skill families behind SHL-style tests appear across many providers, so improving chart interpretation, logical pattern recognition and verbal evidence reading is useful beyond one application.

Message template for a technical retake request

Use a short, factual message. For example: “Hello, I completed / attempted the SHL assessment for [role] on [date]. During the [section name if known], I experienced [specific issue]. The issue occurred at approximately [time] and affected [what happened]. I used [device/browser] and saw [error message if any]. Could you please advise whether the assessment status can be reviewed or whether any further action is needed?”

This type of message is stronger than a general complaint because it gives support staff or the recruiter something concrete to investigate. Avoid accusations, threats or long explanations of why the score should not count. If the issue was real, precision helps you. If there was no technical issue and you simply want another attempt, be honest and ask about future eligibility instead.

Also preserve evidence. Save screenshots, confirmation pages, error messages and emails. Do not edit them. If you later need to explain what happened, contemporaneous evidence is much stronger than memory.

Frequently asked questions

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