Error Checking Test: Formats, Tips and Practice
An error checking test looks easy for the first thirty seconds. Two columns of codes, names or figures; spot the differences. Then the clock starts to matter, the codes start to look alike, and you realise you have just marked "same" on a pair where two digits were swapped. These tests measure something most jobs depend on: getting routine data right, quickly, every time.
Employers use them for administrative and data entry roles, finance and insurance operations, logistics, customer service and many apprenticeships. This guide covers the formats, what employers are looking for, techniques that genuinely reduce mistakes, eight practice items laid out as text tables, and a short preparation plan.
What an Error Checking Test Is
An error checking test (also called a data checking, clerical checking or checking test) gives you information to compare with a source, and asks you to find the discrepancies. The material can be:
- Alphanumeric codes, such as product, account or reference numbers
- Names and addresses
- Financial figures, totals and dates
- Rows in a table copied from an invoice, order or form
The underlying skill is attention to detail under time pressure. Unlike numerical or verbal reasoning, there is no reasoning puzzle to solve. The challenge is consistency.
Who Publishes and Uses Checking Tests
Checking tests appear in the catalogues of several major publishers. Candidates and prep providers most often mention SHL's checking test and Saville Assessment's error checking range, which candidates report comes in versions aimed at operational, administrative and customer-facing roles. On their own sites, SHL describes its checking practice test as measuring how well you review written text for accuracy at a detailed level, and Saville Assessment lists an Error Checking practice test that it says cannot be taken on a mobile phone. Some employers also build their own checking exercises into application platforms, or include a short checking section inside a wider clerical battery.
You are most likely to meet one if you apply for:
- Administrative, clerical and data entry positions (see our clerical aptitude test guide)
- Banking, insurance and payments operations
- Logistics, warehousing and order processing
- Public sector administration (see aptitude tests for government jobs)
- Apprenticeships and entry-level office roles
Checking tests are often paired with a typing or data entry test; our typing test for jobs guide covers that side.
Timings and question counts vary widely by product and employer. Candidates commonly report that standalone checking tests are short, often just a few minutes, which is why speed matters so much. Check your invitation for the actual time limit.
Common Question Formats
Pair comparison. Two columns side by side. For each row, decide whether the entries are identical or different. Some tests ask you to mark each row; others ask how many rows contain errors.
Find the match. A target code and several options. Pick the option that is exactly the same.
Source and copy. A source document (for example an invoice) and a data entry record. Find the field that was copied wrongly.
Multiple-error tables. A table with several columns, where you indicate which column or columns contain an error in each row.
Calculation checks. A list of numbers and a stated total. Check whether the total is right.
The Errors Test Writers Use
Knowing what kind of mistakes to look for makes you faster:
| Error type | Example |
|---|---|
| Swapped digits | 7765 vs 7756 |
| Similar characters | letter O vs number 0, letter I vs number 1, S vs 5, B vs 8 |
| Missing or added character | Hendriksen vs Hendricksen |
| Swapped blocks | 22K9-8H3J vs 8H3J-22K9 |
| Punctuation and spacing | 1,204.50 vs 1.204,50; BS4 2QT vs BS42QT |
| Date format | 03/05 meaning 3 May in the UK but 5 March in the US |
| Wrong row | correct values copied into the line above or below |
Most items contain one of these. Swapped digits and similar characters account for a large share, in my experience, so give them extra attention.
Techniques That Cut Mistakes
- Chunk the information. Compare codes in groups of three or four characters, not as whole strings. "KX4 471 B" is easier to check than "KX4471B".
- Keep your place. Use a finger, a ruler or the mouse pointer to follow the row. Most mistakes happen when your eyes jump to the wrong line.
- Check from the right as well. For long numbers, scan once left to right, then the last few digits right to left. Swapped digits often sit at the end.
- Read numbers, do not pronounce them. Saying "one thousand two hundred and four" in your head is slower than checking 1-2-0-4.
- Decide once. Changing answers on checking tests usually makes things worse. If you are unsure, check the chunk again once, then commit.
- Keep a rhythm. A steady pace beats bursts of speed followed by careless errors.
Practice Questions
Our own items. Read them as you would on screen, without writing the codes out.
Practice question 1
Compare the left and right columns. How many rows contain an error?
| Row | Original | Copy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KX-4471-B | KX-4471-B |
| 2 | 0039 2281 7765 | 0039 2281 7756 |
| 3 | Hendriksen, M. | Hendricksen, M. |
| 4 | £1,204.50 | £1,204.50 |
| 5 | 7 Mill Lane, BS4 2QT | 7 Mill Lane, BS4 2QT |
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4
Answer: B. Row 2 has the last two digits swapped (65 vs 56). Row 3 has an extra c. Rows 1, 4 and 5 match.
Practice question 2
Which row contains a difference?
| Row | Original | Copy |
|---|---|---|
| A | 8H3J-22K9 | 8H3J-22K9 |
| B | QW91-PL07 | QW91-PL07 |
| C | ZM58-RR34 | ZM58-RR43 |
| D | TT06-BN71 | TT06-BN71 |
Answer: C. The final two digits are swapped: 34 vs 43.
Practice question 3
The source invoice and the data entry record are shown below. Which field was entered wrongly?
| Field | Invoice | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice number | 50318 | 50318 |
| Date | 14/03/2026 | 14/03/2026 |
| Quantity | 12 | 12 |
| Unit price | 8.75 | 8.57 |
| Total | 105.00 | 105.00 |
A. Invoice number B. Quantity C. Unit price D. Total
Answer: C. The unit price has its last two digits swapped. A quick sense check confirms it: 12 x 8.75 = 105.00, while 12 x 8.57 would not.
Practice question 4
The target code is R7B-0O1-LX, where the fifth character is the number zero and the sixth is the capital letter O. Which option is identical?
A. R7B-001-LX (zero, zero) B. R7B-0O1-LX (zero, letter O) C. R7B-O01-LX (letter O, zero) D. R7B-0O1-XL (zero, letter O)
Answer: B. A has two zeros, C has the letter and number reversed, and D has the last two letters swapped. Codes that mix O and 0 are a favourite trap, which is why many real systems avoid them.
Practice question 5
Check the total.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Courier | 245.60 |
| Packaging | 118.25 |
| Labels | 87.10 |
| Pallet hire | 49.05 |
| Stated total | 490.00 |
A. The total is correct B. The total should be 500.00 C. The total should be 510.00 D. The packaging amount is wrong
Answer: B. 245.60 + 118.25 = 363.85; plus 87.10 = 450.95; plus 49.05 = 500.00. The stated total is 10.00 short. You cannot tell from this table that any individual amount is wrong, so D is not supported.
Practice question 6
Which list of surnames is in correct alphabetical order?
A. Baker, Bakker, Banks, Barnes B. Baker, Banks, Bakker, Barnes C. Bakker, Baker, Banks, Barnes D. Barnes, Banks, Bakker, Baker
Answer: A. Compare letter by letter: Bake comes before Bakk (e before k), Bakker before Banks (k before n), and Banks before Barnes (n before r). D is in reverse order.
Practice question 7
The left column uses UK format (day/month/year) and the right column uses US format (month/day/year). Which pair does not refer to the same date?
| Pair | UK format | US format |
|---|---|---|
| A | 04/07/2026 | 07/04/2026 |
| B | 12/11/2026 | 11/12/2026 |
| C | 03/05/2026 | 03/05/2026 |
| D | 15/08/2026 | 08/15/2026 |
Answer: C. In UK format 03/05/2026 is 3 May; in US format the same digits mean 5 March. In the other pairs the day and month are correctly swapped between formats.
Practice question 8
Compare the order with the dispatch note. Which lines contain an error?
| Line | Order (SKU, qty) | Dispatch (SKU, qty) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40-112, 25 | 40-112, 25 |
| 2 | 40-121, 10 | 40-112, 10 |
| 3 | 52-007, 6 | 52-007, 9 |
| 4 | 52-070, 14 | 52-070, 14 |
| 5 | 61-338, 3 | 61-338, 3 |
A. Lines 2 and 3 B. Line 2 only C. Lines 3 and 4 D. Lines 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A. Line 2 has the SKU digits swapped (121 vs 112). Line 3 has the wrong quantity. Line 4 looks suspicious because 52-070 resembles 52-007 in line 3, but it matches its own order line exactly.
Scoring and Results
Most checking tests count your correct answers within the time limit and compare your result with a norm group of similar applicants, usually as a percentile. Some also look at accuracy separately, so a fast candidate with many errors does not automatically outscore a slower, careful one. The instructions screen normally explains whether wrong answers count against you. Employers rarely publish pass marks; the bar depends on the role.
Common Mistakes
- Reading whole strings at once. Your brain fills in what it expects. Chunk.
- Losing the row. Especially in long tables. Follow the line physically.
- Ignoring punctuation and spacing. If the instructions say any difference counts, a missing comma counts.
- Overcorrecting. Second-guessing a correct "same" answer costs time and points.
- Starting too fast. The first few items set your rhythm. Start steady, then speed up.
A One to Two Week Preparation Plan
1. What should I do first?
Do one timed practice test to get a baseline for both speed and accuracy. Note which error types you missed.
2. How should I train daily?
Spend 10 to 15 minutes a day on short timed sets. Short, frequent sessions work better than one long one, because checking performance drops when you are tired.
3. How do I fix my specific weaknesses?
If you miss swapped digits, practise reading numbers in chunks of two. If you miss similar characters, practise sets with O/0 and I/1. If you lose your place, practise with a ruler or cursor until it becomes automatic.
4. Should I simulate the real test?
Yes. In the second week, take full timed tests in the same conditions as the real one: same device, quiet room, same time of day.
5. What about other tests in the same application?
Checking tests are often combined with numerical and verbal tests. Our numerical reasoning test guide helps with the next most common section.
For timed checking, numerical and verbal practice in one place, see our all-tests package, or start with the free practice tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an error checking test?
An error checking test asks you to compare information, such as codes, names, addresses or figures, against a source and spot where they differ. It measures attention to detail and how quickly you can check data accurately.
Is speed or accuracy more important in an error checking test?
Both count. Most checking tests are tightly timed, so you need a steady pace, but careless mistakes cost you because the test is about accuracy. Aim for a rhythm you can keep without guessing.
Which jobs use error checking tests?
Administrative, clerical and data entry roles, banking and insurance operations, customer service, logistics, retail head offices and some public sector jobs. They are also used for apprenticeships and entry-level roles where accuracy with records matters.
How can I get better at error checking tests?
Compare information in small chunks rather than whole lines, use a finger or cursor to keep your place, read numbers in groups, and learn the common traps such as swapped digits, the letter O and the number zero, and similar-looking names.
Do error checking tests penalise wrong answers?
It depends on the test. Some only count correct answers, others take accuracy into account. Read the instructions on the start screen, which usually explain how your answers are scored.
About the author
Ingmar van Maurik is a specialist in test and interview preparation who helps candidates perform better in recruitment processes.
References
SHL, Practice Tests and Assessments: https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests/ Saville Assessment, Practice Tests: https://www.savilleassessment.com/practice-tests