How digitChallenge works
Each task is an equation with blank boxes and only the result shown, such as _ + _ - _ = 15. You fill the boxes from a keypad of the digits 1 to 9, and no digit can be used twice in the same equation. Aon’s examples use addition, subtraction, multiplication and brackets, for instance _ + (_ x _) = 46.
The test adapts: after a correct answer the next task is harder, and after a wrong one it is easier. It is timed at six minutes, and Aon’s practice guide says you are not expected to finish.
More than one right answer
Aon states that there can be multiple correct answers. _ - _ = 7, for example, is satisfied by 8 - 1 and by 9 - 2. Any filling that uses different digits and produces the result is correct, so take the first one that works rather than hunting for a particular answer.
- Place the multiplication first. It moves the total most, so it narrows the options fastest.
- Use the result to bound the options: in _ + (_ x _) = 46, the product has to be between 37 and 45.
- Keep track of the digits already used before you enter the last one.
How it is scored
Aon publishes no scoring rule for digitChallenge itself. Its candidate preparation page says that in performance tests points are usually added for each correct answer and deducted for every incorrect answer.
How our practice version works
Our digitChallenge practice runs for six minutes on equation patterns such as a + b = c, a - b = c, a x b = N, a + b = c + d and a + b - c = d. Unlike Aon’s version, some digits are already filled in, with between two and four boxes left blank.
It has one limitation you should know about. Our checker marks your filling against the solution it generated, so a different filling that is also arithmetically correct can be marked wrong, whereas Aon accepts any correct answer. We do not deduct marks for a wrong answer, you can skip, and your net correct is scored against a fixed target of 20.