forge vs Graduates First: practice tests, guides and pricing compared
Choose forge if you want free drills and guides with pay-per-use full simulations. Graduates First may suit candidates who want a broad bundle and value the lifetime-access packages shown on its public site. This comparison was checked on 19 July 2026. Prices and product bundles change, so verify the checkout page before paying.
- Best fit: Candidates who want to test the practice quality before buying and avoid paying for unused categories.
- Verdict: forge minimises upfront commitment; Graduates First offers broader lifetime-access bundles for candidates who expect to use many categories.
- forge includes free drills and detailed Learn guides; full simulations use credits that do not expire.
- Question similarity should be judged by interaction, evidence rules, data density and time pressure, not by a provider logo alone.
- Check before buying: Graduates First promotions and tier prices change; compare the live checkout with the number of full tests you need.
Quick comparison
| Criterion | forge | Other option |
|---|---|---|
| Start without paying | Free drills, games, guides and diagnostic routes | Graduates First publicly lists a free tier plus paid Essential and Premium tiers |
| Paid access | Credits for full simulations; no subscription; credits do not expire | Check the current product or membership terms |
| Detailed teaching | Free Learn guides, worked methods and trap explanations | Varies by free sample and paid pack |
| Format approach | Provider-specific interaction and timing where supported | Coverage varies by test and pack |
| Upcoming resources | Free YouTube walkthroughs and practice template are in development | Not included in this comparison |
What makes practice feel like the real assessment?
forge uses a four-part Format Match Check: interaction, information density, decision rule and time pressure. A numerical item can test the right maths and still be weak practice if the chart is too clean, the distractors are obvious or the interface removes the navigation work found in the real format.
- Interaction: multiple choice, build-the-answer, ranking, dragging or recorded response.
- Information density: realistic tables, tabs, charts, passages and irrelevant data.
- Decision rule: the same evidence standard, calculation family or constraint logic.
- Time pressure: pacing that forces selection and review, not leisurely worksheet solving.
This is the basis for saying forge questions are representative of real provider formats. It is not a claim that forge reproduces confidential test items or that every forge question is harder, better or identical to every live assessment.
How the payment models differ
Graduates First's public page currently presents free access and paid Essential and Premium tiers with lifetime access. That can work well if you need a wide range of tests over a long job search.
forge keeps drills and teaching free, then charges credits for full simulations. The advantage is simple: you do not need to buy a large library to sit two or three relevant mocks.
Which platform is closer to the real test?
Graduates First describes its tests as similar to major providers and presents a broad assessment catalogue. forge publishes the format reasoning behind its representative simulations in free guides, including interaction types, worked traps and provider routing.
Compare samples. The strongest evidence is a close match to your named test, not either platform's marketing sentence.
Try representative practice before paying
Start with free drills and detailed guides. Use a credit only when you want a full timed simulation and detailed performance report.
Start freeWhat is free on forge?
Free accounts include drills, games, topic practice, the Daily Challenge and a performance dashboard. The Learn hub includes worked SHL, AON, Cappfinity, Talent Q, HireVue and employer guides. Full employer-style simulations use one credit each; credits never expire.
forge is also preparing free YouTube walkthroughs and a downloadable practice-planning template. They are upcoming resources, not part of the current product comparison.
Research basis
We checked the public pages below on 19 July 2026. We did not purchase every competitor bundle, so this review compares publicly described coverage, access and samples. That limit matters, particularly when a paid pack contains material that is not visible before purchase.
Related guides
- Best SHL practice tests
- Free vs paid SHL practice
- Best aptitude-test practice websites
- forge pricing and free access
- All forge practice formats
Frequently asked questions
Is Graduates First free?+
Graduates First currently advertises a free tier as well as paid Essential and Premium tiers. Check the live page for current inclusions.
Does Graduates First offer lifetime access?+
Its public page currently describes lifetime access for paid tiers. Confirm the exact terms at checkout.
How does forge pricing work?+
Drills and guides are free. Full simulations use credits, and credits do not expire.
Which has better explanations?+
Compare the free samples directly. forge's Learn guides provide detailed methods and trap explanations without requiring payment.
Can I use forge and Graduates First together?+
Yes, but identify your exact test first so you do not spend time on overlapping generic material.
Stop reading. Start practising.
Try a few real questions — free.
You know the format now. Reading about the test won't move your score — timed reps will. Do a free diagnostic, earn credits just for signing up, and see exactly where you stand.