Tests are often used to screen applicants pre-interview. Do not be under any illusion: if you don’t make the grade you won’t be invited through to next stage, no matter how glowing your CV is. So start practicing today:
Free Practice Tests
JobTestPrep offers free numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning and inductive reasoning tests as well as a free personnality test.
SHL is widely used by UK graduate employers. Practice verbal, numerical, accuracy, and interview test -- all for free but you will need to register:
Kenexa allows you to practise verbal, numerical and logical reasoning practice tests:
PracticeAptitudeTests offers a good number of free numerical, verbal and diagrammatic reasoning tests.
The Online Test Centre will run you through free numerical, verbal, diagrammatic and logic tests.
Cubiks offers sample verbal and numerical practice tests for both graduate and managerial level
efinancial Careers offers numerical tests similar tests to those used by investment banks. Very handy if you're considering a career in financial services:
Top Employers, in partnership with JP Morgan, compiled these numerical and verbal tests -- get ready for charts, graphs and data interpretation questions:
Kent University offers timed, free practice aptitude tests (with answers):
Morrisby provides sample verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests.
Previsor allows you to practise a range of tests including verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning.
From Employers
Procter & Gamble provides a reasoning test with numerical, verbal and diagrammatic questions (the test is available in different languages).
The Civil Services' Fast Stream tests are verbal and numerical and make for good practice. You will need to register before you can complete the tests.
Hogan Lovells provides sample questions that you may be asked to complete if you were undergoing a formal assessment with the firm.
J.P. Morgan offers a quick set of practice numerical questions.
McKinsey's has candidates sit a problem solving test as part of the interview.
Freshfields offers a practice test before sitting the real one.
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More info on tests...
Numerical reasoning: These are multiple choice tests which normally involve reading data off a graph or table. Often they revolve around calculating percentage increases or decreases, or calculating an average. Be sure to have a calculator and pen and paper on hand as you sit the test. Generally time constraints work out to around a minute per question so it’s important that if you get stuck on one question you quickly move on. Normally you can skip a stage and return when you’ve finished the rest of the questions.
Verbal reasoning: Verbal reasoning tests tend to be missed out by the majority of investment banks but they are a key component of the screening process for the Civil Service Fast Stream and many top law firms. Essentially comprehension exercises, candidates are given paragraphs of information and asked questions to which they pick one multiple choice answer. In many cases this will involve stating whether a given statement is accurate or not.
Non-verbal reasoning: Non-verbal or diagrammatic tests are exercises in logical thinking. Used by banks and law firms alike, they involve a series of symbols with a broken step. The pattern might revolve around the number, ordering or positioning of shapes so think laterally. Candidates must pick that missing step from five options. As ever, time management is crucial and it’s important not to get stuck on one particularly tricky pattern.
Psychometric: Employed by the Civil Service Fast Stream and several Big Four accounting firms, psychometric tests ask candidates to register what characteristics they identify or do not identify with. These tests are not timed and often repeat questions so as to elicit a genuine response from those sitting it.
Comparison: A few companies, including Morgan Stanley, ask candidates to sit another type of test involving the comparison of data. In a short time frame (e.g. two minutes) you are asked to compare two columns of numerical information and for each row state whether the numbers are alike or not alike. Speed and accuracy are of the essence here.
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