Online Tests
Once you’ve submitted your application form, you may be asked to complete a few online tests which will test your ability in common skills required for the job. You may also be invited to an assessment centre to complete a test.
It is essential to practice for these, as there usually is a cut-off score an applicant needs to get to progress to the next stage and usually HR only looks at your application if you have passed the tests.
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Whilst this isn’t always the case, something to bear in mind is that sometimes, immediately after you have submitted your online application, you automatically receive an email inviting you to do the tests, which you are required to complete in a few days. If this is the case, it’s best to submit your application at a time when you are able to do some practice tests in the following few days.
While many firms use online tests there are often different formats between firms, e.g. the McKinsey Problem Solving Test or the BCG Potential Test.
There are many online resources that you can use to aid you with these, some free, some paid. We have compiled some additional websites here. These include:
www.practiceaptitudetests.com
www.jobtestprep.co.uk
www.assessmentday.co.uk/index.htm
www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests
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If the test doesn’t display which questions are incomplete, it’s a good idea to give each question a good go before skipping. You may lose track of which questions you haven’t done and flipping through questions to see whether or not you’ve answered them takes up precious time.
General Tips:
Makes sure you pick a time when you will not be disturbed.
Read the instructions carefully. Look out for:
Can you go back to previous questions?
Will the test display which questions you have and haven’t completed?
Any technical specifications required to do the test.
Have a calculator and pen and paper with you!
Numerical Tests
This is the most common type of test. They don’t require a lot of mathematical knowledge – they are more looking to test your analytical skills and how comfortable you are with numbers.
Areas to practice:
Reading and interpreting bar charts, pie charts, tables.
Percentages/percentage changes.
Fractions/ratios.
Mean/mode/range.
Numerical/graphical sequences.
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Before practising speed in calculations focus on precision. You can use apps or playing around with numbers in your daily life to practice in your spare time.
Verbal reasoning tests
These test your ability to interpret and analyse pieces of text and make arguments/think critically.
Possible types of questions include reading a passage and answering:
Whether a certain conclusion can be inferred from the passage.
How strong that conclusion/an argument is.
What assumptions have been made in this argument.
Situational judgement test
These tests are used to measure your management skills, values and interpersonal skills.
In these tests, you are given a scenario that you could face when working at the firm, sometimes in video form, where there is a dilemma to be solved and you are asked to answer what you think is the best solution. This could be in the format of:
Multiple choice – where each option is a potential course of action – and you select which one you believe is optimal.
Ranking how effective different responses to the situation would be.
Choosing out of a list which option you would most and least likely to do.
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Think about the firm’s value – these dictate how they want you to act in certain situations.