Test preparation
Know the test before the invite arrives.
What 52 firms usually ask first-years to sit, with their own advice and free official practice. Firms change their tests from year to year, so the invite always wins. Your tracker shows the same thing on each application.
Banks and advisory firms
- Goldman Sachs HireVue · HackerRank
A HireVue video interview of about 30 minutes after you apply; engineering applicants also take a HackerRank coding test.
Goldman Sachs: how to prepare HireVue interview tips HackerRank interview prep
- J.P. Morgan HireVue · HackerRank
The first round is a recorded HireVue video interview. Technology applicants also get a HackerRank coding test.
JPMorganChase: how we hire (FAQs) JPMorganChase: application and interview handbook (PDF) HireVue interview tips HackerRank interview prep
- Morgan Stanley HireVue
Usually a recorded HireVue video interview before live interviews. Morgan Stanley doesn't publish its UK test steps, so check your invite.
Morgan Stanley: interview preparation Morgan Stanley: video interview tips HireVue interview tips
- Citi
After you apply, an online skills survey (technology roles get a coding test), then a one-to-one interview.
- Bank of America HireVue
Your application and a HireVue video interview must both be done by the deadline. Do the practice questions first.
Bank of America: application process and video interview tips HireVue interview tips
- Barclays
Two short interactive online assessments you can do on your phone, with practice tests on Barclays' own platform.
- Deutsche Bank
An online situational judgement test, then reasoning tests and a recorded video interview: two minutes to prepare, two to answer, one attempt.
Deutsche Bank: let's prepare Deutsche Bank: application FAQs
- UBS Aon
Online reasoning tests and a Culture Match test within seven days (no retakes), then a recorded video interview.
- HSBC Cappfinity
One online assessment of about 40 minutes with short written and video answers.
HSBC: application guide HSBC: Practice Zone Cappfinity practice assessments
- Nomura Aon
Aon online assessments within five days of the invite, then a phone interview.
- BNP Paribas Aon
Spring insight applicants send a CV and take Aon online tests, then have an interview.
- Lloyds Banking Group Cappfinity
A 60-minute online assessment, then a job insight assessment with video and written answers.
Lloyds Banking Group: application process Lloyds Banking Group: Assessment Practice Zone Cappfinity practice assessments
- Santander
Some roles use three short online games and a recorded video interview of 4 to 5 questions, done within 7 days.
Santander UK: application process Santander UK: tips and advice
- Standard Chartered
A Skills Insight Assessment (behaviour and reasoning), then a recorded Workplace Scenarios video interview.
Standard Chartered: application hints and tips Standard Chartered: Skills Insight Assessment
- Scotiabank
Apply with a CV, then a recorded video interview, a virtual panel interview and an assessment centre.
- Macquarie
An online psychometric test (your recruiter sends a practice link), then a recorded video interview.
- Lazard Criteria
About 35 to 40 minutes of Criteria tests: a 15-minute aptitude test (no calculator), a behavioural questionnaire and a recorded video.
Lazard: UK early careers assessment process Criteria practice tests
- Rothschild & Co
An untimed online assessment arrives within 3 working days of applying and must be finished by the deadline. No extensions.
- PJT Partners
A Suited online assessment, linked in the job description, as part of your application.
- Moelis
A 30-minute Suited assessment. You take it once and can share the result with other firms that use Suited.
- Houlihan Lokey
No online test is listed: a phone interview after you apply, then in-person interviews.
- Perella Weinberg
No online test when you apply. The final assessment day includes verbal and numerical tests, interviews and a case study.
- Piper Sandler HireVue
A recorded HireVue video interview first (with prep time and a re-record), then live interviews.
Consulting and accountancy
- PwC SHL
A two-part SHL online test (a behavioural profile, then a timed thinking test), then an on-demand video interview on SHL.
- Deloitte Cappfinity
An immersive online assessment, then a job simulation with recorded video answers. Spring into Deloitte ends after the job simulation.
Deloitte: early careers assessment process Deloitte: Candidate Zone practice Cappfinity practice assessments
- EY Cappfinity
Online assessments: a realistic job preview, then a behavioural skills test. Practise first in the prep hub in EY's portal.
EY: student application process Cappfinity practice assessments
- KPMG Cappfinity · SHL
Two online assessments (about 60 minutes in total) sent after you apply, then a recorded video interview of six questions.
KPMG: applying to KPMG KPMG: application tips and practice test SHL practice tests Cappfinity practice assessments
- McKinsey
Solve, McKinsey's own problem-solving game (about 70 minutes, on a PC or Mac), usually sent after you apply.
- BCG
Usually Casey, BCG's own chatbot case (about 25 to 35 minutes, ending with a short recorded recommendation). Some offices use other tests.
- Bain Sova
A digital assessment of about 30 to 40 minutes on Sova or TestGorilla; your invite says which. London candidates usually get Sova.
- Forvis Mazars
A five-minute strengths assessment that needs no preparation, then a live video interview with the recruitment team at a time you book.
- BDO Arctic Shores
A puzzle-style assessment that needs no revision, then a recorded video interview with scenario questions and a practice question first.
BDO: early careers recruitment process BDO: interview hints and tips Arctic Shores candidate guidance
- PKF
A numerical and verbal reasoning online test after you apply, then a phone interview.
- ZS
Some roles have an online reasoning assessment, then case and behavioural interviews. Practise with ZS's own sample cases.
- Frontier Economics
No online test or video interview: after shortlisting, one case-study interview, with background material sent beforehand.
Asset managers
- BlackRock HireVue
A recorded pre-interview assessment (HireVue) sent after you apply. Applications aren't considered until it's done.
BlackRock: early careers process and tips HireVue interview tips
- Fidelity International
Thinking tests and/or a personality questionnaire (20 to 30 minutes, within 5 days), then a first-round video interview.
- Schroders
Three online stages: a thinking test, a motivation questionnaire, then workplace scenarios with a short recorded video answer.
- M&G Cappfinity
An untimed Cappfinity online assessment (allow 45 minutes, 5 days to finish), then a Cappfinity video interview.
M&G: early careers FAQs M&G: Candidate Preparation Zone Cappfinity practice assessments
- PIMCO
After the CV screen, a one-way video interview and assessment, then live video interviews.
Trading firms
- Jane Street
Phone or video interviews rather than an online test. Use Jane Street's free guides to practise probability and mental maths.
Jane Street: interviewing Jane Street: probability and markets guide (PDF)
- Optiver
Optiver's own online assessments, starting with a timed mental maths test (no calculator). You can only sit them once every 8 months.
- IMC
An assessment after the CV review that varies by role. Ask your recruiter for the format, then prepare.
- G-Research
Quant research interns take an online quantitative aptitude test; engineering interns take an online skills test. Then interviews.
- Hudson River Trading HackerRank · Codility
A timed coding test, usually on HackerRank or Codility, before phone screens and interviews.
HRT: how to prepare for your interview Codility practice lessons HackerRank interview prep
- DRW Codility
A timed challenge at home: a Codility coding test for software roles, or a probability and logic test for quant and trading.
DRW: preparing for the technical challenge DRW: intern hiring process Codility practice lessons
- Da Vinci
A one-minute video introduction, then Da Vinci's own trading challenge, then technical and final interviews.
- Capula
No online test mentioned: a video interview with the talent team, then technical and trading-team rounds.
Other firms
- bp
Short online exercises (numerical, logical or situational), then an on-demand recorded video interview.
- Sky Cappfinity
Cappfinity online assessments (an immersive assessment and job simulation), a video interview, and sometimes numerical or coding tests.
Sky: Prep Hub Sky: application journey Cappfinity practice assessments
- P&G
P&G's own online tests: the PEAK Performance Assessment (about 20 minutes) and an Interactive Assessment (about 30 minutes), by role.
- British Airways
Complete the Discover and Prep hub, apply, take an online assessment, then a video interview on motivation and fit.
Practice by test
When you know which company runs the test, practise on its own site. When you don't, SHL and Cappfinity are the most common for spring weeks.
- HireVue Video interview
- SHL Online test
- Cappfinity Online test
- Watson Glaser Online test
- Arctic Shores Online test
- Sova Online test
- Saville Online test
- Criteria Online test
- Clevry Online test
- Codility Online test
- HackerRank Online test
- Pymetrics Online test
There's no official practice. They measure traits, not knowledge, so play naturally and read each game's instructions.
- Aon Online test
There's no free official practice. The invite usually includes practice questions first, so do those.
- Korn Ferry Online test
Practice questions come with the test link, so do them before starting.