Practice for the Banking & Investment Banking Tests

Shir, Finance and Banking Tests Expert at JobTestPrep
Have a question? Contact me at:

ask_the_team@jobtestprep.co.uk

The Banks' assessment tests were designed to find the best future bankers. In the past, it was customary that candidates would undergo only numerical reasoning skills tests since the main job requirement is to handle numbers with high proficiency. However, this conception has changed. Managers and recruiters now understand that personality matters and a good worker will not just be good at numbers but will also be able to deal with complicated situations, solve real-life problems and treat their co-workers with respect.

Thus, Banks' recruitment stages may include numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, situational judgment test, job simulations, case studies, personality tests, a pre-recorded interview, or any combination of these.

Next, you will find sample questions for the most common type of test you will encounter in your recruitment process.

If you already know the assessment you are about to take, go ahead and pick your designated bank's page from the list below.

🔍Taking Multiple Finance Tests?

Bundles: Summer Internship | Spring Week | Big 4

Banking and Investment Banking Sample Questions

Banking Numerical Reasoning Sample Questions

Graph and table problems are among the most popular questions found in banking aptitude tests. the main challenge of this type of question is that solving it demands good and fast graph or table reading skills and a solid or advanced arithmetic ability.

In some tests, like Elements Numerical (UBS), each question has several graphs and tables. For each question, the candidate needs to navigate between graphs to find the one that contains the relevant data and then analyze and calculate it correctly. In some tests, like Aon (Cut-e) (Nomura, Credit Suisse), there are conclusions allegedly drawn from the graphs or tables, and 3 possible answers - true, false or cannot say. In other tests, it's multiple choice.

Some banking tests, like the Suited Assessment, focus heavily on number series in their numerical sections.

The following question is in an easy-medium difficulty level. In order to solve it, you will need to draw conclusions from a single table, analyze its data and make the correct algebraic calculation to choose from multiple-choice optional answers.

Give it a try!

Banking Numerical Reasoning Sample Question

Reports Given to 18-Year-Old Drivers:

Cause of Report	Report Type	April (%)	May (%)
Drunk-driving	A1	15	7
Speeding	A2	9	12
Failure to stop at a stop sign	B1	13	7
Not wearing a seatbelt	B2	19	20
Driving in a dangerous manner	A3	7	10
Using a mobile phone	B3	13	16
Failing to comply with traffic light signals	C1	2	8
Stopping in a prohibited area	C2	22	20
Total number of tickets		25 million	27.5 million

Type A - £300 Type B - £200 Type C - £100

Please answer the following question:

Which offense generated the second highest revenue for May?

A. Drunk-driving

B. Speeding

C. Failure to stop at a stop sign

D. Not wearing a seatbelt

E. Driving in a dangerous manner

F. Using a mobile phone

G. Failing to comply with traffic light signals

H. Stopping in a prohibited area

View Explanation

The correct answer is (B) speeding.

In order to save time, since all fine types are percentages of the same total number of tickets (27.5 million), you can eliminate that part of the calculation to more quickly determine which fines generated the most revenue:

Type A:
Drunk-driving: 0.07 x 300 = £21
Speeding: 0.12 x 300 = £36
Driving in a dangerous manner: 0.1 x 300 = £30

Type B:
Failure to stop at a stop sign: 0.07 x 200 = £14
Not wearing a seatbelt: 0.2 x 200 = £40
Using a mobile phone: 0.16 x 200 = £32

Type C:
Failing to comply with traffic light signals: 0.08 x 100 = £8
Stopping in a prohibited area: 0.20 x 100 = £20

The offense that generated the second highest revenue for the month of May is speeding.

This question is considered an intermediate one since you only have one source of information and a simple calculation. In order to be ready for typical banking numerical tests, it is crucial to practice more difficult questions with multiple graphs and tables. You can check our 40+ banking preparation or our all-inclusive spring week pack or summer internship pack for more numerical preparation tests and questions.

Create Your Custom Assessment Prep Kit

Job-seeking can be a long and frustrating process that can take months, involving several pre-employment tests or interviews. To guide you through it we offer a Premium Membership:

❶ Join our Premium Membership plan at 50% Discount.

❷ Select 3 PrepPacks of your choice from 100+ Packs.

❸ Access your practice for 1/3/6 months.

Banking Verbal Reasoning Sample Questions

The verbal section of the banker's aptitude test typically contains one or two paragraphs related to a specific subject. In some cases, like the Morgan Stanley Verbal Reasoning Test, there are several conclusions that could be drawn from the text, and you will need to decide if they are "true," "false," or "cannot say." In other cases, you will be asked a question and required to find the answer in the text.

Let's see a typical verbal reasoning question:

Verbal Reasoning Sample Question

São Paulo’s economy has done well in Brazil’s recent boom years and it is still much bigger, but Rio’s is growing faster, boosted by oil discoveries and winning its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. Last year Rio received $7.3 billion in foreign direct investment—seven times more than the year before, and more than twice as much as São Paulo. According to Cushman and Wakefield, a property consultancy, prime office rents in Rio are now higher than anywhere else in the Americas, north or south.

Please answer the following question:

According to the passage, in the past Sao Paulo's economy used to grow:

A. Faster than Rio's economy

B. Slower than Rio's economy

C. At the same rate as Rio's economy

D. None of the above

View Explanation

The correct answer is (D).

The passage does not mention what the growth rate of both cities was in the past. It only mentions that recently Rio's economy has been growing faster. Therefore, (D) is the correct answer choice.

How was it? Did you answer this question correctly, or did you find it confusing?

Either way, this is considered to be an intermediate-level question. Banking tests tend to have more extended text questions with more answering options. For the best preparation, start with solving intermediate questions, but invest more time in the advanced questions since they are much more common in Banking aptitude tests.

The introduction and rapid spread of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), such as the World Wide Web, e-mail, telephones, optical fibres and satellites is revolutionising the way in which societies interact, conduct their businesses, compete in international markets and set their economic and human development agendas. ICT enables societies to produce, access, adapt and apply information in greater amounts, more rapidly and at reduced cost and offers enormous opportunities for enhancing business and economic viability. It is widely recognised that there is a straightforward connection between ICT development and economic growth as ICT can provide access to information which can in turn create earning opportunities, improve access to basic services, increase the impact of education and health interventions, and give the poor a voice to demand government support and reforms. Right now, the ICT sector represents 4.8% of the European economy, generates 25% of total business expenditure in Research and Development, and investments in ICT account for 50% of all European productivity growth.

Despite these potential links between ICT and poverty reduction and its unique response to society's challenges such as the growing needs for sustainable healthcare and ageing, direct access by the poor to ICT is extremely limited. Citizens of poor countries, especially women, have significantly less access to ICT than those living in rich countries. Factors such as excessive domestic workload, illiteracy, lack of childcare and lack of formal education prevent these groups from accessing information. It has become apparent that with the rapid introduction of these technologies in the western world, the gap between rich and poor nations is widening.

Please answer the following question:

A. Land lines have been neglected in favor of cell phones

B. Economic inequality has increased

C. Information has become more accessible

D. The education system has become more efficient

E. Poverty levels have decreased

F. There are more employment opportunities

Answer:

The question asks us to identify the implications of ICT that can be drawn from the passage. Let us go over each distracter and examine whether it is implied in the passage in the context of ICT implications:

A. Although the passage talks about the rapid spread of ICTs we have no information as to whether land lines have been neglected in favour of cell phones.
B. This is mentioned in the passage: ’It has become apparent that with the rapid introduction of these technologies in the western world, the gap between rich and poor nations is widening’.
C. This is mentioned in the passage: ’ICTs enable societies to produce, access, adapt and apply information in greater amounts, more rapidly and at reduced costs’.
D. Although the passage notes that ICTs can ‘increase the impact of education and health interventions’, there is nothing to suggest that the education system has become more efficient.
E. Although the passage states that there is a ’potential link between ICTs and poverty reduction’, it then goes on to negate this statement by saying that in reality the opposite has happened.
F. Although the passage states that ICTs: ’offer enormous opportunities for enhancing business and economic viability,’ there is no information regarding the employment situation. Therefore this cannot be implied from the passage

The only 2 implications that can be drawn from the passage are: statements B & C.

Banking Logical Reasoning Sample Questions

Logical reasoning tests for banking roles are one of the following:

"Traditional" logic test of "next in the series" drills, as in the Barclays Online Assessment, presents an incomplete series of symbols. The task is to identify the missing symbol from several alternatives. The symbols have no meaning, but the series always follows a logical sequence. Other examples of this are the Klarna Logic Test and the Suited Essential Competencies Assessment.
"Modern" inductive or deductive logic test, in the shape of a sudoku game or "find the shape that doesn't belong." These kinds of questions can be found in the BNP Paribas assessment.

Let's see an example of a traditional-style question:

Logical Reasoning Sample Question

What is the missing shape?

View Explanation

The correct answer is alternative #6.

Rows: In each row, the symbol in the middle cell is a combination of the symbols from the left and right (i.e. outer) cells so that:

The overlapping lines of the outer symbols (marked in black in the illustration below) are omitted in the middle symbol.
All the non-overlapping lines (marked in red and green in the illustration below) are preserved in the middle symbol.

Columns: In the same way, the middle symbol in each column is a combination of the symbols from the top and bottom cells.

Since the missing symbol is the middle symbol in its row as well as in its column, it should be the combination of the outer cells in its row and of the top and bottom cells in its column. Thus, the correct answer is alternative #6.

Now, let's see an example of a deductive thinking modern drill in an Aon (cut-e)-style:

Aon (Cut-e)-Style Sample Question

The question consists of a 4x4 or 5x5 square filled with shapes. The rules that apply to the shapes are similar to a basic Sudoku game: each shape must appear only once in each row and column.

Select the one shape that belongs where the ? is.

View Explanation

The correct answer is alternative #2.

The shape missing from the third column is the triangle.

Therefore, the correct answer is alternative #2.

Banking Situational Judgment Sample Questions

As mentioned at the beginning of this page, situational judgment assessment has become one of the banking companies' most popular screening tools used by most banks, including Deutsche Bank, Citi, and Goldman Sachs. Usually, they will be accompanied by a numerical or personality test, but some companies even use SJT solely for screening.

Why does SJT has become so important?

In recent years, with the technology development and the boost it got from covid-19, many companies changed their work and now prefer to save money and time that used to be spent on face-to-face interviews, at least for the initial screening stages. Therefore, many banks create their SJT according to their core values and competencies expected from candidates.

What is the "right type" of bank employee?

That's the million-dollar question. Unlike numerical or verbal questions that have absolute answers and as you practice more, you are most likely to raise your chances of success, situational judgment questions don't have only one absolute answer since the "correct" answer is directly connected to the recruiting company's DNA.

The following question is taken from our HSBC preparation. First, a work-related scenario is presented, followed by five different reactions to it, which you will need to rate.

Look at the following scenario:

Situational Judgment Sample Question

The app features are being progressively enhanced during the development phase. You've discovered a new attribute that you think should be added, and you're giving a presentation to the rest of your team. While you're doing this, some of the team's more experienced members continue to interrupt you with questions and queries, while others opt out of the conversation during the meeting.

What do you do?

Please RANK the following responses from 1-5, with 1 being what you would most likely do and 5 being what you would least likely do:

A. To avoid confusing the others, you leave inquiries and queries irrelevant to what you're presenting until you've finished. You assume people who are silent are doing it for a purpose, so you wait for them to speak up.

B. You acknowledge the arguments made by people who are disrupting and seek out the views of your other co-workers as well. If the quiet members continue to be silent in the group, you will individually seek out their input.

C. You keep asking the quiet members questions to urge them to speak out and ignore what others have said while interrupting. You want everyone to be able to express themselves in the same way.

D. You inspire participants to express their suggestions by asking them to jot down their first thoughts on paper so that everyone may join in. You respond to the concerns already expressed as well as any others that may be posed.

E. You respond to live inquiries as they are posed, as you want everyone to feel at ease with the content. After the workshop, you plan to offer a chance for participants to provide comments or ask questions.

View Explanation

(A) avoids engaging the interruptions in a fashion that still allows the primary messages to remain clear. Clear communication is the focus (No 1).

(B) demonstrates a pragmatic and calm approach to the interruptions and to ensuring everyone gets to share their opinion (No 2).

(E) involves moving efficiently though all the questions in a fashion likely to engage participants but may not be the clearest possible communication of the material (No 3).

(D) involves recording questions in writing as an alternative to expressing them verbally and involves thinking outside of the box to engage team members (No 4).

(C) involves ignoring the interrupters who are senior colleagues, which is likely to deteriorate the group dynamic even further and perhaps cause further reputation problems down the track (No 5).

A job simulation is a broad term to describe a set of assessments designed to replicate various components of the job you have applied for. These assessments can include tasks and assignments that are representative of the responsibilities you would have in the position. The specific tasks can vary between banks, and the most familiar one is the HSBC Online Job Simulation Assessment.

There are many types of job simulation tests, each evaluating a specific facet of the job and tailored to the requirements of the role and bank you are pursuing. This can include:

Take-Home Assignment – you are given a task to complete within a specific timeframe, serving as a work sample test to evaluate the relevant skills for your position
In-Basket Exercise – an assignment designed to assess your ability to handle, prioritize, and organize assignments effectively within a work context.
Virtual Job Tryout –tasks you will perform in your job with a greater level of precision, encompassing activities like live chat support, email response composition, and cognitive assessments
Role-Playing – an evaluation of your communication skills and ability to convey messages or ideas by requiring you to demonstrate your response to work-related scenarios or specific circumstances.
Case Interviews – an assessment of your analytical skills, critical thinking, and ability to make data-driven decisions by evaluating your interpretation of work-related documents, strategic planning, and presentation of recommendations to recruiters either in writing or verbally.

A pre-recorded interview, also known as a one-way video interview, is a popular screening tool used early in the hiring process by many banks, including UBS, Barclays, and Rothschild.

Pre-recorded video interviews typically consist of 5 to 8 questions, lasting around 20-30 minutes, with each question allowing 30 seconds to 2 minutes for preparation and up to 3 minutes for recording.

The questions and assignments are tailored to the specific position, varying between banks and roles. For example, managerial positions may focus on leadership abilities, while customer service positions may assess persuasion, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Additionally, these interviews often include job simulation tasks like case studies, role-playing, and virtual job tryouts.

In your pre-recorded video interview, you will encounter different types of questions designed to gain insights into your personal and professional background. These include inquiries about your professional experience, such as discussing past roles, overcoming challenges, sharing success stories, addressing colleague relationships, demonstrating your understanding of the position, and highlighting your strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, you may be asked situational judgement questions that present work-related scenarios, requiring you to describe your response and actions and scenario simulations where you act out your response within a given work-related scenario.

Although it is not a frontal interview, you must treat it as such, as your recruiters will view it and assess not only the content of your answers but also how you present yourself, how you articulate yourself, and how you address the questions.

Prepare for Any Banking Test

During your application for banking internships, you'll be asked to take several different tests. Our Premium Membership will help prepare you for all of them:

Choose 3 products from our Banking PrepPacks Cataloge, at 50% discount, for 1/3/6 months

Follow the links below to learn more about some known employers' applications and selection processes.

Nomura | Capitec | Fidelity | Capitec Bank | ADIA

AXA | Hiscox | Old Mutual | Willis Towers Watson

If the company you are looking for does not appear on the list, please contact us, and we will do our best to ensure you get the preparation you need for your upcoming assessments.

Additionally, you may find spectacular opportunities for financial roles within the many famous accounting and consulting firms.

The Banking Sector is a cornerstone of our economy: banks transfer risk, provide liquidity, facilitate transactions, and provide financial information for businesses and individuals. The industry, therefore, never lacks job opportunities. If you are considering joining the Banking Industry, you have a wide range of roles you can play there. Some of them are listed below:

Tellers communicate with customers more than other bank employees. Their duties include providing customers services, accepting deposits, cashing checks, and solving minor monetary problems. The advantage of the teller's role is that, when you receive enough experience, you can move up to the head teller or supervisor position. If you become a supervisor, you will ensure that other tellers follow Banking Industry rules and operating procedures. To be a good teller, you need to be concentrated and attentive to minor details because you contribute to the bank's overall risk management. It is up to the teller to place a hold on significant dollar transactions or checks. Most banks require tellers to hold a bachelor's degree, but sometimes a previous working experience is enough to work in the banking industry.

This role is vital for banks since it is precisely by issuing loans that they earn money. Loan officers are allowed to give clients different types of loans. They take responsibility for authorizing credit cards and automobile loans. Another commitment that loan officers shoulder is opening transactional checking and saving accounts. Or they work with organizations, issuing business loans. Because the most popular loan in our times is a mortgage, many banks hire specialists to give mortgages to people, paying them in the form of commissions. Loan officers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree, although tellers are also often promoted to the position of loan officers.

Banks also require financial analysts whose responsibility is to help clients to make investment decisions. They collect and then analyze financial information, basing their recommendations on the clients' analysis. Other duties of financial analysts include working on spreadsheets, making reports, and giving presentations. Yet the responsibilities of financial analysts largely depend on what type of analyses they do. They can analyze securities, investments, and ratings. Financial analysts usually have a bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, statistics, or finance.

This position requires employees to keep track of past-due accounts, such as mortgages, car loans, or credit cards, and collect payments for them. Therefore, collectors are crucial for the bank's profitability. To collect overdue payments, collectors need to go through a list of clients owing money to the bank and then contact them on the phone to find out why a payment is overdue. Good computer skills are essential for this role, and so is an ability to communicate with clients who can be in dire financial straits. In addition, collectors need to know how to give good customer service in their conversations with the clients, show empathy for their problems, and remain firm in their decision to collect what is owed to the bank.

JobTestPrep does everything in its power to help job applicants to understand the advantages of working in the Banking and Investment Banking Industries. We also make job-seekers' ambitions to enter this sector realizable by offering them our high-quality PrepPack™ containing accurate simulations of the tests they may be asked to take as a part of their pre-hire process. So study with our tests and interview materials, track your progress while studying with our answer keys and study guides, and land your job in the Banking Sector.

Are you looking for extra practice in the limitations of a student's budget? We got your back!

Choose your provider for free practice:

SHL Free Practice Test

Korn Ferry Free Practice Test

Cubiks Free Practice Test

Aon/cut-e Free Practice Test

Saville Free Practice Test

Mcquaig Free Practice Test

Hogan Free Practice Test

We at JobTestPrep find the assessment tests world highly diverse and fascinating. If you are looking to deepen your knowledge in the aptitude tests world, or you want some extra practice before your test, we've got you covered!

Check out these fantastic free practice tests (all are completely free):

Practice For Your Banking Test

Banking Tests

Banking Numerical Reasoning Sample Questions

Banking Numerical Reasoning Sample Question

Create Your Custom Assessment Prep Kit