Prepare for the GSK Aptitude Tests and Video Interview

This PrepPack™ includes Capp-style verbal, numerical and critical thinking tests, drills, guides and tutorials.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one of the biggest research-based pharmaceutical companies in the world. GSK places a strong emphasis on start-of-career positions.

It offers apprentice programmes, the GSK Future Leaders Programme for graduates, a postgraduate scheme, as well as summer internships.

However, gaining acceptance into any of these schemes means a long recruitment process that involves difficult assessments designed to examine your skills at every stage.

The GSK recruitment process for apprentices, undergraduates, graduates and summer interns is listed below. Some variations may exist for finance scheme applicants.

For experienced hires, the process involves a telephone interview, an in-person interview and a possible assessment centre.

The GSK assessment centre includes a case study, a presentation and various other exercises.

We have closely modelled test simulations upon GSK's official tests: We added drills, study guides and answer keys, to familiarize you with the test's format and help you trace your progress while studying.

Sharpen your numerical, verbal and reasoning skills, indispensable to the position for which you applied and secure your spot at the company.

The first step of the process is to choose the job or scheme you wish to apply for. The application form asks for information about yourself, including your education, skills and experiences.

In order to progress to the next stage of the GSK recruitment process, your application form must demonstrate you have the desired criteria (education) for your chosen position.

The application form also includes two questions that are designed to examine your motivations for choosing GSK:

• What interests you about this specific programme? Think about how you will utilise your strengths, skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality results for your chosen programme? (maximum 300 words)
• What interests you about working for GSK? Think about what motivates and interests you about working for GSK and within the healthcare industry. (maximum 300 words)

These questions are an important tool to help you stand out from other candidates. Plan your answers carefully before you insert them. When answering these questions, bear in mind the key competencies and values of the company. They are known by GSK as Key High-Performance Behaviours. Incorporating them into your writing is strongly recommended:

• Flexible thinking
• Building relationships
• Developing people
• Enabling and driving change
• Continuous improvement

Once you have submitted your application form and the filter shows you fit all the criteria, you are invited to take several online psychometric tests.

The Elements Verbal exams, as well as experienced hire tests, are provided by Capp. The purpose of these tests is to determine if you have the required skills for the area of GSK you wish to work in.

You are asked to take between one and three tests depending on the programme you are applying to. Candidates of all level can be required to complete assessment tests. 

The first test you are invited to sit is the Values Fit assessment. This untimed test is a type of personality test designed to assess how your values fit with GSK’s.

For each item, you are given three value statements about what is important to you in the workplace.

You are then asked to choose which is the most and which is the least important to you.

Before taking this test, review the GSK values and high-performance behaviours. Also, be sure to practise answering questions of this type.

Our personality practice test pack helps you familiarise yourself with this type of test and teaches you how to decide between similar-feeling priorities.

The GSK online tests also include an untimed, multiple-choice numerical reasoning test. This test is slightly different than other tests you may have taken in the past in that it is adaptive.

This means that questions become harder or easier depending on how well you answered previous questions.

The number of questions you eventually answer depends on how long it takes the system to understand your level.

However, according to the guidelines, the test takes around 20 minutes. The system records how long your test took and keeps track of your speed and accuracy, so try not to spend too much time on each question. 

The aim of the GSK numerical reasoning test is to assess how well you comprehend and utilise numerical information.

The question topics are diverse, from understanding number series to extracting information from graphs and tables. To answer the questions, you must be able to perform basic mathematical calculations quickly and confidently.

You may use a calculator to help you work out the answers. The adaptive nature of this test makes it a little more tricky as the system is able to assess how well you perform on different level questions. 

The final test is the verbal reasoning test. Like the numerical reasoning test, this test is adaptive. You continue to receive questions until the system senses that your ability has been sufficiently assessed.

The test should, however, only take around 20 minutes. Once again the system logs your time, so work through each question at a steady pace.

The aim of this test is to assess your English language skills and how well you understand written information. There are two types of question on this test.

Some questions are in the T/F/C (true/false/cannot say) format—you are given a passage of text and asked to determine whether a statement on this passage is true, false, or you cannot say based on the information contained in the text. The second type of question involves a sentence with missing words. Your task is to choose the correct word from four options.

Some applicants for GSK graduate, summer placement and apprenticeship schemes are asked to complete a video interview instead of or in addition to the online tests.

This job simulation video is recorded via Sonru, so make sure you have the ability to work the programme before you start.

The purpose of the interview is to get more information about your motivation for the position, as well as to learn more about your previous work experience.

Remember that this interview is all about you, so make sure to talk about yourself during the interview.

The programme works by popping question up on the screen. You have one minute to think about your answer and 2–3 minutes to record it. 

Keep your answers concise so that you don’t run out of time. There are a total of four or five questions, plus a final question asking for additional comments.

In addition to questions about your motivations, you should expect to answer a technical question about the programme you have applied to.

Below are some questions candidates have encountered. Bear in mind that the lists serve to give you an idea of what to expect but each position has inherently different questions.

You should prepare for GSK competency based interview questions which assess if you can manage your position's responsibilities.

Get ready with our Interview PrepPack and impress your interviewer. 

• What is GSK?
• Why did you apply to GSK?
• Why for this particular programme?
• Describe an experience where you learned an important lesson that you later applied to other areas of your life.
• Please describe a current topic of interest in the healthcare industry and how you think it could have an effect on GSK.
• With regard to your extracurricular activities, please give a detailed description of the key achievements and responsibilities you have gained.
• What problems have you encountered at work?
• Tell me about a difficult situation at work.
• Where do you see yourself in five years time?
• How do you react to instructions and criticism?

Ahead of your interview, prepare examples that you can use to answer a variety of questions. Concentrate on why you want to work for GSK.

Prepare using the STAR method to answer questions and make sure you don’t leave any important information out. Once you have done all your background work, get used to talking into a camera with our online interview preparation services. You not only gain experience with video interviews, but you also receive constructive feedback on your performance.

The assessment centre is the final stage of the recruitment process. You will be informed prior to the GSK assessment day what types of exercises you should prepare for.

Typically, graduate candidates are invited to participate in an assessment centre but it is often required for experienced hire applicants as well.

The day involves various exercises such as ability tests, a group exercise, role play, a written exercise, a presentation and an interview.

As the day incorporates many different kinds of assessments it is important you understand the nature of the tasks and how to demonstrate your aptitude for the job. Take advantage of our customised GSK Assessment Centre PrepPack and land your desired position. 

You should be prepared to complete both numerical and verbal aptitude tasks. The Commercial Graduate's role psychometric test consists of 50 questions.

You are given 15 minutes to answer as many as you can. Below are some examples:

• Riddles
• Given set of 5 words and asked to eliminate one that does not fit the remaining 4
• Synonyms and antonyms
• Work with numerical sequences and be able to identify an unknown number

This exercise is designed to assess how you work in a team setting. Throughout the exercise, you are assessed on your contributions to the discussion. Assessors want to see how you balance talking and listening to others, as well as what you actually say.

You are given a set of materials the day before the assessment centre to prepare and understand, for example, the workings of a fictional pharma company. Your group will present your findings to the assessors, with each of you getting five minutes to talk. Gain tips for an exercise like this with our group exercises page.

This exercise is designed to assess how you respond to situations in the workplace. Ahead of the exercise, you are given some background information about the situation you are about to find yourself in. You will play the situation along with an interviewer, taking on a certain role.

You are given some key objectives to achieve through the exercise; then, you are assessed on whether you have achieved these objectives and the routes you took to achieve it. You are often given the role of a manager and the interviewer the role of an employee. You will be asked to convince your employee to do something for you. This is where you have a chance to really show your managerial and analytical skills.

This test is used to evaluate and assess how you prioritise work, solve problems and manage time. This exercise is essentially an in-tray exercise, where you are given a lot of different information in the form of work memos and you have to make rational decisions based on your understanding of the situation in order to prioritise replies.

The presentation can take on two different formats. You are either given the presentation topic a few days ahead of the assessment centre or on the day itself.

When it comes to giving over your presentation, the assessors are looking at your delivery, your content and how you communicate with your audience. Gain tips on how to prepare and give over an effective presentation with our presentation pages.

Applicants for technical positions may be asked to undertake another exercise. This exercise is either a presentation on a topic related to the job you are applying to or a technical interview.

The interview is the final assessment at the GSK assessment centre. Applicants to experienced hire roles may be invited to a separate interview. The GSK interview is predominantly a behavioural interview, meaning that they are looking for examples of how you have reacted to situations in the past. The interview also gives GSK an opportunity to assess your skills and experience as well as your motivations and reasoning for wanting to work with them.

Prepare for this interview by reading up on GSK and the role you have applied to. Review your application and what you wrote there. Think of more examples from your experience that you feel present you in the best way against GSK's criteria. Rehearse answers to common questions such as the ones in our free guide to interviews. And, prepare with a mock interview, with our interview preparation package.