The insider's guide to psychometric tests

Many candidates have one main fear in the entire application process: psychometric tests!

Fear not! As someone who's been through them successfully on several occasions (and who now works in a leading US bank in the City of London), I can tell you that psychometric tests aren't as bad as they seem. However, they are to be taken seriously: failure to perform well will mean you won't make it through to interview.

Where you'll come across them

After you've made your initial application (whether by filling in an application form, or sending in a CV), you're likely to encounter psychometric tests in the following contexts -

1) Tests for the best candidates - Based on information in the application, some banks will ask the best candidates to sit an online numerical test. Candidates who pass this test are then asked to take an online verbal reasoning test. Candidates who pass this test too will be invited to an interview where they may be asked to sit yet more numerical and verbal

reasoning tests!

2) Tests for all candidates - Some banks will expect all candidates to sit a numerical test (usually as part of the application process). Candidates who perform well will be invited to sit a verbal reasoning test. And candidates who perform well there too will be invited to interview.

3) Tests for candidates who make it to interview - Some banks only subject candidates who make it to interview to tests, so don't be disappointed if you don't encounter them initially!

Inside tips on the online numerical test

Online numerical tests usually centre around simple addition and subtraction, percentages, compound interest, graph reading, analysing tables and problem solving. However, they are designed to catch out people who do not read the question properly.

For example, you may see a simple XY graph where X is Year 1, year 2 etc and y is some numerical statistic. The question will ask you what was the y figure in year 3 and candidate will jump to the graph and quickly tick their answer to move on while missing that the Y column was in fact CUMULATIVE.

The hardest element of the online tests is time. You have maybe 20-25 minutes to answer 30-40 questions. Move quickly, but accurately. Don't spend 5 mins on one particular question - make an astute guess and carry on. .

Ensure that you've got everything you need to hand. Have scrap paper, an open Excel spreadsheet, and a calculator. Take the exam when you're sharp and in a quiet place.

And whatever you do, DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE!! You will often receive an email with a link directing you to a test site, asking you to complete it in 5 business days. Make sure you know when the deadline is; sit the exam before it expires.

Inside tips on the in-house numerical test

You'll come across the in-house numerical tests if you're invited in for interview. Beware - they're harder than the online tests! In-house tests will often touch on bond maths, differentiation, and interest calculations.

Ask HR whether the in-house tests get harder as they progress. Often they do, so you'll need to make sure you get the easy ones right - you don't want to lose vital easy marks from sloppy work.

Inside tips on the verbal reasoning test

Verbal reasoning tests are all about attention to detail. Banks want to see that, within a limited time frame and in a pressurised environment, you can read, digest and quickly disseminate information.

You are usually provided with a passage of information and required to evaluate a set of statements by stating whether each statement is:

A - True (Does it follow logically from the information or opinions contained in the passage?)

B - False (Is it logically false based on nformation or opinions contained in the passage?)

C - Cannot Say (Based on the passage, are you unable to determine whether the statement is true or false without further information?)

There are not really any tips and tricks here. Practice certainly helps, but the real key is to make sure you read the statement carefully, and understand what it's actually saying.

Overall, don't allow these tests to become an issue. Our business thrives on attention to detail and being able to maintain a high standard under pressure. This is what psychometrics tests are testing!