Ace Your Barclays Online Assessment with Our Comprehensive Practice Pack [2025]
Access this course and more with our Banking Summer Internship 2026 prep pack!
You are about to take the most crucial step of your career – Investment Banking Summer internship.
Barclays is a British multinational investment bank and financial services company that has been operating for over 300 years. Headquartered in the UK and with locations in more than 50 countries, they employ about 130,000 people in various positions and offer various Graduate programs, internships, and apprenticeships.
Due to the high level of competition for each role, Barclays uses a multi-stage hiring process, including a series of online assessments specifically designed to ensure candidates have the right abilities and align with the company’s values. These assessments are known as the Barclays Online Assessment, often referred to as the Barclays SHL test or Barclays assessment test.
Applying to Multiple Positions?
See our bundle PrepPacks: Summer Internship | Spring Week | Big 4
Preparing for the Hire-Vue Interview? Record your interview responses and get detailed feedback from our occupational psychologists.
Barclays Online Aptitude Tests
Complete Preparation for the Barclays Assessment
+ Preparation for the following banks (updated 2025)
- J.P. Morgan
- HSBC
- Morgan Stanley
- Deutsche Bank
- UBS
- Blackstone
- BNP Paribas
- Fidelity
- Nomura
- Jefferies
- RBC Capital Markets
- Goldman Sachs
- Bank of America
- Citi
- Lazard
- Santander
- Schroders
- Citadel
- Macquarie Group
- Standard Chartered
- Houlihan Lokey
- Wells Fargo
- PJT Partners
- BDO Global
- Crédit Agricole
- Rothschild & Co.
- Moelis & Co
Also Available: 6 Months' Access (see here)
This product cannot be included in the Premium Membership
Join our Society partnership programme! Email us to learn more.
What Is the Barclays Online Assessment?
The Barclays online assessment is a series of tests, provided by SHL, that evaluate if you have the competencies and behavioural traits necessary for success in your position and in the organisation itself.
As a graduate or intern, you might not have much experience under your belt just yet—don’t worry, that’s completely normal! But here’s the secret: being prepared and knowing what to expect can set you apart from the competition. And trust us, they’re all preparing too.
Want a competitive edge? Take the time to fully understand what you’re up against. Learn what to expect in the Barclays Online Assessment, practice with realistic questions, and keep Barclays' values in mind, especially during the Barclays values and mindset assessment.
What to Expect in the Barclays Online Assessment
The Barclays Online Assessment includes three main components:
✻ Cognitive ability assessment
✻ Personality assessment
✻ Mindset assessment
Let’s go over them!
Barclays Online Assessment: Cognitive Ability Section
This section of the Barclays Online Assessment measures your numerical, verbal, and inductive reasoning skills. You’ll answer multiple-choice questions involving word problems, data interpretation, logical patterns, and short written passages.
Numerical reasoning – your ability to understand and analyse numerical data presented in graphs and tables and to make calculations such as percentages, fractions, unit conversion, etc.
Verbal reasoning – your ability to understand written information and evaluate and make logical inferences based on this information.
Inductive logical reasoning – your ability to identify patterns and rules presented in graphic information and predict the outcome based on this information.
You will be presented with a series of multiple-choice questions that can include word problems, syllogisms, argument evaluation, and next-in-series questions.
You will have 12 questions to address in 10 minutes.
You can use a calculator.
Note that you need to answer all the questions to avoid score reductions.
Let’s see how it looks –
How Do You Measure Up? Try These Cognitive Sample Questions
Barclays Cognitive Ability Assessment – Numerical Reasoning Sample Question
If a price of a pen has increased from $0.90 to $0.99, what was the percent increase in price?
Tip: In numerical reasoning questions, especially when time is tight, it is crucial to avoid unnecessary calculations. Read the question carefully, make sure you understand what you are asked and search for this information.
🔍Taking Multiple Finance Tests?
HSBC | UBS | Bain & Co | Macquarie | Morgan Stanley | EIB | Deloitte | Deutsche Bank | Barclays | KPMG | PWC | Lazard | EY | Nomura | BCG | BNP Paribas | Jefferies | Moelis & Co | RBC | BoA | AlixPartners | Fidelity | Lloyds | PJT Partners | NatWest | BNY Mellon | Job Simulation | Pre-recorded Video Interview | HireVue Interview
Bundles: Summer Internship | Spring Week | MBB - Big 3 | Big 4
Barclays Cognitive Ability Assessment – Verbal Reasoning Sample Question
In many cultures, the lotus flower is considered a symbol of purity, enlightenment, and rebirth. Art, literature, and religious texts often depict it as a sacred and powerful symbol. The lotus flower grows in muddy waters but emerges above the surface, clean and pristine. This is seen as a metaphor for human experience – we can rise above our struggles and difficulties to become something beautiful.
What is the lotus flower often used as a symbol for?
Tip: Verbal reasoning questions are often deliberately confusing. If you are unsure about the correct answer, try to eliminate the obviously incorrect options. This will increase your chances of getting the answer right.
Barclays Cognitive Ability Assessment – Inductive Reasoning Sample Question
Choose the image that completes the pattern
The recommended work method for questions with more than one rule, is to choose one of them and “run with it”, trying to eliminate as many distracters as possible.
Two elements are at play in this question: the number of circles and the colours and patterns of overlapping shapes.
A quick examination of the images can easily eliminate distracter 5 as the shapes remain the same throughout the entire sequence.
Let’s take a closer look at the number of circles element. We can see that it follows a simple rule of decreasing by one every time we advance from one frame to the next. Using this information we can now dismiss distracters 1 & 3 as well.
In this case, the colours’ rule is very intuitive; as we can see it switches from frame to frame, alternately. Thus, we are looking for the distracter (either 2 or 4) that matches the colours shown in frame 2. The correct answer is 2.
The correct answer is
Tip: Sometimes, more than one pattern appears to fit the given series. In this case, look for any clues or information that can help you identify which pattern is more likely to be correct.
Practice Your Way to Perfection
Increase your chances of success with JobTestPrep’s Barclays online assessment PrePack™. It includes all the tools to ace Barclay’s SHL cognitive and personality tests and our detailed Mindset Assessment Study Guide.
Barclays Online Assessment: Personality Section
This part of the Barclays Online Assessment measures how your personality traits align with the job role. You’ll receive sets of three statements and choose the one that best represents you. Then, pick the more accurate of the two remaining statements.
You will have 105 sets of statements to address in 20 minutes.
Let’s take a look!
Barclays Personality Assessment Sample Question
Step I
Which statement describes you best?
Step II
Let’s say you choose the statement “I enjoy working in a team” as the one that describes you best.
Which statement describes you best?
Tip: The test intentionally contains some statements that are repeated. If you come across such statements, just choose the best answer from the available options without being concerned about how you responded to similar statements earlier.
Make Your Personality Shine and Pass Your Barclays Assessment
Master the art of showcasing your personality with our prep material—designed to align perfectly with the test structure and Barclays Values!
Barclays Online Assessment: Mindset Assessment Section
This section of the Barclays online assessment evaluates your work-related tendencies, way of thinking, approach, and behaviours in a working environment to ensure they match the Barclays Values.
Like the personality assessment, you will be presented with sets of three statements. You will need to choose the statement that describes you best.
Then, you will be presented with the two remaining statements, and need to choose the one that is more like you.
You will have 75 sets of statements to address in 20 minutes.
Barclays Mindset Assessment Sample Question
Step I
Which statement describes you best?
Step II
Let’s say you choose the statement “I prioritize clear communication and collaboration to achieve shared goals” as the one that describes you best.
Which statement describes you best?
Tip: choose your answers based on how you would behave in a work setting and not in your personal life outside of work.
Ace Your Job Search with a Custom Prep Kit
Job hunting doesn't have to be stressful.
Prepare smarter and ace your interviews faster with our Premium Membership.
50% OFF for a limited time!
Choose any 3 PrepPacks from over 100 top-rated options.
Flexible access for 1, 3, or 6 months.
Barclays Online Assessment: The HireVue Interview
Applicants for several positions and programs within Barclays are invited to take the HireVue interview. This is a virtual pre-recorded interview in which participants must record their responses to pre-determined questions. Although it may look like a video version of a regular interview, there is more to it than that!
As these interviews lack social dynamics, a major factor in regular interviews, participants must come up with optimal responses and appearances, perfecting both response content and nonverbal communication cues.
Read more about how our occupational psychologists can help overcome this obstacle when preparing for the HireVue interview.
How Well Do You Understand the Barclays Values?
Barclays emphasise their core values and recruit their employees according to how they fit the organisation’s principles, environment, and culture.
Before taking the Barclays online assessment, make sure you are familiar with the Barclays values and address them while choosing your answers, mainly in the Barclays mindset assessment, but also the Barclays personality assessment.
Barclays define five core values:
- Respect – harnessing inclusion and diversity, trusting your colleagues and valuing their contribution.
- Excellence – championing innovation and using your expertise, resources, and energy to make a positive difference.
- Integrity – operating with honesty, fairness, and transparency.
- Service – acting with humility and sympathy and putting your clients at the centre of your actions.
- Stewardship – improving things and making them better.
Practise Makes Perfect
Practise how to best answer the Barclays Mindset assessment with the complete study guide and solving tips that will teach you how to best address every question!
Barclays Application Process
The Barclays hiring process comprises 5 steps:
- Application
- Barclays online assessments
- Telephone interview
- Face-to-face interview
- Job offer.
Barclays Summer Internship
If you’re applying for the Barclays Summer Internship, the Barclays Online Assessment is your first major step. Make sure you're ready with our specialised Summer Internship PrepPack – a comprehensive, up-to-date preparation pack tailored to equip you for acing the Barclays Online Assessment .as well as more than 20 banks and financial firms!
Barclays Graduate Scheme
The Barclays Graduate Scheme is a structured, full-time programme designed to develop recent graduates into future leaders within the bank.
Lasting between 1 and 2 years, it offers two main tracks:
- The Explorer Programme provides a broad experience across a chosen business area.
- The Expert Programme focuses on fast-tracking technical expertise through hands-on projects and tailored training.
In both tracks, graduates gain valuable exposure to various business areas such as technology development, data analytics, investment banking, and quantitative finance.
The recruitment process for the Barclays Graduate Scheme includes an online assessment that measures cognitive abilities, such as numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning. Successful candidates then complete the HireVue video interview, participate in an assessment centre featuring exercises like role-plays and case studies, and attend a final motivational interview with senior leaders.
The scheme offers competitive salaries and benefits and is ideal for graduates keen to build a career in financial services while receiving extensive support and professional development throughout the programme.
FAQs
The Barclays Online Assessment is a series of three tests that assesses your abilities and behavioural tendencies – a cognitive ability assessment (numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and inductive logical reasoning), a personality assessment, and a work-related mindset assessment.
Yes. The Barclays online assessment is considered hard as its strict time limit makes it very difficult to reach the correct answer in the cognitive ability assessment, and the personality and mindset assessments are also pretty challenging because you need to be authentic to yourself while keeping in mind your position and the Barclays core values.
The Barclays cognitive ability assessment is a psychometric evaluation of your comprehension in three areas: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and logical inductive reasoning.
The Barclays personality assessment is a questionnaire designed to evaluate your traits and characteristics and how they fit the position requirements you have applied for.
The Barclays mindset assessment is a questionnaire designed to evaluate your work-related tendencies, way of thinking, approach, and behaviours in a working environment and how they align with the Barclays Values.
Yes, Barclays offers an internship program that provides valuable experience in the financial sector. Access this course and more with our Banking Summer Internship prep pack!
To pass the Barclays Online Assessment, you need to prepare specifically for each part of the test, especially the Barclays cognitive ability assessment, Barclays values and mindset assessment, and Barclays mindset assessment.
Practising with realistic Barclays Online Assessment practice materials helps you become familiar with the format, while reviewing typical Barclays Online Assessment answers builds your confidence.
Understanding the structure of the Barclays assessment test and aligning your responses with the core values is essential. The more you immerse yourself in the online assessment process at Barclays, the better your chances of success. So, if you're wondering how to pass the Barclays Online Assessment, the answer is preparation, practice, and mindset.
Master the Barclays Online Assessment Test
With the complete PrepPack™, including full cognitive ability simulations and focused practices, study guides, full OPQ32 simulation and a personality report, and over 100 SHL OPQ32-style practice questions
More Free Practice
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):
Free Aptitude Test | Free Psychometric Test | Free Numerical Reasoning Test | Free Verbal Reasoning Test | Free Cognitive Test | Free Critical Thinking Test | Free Abstract Reasoning Test | Free Spatial Reasoning Test | Free Personality Test | Free Inductive Test | Free Mechanical Reasoning Test
Other Related Links
Customer reviews
4.8
★
★
★
★
★
Based on 84 reviews
Helped me to prepare for the UBS Online Assessment very efficiently.
Store Owner Hi Kardelen! We're so glad to hear that our pack helped you with the UBS Online Assessment. We look forward to assisting you with any future needs you may have.
In a few days, it will prepare you, provide a good overview of the test, and show different levels of difficulty. It can also prepare you well for any Assessment you may need. However, you need to know how to set up the company test aspect for the tool to work well.
Liked it, really useful
Great practice quizzes, very similar to the situational questions.
JobTestPrep would be a difference between whether you get the job or not. The questions depict the quality we'd expect on the real test, help us feel comfortable, and provide us with excellent explanations. Thanks to the team for this!
...
