What Is the Capita Assessment Test?

The Capita Assessment Test is a three-part test conducted for candidates applying to the Scottish Government. Capita assessment questions are divided into three topics:

  • Numerical Reasoning - Assess your ability to interpret numerical data and make decisions based upon it.
  • Verbal Reasoning - Assess your ability to quickly understand the main idea of texts, analyze them, and reach reasonable conclusions.
  • Situational Judgment Tests (SJT) - Assess your behaviour in work-related scenarios, and whether your expected behaviour is a good fit for the job you are after.

Below we provide a broader explanation of each topic, including one sample question for each.

Note: For apprenticeship positions, Capita uses the Arctic Shores Assessment. Read more about it on our dedicated page. 

Capita Online Assessment Questions and Answers

Here is one sample question for each topic on your Capita Online Assessment Test:

Capita Numerical Reasoning Sample Question

numerical reasoning sample question 3

If Chinese Insurance Stocks comprise 3.5% of all Insurance securities (globally), approximately how many Insurance bonds are Chinese?

A. 9,200,000
B. 9,500,000
C. 10,800,000
D. 910,000
E. 1,080,000
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

Looking at the left chart’s title and key, you can infer it presents data about the number of securities (in thousands), which are comprised of bonds and stocks. You should note that the question considers only the insurance securities.

According to the left chart, the total number of insurance securities (insurance stocks + insurance bonds) is: 33,000,000 + 3,000,000 = 36,000,000.

According to the right chart, Chinese Insurance securities are 30% of total securities. Thus, the total number of Chinese insurance securities is: 36,000,000 x 0.3 = 10,800,000

The question states that Chinese insurance stocks comprise 3.5% of the global insurance securities. Thus, the number of Chinese insurance stocks is: 36,000,000 x 0.035 = 1,260,000

As the total number of Chinese insurance securities is comprised of Chinese insurance stocks and Chinese insurance bonds, to find the number of Chinese insurance bonds you simply need to calculate:

Chinese insurance securities - Chinese insurance stocks = 10,800,800 – 1,260,000 = 9,540,000

This equals approximately 9,500,000.

Another possible, slightly shorter, way of resolution is to calculate the percentage of Chinese insurance bonds out of the total insurance securities and multiply it by the total number of insurance securities (which, according to calculation is 36,000,000):

% of Chinese insurance bonds = % of Chinese insurance securities – % of Chinese insurance stocks = 30% – 3.5% = 26.5%

26.5% of 36,000,000 = 36,000,000 x 0.265 = 9,540,000 ≈ 9,500,000

The Capita Assessment Test Preparation focuses on table and graph analysis - similar to the questions appearing in the Capita Assessment.

 

Capita Verbal Reasoning Sample Question

Even though the minimum age for obtaining a driving license has increased in recent years a substantial increase in car sales over the corresponding years has resulted in a staggering rise in fatal car accident numbers. As the latest figures show, fatal car accidents are especially prevalent among young drivers who have less than five years of driving experience. Last winter 50 percent of all fatal road accidents involved drivers with up to five years of driving experience and an additional 15 percent were drivers who had between six to eight years of experience. The interim figures for the current year show that the massive advertisement campaign 'fighting accidents' has resulted in some improvements but the truth is that the number of younger drivers involved in fatal accidents is intolerably high.

Fatal car accidents are more prevalent amongst young drivers with six to eight years of experience than older drivers with similar experience.

True
False
Cannot Say
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

According to the passage, 'Last winter 50% of all fatal road accidents involved drivers with up to 5 years driving experience and an additional 15% were drivers who had between 6 to 8 years of experience.

This piece of data only mentions experience, not age. Although the main idea of the passage is that younger drivers are generally more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents, we cannot assume all relatively inexperienced drivers are young.

We do not know how many of that 15% with 6 to 8 years of experience are younger drivers and how many are older drivers.

As this comparison is impossible to make on the basis of the information provided in the passage, the answer is cannot say.

The Capita Assessment Test Preparation will teach you how to approach the assessment's tricky True, False, Cannot Say questions.

 

Capita SJT Sample Question

Sarah is a long-time member of your team. She is a valuable employee who has creative ideas and always gets her tasks done before anyone else while still maintaining high standards. She is knowledgeable, and new team members like to consult with her when in doubt. However, due to her valuableness to the team, she seems to feel free to come into work late and leave early, despite work policy. Other team members are frustrated about this behaviour, feeling that she gets special treatment.

How would you address this issue?

A. Sarah is a valuable employee. Tell your employees that they should be more concerned about their own work.
B. Review the policy on work hours in the next team meeting.
C. Schedule a meeting with Sarah and tell her that while her work is appreciated, she must respect the work hours policy from now on, in order to avoid disciplinary actions.
D. Ask Sarah about her behaviour and explain how it affects team morale.
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The best response is D.

  • Primary competencies assessed in this question: Team building.
  • Secondary competencies assessed in this question: Encouraging employees' development; Social intelligence; Maintaining authority; Effective communication; Responsibility for subordinates

In this scenario, there is a conflict between your employees. As the supervisor, you want to demonstrate your ability to establish work relations between your employees and create a high-functioning team that can work together. Thus, the emphasis here is on your team-building competencies.

Response A demonstrates poor social intelligence as you lack respect for and sensitivity towards your employees. This response also lacks responsibility for employees as you do not take their complaints seriously. You don’t take their feelings seriously and don’t take responsibility for their current work environment.

Reviewing the policy (response B) is a very gentle method that shows a lack of effective communication skills. You can’t be sure the employee will understand this review is meant to tell her something, and even if she does, she might be offended by the indirect approach and the fact that you didn’t give her a chance to explain or discuss the issue. You aim to guide your employees’ performance, but your means of communication are inadequate.

Speaking directly with Sara (response C) is a good way to approach this situation, and it shows effective communication skills. Showing appreciation for her work can motivate her to cooperate. However, threatening her with potential future disciplinary actions is likely to antagonise her and may result in a negative effect, rather than the desired positive one.

In response D, you demonstrate effective communication skills as you talk openly to Sara about the problem. Talking to Sarah about her behaviour shows your ability to maintain authority whilst simultaneously demonstrating respect and understanding towards your employee. As a first response, this is the best approach, while discipline (as presented in response C) can be the next strategy if the situation doesn’t improve.

The Capita Assessment Test Preparation provides you with SJT practice tests specifically relevant for the position you are after.

 

 

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