Avia, Finance Sector Specialist at JobTestPrep.
Have a question? Contact me at: ask_the_team@jobtestprep.co.ukEvery Morgan Stanley application starts with the Morgan Stanley online test.
Because it is such a HUGE and popular financial firm, thousands of applicants apply for each position. Sadly, MS can’t interview all of them. So, they use the online tests to screen out a significant portion of applicants, and move forward only with the top candidates.
How big is that dinged portion?
The acceptance rate for a Morgan Stanley internship is less than 2%.
Based on reviews from our costumers, we know that 60% of those who prepared with our practice material passed the tests and moved on to the next stage. The difference between a 2% chance and a 60% chance is huge, and it is all thanks to accurate practising.
Our experience shows that the more accurate the preparation, the better your chances are in passing the test.
Note: Shortly after sending your application, you will get an email invitation for the online tests. Once received, you will have 48 hours to complete the tests.
Preparing yourself for the tests in 48 hours might be stressful, so you are advised to start your preparation prior to sending the initial application.
However, if you already got the email, no worries. Try clearing your schedule and dive into the preparation material.
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In 2019 Morgan Stanley started working with a test provider called Cut-e (AON).
They administer 6 online tests for Morgan Stanley:
Note: Several candidates may be required to undergo a gamified Pymetrics assessment.
At first glance these tests might look like a walk in the park. They are not.
The best way to beat the Morgan Stanley Online Test is to practise more and more until you can ace it in your sleep.
Start practising with accurate questions that simulate the actual Morgan Stanley online tests.
The numerical reasoning test assesses your ability to retrieve information and draw logical conclusions from numerical data presented in tables and charts. On this test, you will get 6 different documents with data, on which you will be asked 18 questions.
You will get only Six minutes to complete the segment.
Let’s see an example.
Arclight's dividend per share in fiscal year 2 was 25% higher than in fiscal year 1.
The graph reveals the different dividends per share for three companies across a five-year period.
Look at Arclight's area (blue). Dividend per share was 2 Euros in FY 1, and 2.5 in FY 2. Indeed, 2.5 is 25% higher than 2:
(2.5/2)-1=0.25
Therefore, the statement is true.
Note: If you wish to avoid decimals, you can multiply the figures by multiples of 10 (simply by moving the decimal point to the right) until they are integers. In this case you need to multiply the figures by 10 (move the decimal point one place):
2.5*10=25
2*10=20
These numbers are easier to work with. The difference is 25-20=5, and we know that 5 is a quarter of 20 (20/5=4), and that a quarter is equivalent to 25%.
Tip: Before you even read the first question, look at the tab titles (each tab contains one document filled with data) and very quickly scan through their contents.
Note the axis titles of the charts and the column titles of the tables. Do not spend too long doing this; it is only meant to provide you with a very basic knowledge of the information you have to sift through during the test.
Start practising accurately for ALL Morgan Stanley tests and improve your chances of passing to the next stage!
The Switch Challenge is actually a specific and unique Logical Reasoning Test.
This is where most candidates fail, as the questions are both objectively hard, and nothing like you have ever seen before – which makes it that much harder.
In each question, there are 4 symbols that change position according to a specific rule. You need to choose the correct operator (out of three alternatives) to change the order of the symbols according to that rule.
Each operator consists of four digits. Each digit represents the previous position of each symbol before it was changed by the operator. The new order of the symbols’ position matches the position of the digits.
For example:
Let’s see how a question might look like:
Which operator is the right one for this input and output?
Check out this video explanation to see if you got it right.
Tip: When you are presented with a 3-layer question, your best strategy is to first work top-bottom to find the first operator and then work bottom-top to find the 3rd operator.
Once you have both, you can find out which is the 2nd operator (the one in the middle), which is usually the answer you are looking for.
Start practicing accurately for ALL Morgan Stanley tests and improve your chances of passing to the next stage!
This test is designed to see how you will handle yourself in a real Morgan Stanley work environment. You will have 30 minutes, during which you will be presented with messages from different authorities in the firm.
The test is built on a chat-like interactive platform called chatAssess. Each virtual employee will be presented by an avatar, and each avatar you click on will give you more information to understand better how to react:
For each message you will have to respond by choosing from a list of options. Like a real chat, every response will trigger a new message from the avatar, for which you will have to choose a new response.
You will have to figure out what to do in various situations like an error you have made in a report, a client complaining or your boss asking you to do something that you don’t have time to do.
It might sound easy enough, but the responses presented are really similar and the answer is not obvious.
Here is an example:
During your lunch break, Mark, your colleague, tells you that he was watching you work and knows a better way for you to file and organize documents.
How would you respond?
Primary competency: Communication skills
Secondary competencies: Adaptability; Social intelligence; Working under authority
Best response: C
This is an ideal response. On the one hand, you don’t dismiss Mark’s comments, whilst on the other, you are not going to initiate any change prior to consulting with your superiors.
The ability to respond appropriately and sensitively to your colleague demonstrates effective communication and social intelligence. This response also demonstrates your adaptability by showing that you are open to change.
Why other answers are worst:
A. In this scenario, you are dealing with a form of criticism from a work colleague. The way you respond to criticism indicates something about your social and communication skills.
Choosing this response shows a lack of these skills, as you are being dismissive of Mark's criticism. You are also showing a low level of adaptability by not being open to potential change.
B. You are responding to Mark’s criticism in a very defensive and suspicious way. Not being able to accept criticism in a positive and constructive manner demonstrates a lack of social and communication skills.
This response also indicates poor social intelligence as the comment made has the potential to create antagonism. Additionally, the content of the comment shows that you are neither adaptable nor open to potential changes.
D. It is difficult not to choose this response as it provides a rational argument for why not to accept Mark’s criticism.
However, the fact that you are dismissive of his opinion may damage your ability to build rapport with him, thus showing poor social intelligence.
In addition, you are not open to change in your work environment, thus indicating a lack of adaptability.
Start practising accurately for ALL Morgan Stanley tests and improve your chances of passing to the next stage!
Each question in the test consists of a row of nine objects. All objects but one conform to the same rule, and your task is to select the object that does not fit this rule.
There are numerous sets of rules that might be applied, and you have to identify the rule quickly, as you will have only 5 minutes for 20 questions. That is 15 seconds per question.
See if you can handle the time limit in the following example.
Which object doesn't fit the rule?
The correct answer is object #6.
The objects form a numerical series: When moving from one object to the next, the number of shapes decreases by one and then, from the fifth object onwards, increases by one.
The only object that does not fit this rule is object #6, which contains three shapes instead of two.
Note: The varying types of shapes serve as a distraction; the only thing that matters is the number of shapes in each object.
Tip: If the rule is hard to discern, examine the objects carefully, focusing on one characteristic at a time. For instance, you can start by counting the number of shapes in each object while ignoring their colour.
If you do not find a rule concerning the number of shapes, you can examine their colour.
Start practising accurately for ALL Morgan Stanley tests and improve your chances of passing to the next stage!
In each question, you will be presented with a 4X4 or 5X5 table, where each cell is filled with one shape. Only one cell will be marked with a question mark, and your job is to figure out which shape belongs in that cell.
How do you know which shape fits? The only rule you have to follow is that each shape must appear exactly once in each row and in each column. If this sounds familiar to you, you must be a Sudoku fan – it’s exactly the same, only with shapes instead of numbers.
Sounds pretty easy, no?
Well, as you know already, it is usually a bit more complicated than that.
Depending on the question’s difficulty level, some shapes are missing, which will make your way to the solution much longer. The less shapes you are presented with, the more difficult the question is.
Bear in mind that you will have six minutes to answer as many questions as you possibly can. To answer correctly is not enough, you have to do it with lightning speed. No time to waste!
Try a sample question to see how fast you can solve it:
Select the one shape that belongs where the ? is.
The correct answer is .
Since there is already a square in the top row of the first column, the square in the fourth row must be in the second column.
Having added the square, the shape missing from the second column is the circle.
There is already an X in the top row of the middle column.
Having added the circle, the X in the second row must be in the last column.
Having added the X, the shape missing from the second row is the square.
Therefore, the correct answer is .
Tip: Before you start answering, you might want to decide on a path you want to take and arrange the steps in advance.
If you go in the wrong path you will take more unnecessary steps, which will cost you valuable time.
Start practising accurately for ALL Morgan Stanley tests and improve your chances of passing to the next stage!
This test is designed to assess how well you can extract information from written data and come to the right conclusions.
You will have six sheets of written data to analyse, each is filled with a LOT of information to quickly absorb and understand.
Your task is to figure out for each of the 18 statements you are presented, if it is true, false or you cannot say. Each statement is regarding only one sheet of data, which adds another trickiness – you have to figure out which sheet is the right one.
Test yourself with this sample question.
In the real test, you will have about 20 seconds per question. See if you can solve it fast enough:
Statement: The long-term investments in IT and web development to enhance conversion from cash to electronic payments has largely failed to increase processed transactions volume.
According to the text, "Multi-Credit has been making long-term investments in IT and web development to enhance the conversion from cash to electronic payments, thereby increasing processed transactions volume."
As processed transactions volume increased, we conclude that these investments are not failing as suggested in the statement.
The statement is, therefore, FALSE.
The verbal reasoning test is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Practising is the best way to make sure the wolf will not eat you alive.
Start practising accurately for ALL Morgan Stanley tests and improve your chances of passing to the next stage!
Before you run off to prepare for all test, it is important to know that not all applicants have to go through all tests.
So, how do you know which tests you have to take?
It does not matter if you are a 1st-year student applying for a Morgan Stanley Spring Week, a 2nd-year applying for Morgan Stanley Summer Internship or a 3rd-year applying for a Morgan Stanley Graduate Programme.
To figure out which tests you have to prepare for, the only thing you need to know is which division you are applying for.
Find your division to figure out which tests you will be facing:
Note: If your division is not found in the following table, please contact me as soon as possible and we will figure it out.
Department | Tests |
Investment Banking |
Situational Judgement Test *** Switch Challenge |
Institutional Securities Group (ISG) | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Inductive logical Thinking (ix) Test Verbal Reasoning Test |
Technology | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Inductive logical Thinking (ix) Test Verbal Reasoning Test |
Investment Management (Real Estate Investing) | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Inductive logical Thinking (ix) Test |
Market Risk | Numerical Reasoning Test Inductive logical Thinking (ix) Test |
Bank Resource Management | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Inductive logical Thinking (ix) Test |
Finance | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Deductive logical Thinking (lst) Test |
Fund Services | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Deductive logical Thinking (lst) Test |
Operations | Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Deductive logical Thinking (lst) Test |
Sustainable Finance |
Situational Judgement Test Numerical Reasoning Test Inductive logical Thinking (ix) Verbal Reasoning Test |
Note: Morgan Stanley allows you to apply for up to 3 different divisions. Our prep pack includes all the different divisions, so by using it, you will be covering all bases and be prepared for whatever comes your way.
This is a week-long insight programme for 1st-year students in a 3-year course, or 2nd-year students in a 4-year course.
It is designed to give you a taste of the banking world, so you can figure out which areas you like better.
But it is more than that. Spring insights are actually a long job interview. This is a great way for Morgan Stanley to size you up and to see if you are a good fit to the firm.
Top spring week interns will be fast-tracked to the last stage of the summer internship application process, which is a BIG deal considering how competitive it is.
Morgan Stanley offers spring week in 3 areas:
This is a division-specific 10-week long summer internship (summer analyst) programme.
Regardless of your chosen division, you will start your internship with one week of classroom instruction. You will be introduced you to Morgan Stanley in general, the different business areas and firm culture.
The following nine weeks will focus mainly on training in your own specific division. This will include intensive training, as well as being given real full-time analyst responsibilities.
And the best part? Top interns will get a full-time offer!
Other than the summer internship, there are two other options, both equivalent to summer interns:
This is a full-time analyst programme in a specific desk in a specific division.
Every programme starts with a firm-wide training. This will include a wide look at the firm, to get to know its different areas.
Next will be a division-specific training, where you will meet you peers working in other desks.
The last part is a desk-specific training, which will be on the job training. You will get projects and responsibilities and will learn from senior members.
Outstanding analysts will be put on a special accelerated career path to get an associate-level position after only two years.
Of course, you do! Work hard, score high in the tests, and ace the interviews. They will not be able to ignore you, regardless of what university you come from.
You can, but your chances are much lower. A Morgan Stanley Summer Internship is the safest way to become a full-time analyst.
Summer Internships are for students in their penultimate year. For 1st-years Morgan Stanley (and many other banks) offers a Spring Week, which is an insight programme designed specifically for 1st-year students.
As early as possible! Applications are usually looked at on a rolling basis, which means that they will stop looking at applications once they have filled all the spots.
Morgan Stanley is adapting to the COVID-19 crises by making everything they can virtual. The application process interviews are either HireVue (pre-recorded video interview), phone interview, or live video interviews. If the current situation continues through the summer, the internship will be virtual as well, as last summer.