Goldman Sachs Online Assessment: What to Expect in 2026
From the initial application through HireVue, aptitude tests, and superday — here is everything you need to know to maximise your chances at one of the most selective assessment processes in finance.
The Goldman Sachs Hiring Funnel
Goldman Sachs runs one of the most structured and competitive graduate hiring processes in global finance. Understanding where each assessment sits in the funnel — and what its purpose is — helps you focus your preparation where it counts most.
| Stage | Format | Purpose | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application | Online form + CV | Initial eligibility screen | Week 1 |
| HireVue Video | AI-scored video interview | Competency and communication screen | Weeks 2–3 |
| Online Aptitude Tests | SHL numerical, verbal, inductive | Cognitive ability screen (major filter) | Weeks 3–4 |
| First-round Interviews | 2–3 interviews (phone or video) | Technical knowledge, fit, motivation | Weeks 5–6 |
| Superday | 4–6 interviews in one day | Final partner/MD-level evaluation | Weeks 7–8 |
More candidates are eliminated at the online aptitude test stage than at any other point in the Goldman Sachs process. It is the highest-volume, lowest-cost screen, and the cut-offs are set deliberately high. Many candidates underestimate how competitive the cohort is — you are being compared against other quantitatively strong graduates who are also applying to investment banking. This is not a general population norm group.
Goldman Sachs typically opens applications in late summer (August–September) for summer analyst and graduate analyst positions, with the majority of hiring decisions made by November. The process moves quickly once your application is reviewed — expect to complete the HireVue and aptitude tests within 2–3 weeks of receiving invitations.
The Goldman Sachs Aptitude Test Format
Goldman Sachs uses SHL-powered aptitude tests as its primary cognitive screen. The battery typically includes numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and inductive reasoning — administered via SHL's TalentCentral platform. The total assessment time runs to approximately 60–80 minutes, though this varies by role and business division.
| Test Type | Questions | Time Limit | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical Reasoning | 18–25 questions | 25–35 min | Data interpretation, financial calculations, ratios |
| Verbal Reasoning | 24–30 questions | 17–25 min | Reading comprehension, inference, True/False/Cannot Say |
| Inductive Reasoning | 18–24 questions | 20–25 min | Abstract pattern recognition, logical rules |
Based on candidate reports and industry data, Goldman Sachs sets its aptitude test cut-offs significantly higher than most graduate employers. A score that would comfortably pass at many large corporates may be insufficient here. The norm group used for scoring is also likely to be finance/quantitative specialist — meaning your raw score translates to a lower percentile rank than it would against a general population norm group. Target practice scores consistently above the 75th percentile before sitting the real test.
The tests are administered under standard timed conditions with no reference materials permitted. You will need a calculator (the on-screen calculator is provided for numerical reasoning), a quiet environment, and a stable internet connection. SHL's platform is monitored — do not attempt to navigate away from the test window during assessment.
Numerical Reasoning at Goldman Sachs
The numerical reasoning component is where Goldman Sachs differentiates itself most sharply from other graduate employers. The questions use financial and investment banking data as their primary source material — P&L tables, balance sheet extracts, market data graphs, equity return calculations, and portfolio performance metrics.
What the data looks like
Typical stimulus material includes: multi-column financial tables showing revenue, EBITDA, and net income across multiple years and business segments; line graphs tracking index performance or sector returns; tables of financial ratios such as P/E ratios, debt/equity ratios, and dividend yields; and currency conversion scenarios involving multiple exchange rate steps.
If you have not worked extensively with financial tables and graphs, begin reading financial data regularly — annual reports, FT Lex column, Bloomberg data tables. The cognitive skill being tested is speed of data extraction and calculation, not financial knowledge per se. But candidates unfamiliar with financial data formats spend extra time simply parsing the stimulus material, which eats into their time per question.
Common question types
- Percentage change: Calculate year-on-year growth rates from financial tables. Know the formula (new − old) ÷ old × 100 absolutely automatically.
- Ratio calculations: Derive financial ratios from underlying data (e.g., gross margin from revenue and cost of goods sold).
- Index point conversions: Convert between absolute values and index-rebased figures.
- Multi-step calculations: Questions requiring 2–3 sequential operations before reaching the answer — common at the harder end of the difficulty range.
Speed is critical. With approximately 90 seconds per question, you cannot afford to work through the stimulus table from scratch for each question. Practise scanning tables efficiently — read column headers, note units, and identify the relevant rows before you read the question.
Verbal Reasoning at Goldman Sachs
The verbal reasoning test at Goldman Sachs follows the standard SHL True / False / Cannot Say format — but the passages used tend to draw from business and financial contexts: annual report extracts, regulatory announcements, management commentaries, and financial press articles. This makes the language more technical and the inference requirements more nuanced than in many other employers' verbal tests.
The True / False / Cannot Say framework
True means the statement is explicitly confirmed or directly logically deducible from information stated in the passage. False means the passage directly contradicts the statement. Cannot Say means the passage provides insufficient information to determine whether the statement is true or false — neither confirming nor contradicting it.
Verbal reasoning tests evaluate your ability to draw conclusions only from the given passage — not from your general knowledge or financial expertise. A statement that is true in reality, but not supported by the specific passage given, must be answered "Cannot Say." Candidates with strong financial knowledge often overcorrect and mark statements as "True" because they know them to be accurate in the real world. This is consistently one of the highest sources of incorrect answers at Goldman Sachs level.
At the Goldman Sachs difficulty level, the verbal test includes passages that use conditional language ("may," "could," "in some circumstances"), negated statements, and comparative claims — all of which require careful parsing. Read each statement word-for-word against the passage rather than skimming. The difference between "True" and "Cannot Say" often comes down to a single qualifying word.
Read annual reports, FCA regulatory notices, and Financial Times articles regularly. The sentence structures and vocabulary in Goldman Sachs verbal passages are drawn directly from this type of material. Familiarity reduces the cognitive load of parsing the language, freeing up processing capacity for the actual inference task.
The HireVue Video Assessment
Goldman Sachs uses HireVue — an AI-scored video interview platform — as an early-stage screen, typically before or alongside the aptitude tests. You will be presented with competency-based questions on screen and asked to record your responses using your webcam. There is no live interviewer.
How the format works
- Preparation time: You typically receive 30 seconds to read and consider the question before recording begins.
- Response time: 30–60 seconds per response (varies by question). A timer is visible on screen.
- Number of questions: Usually 5–7 questions in total, taking approximately 20–30 minutes.
- Retakes: Usually one retake allowed per question, which you may or may not choose to use.
HireVue's AI scoring analyses verbal content, pace, clarity of communication, and in some configurations, facial expression patterns and vocal tone. This does not mean you need to perform unnaturally — it means that a clear, structured, confident delivery scores well, and rambling or filler-heavy responses score poorly. Practice delivering structured answers (using STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result) within the time limit out loud — not just mentally.
Common HireVue question themes at Goldman Sachs
- Commercial awareness: "Tell me about a recent market development and its implications for Goldman Sachs." Know current macro themes — interest rates, M&A trends, sector-specific news.
- Motivation and fit: "Why Goldman Sachs specifically?" Research the firm's divisions, culture, and recent deals.
- Analytical thinking: "Describe a time you used data to reach a difficult conclusion." Draw on academic or work examples that show rigour.
- Resilience: "Tell me about a time you received critical feedback. How did you respond?" Goldman Sachs explicitly looks for resilience.
What Goldman Sachs Looks For
Goldman Sachs articulates its graduate selection criteria around four core attributes. Understanding these helps you frame your preparation and your interview responses.
| Attribute | What It Means in Practice | How It Is Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Awareness | Understanding financial markets, economic conditions, and how Goldman Sachs makes money | HireVue questions, first-round interviews |
| Analytical Rigour | Ability to work with complex data accurately and quickly under pressure | Aptitude tests, case studies |
| Communication | Clear, structured communication of complex ideas to different audiences | HireVue, all interview stages |
| Resilience | Ability to perform under pressure, handle critical feedback, and maintain standards | Superday interviews, situational questions |
Commercial awareness is not something you can fake with generic answers. Goldman Sachs interviewers will probe beyond your first answer. Build a genuine understanding of two or three current macro or market themes — rate cycles, M&A activity in a specific sector, geopolitical impacts on commodity prices — and be ready to discuss their implications for Goldman Sachs' specific business lines.
Preparation Strategy
Given the high cut-offs and competitive candidate pool, a minimum of two weeks of structured preparation is recommended before sitting the Goldman Sachs aptitude tests — and four weeks is more appropriate if you are not already confident with financial data interpretation.
Week-by-week preparation plan
- Weeks 1–2: Diagnostic and foundations. Complete two full timed practice tests in each test type to establish your baseline percentile. Identify your weakest test type. Begin targeted practice on weak areas — do not spread effort evenly if your numerical score is 20 percentile points below your verbal score.
- Weeks 3–4: Volume practice with review. Complete one full timed practice session per day, rotating through test types. After each session, review every incorrect answer in detail. Understand the specific error — wrong formula, misread data, time pressure causing carelessness.
- Final week: Simulation and consolidation. Complete full battery simulations (all three tests back-to-back) under real exam conditions. Focus on maintaining concentration across the full 60–80 minute duration. Reduce new practice and consolidate existing strengths.
Spend 15–20 minutes each morning reading financial news. Build a simple summary document of two or three market themes you can speak to fluently. This feeds both the HireVue assessment and interview stages — so the time investment pays dividends across multiple parts of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare for Goldman Sachs with SHL-Style Practice Tests
Access timed numerical, verbal, and inductive reasoning tests calibrated to the difficulty level used by top investment banks — with detailed score analytics and percentile tracking.