Barclays Aptitude Test 2026: Complete Preparation Guide
Everything you need to pass Barclays' hiring process — the exact SHL tests used, Pymetrics games, HireVue digital interview format, assessment centre structure, and a 3-week preparation plan for graduate and internship applicants.
Barclays Hiring Process Overview
Barclays is one of the UK's largest banks, with graduate programmes across Investment Banking (Barclays Capital), Corporate Banking, Markets, Technology, Operations, and Retail. Each programme has slightly different assessment elements, but the core pipeline is consistent across most graduate and internship pathways.
Online Application
CV, cover letter, and motivational questions. Questions typically include: "Why Barclays?", "Why this programme?", and a commercial awareness question about the financial services industry or a recent market development.
Online Aptitude Tests
SHL numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and inductive/logical reasoning tests. Some programmes also include Pymetrics. Tests are timed and unsupervised at home. Cut scores vary by division — Investment Banking scores tend to require higher percentiles.
HireVue Digital Interview
One-way video interview with 4–6 strengths-based questions. You record responses with 2–3 minutes per answer and limited preparation time per question. Barclays' HireVue is strengths-focused, in line with their assessment philosophy.
Virtual Assessment Centre
Half-day online event including a strengths interview, group case study or discussion, and sometimes a written exercise. Assessors are trained Barclays employees. The day assesses the RISES values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship.
Barclays opens applications in late September/early October for summer internships and opens graduate programme applications in September. Unlike firms with a fixed application deadline and cohort selection, Barclays fills offers as strong candidates progress through the process. Applying in October gives you a materially better chance than applying in January, even if the official deadline hasn't passed.
Online Aptitude Tests
Barclays uses SHL TalentCentral for online aptitude testing. The standard battery includes three tests that must be completed within the invitation window (typically 7–10 days):
| Test | Questions | Time | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHL Numerical Reasoning | 18 questions | 25 minutes | Data interpretation from tables, graphs, and charts. Percentage change, ratios, basic statistics. Calculator allowed on most versions. |
| SHL Verbal Reasoning | 30 questions | 19 minutes | True / False / Cannot Say based on short passages. Tests logical inference from written information only. |
| SHL Inductive Reasoning | 24 questions | 25 minutes | Identifying rules in sequences of shapes, symbols, or patterns. No numerical or verbal content. |
| Situational Judgement Test | Varies | 20–30 min | Work scenario questions assessing alignment with Barclays' values (RISES). Not universally included — depends on programme. |
Estimated Cut Scores
Barclays does not publish official cut scores. Based on candidate reports and industry benchmarks:
- Investment Banking (Barclays Capital): ~75th–80th percentile typically required on numerical and inductive reasoning
- Corporate & Retail Banking: ~65th–70th percentile across all three tests
- Technology & Operations: ~60th–65th percentile; verbal reasoning weighted less heavily
For investment banking and markets roles at Barclays, numerical reasoning is the most important gating test. Practice data interpretation — specifically percentage change, ratio, and compound growth questions — using timed practice under conditions identical to the real test (no looking up formulas, strict 25-minute timer). See our Numerical Reasoning guide for structured preparation.
Tips for the SHL Tests
- Practice the SHL format specifically: SHL tests have a specific interface and question style. Practise with SHL-format questions — our practice tests use the same format.
- Manage time aggressively on verbal reasoning: 30 questions in 19 minutes is 38 seconds per question. Don't spend more than 45 seconds on any single question — flag it and return if time permits.
- Read inductive reasoning rules systematically: Apply a consistent checklist: shape, size, colour, number, position, rotation. Most SHL inductive patterns involve only 2–3 changing variables.
Pymetrics Game Assessment
Some Barclays programmes include a Pymetrics assessment as part of early screening — particularly the graduate analyst programme and some internship pathways. If Pymetrics is included, you will receive a separate link after completing the SHL tests.
Pymetrics measures cognitive and emotional traits through 12 short games: risk tolerance, attention, working memory, emotional intelligence, learning agility, and generosity. Barclays uses the results to assess alignment with their benchmark profile for the specific role.
Based on candidate reports, Barclays' benchmark for client-facing roles (including retail banking relationship managers and investment banking analysts) places high weight on empathy (emotion recognition game), social fairness (money exchange games), and calibrated risk tolerance (balloon game — neither extremely risk-averse nor reckless). See our full Pymetrics guide for preparation.
HireVue Digital Interview
Barclays uses HireVue for its one-way digital interview stage. You receive 4–6 questions and must record video responses within given time limits. There is no live interviewer — your responses are reviewed by Barclays recruiters and sometimes AI-assisted analysis.
Typical Barclays HireVue Questions
Barclays' HireVue questions are strengths-based, reflecting their broader assessment philosophy:
- "Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly to a change. What did you do and what was the outcome?"
- "Describe a situation where you worked effectively with people who had different perspectives from you."
- "What aspect of a career in financial services excites you most, and why?"
- "Tell me about a time you showed initiative — what motivated you to go beyond what was expected?"
- "When have you had to manage competing priorities? How did you approach it?"
HireVue Format Details
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 4–6 (typically 5 for graduate roles) |
| Preparation time per question | 30 seconds to read the question before recording begins |
| Response time limit | 2–3 minutes per response |
| Retakes allowed | Usually 1 practice question at the start; no retakes on scored questions |
| Device | Desktop or laptop strongly recommended — test your camera and microphone first |
For comprehensive HireVue preparation, see our HireVue Interview guide. For strengths-based question strategy, see our Strengths-Based Interview guide.
Assessment Centre
The Barclays Virtual Assessment Centre is the final stage of the hiring process and typically runs for 3–4 hours online. The exact format varies slightly by programme, but most graduate assessments include:
| Exercise | Duration | What Assessors Score |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths Interview | 30–45 minutes | Evidence of core strengths mapped to Barclays' RISES values; genuine motivation; role-fit |
| Group Case Study | 45–60 minutes | Analysis quality, teamwork, communication, commercial judgement, influence without authority |
| Written Exercise | 30–40 minutes | Structured thinking, written communication, prioritisation, professional judgement |
Barclays RISES Values — Know These
Barclays assesses candidates against their RISES values throughout the assessment centre. Map your preparation to these:
- Respect: Demonstrated through how you treat others in the group exercise — active listening, including quieter voices, constructive disagreement.
- Integrity: Showing honest, ethical reasoning in case study decisions — acknowledging trade-offs, avoiding obvious "right answer" pandering.
- Service: Client-first and stakeholder-aware thinking — framing decisions in terms of customer impact.
- Excellence: Quality of analysis, preparation, and communication throughout the day.
- Stewardship: Long-term thinking, sustainability awareness in commercial decisions.
For detailed group exercise and case study strategy, see our Assessment Centre guide.
3-Week Preparation Plan
| Week | Focus | Daily Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Aptitude Test Foundations | 30–45 min timed numerical reasoning practice daily; verbal True/False/CNS technique; 2 full inductive reasoning sets |
| Week 2 | Speed & Accuracy Under Pressure | Full timed mock tests (3 tests per day); review every error; financial news: read 1 article about Barclays or banking sector daily |
| Week 3 | Interview & AC Preparation | Prepare 6 STAR + strengths examples; 2 mock HireVue recordings; 1 group exercise simulation; research Barclays' recent news and RISES values |
Barclays' application and interview stages include commercial awareness questions about banking, financial markets, and macroeconomics. Prepare by reading the Financial Times or BBC Business daily in the weeks before your application, focusing on: interest rates and central bank policy, UK banking sector news (particularly Barclays' own recent results and strategy), and major global economic developments. You should be able to discuss 2–3 current financial topics fluently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Preparing for Barclays Today
Our free practice tests use the same SHL format as Barclays' screening — timed, numerical, verbal, and inductive reasoning. Build your scores to the 75th percentile and beyond.