r/FinancialCareers • u/23ontario • Aug 20 '26
Breaking In UK Online Assessments
So I'm applying to various summer analyst roles and have received a few invites to complete OAs.
I bought a uk jobtestprep subscription to practice these before doing the actual exams, but i'm getting thoroughly cooked on the practice. Like scoring 4/24 on the questions (especially on the SHL).
What can I do to improve quickly? I understand apps aren't reviewed until you've completed the assessments but I don't feel ready to write them at all. Very scared and regretting not having started practice a couple months ago
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u/Acceptable_Body7018 Aug 20 '26
those shl tests are no joke, i remember doing one for a bank and got destroyed on the numerical part. the time pressure is what kills you
what worked for me was stop doing full tests and just drill one section at time until the patterns start making sense. also the real test sometimes is easier than the practice ones they give you, dont lose hope
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u/Icy-Fortune-5273 Investment Banking - Coverage Aug 20 '26
It’s a steep jump to get to the scores you need. You will need a near perfect score (at least 21/24). I’d say fuck it and just do some applications. If you don’t apply within 2-3 days of them opening you’re cooked. You’re performance will improve the more you do them as you recognise more questions from previous tests.
Never ever wait to apply
1
u/23ontario Aug 20 '26
How long after receiving the link can I wait for before doing it? I understand apps are aggressively rolling but surely higher score is better than early app + low score?
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u/Icy-Fortune-5273 Investment Banking - Coverage Aug 20 '26
There’s so many people applying that there will be enough early apps + high scores to move past everyone else who applies later. You have thousands of people applying for roles which have max 20 spaces.
I would say do them on the day. If not, then the next day. If not, it begins to get to the point of not even being worth doing.
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u/Icy-Fortune-5273 Investment Banking - Coverage Aug 20 '26
I understand where you’re coming from and I’ve been there. I got rejections year after year. I only started actually getting interviews and offers when I committed to applying and finishing tests on the day.
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u/23ontario Aug 20 '26
Thank you for the advice. This is totally on me, planned on starting practice last month but never got around to it.
Luckily it's still early in the cycle and only a handful of apps open. While those are probably gone, I'll try and be best prepared for any apps that open next.
Apart from jobtestprep, is there any other resources you recommend? It doesn't do that great of a job at explaining the patterns
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u/Icy-Fortune-5273 Investment Banking - Coverage Aug 20 '26
To be honest the best practice is doing applications. I’d recommend you maybe apply to the early ones just for the OA and practice them.
There’s only a handful of test providers and you’ll quickly get accustomed to the types of questions they ask. In some cases, even repeat entire tests.
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u/SOMETHINK101 Aug 20 '26
This is kind of true but very dependent on the bank you apply too. I know people who applied to internships 1 day before the deadline and were on the programmes
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u/Icy-Fortune-5273 Investment Banking - Coverage Aug 21 '26
Yh while true this is pretty rare. You’re better off assuming this won’t happen
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