Online Test

The online test is the most technical and mathematical part of the application process and probably the hardest to prepare for. Usually the tests are under extreme time pressure and mix absolute values with relative values and percentages. Hence, to complete one successfully, you must concentrate fully and practice. All the questions will ask you to consider a graph or table of figures and answer a multiple choice question by analysing the data.

The key is to learn the tricks that speed up computation and quickly understand the data presented. But how do you do that? Find below the internshipHelp guide to aceing the online test.

  1. Make sure your environment is correct: that there is no noise, you have a calculator, lots of paper, and some pencils.

  2. Read the question carefully and slowly and make sure you understand what the corresponding graphs/tables are showing. You will not save time by skim reading the question or labels because you will have to read them again to properly answer the question.

  3. When you do come up with a possible answer, check that the value looks reasonable and is not far too large/small. For example, if a question asks you to deflate a price using a given inflation index, you should expect the deflated price to be smaller than the original price.

  4. If a question is confusing or you think it will take too long for you to answer, do not be afraid to skip it. You have limited time and have to answer questions tactically so as to maximise your score. Do not be worried by the time limit; it has deliberately been made very small so the recruiter can ascertain how well you perform under time pressure.

  5. Look for shortcuts. For example, if you are told the total shoe sales for the first quarter of 2007 for 5 different branches were 230 000, 310 000, 860 000, 490 000, and 170 000 and you are asked to compute the mean and standard deviation then work with the number 23, 31, 86, 49, 17 and multiply the mean and standard deviation answers by 10 000 or 100. This saves time punching lots of zeros into your calculator.

  6. Be sure to pay careful attention to the units of various quantities e.g. whether figures are given in %, or £, or £m, or$, etc.

  7. Experience shows that in questions where there is an option such as ‘none of the above’ or ‘not enough information to answer this question’, this option is usually never the right answer.

  8. When writing numbers/information on paper, do not waste time being neat or writing words out in full or showing your working; you will not be judged on the scribbles so be as messy as you like. Concentrate on getting the answer as quickly as possible with your pencil or calculator.

  9. If you do miss out a question or are unhappy with your answer to a previous question, do not dwell on it. Put it immediately out of your mind and never go back to try and answer it (unless you have time left over of course) as this will simply cause you more stress and cloud your mind.

  10. Practice and practice more. The more you practice the quicker and sharper you will get.