Degree apprenticeship online tests

Why employers use online tests

Large employers can receive far more applications than they can interview, and tests give them a consistent way to compare candidates. Each test usually measures something specific, such as how you work with numbers, how carefully you read or how you approach workplace situations. Employers set their own pass marks and choose their own mix of tests, so what you sit for one firm may be different for another.

Before you start: the practical rules

• Use a dedicated email address for applications and check it daily. Test links often expire after a few days, and a missed link can end your application.
• Sit the tests when you are fresh, in a quiet room, on a laptop with a reliable connection, unless the employer tells you to use a phone.
• Read the instructions carefully and use any practice questions provided.
• Have a calculator, paper and a pen ready for numerical tests, in case they are allowed.
• If you have a condition such as dyslexia or ADHD, ask the employer about reasonable adjustments, such as extra time, before you start.
• Sit every test yourself. Later stages test the same skills, so you need them to be yours.

Numerical reasoning

Numerical tests usually show you tables, charts or short sets of figures and ask questions about them. The maths is rarely beyond GCSE level, but you need to work quickly and accurately against a time limit. Expect things like:

• Percentages and percentage change.
• Ratios and proportions.
• Reading values from charts and tables.
• Currency and unit conversions.
• Simple averages and totals.

To prepare, refresh these basics, then practise timed questions. Get used to reading the question first, finding only the data you need, and estimating before you calculate so you can spot an answer that is clearly wrong. Do not spend too long on any one question.

Verbal reasoning

Verbal tests give you a short passage and a set of statements. A common format asks whether each statement is true, false or cannot be determined, based only on the passage. The skill being tested is careful reading, not general knowledge.

• Use only what the passage says, even if you know something different to be true.
• “Cannot say” is the right answer when the passage does not give enough information either way.
• Watch for words like “all”, “some”, “always” and “never”, which change the meaning of a statement.
• Practise against a timer so the pace feels normal on the day.

Situational judgement tests

Situational judgement tests describe workplace scenarios and ask how you would respond, often by choosing or ranking options. A typical scenario might involve a deadline clashing with a request from a colleague, or a mistake you notice in someone else’s work.

There is no maths to revise, but you can still prepare. Read the employer’s values and the job description, because the best answers usually reflect what that employer says it cares about. In general, strong responses are honest, take ownership, involve the right people and keep the client or the team in mind. Answer as the best version of yourself at work, and stay consistent.

Game-based assessments

Game-based assessments are increasingly common. Instead of questions, you play a series of short games designed to measure traits such as how you approach risk, how you respond to feedback, how you pay attention and how you solve problems. Arctic Shores, for example, provides game-based assessments used by employers including PwC, KPMG, HSBC, Siemens, Airbus and Amazon.

You cannot revise for these in the usual way, and trying to game them tends to backfire. What helps:

• Play somewhere quiet with no interruptions, because some games depend on attention and reaction time.
• Read each game’s instructions properly and use the practice rounds.
• Play naturally and consistently. Results are usually compared with the traits the employer is looking for rather than marked right or wrong.
• If the employer or the provider offers practice games, try them beforehand so the format is not a surprise.

Sprout’s firm pages, such as PwC degree apprenticeships and Siemens degree apprenticeships, show live listings and how the stages typically work.

Other tests you might see

Some employers also use logical or diagrammatic reasoning tests, where you spot patterns in shapes or sequences, and personality questionnaires about how you prefer to work. Answer personality questionnaires honestly and consistently; there are no trick questions. Engineering and technology programmes may include technical or mechanical reasoning questions.

A two-week practice plan

1. Days 1 to 3: refresh percentages, ratios and reading charts, then try a short untimed numerical set.
2. Days 4 to 6: practise verbal reasoning passages, focusing on the difference between false and cannot say.
3. Days 7 to 9: read the values of each employer on your shortlist and try some situational judgement practice.
4. Days 10 to 12: do full timed numerical and verbal sets, and review every mistake.
5. Days 13 and 14: try any practice games available, then rest before your real tests.

Keep a note of the question types you get wrong and practise those most. Ten focused minutes on your weakest area is worth more than an hour on what you already find easy. If you want help with a particular employer, a one-to-one coaching session can be spent on one company’s whole process, from the tests to the interview.

If you pass, the next stages are usually interviews and an assessment centre, and our degree apprenticeship assessment centre guide explains what happens there. Because tests often follow soon after the form, it also pays to get the form right first: see our degree apprenticeship application guide.

Frequently asked questions

What online tests do degree apprenticeship employers use?

The most common are numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning and situational judgement tests, and game-based assessments are increasingly used. Some employers add logical reasoning tests or personality questionnaires. Each employer chooses its own mix.

Can you practise for game-based assessments?

Not in the usual sense, because the games measure how you naturally approach tasks rather than right or wrong answers. Try any practice games on offer so the format is familiar, then play somewhere quiet and stay consistent.

How long do I have to complete an online test after the invitation?

It varies, but links often expire after a few days. Use a dedicated email address for applications and check it daily so you do not miss one.

Can I use a calculator in a numerical reasoning test?

Often yes, but check the instructions for each test. Have a calculator, paper and a pen ready in case they are allowed.

What happens if I fail an online test?

You will usually not progress with that application. Note which test type caught you out, practise it, and focus on the other employers on your shortlist.

Want a coach for the whole season?

Sprout’s one-to-one coaching includes aptitude, numerical and situational judgement practice, marked the way the employer marks it, alongside mock interviews and application reviews for every company on your shortlist. Our coaches are degree apprentices and offer holders at firms like JLR, Morgan Stanley and HSBC. Read about degree apprenticeship coaching, and book a screening call if it sounds right.

Keep reading

• Degree apprenticeship application help: How to fill in the application form, answer motivation questions, tailor a CV and write a cover letter that matches the job.
• The degree apprenticeship assessment centre: What to expect on the day and how to stand out in the group exercise, the case study, the presentation and the final interview.

All degree apprenticeship guides