UBS Online Assessments

Does anyone know what is UBS online test like? I need to take numerical reasoning and logical reasoning ones.
Are they difficult and where can I practice some?
Thanks guys

Online UBS SHL Test

As more and more employers are utilizing online assessments, UBS has adapted its own pre-interview test for applicants to complete.

UBS describes the two part online assessment stage of the interview process. These tests are only used in certain geographies.

We use two types of online assessment tests. The UBS Cultural Appraiser gives realistic, hypothetical work scenarios to assess how well you align to our culture and values. Our numerical reasoning test asks you to solve mathematical problems in business scenarios.

Our users noted that the exams are not too difficult.

Recap:
The tests aren't so much about your knowledge, but more about how well you can extract information. They test how quickly you can manipulate numbers and find the correct answer. A good place to study is: www.shl.com

Users shared that the test are similar to the numeric and verbal reason SHL exams. Details about those exams are provided below.

SHL Quantitative Exam

Our users explained their experiences with the exam below:

boredom:
The basic quantitative skills exam focused on percentages, ratios, graphs, and the occasional exchange rate question.

jgsim:
The math part involves very basic math and drawing conclusions from graphs. Some of the questions involved converting one currency to another (picking the proper exchange rate to use off of some sort of chart). It reminded me of the easier SAT math type questions.

Sample Question

Source: https://www.cebglobal.com/shldirect/en/assessment-advice/example-questi…

Correct Answers: B, B

SHL Verbal Exam

User @jgsim" again explained:

jgsim:
The verbal section is a bit more difficult, but still quite easy. You read a short paragraph and then are asked a question about what was stated or implied in the paragraph. Most of the questions were very straightforward and basically, they just asked if a statement was true or not based on the reading. The statement was like a rewording of one sentence in the paragraph or something completely out of the blue (so, obviously a not true answer).

Sample Question

Source:https://www.cebglobal.com/shldirect/en/assessment-advice/example-questi…

Correct Answers: True, False, Cannot Say, True

To practice more - users advise running through the practice exams on the CEB website.

Read more about the UBS interview process here.

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Citi have notoriously hard ones. UBS pretty easy shl practice ones are harder then the online and in person ones.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Thanks guys. What is logical reasoning ability? Is that the same as diagrammatic reasoning? Where can I get examples of these? SHL website only has few examples and they seem pretty easy. Thanks

 
Lilo:
Thanks guys. What is logical reasoning ability? Is that the same as diagrammatic reasoning? Where can I get examples of these? SHL website only has few examples and they seem pretty easy. Thanks
This is a good source: http://www.assessmentday.co.uk There are some free tests, but if you want more you have to pay (not expensive). Good luck.
Snootchie Bootchies
 

i don't know of where you can get any other examples other than the shl ones. but in my honest opinion for the diagrammatic ones either you got it or you dont. heh. btw you should change the title. online text looks really funny.

 

what the hell are these tests to get into banking, i thought that was only for mckinsey. i interviewed with just about every bb and went to a number of superdays and never once took a test.. are you guys from like state school?

 
nycIBD:
what the hell are these tests to get into banking, i thought that was only for mckinsey. i interviewed with just about every bb and went to a number of superdays and never once took a test.. are you guys from like state school?

yea state school scrum! douche.

no, these are much more common in the UK, every app has a numerical at some point over here.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Some of the sample ones at SHL web site seem fairly simple. On the other hand, some others I came across at other sites seem too complex. I have a week to take my online test. I really don't know if I should be bothered and practice and waste time on it, or if I should just make an attempt at it and whatever happens.

 
user_:
chinese at my school has taken screenshots of the tests...

they test you again at the interview.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 
Lilo:
Are the actual questions more difficult or easier then sample ones at SHL web site? Some seem pretty straight forward. Do they allow calculators at interviews? Thanks

calculators yes. you bring your own so you could bring a business calc for quicker percentages calculations.

actual questions easier.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 
ametista:
Are these tests online and can you do them from your home? Or do you have to take them in the actual bb bank?

both.

it works two ways; you either do them as a part of your initial online app, if you pass them (or are in a certain percentile) your app will get looked at or they look at your app, like you and give you the test to do then take it from there.

once done at home if you're invited for an interview they give you another test to do to corroborated your online scores.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 
cybernick:
Anyone care to post the questions or screenshots?

Seriously guy chill out on these tests!

These tests are easy. If you don't find them easy you should really question your choice of career! There are lots of practice and example tests online, Google it you lazy children.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Don't Google too much, however, since some of the preparatory sample tests you find on the internet are much more difficult then the real ones, so I've heard. What I don't understand is that the first test is online, one does it from home, and of course it is easy to cheat since everyone can bring someone who knows this stuff well to do it for them. And then, you do it at your interview again. Why not just do it once at the interview?!?!?!

 
Best Response
Lilo:
Don't Google too much, however, since some of the preparatory sample tests you find on the internet are much more difficult then the real ones, so I've heard. What I don't understand is that the first test is online, one does it from home, and of course it is easy to cheat since everyone can bring someone who knows this stuff well to do it for them. And then, you do it at your interview again. Why not just do it once at the interview?!?!?!

Jeezus. OK it's a screening process, if HR can devise a way to be given a reason why not to waste their time getting you in for an interview (within reason) they'll do it. If you have bad grades, you're out, if your answers to the questions they ask are bad, you're out, if you can't find percentage change, you're out.

Not everyone is going to be dishonest and cheat so those who don't cheat and fail aren't bought in for interview and by doing so you don't waste HR's time or the applicant's time.

Either way, suck it up, do the test, they're easy. You'll have to jump through hoops for the rest of your life, may as well start now.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 
Oreos:
Lilo:
Don't Google too much, however, since some of the preparatory sample tests you find on the internet are much more difficult then the real ones, so I've heard. What I don't understand is that the first test is online, one does it from home, and of course it is easy to cheat since everyone can bring someone who knows this stuff well to do it for them. And then, you do it at your interview again. Why not just do it once at the interview?!?!?!

Jeezus. OK it's a screening process, if HR can devise a way to be given a reason why not to waste their time getting you in for an interview (within reason) they'll do it. If you have bad grades, you're out, if your answers to the questions they ask are bad, you're out, if you can't find percentage change, you're out.

Not everyone is going to be dishonest and cheat so those who don't cheat and fail aren't bought in for interview and by doing so you don't waste HR's time or the applicant's time.

Either way, suck it up, do the test, they're easy. You'll have to jump through hoops for the rest of your life, may as well start now.

Sure, but you need to calm down.

I had to take this assessment for the HK office application. The numerical reasoning test is one that everyone should be able to do well on. As for the logical reasoning test, I guess the guy above who said you either get it or you don't is right, but I found the logical reasoning test to be pretty easy. It helps to focus on one aspect of the pattern (dots, shapes, colors, etc.) and see where it goes in the next iteration.

 

SA's at my bank were given these tests during the last week of internships, when they were figuring out offers. this is BB in nyc. for some reason they didn't administer the tests during interviews. but this was a new thing...they've never tested before....so maybe these tests will start to show up during the interview process. just another stressful thing to worry about for applicants in this already challenging recruiting environment.

 

I don't know wabout UBS, but I did tests for DB and I don't think it was SHL (I forgot the other format that is used). But an example of a question I had was:

ABC Company posts revenues for each department for the year ending in 2008. It would have a pie chart with 5 departments showing in millions, how much each department made. Then it showed the revenues for each department ending in 2009 as a percent of $5M.

This is followed by 2 questions (which worked out great because it's easy to figure them out and the test had 20 questions...the others were more difficult). I think one question was what department had the best YoY gain and which had the least YoY gain. You find this by each percent by the 5M to get the numbers and just compare.

While this sounds easy (and is), for the 20 questions, you have 20 minutes to complete it. So you figure 1 minute a question which includes reading the questions (some ?'s were pretty long) then you realize how some people may find it a little difficult.

 

Im assuming its the same tests as for EMEA. Two tests, one will be basic numerical (SHL), the other will be a logic test identifying patterns with shapes. Both are pretty basic, jsut make sure to get some practice for the numerical as there have been cases of strong candidates failing due to overconfidence.

 

just number games

I took a lot of those for all the HK banks.

Just long as you are comfortable with numbers and ratios(i.e. what's the profit if blah goes down by blah)

do the practice test and you will understand more

 

I'd be curious as well. SHL was strange -- reminded me of IQ tests from the third grade.

Also does anyone know how exactly these tests are used to screen candidates? Do you need a certain score to even get a first round interview?

 

I don't know. Just seems strange to me they'd value the outcome of a 25 minute test that evaluates your prowess at rotating abstract shapes when they have years of educational and employment experience from which to form an impression of a candidate. I'd be surprised if these types of assessments were used for hiring at more senior levels.

Then again, when you're going through thousands of resumes, every way to narrow the pool must help.

 

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