Barclays assessment 2026: cognitive tests, personality & business meeting

Updated April 2026 · 13 min read · Banking · 85,000+ employees worldwide

Company	Barclays PLC
Employees	85,000+ across 40+ countries
Divisions	Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, Consumer Banking, Wealth Management
Assessment format	SHL Verify Interactive (cognitive) + Personality + Mindset questionnaire
Key values	RISES: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship
Process	Application → Online assessment (3 parts) → HireVue video → Business Meeting (assessment centre)

Barclays is one of the UK's largest banks and a highly competitive graduate employer. The recruitment process is multi-stage and specifically designed to evaluate both cognitive ability and alignment with Barclays' RISES values framework.

Barclays recruitment stages

Stage 1: Online application. Standard details plus motivation questions. Barclays screens applications, so your motivational answers need substance — reference specific Barclays initiatives, recent news, or business areas that interest you.

Stage 2: Barclays Online Assessment (three parts).

Part 1 — Cognitive Ability Assessment. As of 2026, Barclays uses the SHL Verify Interactive format: an activity-based test with drag-and-drop data interaction. 24 questions in approximately 36 minutes, mixing deductive reasoning (logic puzzles, calendar scheduling), inductive reasoning (pattern recognition), and numerical reasoning (profit/loss calculations, data interpretation from charts). You might be asked to schedule meetings on a calendar one moment and calculate year-on-year revenue growth the next. You must answer all questions — unanswered questions reduce your score. A calculator is available.

Specific question breakdown: 12 questions across numerical reasoning (percentages, ratios, chart reading), supplemented by inductive and verbal reasoning. Time limit for the numerical section alone: approximately 10 minutes. The test is considered challenging primarily because of the tight time limit and the need to switch rapidly between different reasoning types.

Part 2 — Personality Assessment. Evaluates your traits and characteristics against the requirements of the specific role you've applied for. This is a questionnaire with forced-choice items — you select which statement best describes you from pairs or groups. While there are no "right" answers in theory, responses that align with the RISES values and the demands of banking (attention to detail, client focus, ethical judgment) score better.

Part 3 — Mindset Assessment. Evaluates your work-related tendencies, approach, and behaviours. This is Barclays' SJT component — workplace scenarios where you choose how you'd respond. Every answer should reflect the RISES values.

Stage 3: HireVue video interview. Pre-recorded video interview with competency and motivation questions. Barclays uses HireVue with AI-assisted evaluation. Dress professionally, look into the camera, and structure answers using STAR format.

Stage 4: Barclays Business Meeting (assessment centre). An immersive 3.5-5 hour session, often in-person. Includes a project-based case study exercise specific to your business area, written summaries of business reports, video message recordings in response to line manager queries, and e-tray exercises. This is where you demonstrate both analytical skills and Barclays cultural fit.

A second stage of the Business Insight assessment is more grounded in the specific business area of your role — expect deeper, more role-specific scenarios with questions answered through multiple-choice and video responses. This stage is timed at approximately 45 minutes.

Preparation strategy

For the cognitive assessment: Practice SHL Verify Interactive format tests. Focus on speed — 36 minutes for 24 questions across three reasoning types means you have roughly 90 seconds per question, including switching between completely different question types. Practise transitioning between numerical calculations and logical puzzles rapidly.

For the personality and mindset assessments: Review the RISES values thoroughly. For each value, think of 2-3 specific examples from your experience. In forced-choice items, select responses that reflect Service and Integrity — Barclays places heavy emphasis on client-first and ethical behaviour.

How TestSolve helps with Barclays assessments

TestSolve handles the cognitive ability assessment — numerical calculations from charts, logical constraint puzzles, and inductive pattern questions. Press F8 during any cognitive question and the AI delivers the answer to your phone in a few seconds. The SJT engine also analyses mindset assessment scenarios against the RISES framework. Try a free solve.

Latest Updates (2026)

As of 2026, Barclays has refined its assessment process to include a more interactive and comprehensive evaluation of candidates' cognitive abilities. The Barclays Reasoning Skills Test now consists of 24 questions to be completed in approximately 36 minutes. This assessment blends deductive, inductive, and numerical reasoning tasks, presented in an activity-based format where candidates engage with data through actions like dragging and dropping. For instance, one moment you might be scheduling meetings on a calendar, and the next, calculating year-on-year revenue growth. This high-fidelity simulation aims to mirror real-world tasks and assess a candidate's problem-solving capabilities in dynamic scenarios. ([aptitudeprep.com](https://www.aptitudeprep.com/barclays-online-assessment/amp/?utm_source=openai))

What Candidates Say

Recent candidate experiences highlight the evolving nature of Barclays' technical assessments. In a 2026 interview for a Test Analyst position, an applicant reported a virtual technical interview that delved into AI adoption in projects, QA involvement in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Java coding, automation framework concepts, and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices using GitLab. The interview was described as challenging, with some questions not clearly framed, leading to a somewhat confusing conversation. ([glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/Barclays-Test-Analyst-Interview-Questions-EI_IE3456.0%2C8_KO9%2C21.htm?utm_source=openai))

Tips from Recent Candidates

Based on recent candidate feedback, thorough preparation is crucial for success in Barclays' assessments. Practicing time management is essential, as the strict time limits can make it challenging to arrive at correct answers, especially in the cognitive ability assessment. Additionally, understanding the specific test formats and question types can help reduce test anxiety and improve performance. ([jobtestprep.com](https://www.jobtestprep.com/barclays-online-assessment?utm_source=openai))