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Standard Chartered Assessments

Prepare for the Standard Chartered recruitment process with tailor-made practice materials.

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Careers at Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered is a universal bank, operating in treasury services, corporate, consumer, and institutional banking. Officially formed through a merger in 1969, the bank's history goes all the way back to the 1850s. Today the headquarters are in London and it is one of the largest banks in the London Stock Exchange and a FTSE 100 company, however, the majority of its profits are generated in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Currently, Standard Chartered has over 770 branches world wide in 70 countries, employing around 85,000 people. It is famed for its rich history and global success making it a company that understands and values diversity in its practices and workforce, shown by their thorough code of conduct, which commits to creating a positive impact on the world. This makes their internships and international graduate programmes extremely coveted. The internship is a 10-week insight into working life, while the graduate programme is an intensive 18-month training course. Both the internships and graduate programmes allow you to choose from a number of 'streams', which are specific areas of financial business, so you can do what interests you the most. Some of the streams are:

  • Global banking
  • Corporate finance
  • Wealth management
  • Retail banking
  • Risk and conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance

Standard Chartered Application Process

The recruitment process is slightly different from some other companies as they are looking for a diverse workforce, so it is designed to encourage applicants from less traditional backgrounds. Minimum requirements for their internships and graduate programmes are very simple: eligibility to work in the country you are applying for, fluency in English, and being a university student or graduate. This is because the process relies heavily on Standard Chartered's psychometric testing, which assesses strengths, cognitive abilities, and cultural fit.

Standard Chartered Online Application Form

The first stage is the online form, which includes your CV and short personal statement. Standard Chartered want to encourage applicants from all disciplines, so do not be discouraged if you do not have a background in finance. For the personal statement you will be asked to show how your previous experience is relevant and what you will bring to the role - this is your chance to show your unique perspective and potential strengths.

You will not be shortlisted or excluded solely because of your CV; this is more dependent on how you perform on the psychometric testing.

Standard Chartered Aptitude Tests

Standard Chartered Valued Behaviours Assessment

The Valued Behaviours Assessment is a type of personality test which Standard Chartered uses to get a feel for who you are, how you operate, and if you are compatible with the work culture of the company. These are similar to situational judgement tests - presenting you with hypothetical workplace scenarios and then asking you to pick the response you most identify with. Many key workplace behaviours can be predicted through these tests such as communication type, relationship building skills, and leadership potential.

While there are technically no right or wrong answers on personality tests, Standard Chartered are looking for specific strengths and behavioural preferences that align with their code of conduct. When writing your personal statement and taking the strengths test, it is a good idea to be mindful of the key values:

  • Do the right thing. Work with integrity and be a force for change.
  • Never settle. Always be willing to learn from successes and failures in order to keep innovating and improve business.
  • Better together. Understand the importance of the network and have the mindset of "how can I help?"

Standard Chartered Numerical Reasoning Test

If your strengths test is successful then you will be invited to take a numerical reasoning test. This is a type of psychometric test which gauges your competency when working with numbers and interpreting numerical data such as graphs and statistics. Although it will differ from job to job, if you're looking to work in banking, there is an expectation for a certain level of comfort when processing numbers.

When it comes to preparing for these, the best thing to do is take practice tests. There is a practice section on the actual test, which you must complete and gives you feedback on your answers, but doing more beforehand will be immensely helpful. You can also try financial reasoning tests, which provide more focussed questions on financial-based problems.

Their tests are 16 minutes long and are adaptive - this means that it adjusts according to your performance on the previous answer, creating a unique test for every candidate. They encourage you to have a calculator, pen, and paper handy when you do this test.

Standard Chartered Abstract Reasoning Test

Also known as diagrammatic reasoning, this test is designed to assess your pattern recognition and logical thinking skills. You will be asked to identify patterns and relationships between shapes and sequences, applying logic and inference from previous information to choose the correct answer.

These are becoming an increasingly popular recruitment tool as they provide a more objective assessment for potential candidates. While you can, and should, practice abstract reasoning, they are not based on prior knowledge or educational background. Instead, they give an insight to your lateral and critical thinking abilities, as well as how well you perform under pressure.

The Standard Chartered test is 15 minutes long and you will not need any additional equipment for it, but you are allowed a dictionary if required.

Standard Chartered Strengths Based Video Interview

Strengths-based interviewing is used as it shows your passions and what you're good at better than other types of interviewing. This is preferred for companies like Standard Chartered who have plenty of intelligent and highly-qualified candidates, so are looking for those who will truly thrive in the roles, rather than just showing they are capable of doing them.

Common SBI questions look like this:

  • Describe a significant accomplishment.
  • Describe a time you took initiative.
  • Why do you want to work for Standard Chartered? Why this sector?
  • What strengths do you have that make you an asset?

There will be an opportunity to practice the questions beforehand and make sure that your set-up is appropriate for recording. Remember to take this as seriously as an in-person interview, meaning dress professionally and make sure that you are not interrupted or distracted while recording your answers.

Standard Chartered Face-to-face Interview

Finally, the last stage in the recruitment process is meeting with the graduate team and people you will be working with in your stream. This is your final chance to really show who you are and why you are the right person for the job, so be confident and make sure that you are prepared to give specific examples of your skills and achievements.

The best way to prepare is to familiarise yourself with Standard Chartered's code of conduct, the expectations of the role, and recent business developments in the sector you are applying for. They are looking for people who are passionate about the field and excited about the future of finance, so you need to show how you embody this. You should also try to come with questions for the interviewers, particularly specifics about the role and company, which show your genuine interest in the day-to-day reality of the job.

Sample Standard Chartered Assessments question Test your knowledge!

Score: /5

The wealth management division of a bank is assessing the potential growth of its assets under management (AUM). Given that the AUM has been growing by an average of 8% each year for the last five years, how much should the AUM increase by the end of the next year if it currently stands at 50 billion?

  • 4 billion
  • 5 billion
  • 54 billion
  • 58 billion

A bank seeks to allocate resources efficiently across three regions: Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Each region has varying levels of demand and risk. With all other factors being equal, which strategy demonstrates abstract reasoning for optimal resource allocation?

  • Assign resources based on the historical profit margins of each region.
  • Distribute resources equally to ensure all regions receive the same level of attention.
  • Allocate resources proportionally to the projected future demands of each region.
  • Focus resources exclusively on the region with the lowest current risk.
  • Invest resources randomly to allow for an unbiased approach.

When analyzing a set of investment opportunities, each with distinct patterns of returns and risks, which approach provides the most effective form of abstract reasoning for decision-making?

  • Select the opportunity based on the advice of the most experienced investor.
  • Choose an opportunity that has the most predictable pattern over the past decade.
  • Compile opportunities into categories based on return-to-risk ratios and select the optimal category.
  • Opt for the investment with the highest return, disregarding the risk factor.
  • Ignore patterns and select the investment with the lowest amount of risk.

A bank's treasury service has observed fluctuations in currency exchange rates. To best take advantage of the changes, which reasoning should be used for determining the timing of foreign exchange transactions?

  • Wait until the exchange rate stabilizes to its historical average before making a transaction.
  • Analyze past trends and economic indicators to predict future exchange rates.
  • Conduct transactions at random intervals to avoid patterns that competitors may exploit.
  • Always execute transactions first thing in the morning when markets are less volatile.

A bank has recorded the following profits over four consecutive quarters in millions: Q1 - 85, Q2 - 120, Q3 - 110, Q4 - 130. If the profits continue to follow the same trend, what is the projected profit for Q1 of the next year?

  • 90 million
  • 95 million
  • 115 million
  • 135 million

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Standard Chartered Assessments Tips

Know Your Stuff

Familiarize yourself with the basics of the banking industry, especially if you're aiming for a position at a prestigious institution like Standard Chartered. Understanding fundamental concepts in treasury services, corporate, and consumer banking are crucial. While Fintest doesn't require you to be an expert overnight, our practice exams will help you get comfortable with the types of questions you might encounter, allowing you to showcase your industry knowledge confidently.

Get Speedy

Many financial sector exams are timed to assess your ability to think quickly and accurately under pressure. Fintest provides timed practice tests so you can work on your pace. Try not only to answer correctly but also to improve your speed with each attempt. The more you practice, the more efficient you'll become at processing information and selecting the right answer swiftly.

Attention to Detail

Paying attention to detail can make all the difference in a high-stakes environment like financial exams. The tests you'll practice with Fintest are designed to hone this skill by presenting you with complex data and scenarios typical of what Standard Chartered might throw at you. Keep an eye out for the subtleties in question wording and data interpretation to avoid common pitfalls.

Stay Cool Under Pressure

It's natural to feel a bit anxious when taking an exam that could pave the way to your future career at Standard Chartered. Our practice exams at Fintest are structured to simulate the testing environment, helping you to build the composure needed to perform under stress. Regular practice can help ease your test anxiety, turning pressure into motivation.

Review and Reflect

After each practice exam on Fintest, take the time to review your answers, especially the ones you got wrong. Understanding where you made mistakes and why is invaluable for your learning process. It's not just about repeating practice tests; it's about reflecting on them and learning from them to ensure continuous improvement before the real deal.

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Standard Chartered Assessments FAQs

What are Standard Chartered's core values?

Standard Chartered's core values are:

  • Doing the right thing
  • Never settle
  • Better together
Where can I practice example Standard Chartered questions?

You can practice free Standard Chartered test questions to get familiar with the format and improve your test score using our online platform - no credit card required.

What skills does Standard Chartered assess?

Standard Chartered assesses skills such as analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, adaptability, and a strong understanding of financial products and markets. The bank also values cultural fit and alignment with its core values.