Capital One Assessment Tests & Interview

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Unlike most banks that use one assessment provider company, Capital One uses a variety of test providers depending on the job type. For example, for Business Analyst positions, they use highly complex data and numerical tests provided by Listen Platform; for coding jobs, they use the CodeSignal platform; and for many other positions, they use the Virtual Job Tryout (VJT) assessment.

For each position, the assessment aims to evaluate your capability to perform different tasks required – writing code for tech and cyber program applicants, data reduction for analysts, and numerical and verbal reasoning for marketing positions.

The Capital One assessment is divided into 3-4 sections; each assesses different abilities: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, Situational judgment and behavior, and coding (for those who apply for technical roles).

In the test’s numerical reasoning section, you will be presented with numerical data in the form of graphs and tables, followed by multiple-choice questions.

To answer the questions, you will need to demonstrate basic math aptitude and perform calculations involving fractions, percentages, ratios, and conversions.

You will be allowed to use a calculator.

Here's a question representing the section:

Numerical Reasoning Sample Question

Capital One Numerical Reasoning Sample Question

Silverbrick International Lager Breweries Ltd. 2005

Brewery	Uxbridge, UK	Malmo, Sweden	Torino, Italy	Ottawa, Canada	Canberra, Australia
Operational Costs (Millions Euros)	3.6	0.3	2.8	0.28	0.3
Marketing&Development (Millions Euros)	12	2.2	3.5	8	7
Monthly Output (Thousands of liters)	12,000	1,200	8,000	1,000	4,500
Total Output as % of 2004	120%	90%	70%	80%	110%
Revenues (Millions Euros)	25	3	14	3	8

*Assume that the monthly output for any brewery is the same throughout the year.

*1 liter is sold for 1.5 euros

Which of these breweries has the highest ratio of operational costs to revenues?

A. Uxbridge, UK

B. Malmo, Sweden

C. Torino, Italy

D. Ottawa, Canada

E. Canberra, Asutralia

View Explanation

The correct answer is C - Torino, Italy.

A ratio refers to the relative sizes of two or more values.
Ratios can be expressed in different ways:
1. In words — using the word 'to.' For example, the ratio between A and B is A to B.
2. Using a colon — ratios are usually written as two values separated by a colon. For example, the ratio between A and B is A: B.
3. As a fraction — using a fraction line. For example, the ratio between A and B is A/B
*Notice! The order of values written in the ratio expression must correspond with the order the values appear in the sentence:
- The ratio between A and B is B: A or B/A - WRONG!
- the ratio between A and B is A: B or A/B - CORRECT!
To determine the highest operational costs to revenues ratio, you have to calculate the ratio using the fraction line and see which brewery has the highest result.
Therefore, the ratio is calculated in the following manner: Operational Costs / Revenues. Since both are provided in millions of Euros and need to find the ratio, you can omit the millions from the calculation. Thus, you get:

Uxbridge, UK: 3.6 / 25 = 0.144
Malmo, Sweden: 0.3 / 3 = 0.1
Torino, Italy: 2.8 / 14 = 0.2
Ottawa, Canada: 0.28 / 3 = 0.093
Canberra, Australia: 0.3 / 8 = 0.037

0.037 < 0.093 < 0.1 < 0.144 < 0.2
Torino, Italy, has the highest operational costs to revenues ratio.

Solving Tip: Knowing basic arithmetic is highly important in these questions. Don't neglect the seemingly minor skills and knowledge that may make the difference between passing and failing the test.

Ready to Practice for your Capital One Assessment?

Capital One is considered one of the most sought-after by job seekers and is recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 best companies to work for. As such, it boasts a very meticulous and selective recruitment process.

This page includes everything you need to know about the Capital One assessment tests, the Capital One virtual job tryouts, the Graduate Scheme, interviews, and Power Day, and includes examples and tips.

Our Capital One Assessment Preparation offers simulations and practice tests that mimic the actual SHL tests you will face throughout your bank application, along with guides.

Practice makes perfect and more importantly — allows you to sort past your opponents.

In the test’s verbal reasoning section, you will be presented with a series of short texts followed by a statement.

You will need to choose whether the statement is true, false, or cannot be determined.

To answer the questions, you need to demonstrate your reading comprehension and attention to detail.

Here's a question representing the section:

Verbal Reasoning Sample Question

Capital One Verbal Reasoning Sample Question

Based on the following paragraph, choose whether the statement below is TRUE, FALSE, or if you CANNOT SAY without further information.

To determine whether interbreeding took place among Homo species before the populations that became modern humans left Africa, evolutionary biologists studied DNA from two African hunter-gatherer groups, the Biaka Pygmies and the San, and from a West African agricultural population, the Mandenka. Each of these groups is descended from populations thought to have remained in Africa, meaning they would have avoided the genetic bottleneck effect that usually occurs with migration. This means the groups show particularly high genetic diversity, which makes their genomes more likely to have retained evidence of ancient genetic mixing. The researchers looked at 61 non-coding DNA regions in all three groups. Because direct comparison to archaic specimens wasn't possible, the authors used computer models to simulate how infiltration from different populations might have affected patterns of variation within modern genomes. On chromosomes 4, 13, and 18 of the three African populations, the researchers found genetic regions that were more divergent on average than known modern sequences at the same locations, hinting at a different origin.

When population groups migrate, they apparently breed little with different groups at first.

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

C. CANNOT SAY

View Explanation

A careful reading will prove that this is true: "Each of these groups is descended from populations thought to have remained in Africa, meaning they would have avoided the genetic bottleneck effect that usually occurs with migration. This means the groups show particularly high genetic diversity, which makes their genomes more likely to have retained evidence of ancient genetic mixing." Migrating groups, by contrast, must show low genetic diversity or little evidence of ancient genetic mixing. This means that they apparently breed little with different groups at first. Therefore, the answer is True.

Solving Tip: Base your answers only on the information given in the text. Do not rely on any previous knowledge or experience you may have, as this may lead you to a wrong conclusion.

In the test’s situational judgment and Behavior (SJT) section, you will be presented with a series of workplace scenarios in which a conflict or issue needs to be resolved.

You will need to choose a preferred method of action out of several possible options.

To answer the questions, you need to select a spontaneous and authentic response. However, you need to consider the position you are applying for, as well as analyze the response that highlights your skills and allows you to present yourself better on the test.

Here's a question representing the section:

Capital One Situational Judgment Sample Question

Capital One Situational Judgment Sample Question

You are a team manager in a cellular phone services company. Your sales team has been promised bonuses for exceeding their sales goal this season. Unfortunately, your department manager has announced that the company is experiencing a shortfall in resources and won't be able to distribute the promised bonuses this year. Ever since the announcement, your team has been visibly frustrated, sales rates have decreased significantly, and there is noticeable friction among team members. Some employees have even approached you personally to express their disappointment in company actions.

What should you do?

Rate each response on a scale of 1-6, with 1 being highly desirable and 6 being highly undesirable.

Response #1: Hold a meeting with the department manager and express your own frustration with the situation.

Response #2: Tell your team members that you understand their frustration. That being said, they need to reconcile themselves with the situation and resume their work as usual.

Response #3: Hold a meeting with your team. Express appreciation for their work and promise that when the company's financial state improves, you will make every effort to restore the bonus incentive.

Response #4: Hold a meeting with your team. Express your personal disapproval of the department manager's decision. It is extremely important that your team knows you support them.

Response #5: You believe your team members are acting ungratefully. Warn them about their misconduct.

The correct rating is: #3 - #2 - #5 - #1 - #4

Explanation: This item assesses your ability to think about the organization’s objectives whilst also taking responsibility for your employees, ensuring their concerns are taken seriously. The dilemma you are faced with is how to balance company needs versus your subordinates' needs. Your job as a manager is to function as a mediator between your team and higher management. On the one hand, you need to understand the company's situation and respect its limitations. On the other hand, you are expected by your employees to empathise with their situation and provide an appropriate solution. Your desired goal is to demonstrate organizational thinking and to take your employees' frustration seriously. You should be emphatic to both sides and moderate between them, with obvious obedience to management’s decisions. You must be diplomatic here to avoid putting forward your own preference, as well as to keep the delicate relationship between the team and management in a positive place.

Response #1 does not address the problem itself but rather attends to your own feelings of frustration. Here, you turn to your superior to 'blow off some steam.' This is not a desirable response as it is not beneficial to anyone. Thus, it is highly undesirable.

Response #2 demonstrates organizational thinking as you understand the company's situation and respect its limitations. You push forward organizational goals by addressing the problem and conveying work expectations from your employees. Although this response demonstrates your ability to maintain authority, you show very little empathy toward your employees' feelings and do not offer an actual solution to their frustration. Furthermore, as a manager, it is your responsibility to mediate between your team and higher management. Thus, your employees may resent you for not taking their complaints to management or not offering a solution to the problem at hand. This response lacks sensitivity and responsibility towards your subordinates, but it shows great organizational thinking. It is thus rated as slightly desirable.

Response #3 addresses the problem in front of your employees and maintains organizational thinking. In this response, you demonstrate social intelligence as you display an understanding of your employees' frustration. Displaying sensitivity towards your employees' needs and being understanding of their situation while also keeping the company's interest unharmed indicates great strategic skills as you process all the information and offer a solution accordingly. This response also demonstrates excellent organizational thinking and leadership skills, specifically, your ability to take responsibility for your employees. Thus, this is a highly desirable response.

Response #4 addresses the problem and empathizes with your employees. However, you display poor organizational thinking by voicing your disapproval of management's decision and going against the organization’s policy in front of your subordinates. Additionally, you offer no actual solution to the problem. Rather, you just voice your disapproval, which could decrease motivation and sales even more. This response also shows disloyalty towards management, as you turn against them by siding with your employees. This is a highly undesirable response as it benefits no one and portrays you in a negative light.

Response #5 conveys your authority and work expectations from your employees. However, part of organizational thinking is understanding that your actions have an effect on your employee's work, motivation, and productivity, and this, in turn, has an impact on the organization. This response thus lacks organizational thinking. This response also lacks social intelligence and responsibility towards your employees. You are informed that your employees were promised bonuses for exceeding their sales goals. It is thus harsh to believe that they are acting ungratefully in this situation, and it is unlikely to motivate your employees to go back to work if you show no appreciation for their efforts. This response is undesirable.

Solving Tip: Before taking the test, read as much as you can about Capital One and the nature of the role you are applying for. Considering Capital One's Code of Conduct and values competencies can help immensely when maneuvering between the different responses.

The test’s coding section is only for those applying for technical positions.

You will be presented with a coding assignment in which you will need to present your abilities in data structure, coding algorithms, and solution design.

Get Ready for Your Capital One Assessment Tests

Ace the Capital One Assessment, land an interview and achieve that role using our expertly made JobTestPrep’s Capital One PrepPack™. Our highly comprehensive practice tests mimic the real test, and our study guides will give you a definite advantage in both confidence and ability.

Includes these Talent Central exams: SHL Numerical, SHL Verbal, SHL Deductive Reasoning, SHL Checking, and SHL Verify Calculation Test. Complete guide to the SHL Personality Test.

A Virtual Job Tryout (VJT) is an online assessment that evaluates your job-related performance. This will allow you to see how your job will look and demonstrate your professional skills, and for the employers to estimate what type of worker you are and learn about your work style.

The Virtual Job Tryout comprises several sub-tests that address different aspects of the position you are applying for. The number of sub-tests, their types, lengths of each sub-test, and the number of questions you’ll receive depends on the job you applied to, but they usually cover the following topics:

Situational Judgment Test (SJT) – you will be presented with work-related scenarios followed by several statements. You will need to choose which statements you’d be Most or Least likely to do.
Ranking Activities Test – you will be presented with four activities that are part of your applied job. You will need to review each of the activities, determine how urgent each of them is, and rank them accordingly.
Data Analyzing Test – you will be presented with data in the form of graphs and tables, followed by a question. To answer it, you need to analyze the data.
Biodata Test (“Tell Us Your Story”) – you will be asked to detail your work history, background, and experiences.
Personality Test (Describe Your Approach) – you will be presented with sets of two statements that you will need to choose which best describe your approach and work style.

The Capital One hiring process generally follows the presented format:

Apply Online
Take an online assessment – a 60–90-minute pre-hire aptitude test.
The test's length and structure depend on the position you are applying for.
Receive an interview invitation –
- an HR phone or video interview followed by a sit-down interview with a manager
  or
- an on-site power day with 3-4 frontal interviews.

Keep in mind the tips below to help you succeed in the Capital One hiring process: 

It is essential to mention that the process may take up to 2 months. Be patient. After filling in the assessment test, you may wait a while.
Many candidates don't finish the online assessment test on time. It doesn't mean you didn't pass it.
If you are applying for the Customer Service position, prepare examples in advance of the work situation you can use in the interview. Examples of difficulties you handle well.

Before being invited for a sit-down interview, the company will generally require you to pass a screening process with an HR representative. This will come in the form of either a phone or video conference call and will include a basic question relating to your work history, availability, salary expectations, and a few broad questions about your skill sets.

Once you pass the HR screening and are shortlisted for the position, you will be contacted for a sit-down interview. Depending on the nature of the position and its seniority, you may face a one-on-one or panel interview. The interviews will be a mix of HR reps and managers from relevant departments.

A Capital One power day is a series of on-site interviews that aims to get to know you better and assess your professional skills and behavioral tendencies.

The power day includes four interviews in four hours.

The interview can be one-on-one or a panel interview.

There are three types of interviews –

The behavioral interview focuses on you and your background. This is your opportunity to talk about your employment experience and demonstrate your professional approach. The interview is based on the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result.

To prepare for the behavioral interview, you should master all aspects of your employment history, review all the material you received from your recruiter, and plan specific examples for every possible question.

The job fit interview focuses on your specific position and work style preferences. You will be asked about your interest in the company and industry, as well as questions regarding your working environment inclinations and learning methods and implementations.

To prepare for the job fit interview, you should learn about the position you are applying for, carefully read the job’s description, and get to know Capital One’s culture.

The case interview focuses on your professional competencies – analytical ability, strategic and logical thinking, and problem-solving skills. You will be asked to solve a question, situation, or challenge. You will be given relevant information and variables, and you will need to guide your interviewer through your problem-solving process.
You are encouraged to ask the interviewer questions that will help you better understand the issue and gather more information.

To prepare for the case interview, you should practice as many case studies as you can, and by doing so, learn how to approach them, how to guideline your way to the solution, and how to phrase the questions for you to gather the most accurate information that will assist you in getting your answer quickly and efficiently.

Capital One offers Grad programs that allow you to launch your career straight out of college. Each program has a screening process specially designed to evaluate your professional skills. This usually includes an online assessment test and a power day, in which you will have four on-site interviews.

The Capital One coding assessment is for software engineers and tech and cyber applicants.

You will be asked to complete a CodeSignal test in a coding language of your recruiter’s choice. The test assesses your coding skills and evaluates the way you tackle problems.

You will be presented with four questions to complete in 70 minutes. The difficulty of the questions is a mixture of easy, medium, and hard.

The scoring range of the test is 300 to 850, and you will receive points for any attempt to answer any of the questions.

Here is the scoring and assessment table of CodeSignal –

660 – you are familiar with programming and can write simple code to execute some operations
710 – you have good implementation skills, can work with built-in data types, and implement the wanted solution.
760 – you have excellent implementation skills and can develop large applications. However, you may not have much experience in solving algorithmic tasks.
810 – you have excellent problem-solving skills and can implement ideas that don’t require too much coding.
840 – you have excellent algorithmic, problem-solving, and implementation skills.

Once you pass the assessment test, you will receive an invitation to an on-site power day. On the day, you will have four interviews –

1 behavioral interview – a personal interview that focuses on you and your working experience and background.
1 case interview – a professional interview that focuses on your thinking and problem-solving abilities.
2 technical interviews – a professional interview that focuses on your expertise and capability to find solutions on the spot.

The Capital One business analyst assessment is for graduates from the quantitative field, such as finance, economics, statistics, data science, computer science, etc.

You will be asked to complete a Virtual Job Tryout via Listen Platform. This test assesses your analytical capabilities, mathematical thinking, and preferred work style.

You will be presented with 11 questions; each includes 1-3 sub-questions, which can be open-ended or multiple-choice. There is no time limit.

The answer to some of the questions lies in the data provided to you within the excel sheet attached to the email with the link to the test; the other requires mathematical calculations and equations.

Once you pass the assessment test, you will receive an invitation to an on-site power day. On the day, you will have four interviews –

1 behavioral interview – a personal interview that focuses on you and your working experience and background.
2 case interviews – a professional interview that focuses on your thinking and problem-solving abilities.
1 technical interview – a professional interview that focuses on your expertise and capability to find solutions on the spot.

The Capital One strategy associate assessment is for graduates from fields such as business, marketing, information technology, etc.

You will have a 30-minute business case interview, in which you will be asked business questions regarding a given problem. The questions can require calculations such as weighted averages, profit margins, and break-even analysis.

Once you pass the interview, you will receive an invitation to an on-site power day. On the day, you will have four interviews –

1 behavioral interview – a personal interview that focuses on you and your working experience and background.
2 case interviews – a professional interview that focuses on your thinking and problem-solving abilities.
1 written case interview – a professional interview that is like the standard case interview, with the difference that in the written case interview, you will be given a set of materials and a time limit of 30 minutes to review it, analyze it, and present your findings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

To pass your Capital One assessment test, you first need to research as much as you can about your desired position and its job description. Once you figure it out, you know which kinds of questions you are going to be asked. Now, you can prepare with them in mind, sharpen your verbal and numerical skills, and practice how to shed light on your personality traits and professional tendencies to make you the perfect candidate for the job.

The Capital One Assessment includes Numerical, Situational Judgment, and Verbal tests, along with a coding task for some positions.

This is besides the virtual job tryout and various interviews you will have to take throughout the hiring process.

Applicants’ results on the Verbal Test are not measured by their correct answers; that is, by a raw score.

Your scores are counted relative to scores received by other employees competing for the same role or are employed in similar positions.

This method of measuring applicants’ results on the Verbal Test lets employers hire not just those people who do well but those who are among the top scorers.

This method also makes the test more difficult because even if your score is objectively high, it still may need to be revised when compared to the scores of others.

Suppose you receive such a high mark on your Verbal Test as 91. Were the test evaluated according to your raw score, you would stand a good chance of being shortlisted for an interview. But if most applicants score above 91, your result would be deemed low, and you would not be invited to move to the next level in your application process.

Judged against other people’s achievements, you surely need to prepare for the test in advance.

Study with our sophisticated resources, outperform other people on your examination and avail yourself of the opportunity to leave a favorable impression on your recruiters during your face-to-face interview with them.

The Situational Judgement Tests (SJT) are psychological assessments where you are presented with hypothetical, yet realistic, scenarios related to the job you are applying for.

SJTs have become a popular tool used by assessment companies, employers, and organizations to evaluate candidates' behavioral and cognitive abilities when introduced to daily work-related situations.

Your ability to analyze, comprehend, and use numerical data is crucial in many fields.

Since Capital One uses these tests to understand your numerical capabilities better, it is recommended that you brush up on these skills before being asked to take the test.

The hiring process of Capital One can take up to 2 months. After filling in the assessment test, you may wait a while.

The Capital One interview process depends on the position you applied for. It could include a phone or video conference call followed by a sit-down interview, either one-on-one or a panel interview.

For several positions, especially those in the Capital One Graduate Scheme, the interview process includes a power day, where you will have four on-site interviews back-to-back.

A Panel Interview is a type of face-to-face interview. Unlike a regular in-person interview, where you will speak to a Human Resources representative and your prospective manager, you will have a conversation with four or six people simultaneously in the panel interview.

The people you talk to on the panel interview will probably be the Human Resources manager, team leaders, and managers of several departments where you can work if employed.

Questions asked during the panel interview are mostly competency-based. You will need to tell them about your education and work experience.

To answer situational questions well, think about the situation that presented challenges in your former workplace, which you resolved by making a smart decision.

The company’s recruiters will want to know why you made this specific decision and did not pursue available alternatives.

They may also want to walk you through your résumé and ask you questions about the companies for which you worked in the past. In return, recruiters will tell you about the company’s business goals and structure.

The panel interview may take up to two hours.

Capital One Assessment Tests & Hiring Process | 2024 Guide

The Capital One Assessment Tests & Hiring Process

What Are Capital One Assessments?