Commonwealth Bank Assessments

16 tests |
206 questions

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) is one of the Big Four banks of Australia and provides a range of financial services such as retail, business and institutional banking, broking services, funds management, and insurance. It was founded in 1911 as a government bank and fully privatised in 1996.

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Careers at Commonwealth Bank

In 2020, Commonwealth Bank was recognised as the top graduate employer in Australia and the second-best place to work in the financial sector across Australia and New Zealand. Even if you are not looking for a career in banking, there are opportunities in sectors such as retail, HR, digital, technology and engineering.

Each year the graduate programme takes 150–250 graduates and the summer intern programme takes on 120–150 interns, so joining is highly competitive. While the bank operates internationally, these programmes are only available in Australia, the majority of which are based at the Sydney headquarters.

Commonwealth Bank Application Process

1

Online Application
2

Online Assessments
3

Digital Interview
4

Virtual Assessment Centre

The application process varies slightly for each role, but there are standard steps that apply to all graduate and internship roles. Currently, all interviews and assessments are conducted remotely.

Online application

Your online application is where you show Commonwealth why you want to join the programme and what makes you a strong candidate. It looks for well rounded people who have a balance of strong academics, work experience and other interests, so show what makes you unique and where your passions lie.

You are only allowed to apply for one business area per application cycle. Therefore it is important to thoroughly research the different streams to identify the one that you are best suited for. There are eleven streams, including:

Analytics
Legal
Cyber
Corporate affairs
Global markets

It is important to be as prepared as possible to show your interest in Commonwealth and forging a career in your chosen area of business. Research the company and demonstrate how your experience and skills are relevant.

Commonwealth Bank Aptitude Tests

If Commonwealth likes your application, then you will be invited to take online assessments to further determine your suitability. The assessment includes both a personality questionnaire and ability tests to gauge technical skills, working style, and preferences. The test provider is SHL and it takes 1–2 hours to complete the full assessment, since each test has a 30-minute limit.

Commonwealth Bank numerical reasoning

Competency when working with numbers and numerical information is an important skill for financial careers, but it is also key for a range of other roles such as retail, HR, and managerial. Numerical reasoning tests assess your ability to analyse and draw conclusions from numerical data, particularly in work-related tasks such as interpreting graphs and charts, which shows how you will perform on the job.

Generally, you are allowed to use a calculator, but you should check the given instructions carefully.

Commonwealth Bank logical reasoning

Logical reasoning is also known as abstract reasoning or non-verbal reasoning. It assesses your problem-solving and creative thinking skills by asking you to identify rules in a pattern and follow them.

The most common question structure will present you with a sequence of shapes or images, and will then ask you to identify the continuation or mistake in the pattern.

Commonwealth Bank verbal reasoning

A verbal reasoning test assesses your level of written communication and how well you process text-based information.

Depending on the test and role you are applying for, it may include questions on basic comprehension, spelling, grammar, long written answers, and more complex analysis.

Commonwealth Bank Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ)

The Occupational Personality Questionnaire is one of SHL’s hiring personality assessments, designed to give hiring staff an accurate understanding of your workplace behaviours and motivations.

It measures 32 characteristics that can be mapped against the required competencies for a specific role or workplace culture. These are separated into three main categories:

Relationships
Thinking Style
Feelings and Emotions

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Digital interview

Digital interviews are rapidly increasing in popularity, especially for larger companies like Commonwealth, which have high volumes of promising candidates. Instead of talking to someone live, you will have to record yourself answering interview questions on the recruitment platform.

Commonwealth interview questions are mostly behavioural, also known as STAR (situation, task, action, result) interviews. This means that they focus on past experiences and how you handled them to predict how you will perform in the future. Common questions include:

Tell me about a difficult situation at work and how you handled it.
Talk about a time you felt you failed. What would you do differently now?
What do you hope to achieve with Commonwealth Bank?
What is something you have learnt from a past job that makes you feel prepared for this one?

When answering interview questions, remember to keep in mind Commonwealth’s five core values: integrity, excellence, collaboration, service, and accountability. Your answers will be matched against how well you understand and demonstrate these.

Assessment centre

Assessment centres are used as the final stage of the recruitment process, to put your skills to the test in a more realistic setting. There are three activities to complete:

Commonwealth Individual Task

This is a short presentation on a topic given to you on the day, usually on a business-relevant issue or trend. You will have ten minutes to prepare and then two minutes to present.

This will show the hiring managers how well you process and relay information, your willingness to learn, and your public-speaking skills.

Commonwealth Group Task

The group task is particularly important as it is where your ability to work with others is demonstrated to the managers. You will be put in a group and asked to innovate a product or service according to the data that you are given, working as a team to process the information, delegate tasks, and collaborate ideas.

For this task, Commonwealth gives the advice of showing leadership by encouraging and listening to others. Do not try to dominate the task or push your own ideas over others, make sure to show your respect for everyone’s opinions and integrate different perspectives into the final solution.

Commonwealth Interview

The assessment centre interview is with two staff, usually managers in the area of business that you have applied for. The questions asked will be similar to the digital interview and pertain to how your experiences are relevant to the job, what your future goals are, and how you demonstrate alignment with the core values of the company.

While the interview is about finding out more about you, an important part of that is asking questions back. In your research of the role and the industry, try to show your interest and motivations by asking the managers to give you more information on what their day-to-day lives are like and how your career development could take shape.

Practice Aptitude Tests is not associated with Commonwealth Bank. We provide preparation services for Commonwealth Bank psychometric tests. Our tests are not designed to be identical to any style, employer or industry. Visit https://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/careers.html to find out more.

Sample Commonwealth Bank Tests question Test your knowledge!

Score: /5

A client's portfolio has 40% of its funds invested in the financial sector, 30% in technology companies, 20% in retail, and 10% in healthcare. If the client decides to follow their financial advisor’s suggestion to diversify further and reduces the financial sector allocation to 25% without changing the total investment amount, which sectors are most likely to see an increase in their allocation?

Technology companies and healthcare
Retail and healthcare
Only technology companies
Only retail
Technology companies, retail, and healthcare proportionally

If the net profit margin of a banking institution improved from 15% to 18% over a financial year, and the net income was reported to have increased by $360 million, what was the net income in the previous year?

$2 billion
$1.8 billion
$2.5 billion
$2.2 billion

An investment banker correctly forecasts the interest rate for government bonds to decrease, suggesting potential for capital gains if the bonds are purchased now. Based on this logic, which of the following is the next logical step for the banker to recommend to clients?

Increase investment in government bonds to capitalize on predicted price increases.
Sell existing bonds and wait for further interest rate drops before buying again.
Shift investments into high-interest savings accounts to avoid market volatility.
Advice clients to invest in commodities instead of government bonds.

After a series of financial reforms, the bank has announced a new policy that will affect the handling of high-net-worth individual accounts, aiming to provide more tailored and exclusive services. What could be the primary goal of the bank with this policy change?

To attract more affluent clients and solidify market share among high-net-worth individuals.
To simplify the account management process by reducing the variety of services offered.
To provide all clients with a uniform experience without exceptional services.
To reduce the operational costs associated with managing high-net-worth individual accounts.

From the following options, what would be the most likely reason for a bank to increase the interest rate on savings accounts?

To encourage more customers to deposit their money and increase the bank's capital reserves.
To cover the operational expenses by charging customers more.
To discourage customers from saving and encourage spending.
To comply with new regulations requiring higher interest payments to account holders.
To decrease the bank's liability by lowering the amount of deposits.

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Commonwealth Bank Tests Tips

1Understand the Format

Familiarize yourself with the test structure to avoid surprises on the day of the exam. Knowing what types of questions to expect can significantly boost your confidence.

2Manage Your Time Wisely

Practice under timed conditions to improve your time management skills. A good pace helps you to answer all questions within the time limit without rushing.

3Simulate Real Test Conditions

Taking practice tests in a quiet environment can help acclimate you to the conditions of the actual exam, minimizing anxiety and improving focus.

4Review Your Answers

Make a habit of reviewing your answers, especially for complex problems. This can help catch any mistakes and improve accuracy.

5Relax and Stay Positive

Stress can impact your performance. Ensure you’re well-rested and maintain a positive mindset going into the test. Remember, preparation is key!

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Commonwealth Bank Tests FAQs

What are the Commonwealth Bank tests?

Commonwealth Bank uses a series of assessments such as psychometric testing, numerical and verbal reasoning exams, and sometimes case studies or simulations to gauge a candidate’s aptitude and fit for the role.

Are the Commonwealth Bank tests hard?

The difficulty of Commonwealth Bank tests can vary, but they’re generally in line with industry standards. They’re designed to measure your true capabilities, so with proper preparation, you can perform well.

How do I prepare for Commonwealth Bank tests?

The best way to prepare for Commonwealth Bank tests is through practice. Practice Aptitude Tests offers a wide variety of practice exams and resources tailored to help you succeed.

How long does the recruitment process take at Commonwealth Bank?

The recruitment process length at Commonwealth Bank can differ based on the role and the number of applicants, but expect a thorough process with several stages, potentially lasting several weeks.

What are Commonwealth Bank's core values?

Commonwealth Bank’s core values emphasize integrity, accountability, collaboration, excellence, and service, which are integral to their commitment to customers and stakeholders.

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