J.P. Morgan Verbal Reasoning Test

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Ben Hopgood Updated:

About J.P. Morgan Verbal Reasoning Test

J.P. Morgan looks for employees with a high verbal ability. Applicants may have to pass a verbal test before being offered a position.

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J.P use the following tests in their selection process:

  • SHL numerical reasoning test
  • SHL verbal reasoning test
  • SHL inductive reasoning test
  • SHL Situational Judgement Test

JP Morgan is one of the world’s largest investment banks and one of the most recognised names in the financial sector.

Verbal reasoning testsare a fair and objective way for J.P. Morgan to assess a wide range of applicants, each having different experiences and different qualifications. By analysing the results of a standardised verbal reasoning test, J.P. Morgan are able to quickly see which candidates are suitable for the role and which are not. This sort of information about candidates’ skills is difficult to glean from interviews and qualifications alone, so they use professional psychometric tests.

J.P. Morgan Application Process Stages

Here is the typical process for your application to J.P. Morgan, though it may vary between position level and sector.

Stage 1

Online Application

Applicants start with an online application: you will need to provide personal details (background, education and work experience) as well as to upload a copy of your CV and a cover letter.

Stage 2

Online Aptitude Test

Once the application has been received, candidates will be invited to take a numerical reasoning tests. Successful completion of this test could result in the need to also complete some or all of the following psychometric tests : verbal reasoning, inductive reasoning, & or a situational judgement test. These tests are provided by SHL.

  • Situational Strengths Test
  • Numerical Reasoning Test
  • Business Behaviours Test
  • Social Mobility Questionnaire

The Situational Strengths test is very similar to a situational judgement test with some differences in the format of the questions asked. Videos may be used to make the descriptions of each scenario more interactive and immersive. The numerical reasoning is slightly different to most numerical reasoning tests, because it is wirten by Cappfinity, who use an alternative style for answering some of the questions. You can find out more about Cappfinity's numerical assessments here. The Business Behaviours test falls under the category of a personality questionnaire. Answer these questions honestly and truthfully. We have a sample version of a personality questionnaire here if you wish to see what they're often like.

Stage 3

Interview

Successful applicants will be invited for an interview. Depending on the sector that you have applied for, you may be asked a combination of competency, motivational, self-awareness or technical questions.

Stage 4

Assessment Centre

Candidates who are invited to the final stage of the application process - the assessment centre - will complete a combination of the following tasks: a fast-track test, role-play, a case study & presentation, and a group exercise.

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J.P. Morgan Verbal Reasoning Test Questions

Like most verbal tests, the one used by J.P. Morgan looks at your ability to interpret written information and answer questions which require verbal analysis of the content provided. The verbal test will be assessing your speed and accuracy. The answers are multiple choice and you should try to work quickly within the time limit, but also accurately. Negative marking is unlikely to be used but do not guess answers, as this will show up in your accuracy score. Sometimes you will find that you can make a best guess estimate by deducing that some of the answer options are incorrect. This approach to verbal tests will come with practice, and you will become familiar with the type of verbal tests used by companies such as J.P. Morgan.

Verbal reasoning tests and who uses them

Companies are using verbal reasoning test more and more in their application process that candidates must go through. verbal reasoning tests are favoured when the role being recruited for requires assessment and generation of written content on a regular basis. A person's score in a verbal reasoning test is a good indicator of their ability to work well with written information. This is very important in a variety of roles, especially those in which communication with colleagues and clients is routine.

J.P Morgan use verbal reasoning tests as part of their recruitment process to help them select the best candidates for a particular role.

So as a graduate or senior candidate applying for a job at J.P. Morgan you might feel like the verbal reasoning test is an unnecessary hoop to jump through. But you should bear in mind that J.P. Morgan are asking you to complete the verbal test as much for your own benefit as theirs; if you are not suitable for the role, a psychometric test will usually identify this. Research has shown that psychometric tests, such as those used by J.P. Morgan, are a better predictor of job performance than traditional selection metrics such as level of degree achieved.

What you should know before taking your verbal reasoning test

The passage of text given to you in a verbal reasoning test will contain the necessary information to answer the questions accompanying it. The passages are usually brief, often a paragraph, or two at most, made up of a few short sentences. Take the time to read the passage well. Skim-reading can lead to missing out details. The passage will be short enough that you can read it comfortably in the time limit given. You don't need to be a super-fast reader to pass a verbal reasoning test. One of the most important things to remember is that the test will not assume that you have specialist knowledge. All questions can be answered from the information given in the passage.

Different types of verbal tests

Most questions in most verbal reasoning tests follow a standard format displaying written information, the question and answer options on screen. These can be arranged differently, but each test will stick to the same layout throughout. The written information will be a blurb of text, but might not be adapted to suit a particular style. The language may be technical and succinct, or colloquial and informal, or may appear to be more like a section of prose. The question text may contain extra information which adds to what's already given, which might also be necessary to answer the question correctly. Lastly, the answer options are almost always a multiple choice of True / False / Cannot say. Multiple choice answers can vary, however. You may have 5 options to pick from, which include the standard 3, but with a Probably False and Probably True added. The more answer options to pick from, the slimmer the chances are that you can obtain the correct answer by guessing.

Some publishers will have less subtle variations in their test from what's described here. Cappfinity for example, will ask you to rank the answer options by a particular criteria. Sometimes, in TalentQ tests, the question may have more than one answer, and you will be told to select two, or possibly more answer options from those available. For further detail, please visit our information on the different verbal test types used by employers.

Answered questions

Are these tests suitable for J.P. Morgan?

Yes. J.P. Morgan use SHL's reasoning tests to assess applicants in the recruitment process. The practice tests we provide have been designed to mimic SHL's style to create an environment similar to the real assessment. This provides you with confidence that the questions you practice with us now are an accurate reflection of the real assessment.

How difficult are your tests?

The same difficulty as real tests. Generally real employer selection tests don't differ that much in terms of difficulty which is why they compare your score against norm groups. Our practice tests are pitched roughly at graduate level, but this means they are actually suitable for preparing for all levels of job: entry; apprentice; graduate; senior; director.

Are they compatible with my Mac / Tablet / Phone?

Yes, and PC, and Linux and smartphone and Android and...everything. Our practice tests will run on all systems and they are responsive so they will work well on tablets and smartphones too!

How many times can I take the tests?

Unlimited. You can take our practice tests as many times as you like; there is no limit. But to be honest, after taking the same test a few times you start to remember the answers, so that’s why we have lots of tests.