Citigroup Numerical Reasoning Test

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Ben Hopgood Updated:

About Citigroup numerical reasoning tests

Citigroup looks for employees with a high numerical reasoning ability. Applicants may have to pass a numerical reasoning test before being offered a position in the company, depending on the position and field that they are applying to.

Citigroup logo

Citigroup use the following tests in their selection process:

  • TalentQ numerical reasoning test
  • TalentQ logical reasoning test

Citigroup is a global financial services company which deals with corporate, investment, private, commercial and consumer banking. The Citigroup job application online portal lets job seekers who are interested in the investment banking sector search for employment across 94 available job categories (including Audit, Commercial Banking, Trading and Investment Management).

Numerical reasoning tests are a fair and objective way for Citigroup to assess a wide range of applicants, each having different experiences and different qualifications. By analysing the results of a standardised numerical reasoning test, Citigroup 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.

Often, Citigroup will ask applicants to take a numerical test online, which you can take from home. When the numerical test is used early on in the application process like this you will have to achieve a minimum score before you progress to the next round (typically a score in the top 50% of applicants is required however this does vary role to role). Further along in the selection process you might be asked to attend an assessment centre or interview where you will be asked to sit a numerical test again. This is so Citigroup can verify the person scoring highly in the test is indeed the person applying for the job.

Citigroup Application Process Stages

Stage 1

Online Application

Before you apply for any programme, you will need to first register your details (personal details, work experience, and extra curricular activities) as well as attach a copy of your CV and a cover letter.

Stage 2

Online Aptitude Test

Once your online application has passed a preliminary screening, you will be invited to take an online psychometric test. If you are applying for operations, technology or HR, this will be a Logical Reasoning Test. For any other business area, it will be a Numerical Reasoning Test. These tests are provided by Talent Q.

Stage 3

Interview

Your test results and application will be considered as a whole, and if you are successful you will be invited to a first round interview. This normally consists of a 40-minute competency based interview with representatives from your area of business. Citigroup will mainly be assessing whether or not you possess the competencies that they value, including: adaptability, analysis and problem Solving , commercial awareness, communication, confidence, decision-making and judgement, influencing and persuasiveness, leadership, motivation, and relationship building & teamwork.

Stage 4

Assessment Centre

The assessment centre at Citibank is generally the same for all roles and consists of three 30-minute one-on-one interviews and a case study (a written report, presentation and group discussion). You will be questioned mostly on your motivation for joining Citigroup, your skills and your competencies; though there is a chance you will also be asked some technical questions related to your field.

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Citigroup Numerical Reasoning Test Questions

Like most numerical tests, the one used by Citigroup look at your ability to interpret numerical and graphical data and answer questions which require analysis of the data provided. The numerical 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 numerical tests will come with practice, and you will become familiar with the type of numerical tests used by companies such as Citigroup.

Numerical reasoning tests and who uses them

Companies are using numerical reasoning test more and more in their application process that candidates must go through. Numerical reasoning tests are favoured when the role being recruited for requires interpretation and manipulation of numerical data on a regular basis. A person's score in a numerical reasoning test is a good indicator of their ability to work well with numbers. This is very important in finance, accounting and actuarial positions.

Citigroup use numerical 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 Citigroup you might feel like the numerical reasoning test is an unnecessary hoop to jump through. But you should bear in mind that Citigroup are asking you to complete the numerical 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 Citigroup, are a better predictor of job performance than traditional selection metrics such as level of degree achieved. For more information, check out our numerical reasoning test guide.

What you should know before taking your numerical reasoning test

The numerical operations required in standardised numerical tests are of a level which most applicants can achieve. The difficult aspect comes with carrying out the calculations quickly and accurately within the time limit. You will be allowed a calculator for your numerical test at Citigroup, so make sure you know how to perform these basic operations. Percentage increases and decreases are the most common questions which catch out candidates. Here is a list of the most common operations you can expect in your numerical test:

  • Addition
  • Subtraction
  • Multiplication
  • Division
  • Percentages (including percentage changes)
  • Ratios

Different types of numerical tests

Most questions in most numerical reasoning tests follow a standard format displaying numerical data, the question and answer options on screen. These can be arranged differently, but each test will stick to the same layout throughout. The numerical data may be a graph, table, chart or other visual form. The question text may contain extra information which adds to what's given in the table, this might also be necessary to answer the question correctly. Lastly, the answer options are almost always multiple choice. Multiple choice answers can vary, however. You may have 4 options to pick from, 5, maybe 10, or more. The more answer options to pick from, the slimmer the chances are that you can obtain the correct answer by guessing.

Some TalentQs 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. Test types by different TalentQs are explained here in more detail.

Answered questions

Are these tests suitable for Citigroup?

Yes. Citigroup use TalentQ's reasoning tests to assess applicants in the recruitment process. The practice tests we provide have been designed to mimic TalentQ'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.