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The Barclays assessment centre is the last stage of the Barclays application process. It is designed to assess your suitability for the role, your competencies and your potential for success at Barclays.
The Barclays assessment centre will have the Barclays recruitment team and trained assessors testing and observing you in a variety of exercises, which may include:
E-tray Exercise:
The Barclays e-tray exercise is a virtual work simulation involving a simulated email inbox on various workplace issues that require attention. Your task is to review these emails and prioritise your response, typically within 30 to 60 minutes.
Role-play Exercise:
The Barclays role-play exercise will require you to reenact workplace scenarios with other candidates or the Barclays assessors, evaluating your communication and problem-solving skills. This typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes.
Business Meeting:
A work environment simulation where you interact with assessors to test your comprehension and critical thinking skills, including a case study exercise. This is a long exercise that lasts 3 to 6 hours.
Motivational Interview:
Conducted by a member of the leadership team to reveal your strengths and motivation, this is usually scheduled alongside the other exercises and lasts 30 to 45 minutes.
Good to Know: Barclays describes this stage as an immersive Business Meeting, held in person or virtually and made up of two to three stages lasting 3.5 to 5 hours, including the motivational interview.
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Read on to find out about the stages of the Barclays recruitment process.
By this stage of the Barclays recruitment process, you will typically have completed some or all of the following:
If you’re applying for a more technical role, such as the Explorer Developer programme, Barclays may also invite you to complete an additional assessment to test your coding skills and computer science fundamentals.
Good to Know:
Barclays’ online assessments are typically delivered via SHL or Cappfinity, and are usually blended into two combined stages known as Business Insight Stage 1 and Business Insight Stage 2.
Discover all stages of the Barclays recruitment process here!
Now, let’s find out more about each of these assessment centre exercises, starting with expert tips on how to pass the Barclays assessment centre.
Here are our top tips to help you prepare for and succeed at each exercise of the Barclays assessment centre.
Looking to practice for your Barclays assessment centre? Use GF’s practice assessment centre exercises today!
And that brings us to the end of the Barclays recruitment process. If your application is successful, you will receive an offer of employment.
Before you go, be sure to read about the Barclays early career opportunities you can apply to.
The Barclays assessment centre is the final stage of the Barclays recruitment process, designed to assess your suitability, competencies and potential for success at Barclays.
The Barclays e-tray exercise measures time management, written communication, organisational skills, and attention to detail through a simulated email inbox task.
The Barclays role-play exercise measures interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, negotiation skills and decision-making through a reenacted workplace scenario.
The Barclays business meeting assesses your fit with the role and Barclays’ culture, your practical application of skills under pressure, and your alignment with Barclays’ values and business thinking, through a case study exercise and interviews.
The Barclays motivational interview reveals your strengths and motivations for joining Barclays, and is conducted by a member of the leadership team.
Whether the Barclays assessment centre is held in person or virtually depends on the role and location. Check your invitation for specific details on format and location.
Prepare for the Barclays assessment centre with our expert-designed assessment centre exercises, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind with a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Prepare for the Barclays assessment centre with our expert-designed assessment centre exercises, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind with a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Click the links below to uncover more about the Barclays recruitment process:
This article was last updated on 10 July 2026. All information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, based on publicly available sources. For the most up-to-date details, please verify directly with the employer.
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