1. Introduction

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for BP assessment tests? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

BP Hiring Process Glossary

In a Nutshell:

How to prepare for the BP assessment process and tests to get the job?

1. Complete Your BP Online Application

• Fill in your personal, educational, and work history details. 
• Match your resume to the job description and BP’s key competencies and values. 
• Use their language/keywords from the job post

2. Practice for BP Online Assessment Tests

BP online tests consist of a series of assessment tests. These include: 

• Situational Judgement Questionnaire (SJQ)
• Numerical Reasoning Test
• Verbal Reasoning Test

You may get rejected already after these BP online tests; these tests sift out 50-80% of candidates at this stage. The only proven way to get to the next round is practice.

3. Record mock Video Interviews of Yourself 

BP uses HireVue to pre-record candidate’s answers to questions. Practice for your BP pre-recorded interview by answering typical interview questions.

Prepare for a telephone or video interview by running mock interviews and answering typical interview questions. For BP interview practice, use:

• a smartphone
• Zoom or
• our video interview practice platform

Our video interview practice platform contains predefined competency and industry questions and emulates the experience you will have in platforms used for employers’ interviews such as HireVue, Pymetrics, and Sonru. 

Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times.

4. Prepare for the BP Assessment Centre Exercises

BP uses a competitive variety of exercises during the assessment centre which may be hosted virtually or face-to-face. These activities typically consist of:

• Group Exercise
• Presentation Exercise
• Final Interview

Ensure that you sharpen your spoken and written communication skills. Research online, prepare, and practice presenting as many relevant business case studies as possible.

Be aware, not many get to this stage as the competition is very fierce.

For this final interview, use the video interview platform and record yourself answering the interview questions using the STAR+R technique.

Before we dive into the BP assessments, let’s start your road to success with the basics that any aspiring BP candidate should know. 

Who is BP Plc?

British Petroleum, commonly called BP, is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, known as the 7 “supermajors”. The company operates in all areas of the oil and gas industry which includes exploration and extraction, refining, distribution and marketing, power generation, and trading. 

BP has around 87,700 employees currently. And, they hired around 20,000 employees worldwide during the year 2022-2023 worldwide. 

Because of its reputation and work, BP attracts several applications each year for many areas. Check out the below job areas which you can apply at BP right now:

BP Job Functions

What job functions are available at BP? 

To apply effectively to any of these roles and get an edge over thousands of applicants at BP, make sure to get familiar with the following BP core values. 

BP Core Values

The main BP core values stand as follows:

We’ll cover how to begin your BP application process below, so keep reading!

2. BP Online Application

What is the BP online application? 

The BP online application is the first part of the recruitment process and your first chance to impress your recruiters and stand out. Your BP application process will require you to fill in the details like: 

1. Personal information 
2. Contact details
3. Educational background 
4. Work History 
5. Ethnicity 
6. Work permit, etc. 

When you apply to BP, you will be required to upload your resume and CV. Consider including a cover letter for the job you are applying for when filling out the BP application form.

A sneak peek into your BP application process is given below: 

BP Online Application

Source: BP Careers

Your BP application process is your first opportunity to impress the BP talent acquisition team and potential managers through your communication skills. 

The better you put your achievements and education in your resume, the more chance you have of getting shortlisted. Here are some further tips to improve your chances!

How to Make Your Resume Get Selected at BP 

1. Throughout your online application, you need to refer to the key BP competencies sought after by the job position you have applied to.
2. Make sure your achievements and the projects you have worked on reflect the BP values.
3. Make sure you put in measurable results of your previous work in the Resume. For example: Worked as X and controlled Y functions to bring a 20% growth in Z. 

Don’t miss out! Watch the video below to know the 3 most common mistakes that you should not repeat while building your Resume/CV.

After the BP application process, you will be invited to the BP online tests. Let’s get into the details of these assessments in the following section. 

3. BP Online Assessments

What are the BP online assessments? 

The BP online assessments will assess you based on your cognitive skills and personality traits to understand your personality and see if you fit into the culture of the organisation. The BP aptitude tests you will be required to take during this stage are: 

1. BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire  
2. BP Numerical Reasoning Test 
3. BP Verbal Reasoning Test 

Let’s discuss these BP assessment tests in detail below, starting with the situational judgement questionnaire. 

BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire

What is the BP situational judgement questionnaire? 

The BP situational judgement questionnaire or BP situational judgement test is a set of real-life work scenarios that you might have to go through as an employee at BP. You are required to analyse the problem proposed and choose the most suitable and the worst course of action from the options given during this BP online test.

What does the BP behavioural questionnaire measure? 

This BP behavioural questionnaire or the BP situational judgement test aims to assess your problem-solving skills and your suitability to the role you have applied to by examining you based on your thought process. 

Discover even more about BP behavioural questionnaires with our short YouTube video:

Let’s take a look at the tips and tricks that will bring you a lot closer to succeeding in this BP aptitude test.

5 Tips to Pass the BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire

1. Understand BP’s Values: Research BP’s core values, such as safety, respect, excellence, and courage. Familiarize yourself with their culture and how they expect employees to behave in various situations.
2. Analyse the Job Role: Review the job description to understand the key competencies and skills required. Tailor your responses to showcase these attributes during this BP assessment test.
3. Practice Situational Judgment Tests: There are many online resources and similar BP practice tests available. Use these to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions asked during BP psychometric tests
4. Think Like a BP Employee: Imagine yourself in the role and consider how you would act in BP’s best interests. Show that you can balance business needs with ethical considerations during this BP online test.
5. Stay Calm and Take Your Time: Read each scenario carefully and don’t rush your responses during this BP psychometric test. Ensure you understand the situation fully before choosing an answer.

Want to practice BP-style situational judgement questions? 

Another key BP test you may take at this stage of the BP recruitment process is the BP numerical reasoning test. Check out the details below.

BP Numerical Reasoning Test

What is the BP numerical reasoning test? 

The BP numerical reasoning test will examine your ability to understand a previously unseen passage as well as its data. Candidates for roles at BP which will require the use of numerical skills and interpreting data from tables and charts will be assessed with this assessment.

What does the BP numerical test measure?

The BP numerical test measures the following qualities: 

1. Numerical Literacy 
2. Data Interpretation 
3. Attention to Detail 
4. Problem-Solving Ability 

To understand numerical reasoning tests better, check out this short YouTube video:

A good way to ensure your success is by taking BP practice tests beforehand. By doing so, you familiarise yourself with the types of questions and become more confident. 

Check out 5 more top tips to ace your BP assessment below!

Top 5 Tips to Pass the BP Numerical Reasoning Test 

1. Understand the Test Format: Familiarize yourself with the types of questions typically asked in the BP numerical reasoning test, such as interpreting data from tables, graphs, and charts, and performing calculations involving percentages, ratios, and basic arithmetic.
2. Prepare Mentally and Physically: Get a good night’s sleep before the test and ensure you are well-rested. Stay hydrated and have a healthy meal to ensure you are in the best possible condition for the BP psychometric test.
3. Analyse the Data Carefully: Read each question carefully and analyse the data provided. Ensure you understand what is being asked before performing any calculations during this BP assessment.
4. Time Management:  This BP online assessment may be timed, so practice working under time constraints. Develop a strategy for pacing yourself to ensure you can answer all questions within the allotted time.
5. Accuracy Over Speed: While speed is important, accuracy is crucial. Double-check your calculations and answers to avoid careless mistakes when appearing for this BP test, as this assessment also measures how accurately and how fast you solve the questions. 

Understand the BP numerical tests better by trying your hand at this numerical reasoning question mentioned below. 

British Petroleum-style Numerical Reasoning Question Example

Got it right? Check the bottom of the page for the correct answer of this BP practice test!

Next, you will also be required to take the BP verbal reasoning test as a part of your BP assessment process. Let’s discuss this test in the following section. 

BP Verbal Reasoning Test

What is the BP verbal reasoning test? 

The BP verbal reasoning test strives to identify whether a candidate can accurately extract the relevant information from a previously unseen passage of text, and use this to analyse whether subsequent statements are true, false, or impossible to say based on the information given. 

What does the BP verbal reasoning test measure? 

The BP verbal reasoning test measures the following qualities: 

1. Critical Thinking 
2. Comprehension 
3. Inference 
4. Vocabulary and Language Proficiency 

Want to know more about verbal reasoning tests? Do not miss out on the following short video by GF: 

We’ve got you covered with these 7 top tips to help you ace the BP verbal reasoning questions.

5 Top Tips to Pass the BP Verbal Reasoning Test

1. Read More: Invest some time in reading and work on improving your reading speed with a full understanding of the passage. This will help you comprehend written statements and the language used in this BP test.
2. Spend Some Time on Solving Crosswords. Solve crosswords and other English exercises to make sure you build up your vocabulary and reasoning skills for this BP online assessment test. 
3. Strengthen Your Grammar: Study fundamental rules of grammar and complete grammar exercises and worksheets. Take notes of the common mistakes that you are making and practice rectifying them to pass this BP assessment. 
4. Practice Several Verbal Reasoning Questions: Practice as many BP online assessment questions to understand the pattern of the BP online assessment test. It will let you develop strategies that fit you to beat the real test. 
5. Replicate Test Conditions: Practice answering multiple-choice questions under timed conditions to simulate the BP test environment. Sit in a quiet space, set a timer, and work through passages under those conditions.

BP-style Verbal Reasoning Question Example

Got the answer? Check it out at the bottom of the page.

Want to practice more such BP verbal reasoning test questions? 

Once you’ve aced your BP online aptitude assessments, you will be invited to the next step of your BP assessment process: the BP video interview

4. BP HireVue Video Interview

What is the BP video interview? 

The BP video interview is an on-demand video-based Interview, where you are expected to record yourself answering the pre-recorded interview questions by your employer and submit them. BP generally uses HireVue to conduct these on-demand video interviews. 

What does the BP HireVue video interview measure? 

The BP HireVue video interview measures the following qualities: 

1. Motivation and Enthusiasm
2. Cultural Fit 
3. Confidence and Poise  
4. Emotional Intelligence 

For more info on BP HireVue video interviews, check out our short video below: 

How long is the BP HireVue video interview? 

The BP video interview may last up to 30 minutes, where you will be required to answer various competency-based and behavioural questions related to the job position you have applied to. 

You will get 3 minutes to answer each question and get 30 seconds prep time before starting the recording. 

Now that you know the details of the BP HireVue video interview, take a look at the following BP video interview questions and answers to get an idea of how you may form answers to BP HireVue interview questions.

BP Video Interview Questions & Answers

Question 1: Do you consider yourself successful?

Good Answer: 

I define success by the goals you set for yourself and how you surround yourself with people who respect and admire you. So, in some ways I’m both, I have struggled to achieve what I wanted and kept the people who became my inspiration, really close. 

I haven’t yet achieved everything; I still have some goals and aspirations which I would like to achieve. I have also had my fair share of failures. Therefore, I think it’s safe to say that I am not completely successful, but I would not consider myself unsuccessful either. 

Question 2: What are your weaknesses?

Good Answer: 

Although I have always met deadlines, I do struggle with procrastination. Because of this, I work all day as the deadline approaches. I used to struggle a lot in my early days as XYZ. Therefore, I started taking project management and time management lectures, to learn to manage and organize tasks in a way that I do not get overburdened. And I’m glad to say that I’m getting the hang of this and I think I am successful at the attempt so far. 

And, be sure to check out our further tips on how to answer this BP HireVue interview question below:

Question 3: What is your ideal work environment?

Good Answer: 

My ideal work environment is a blend of collaboration and innovation. I am an innovative person and I believe when we work in a collaborative environment, we put together all the great minds and that’s where we can find innovation. The best part about collaboration is that it leads to faster decision-making and diverse ways of problem-solving. 

Alternatively, check out this quick video below on the best way to answer the commonly asked BP interview question “Why do you want to work for BP?”: 

Discover more tips and tricks to ace BP values and behaviours interviews, check out our 5 quick BP on demand video interview tips or below in our short YouTube video:

5 Tips to Ace Your BP Video Interview

1. Review the Job Description: Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements and responsibilities of the role you are applying for. Tailor your answers to highlight your relevant skills and experiences.
2. Practice Mock Interviews: Conduct mock interviews with a friend or use online platforms to practice for this BP interview. Record yourself to review your body language, tone, and clarity.
3. Technical Setup: Ensure your equipment is ready before this BP interview. Check your internet connection, camera, and microphone. Use a quiet, well-lit space free from distractions.
4. Professional Appearance: Dress professionally as you would for an in-person interview. Your appearance should reflect the professional image BP expects.
5. Body Language and Eye Contact: Maintain good posture, make eye contact with the camera, and use positive body language during this BP assessment. Smile and show enthusiasm.

Now, you have understood everything about your BP on demand video interview. On completion of this, you will be invited to the next stage of the BP assessment process, i.e., the BP assessment centre. 

What does the BP assessment centre hold for you? Let’s find out!

5.  BP Assessment Centre

What is the BP assessment centre? 

The BP assessment centre will be a chance for you to network with professionals working at BP, and learn more about the company. It is the perfect time for you to get a better insight into what it is like to work at BP.

The exercises you might be expected to take are:

1. BP Group Exercise
2. BP Presentation Exercise
3. BP Final Interview

With that, let’s go into the details of each of these potential BP assessment centre exercises. First, the group exercise.

BP Group Exercise

What is the BP group exercise? 

The BP group exercise requires you to read, observe, and solve case studies with your teammates, who will be the fellow shortlisted candidates. Throughout this task, various BP employees will observe you on how you solve problems when required to work with others.

What does the BP group exercise measure? 

The qualities measured by BP group exercise are as follows: 

1. Adaptability and Flexibility 
2. Leadership Potential 
3. Negotiation and Persuasion 
4. Teamwork and Collaboration 

To get the hang of the BP group exercise and ace it, look at the list of tips we have provided below:

Top 5 Tips to Pass the BP Group Exercise 

1. Communicate Clearly: Speak clearly and concisely. Ensure your points are relevant and add value to the discussion. Use appropriate body language to show engagement and confidence during this BP assessment.
2. Demonstrate Leadership: Take initiative when appropriate, but don’t dominate the discussion. Facilitate the group’s progress by helping to keep the discussion on track and ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute during this British Petroleum group exercise. 
3. Problem-Solving Skills: Show your ability during this BP test to analyse information, identify key issues, and propose practical solutions. Think critically and contribute to the development of a well-reasoned plan or decision.
4. Stay Calm Under Pressure: The BP group exercise can be intense. Stay calm, composed, and focused on the task. Manage any stress effectively and help keep the group’s morale high.
5. Work with the Team: It is important that you are confident to share and argue for your ideas, but also be ready to contribute to somebody else’s input. Most importantly, do not interrupt anyone.

Discover more about group exercises and the best tricks to pass your BP assessment centre with our YouTube video below:

Now, the next BP assessment centre exercise that you will be required to take during the BP hiring process is the BP presentation exercise.

Read on to find out more about this assessment. 

BP Presentation Exercise

What is the BP presentation exercise? 

The BP presentation exercise will mainly test you on your communication skills. Your assessors will be looking at your body language and tone to see how you would cope with delivering professional presentations, taking part in group discussions, or explaining your point of view.

What does the BP presentation exercise measure? 

The BP presentation exercise measures  the following: 

1. Analytical Skills
2. Persuasion and Skills
3. Time Management 
4. Strategic Thinking 

How to Excel in Your BP Presentation Exercise? 

1. Understand the Brief: Read the guidelines carefully to ensure you address the key points. Stick to the given time and focus on the main objectives.
2. Structure Your Presentation: Begin with a clear introduction outlining the purpose, followed by a logically structured body, and conclude with a strong summary. A well-organized flow keeps the audience engaged.
3. Visual Aids: Use slides, charts, or graphs to support your points but avoid overwhelming visuals during the BP presentation. Keep them simple and aligned with your speech.
4. Practice Delivery: Rehearse multiple times to become familiar with the content and improve timing. This will boost confidence and reduce reliance on notes.
5. Engage Your Audience: Make eye contact, use hand gestures, and speak clearly. Ask questions or include interactive elements to maintain the attention of your assessors at BP.

Want to practice all the exercises for the BP assessment centre?  

The BP assessment centre will conclude with a series of interviews, which will depend on the role you’ve applied for.

Now, let’s discuss in detail this last stage of your BP recruitment process.

BP Final Interviews

What is the BP final interview? 

The BP final interviews in this final stage of the BP recruitment process will consist of several one-on-one interviews with directors or senior managers from the business area you wish to join. This series of interviews will consist of both technical as well as competency-based questions. 

To get an edge over your competitors for this final BP interview process, make sure to prepare as much as possible. Our experts have developed the following tips to keep you on track.

Top 5 Tips to Pass the BP Final Interview  

1. Research BP: Familiarize yourself with BP’s history, products, services, values, and recent news. Knowing the company’s history and culture will show you are truly interested in the role. 
2. Understand the Role: Get a clear grasp of the role you’re interviewing for. See how it fits within BP’s structure and goals and based on that tailor your responses. Your answers should show how your skills and experiences match the job requirements.
3. Practice Your Communication Skills: Practice speaking confidently, and concisely during the interview. Do not slouch, instead maintain eye contact and demonstrate active listening skills by nodding and making notes.
4. Practice Common Interview Questions: Anticipate and practice answering common interview questions for the BP interview process. You may get questions about your strengths, weaknesses, experiences, and career goals. Also, be ready to provide specific examples to support your responses.
5. Ask Questions: Prepare thoughtful questions. Ask the interviewer about British Petroleum, the role, team dynamics, and growth opportunities. Asking questions demonstrates your interest and engagement in the interview process.

Now, let’s see the kind of questions you might face during this stage of your BP hiring process. 

What kind of questions are there in a BP technical interview?

Here are some examples of the questions asked by employers at the BP technical interview:

1. How comfortable are you with SAP? What is a BOL
2. How can you decide the age range of your target audience?
3. What is your experience with Data Engineering pipelines?

Besides the BP technical interview, you will also be put through behavioural questions during the BP interview process, let’s see some examples of BP interview questions:

British Petroleum Interview Question Examples 

1. What have you done that made you proud?
2. Select one of the company values and describe how you relate to it with an example.
3. Describe how you work in a team
4. What do you know about BP?
5. Tell us something that is not on your CV?
6. How do you handle stress?

Now, let’s try answering some of these questions.

BP Interview Question and Answers

Let’s see some sample BP interview questions and answers below:  

Question: What do you know about BP?

Good Answer: 

I know that BP has been in work for more than 100 years now, and providing remarkable service since then. And I love BP for the fact that despite being such a successful organisation, it is working towards a safer planet by investing in low carbon energy to rapidly scale up in solar and offshore wind aiming to reduce emissions by 2030. I’m also delighted and eager to know more about the upcoming Tangguh Expansion project. 

You can also gain further insight into this behavioural question with the video below:

Question: Tell us something that is not on your CV?

Good Answer: 

I do feel that the increasing deforestation will have an adverse effect on the planet in the long run, and for that I try to do the bare minimum that I can in my capacity. 

I run campaigns on vacations to spread awareness in different cities. I have also hosted a number of plantations drives in recent years. I know that these things aren’t enough to save our planet from grave danger, but I do feel that if I can bring change to even one in a thousand people, that’s a win-win. 

Want to practice for your upcoming British Petroleum interview? GF has got you covered. 

Once you’ve aced your final interview using our best tips and tricks, you will receive an offer from BP shortly. All the best!

Wait, before you go…

Are you a grad student or a fresh graduate interested in early career opportunities? Keep reading to discover the opportunities available for you!

6. British Petroleum Early Careers

What early career opportunities does British Petroleum offer? 

The British Petroleum early careers allow graduates and undergraduates to kick start their career. BP offers a number of opportunities for graduates, students and even the people with no professional degree. There are three main options for young individuals to get started with BP:

1. BP Graduate Scheme 
2. BP Apprenticeships
3. BP Internships

Below, we will discuss each of these student careers at BP in detail and then will cover the application process you can expect for these. 

BP Graduate Scheme

What are the BP graduate schemes? 

The BP graduate schemes are training and development programmes specially curated for the fresh graduates. These BP graduate programs enable the candidates to develop various soft and hard skills while working with BP. 

What qualifications do you need to be eligible for the BP graduate scheme application process? Let’s take a look. 

BP Graduate Scheme Eligibility Criteria 

The basic eligibility criteria to be eligible for the BP graduate recruitment process are: 

1. Should have received a 2:1 graduate degree.
2. Non-UK nationals are also welcome.

BP graduate programs allow you to apply in various career areas, these are discussed below. However, the career opportunities at BP aren’t limited to only these areas. 

BP Graduate Scheme Job Functions  

What job functions are available under BP graduate programs? 

1. Business
2. Digital
3. Engineering 
4. Science
5. Trading and shipping

Now to get the job under these job functions you need to pass the BP graduate application process. 

What is the BP graduate scheme application process? 

The BP graduate application process is similar to the assessment process of an experienced hire. However, the BP graduate recruitment process may not be as elaborate as the recruitment process for an experienced hire.

The next early career opportunity by BP is the BP apprenticeships. Read on to find out more about this. 

BP Apprenticeships

What are BP apprenticeships? 

The BP apprenticeships enable school leavers to start their careers and get opportunities for training and development from the best mentors at BP. BP offers Level 4 to Level 6 apprenticeships to school leavers. 

BP Apprenticeship Job Functions 

British Petroleum provides the following job functions under BP apprenticeships: 

1. Software development
2. HR
3. Trading and shipping
4. Finance

Next, let’s see what eligibility criteria need to be fulfilled to be eligible for the BP apprenticeship application process. 

BP Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria 

What are the eligibility criteria for BP apprenticeships?

The basic eligibility criteria required to sit for the BP apprenticeship application process are as follows: 

1. Applicant candidates should hold a valid birth certificate, passport, and residence permit.
2. National Insurance number. 
3. The candidate should have lived in the UK or Europe 3 years before the application of the apprenticeship. 
4. The candidate should not be taking any other apprenticeship at the same time.

Once you fulfil all the required eligibility criteria, you may be invited to complete the BP apprenticeship application process, passing through which you will get your dream job at BP.

Next, let’s look at another BP early career opportunity, i.e., the BP internships. 

BP Internships

What are BP Internships? 

The BP internships allow students in the penultimate year of their degree to be a part of one of the leading oil and gas industries, learn from the best mentors, and experience the work culture of the company.

Read on to find out what job functions are available under BP internships. 

BP Summer Internships Job Functions

What job functions are available under BP internships? 

The job functions available under BP summer internships are as follows: 

1. Engineering
2. Technology
3. Trading
4. Finance
5. Corporate Functions

To apply to these functions and be eligible to sit for the BP internship application process you need to fulfill some basic eligibility criteria. 

BP Internships Eligibility Criteria 

What are the eligibility criteria for BP internships?

The eligibility criteria that you need to fulfill to be eligible for the BP internship application process are as follows:

1. Education: Typically, open to students in their penultimate year of study in relevant disciplines.
2. Academic Performance: Strong academic record, often a 2:1 (or equivalent) or higher.
3. Skills: Problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and technical skills relevant to the specific internship role.
4. Interest in the Energy Sector: Demonstrated interest in the energy industry and BP’s business.

With this, we have provided all the information that you could possibly need for your BP selection process. 

Still looking for answers to some of your burning questions about the BP hiring process? Don’t miss our quick BP selection process FAQs below.

7. British Petroleum Selection Process FAQs