FAQ ABOUT TESTS

These are general questions that apply to all tests. They are not bank specific.

Why do I have to do a pre-course test?

The bank has decided that candidates for face to face courses should complete a short test a few weeks beforehand, in order to ensure that they have the necessary experience and background knowledge to be able to participate fully. As Trainers, we have sometimes found in the past that we've had to spend several hours at the start of a course bringing a few people up to speed.

Why do I have to do a post-course test?

The bank wants to reassure itself that its training budget is well spent and that students are benefitting from attendance on face to face courses. A short test, completed about a week after the course is one way of doing this.

Why don't I get a PDF copy of the test any more?

For pre-course tests, you are still able to login and download or print a copy of the test before completing it. Sending a PDF copy to all participants made the mail merge process a great deal more complicated.

 

For post-course tests, the bank has decided that you should complete the test in one sitting, without the opportunity to take the questions away and spend a long time searching for the answers. You may still consult your course notes or other resources, but you only have 90 minutes in which to do it, so you need to be prepared.

Why do you use multiple choice questions?

Well designed multiple choice questions, where you have to choose between three or four equally plausible answers are generally regarded as being a good way to measure understanding. Some of the questions will be fairly simple (true / false), whereas others will require you to pick more than one right answer. However, we'll always tell you exactly how many answers you need to choose.

Why do you tell us how many answers we need to pick in multiple response questions?

From past experience, we've found that questions where there can be any number of right answers - or where all of the answers might be correct - are very difficult to get absolutely right. So we make it a bit easier for you.

Some questions seem very similar?

Often there will be two or three slightly different versions of a particular question in our question bank, and sometime you might find two of them in one test. But there are usually subtle changes of wording, so read each question very carefully.

Why is each test different ?

Questions are randomly selected from question banks for each particular group of students. However, all the students on one course will have had the same pre-course test and (where appropriate) will have the same post-course test.

I'm sure I've seen this question before?

Sometimes the same question banks are used for the post-course test for one course, and the pre-course test for a higher level course.

I'm think there's a mistake in one of the questions / the instructions for my test / the dates for my test ?

Well, it's just possible - if so, please tell us straight away so that we can check.

I'm sure I got all the answers right, but I only scored 90%?

Perhaps there were a few multiple response questions in the test, where you had to choose two, three or four answers for the same question? Unfortunately, unless you get every one right you don't score any marks. These types of questions are usually the ones where students lose marks.

My user name / password doesn't seem to work ?

Your username should be based on your real name. It's not case sensitive, but occasionally either we or the bank will have mispelled it - if you let us know we can correct it. The passwords are randomly generated, case sensitive (all in capitals) and contain lots of very similar characters (1 and I, 0 and O). It's safest to cut and paste it from the email message, making sure you don't pick up a space at the end. If you decide to change your password, do make a note of it somewhere !

When I tried to login it said no tests were available?

Check the dates in your email message - the test may not be online yet, or you may have missed the deadline. If so, telephone or email us and you can probably have more time, if there's a good reason.

Why don't you tell us what the right answers were ?

We generate tests from question banks which are large, but not that large - so the same questions will sometimes appear in several tests. If we made the right answers available to all students, we'd have to have many more questions to ensure that the results were comparable - lists of right answers tend to get circulated !

Why is the pass mark 60% / 70% / 80%?

These pass marks have been set by the bank. Taking everything into account, we don't expect many students to score 100% - between 70% and 80% is the pass mark set for most professional online tests. The pass mark will often be a little lower (60%) for pre-course tests.

I'm on holiday / I was away ill when the test is due to be submitted

This isn't a big problem - just let us know and we can make special arrangements for you.

I submitted my test online, but you didn't receive it

This happens very occasionally - sometimes it's our fault, sometimes it's factors outside the control of Financial Projections. Make sure you write down the answers you've submitted (or print the screen) so that you have a copy you can send us if there is a problem.

I didn't keep a copy of my answers

Sorry, but you'll probably have to do the test again in this case.

I failed the test !

You'll need to discuss this with your Line Manager or HR Department first - often it's possible to have a re-test.

I want to dispute the results of my test

Again, you'll need to do this through the HR Department. We can't discuss disputed marks with individual students.

I've missed the deadline for the test

You should have received a reminder the day after the test was due. Please try to submit it immediately. More than a few days late may mean that you won't be able to take part in the course, or in a subsequent course.

I haven't got time to do the test

I'm afraid you're going to have to make time - the Bank has decided that you need to do these tests. Please refer any such comments or queries to your Line Manager or the HR Department.

 

Any more questions to add to this list ?

Let us know